The Geographical Distribution of Animals, Volume 2

Chapter XXVIII: Part IV: Geographical Zoology (10)

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"Marine fishes, with very long, compressed, band-like bodies, covered with small cycloid scales."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate seas of Western Europe and Eastern Asia, and one species in the Malayan Seas.

_Cepola rubescens_ (the Band fish) ranges from Scotland to the Mediterranean. All the other species but one are from Japan.

{436}FAMILY 42.--GOBIESOCIDÆ. (9 Genera, 21 Species.)

"Carnivorous marine fishes, elongate, anteriorly depressed and scaleless, with dorsal fin on the tail."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate and tropical seas; Scandinavia to the Cape, California to Chili, West Indies, Red Sea, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji Islands.

Three species of _Lepadogaster_ have occurred in the English Channel.

FAMILY 43.--PSYCHROLUTIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"A large-headed, elongate, naked marine fish, with small teeth, and dorsal fin on the tail."

DISTRIBUTION.--West Coast of North America (Vancouver's Island.)

FAMILY 44.--CENTRISCIDÆ. (2 Genera, 7 Species.)

"Marine fishes, with compressed, oblong or elevated bodies, elongate tubular mouth and no teeth."

DISTRIBUTION.--West Coast of Europe and Africa, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean to Java, Philippines, and Japan.

A species of _Centriscus_ has occurred on the South Coast of England, and another species is found both at Madeira and Japan.

FAMILY 45.--FISTULARIDÆ. (2 Genera, 4 Species.)

"Marine fishes, very elongate, with long tubular mouth and small teeth."

DISTRIBUTION.--Tropical seas, both in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean, and as far east as the New Hebrides.

{437}FAMILY 46.--MASTACEMBELIDÆ. (2 Genera, 9 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with eel-like bodies and very long dorsal fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--Rivers of the Oriental region, one species from Ceram (?).

FAMILY 47.--NOTACANTHI. (1 Genus, 5 Species.)

"Marine fishes, with elongate bodies covered with very small scales, and snout protruding beyond the mouth."

DISTRIBUTION.--Greenland, Mediterranean, and West Australia.

_Order II.--ACANTHOPTERYGII PHARYNGOGNATHI._

FAMILY 48.--POMACENTRIDÆ. (8 Genera, 143 Species.)

"Marine fishes, with short compressed bodies covered with toothed scales, and with feeble dentition."

DISTRIBUTION.--Tropical parts of Pacific and Indian Ocean, less numerous in Tropical Atlantic, a few reaching the Mediterranean, Japan, and South Australia. _Pomacentrus_, _Glyphidodon_, and _Heliastes_ are Atlantic genera.

FAMILY 49.--LABRIDÆ. (46 Genera, 396 Species.)

"Herbivorous or carnivorous marine fishes, with elongate bodies covered with cycloid scales, and teeth adapted for crushing the shells of mollusca."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate and tropical regions of all parts of the globe.

The genera _Labrus_, _Crenilabrus_, _Ctenolabrus_, _Acantholabrus_, _Centrolabrus_, and _Coris_, have occurred in British seas, and all of {438}these, except the last, are confined to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic as far as Madeira. Eight other genera are characteristic of the Atlantic, most of them being West Indian, but one from the coasts of North America. Seven genera are common to all the great oceans; the remainder being confined to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, ranging from Japan to New Zealand, but being far more abundant between the Tropics.

FAMILY 50.--EMBROTOCIDÆ. (2 Genera, 17 Species.)

"Marine viviparous fishes, with compressed elevated bodies covered with cycloid scales, and with small teeth."

DISTRIBUTION.--Pacific Ocean from Japan and California northwards. One species enters the fresh waters of California.

FAMILY 51.--GERRIDÆ. (1 Genus, 28 Species.)

"Marine fishes, with compressed oblong bodies covered with minutely serrated scales, and with small teeth."

DISTRIBUTION.--Tropical seas; ranging south as far as the Cape of Good Hope and Australia, and north to Japan and (one species) to New Jersey, U.S.

FAMILY 52.--CHROMIDÆ. (19 Genera, 100 Species.)

"Fresh-water herbivorous or carnivorous fishes, with elevated or elongate scaly bodies, and small teeth."

DISTRIBUTION.--The Oriental, Ethiopian, and Neotropical regions.

_Eutroplus_ (2 sp.) is from the rivers of Southern India and Ceylon; _Chromis_ (15 sp.), _Sarotherodon_ (2 sp.), and _Hemichromis_ (4 sp.), are from the rivers and lakes of Africa, extending to the Sahara and Palestine. The remaining 15 genera are American, and several of them have a restricted distribution. _Acara_ (17 sp.) inhabits Tropical South America and the Antilies; _Theraps_ (1 sp.), Guatemala; _Heros_ (26 sp.), Texas and {439}Mexico to La Plata; _Mesonauta_ (1 sp.), Brazil; _Petenia_ (1 sp.), Lake Peten, Guatemala; _Uaru_ (2 sp.), Brazil; _Hygrogonus_ (1 sp.), Brazil; _Cichla_ (4 sp.), Equatorial America; _Crenicichla_ (9 sp.), Brazil and Guiana; _Chætobranchus_ (3 sp.), Brazil and Guiana; _Mesops_ (2 sp.), Brazil; _Satanoperca_ (7 sp.), Amazon Valley and Guiana; _Geophagus_ (1 sp.), North Brazil and Guiana; _Symphysodon_ (1 sp.), Lower Amazon; _Pterophyllum_ (1 sp.), Lower Amazon.

_Order III.--ANACANTHINI._

FAMILY 53.--GADOPSIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"Fresh-water fish, with rather elongate body covered with very small scales, the upper jaw overhanging the lower, forming an obtuse snout."

DISTRIBUTION.--Rivers of Australia and Tasmania.

FAMILY 53_a_.--LYCODIDÆ. (3 Genera, 14 Species.)

"Marine fishes, with elongate bodies, and the dorsal united with the anal fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--Arctic seas of America and Greenland, and Antarctic seas about the Falkland Islands and Chiloe Island.

FAMILY 54.--GADIDÆ. (21 Genera, 58 Species.)

"Marine fishes, with more or less elongate bodies covered with small smooth scales."

DISTRIBUTION.--Cold and temperate regions of both hemispheres; in the North extending as far south as the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, New York and Japan (and one species to the Philippines and Bay of Bengal), and in the South to Chili and New Zealand.

_Gadus_ (Cod), _Merluccius_ (Hake), _Phycis_, _Lota_, _Molva_, _Couchia_, _Motella_, and _Raniceps_, are British. _Lota_ inhabits fresh waters.

{440}FAMILY 55.--OPHIDIIDÆ. (16 Genera, 43 Species.)

"Marine fishes, with more or less elongate bodies, the dorsal and anal fins united, and the ventral fins rudimentary or absent."

DISTRIBUTION.--Almost universal; from Greenland to New Zealand, but most abundant in the Tropics.

_Ophidium_ and _Ammodytes_ occur in British seas; _Lucifuga_ inhabits subterranean fresh waters in Cuba.

FAMILY 56.--MACROURIDÆ. (3 Genera, 21 Species.)

"Marine fishes, with the body terminating in a long, compressed tapering tail, and covered with spiny, keeled or striated scales."

DISTRIBUTION.--North Atlantic from Greenland to Madeira and the Canary Islands, Mediterranean, Japanese and Australian seas.

None of these fishes have occurred in the British seas.

FAMILY 57.--ATELEOPODIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"Marine fishes, with the naked body terminating in a long compressed, tapering tail."

DISTRIBUTION.--Japan.

FAMILY 58.--PLEURONECTIDÆ. (34 Genera, 185 Species.)

"Marine carnivorous fishes, with strongly compressed flat bodies, one side of which is colourless, and eyes unsymmetrically placed, both on the coloured side. They inhabit the sandy bottoms of shallow seas, and often ascend rivers."

DISTRIBUTION.--Universal, on Arctic, Temperate, and Tropical coasts.

{441}Seven genera occur in British seas, viz.: _Hippoglossus_, _Hippoglossoides_, _Rhombus_, _Phrynorhombus_, _Arnoglossus_, _Pleuronectes_ (Turbot), and _Solea_ (Sole). There are 13 genera in the Atlantic and 23 in the Pacific, 4 being common to both; and 2 found only in the Mediterranean. A Pacific genus, _Synaptura_, has one species in the Mediterranean.

_Order IV.--PHYSOSTOMI._

FAMILY 59.--SILURIDÆ. (114 Genera, 547 Species.)

"Fresh-water or marine, scaleless fishes, often with bony shields, and the head always furnished with barbels."

DISTRIBUTION.--The fresh waters of all the temperate and tropical regions, those which enter the salt water keeping near the coast.

This extensive family is divided by Dr. Günther into eight sub-families and seventeen groups, the distribution of which is as follows:--

Sub-family 1 (SILURIDÆ HOMALOPTERÆ) is confined to the Old World. It consists of three groups: Clarina (2 genera, _Clarias_ and _Heterobranchus_) ranges over the whole area of the Ethiopian and Oriental regions, to which it appears to be strictly confined; Plotosina (3 genera, _Plotosus_, _Copidoglanis_, and _Cnidoglanis_) ranges from the eastern coasts of Africa to Japan, Polynesia, and Australia, in seas and rivers; Chacina (1 genus, _Chaca_) ranges from India to Borneo.

Sub-family 2 (SILURIDÆ HETEROPTERÆ) is also confined to the Old World; it consists of one group,--Silurina, containing 19 genera, viz.:--_Saccobranchus_ (4 sp.), India to Cochin China and Ceylon; _Silurus_ (5 sp.), Palæarctic region from Central Europe to Japan, China, and Afghanistan, and a species in Cochin China; _Silurichthys_ (3 sp.), Cashmere, Java, and Borneo; _Wallago_ (2 sp.), Hindostan, Sumatra, and Borneo; _Belodontichthys_ (1 sp.), Sumatra and Borneo; _Eutropiichthys_ (1 sp.), Bengal; _Cryptopterus_ {442}(15 sp.), Java, Sumatra, and Borneo, with a species in the Ganges, in Siam, and (?) in Amboyna; _Callichrous_ (10 sp.), Afghanistan to Borneo and Java; _Schilbe_ (5 sp.), Tropical Africa; _Eutropius_ (6 sp.), Tropical Africa and Central India; _Hemisilurus_ (2 sp.), Java and Sumatra; _Siluranodon_ (1 sp.), Nile; _Ailia_ (2 sp.), Bengal; _Schilbichthys_ (1 sp.), Bengal; _Laïs_ (1 sp.), Java, Sumatra, Borneo; _Pseudeutropius_ (6 sp.), India and Sumatra; _Pangasius_ (7 sp.), Ganges, Sumatra, Java, Borneo; _Helicophagus_ (2 sp.), Sumatra; _Silondia_ (1 sp.), Ganges.

Sub-family 3 (SILURIDÆ ANOMALOPTERÆ) is confined to Equatorial America; it consists of the group Hypopthalmina, containing 2 genera: _Helogenes_ (1 sp.), _Hypopthalmus_ (4 sp.), from the country north of the Amazon, Surinam, and the Rio Negro.

Sub-family 4 (SILURIDÆ PROTEROPTERÆ) ranges over all the tropical and most of the temperate parts of the globe, except Europe and Australia. It consists of four groups: Bagrina (16 genera), ranging over most of the Old World and North America; Pimelodina (15 genera), confined to Tropical America, except one genus which is African; Ariina (10 genera), all Tropical regions; and Bagarina (3 genera), Oriental region. The distribution of the genera is as follows:--

_Bagrus_ (2 sp.), Nile; _Chrysichthys_ (5 sp.), Tropical Africa; _Clarotes_ (1 sp.), Upper Nile; _Macrones_ (19 sp.), India, Ceylon to Borneo, and one species in Asia Minor; _Pseudobagrus_ (4 sp.), Japan, China, and Cochin China; _Liocassis_ (5 sp.), Japan, China, Java, Sumatra, and Borneo; _Bagroides_ (3 sp.), Sumatra and Borneo; _Bagrichthys_ (1 sp.), Sumatra and Borneo; _Rita_ (5 sp.), Continental India and Manilla; _Acrochordonichthys_ (6 sp.), Java and Sumatra; _Akysis_ (3 sp.), Java and Sumatra; _Olyra_ (1 sp.), Khasya; _Branchiosteus_ (1 sp.), Khasya; _Amiurus_ (13 sp.), Nearctic region to Guatemala and China; _Hopladelus_ (1 sp.), North America; _Noturus_ (4 sp.), North America; _Sorubim_ (1 sp.), Amazon; _Platystoma_ (11 sp.), Tropical South America; _Hemisorubim_ (1 sp.) Rio Negro, Brazil; _Platistomatichthys_ (1 sp.), Rio Branco, Brazil; _Phractocephalus_ (1 sp.), Amazon; _Piramutana_ (2 sp.), Equatorial America; _Platynematichthys_ {443}(1 sp.), northern and southern tributaries of Amazon; _Piratinga_ (3 sp.), Amazon Valley; _Sciades_ (2 sp.), Amazon; _Pimelodus_ (42 sp.), Mexico to La Plata, single aberrant species from West Africa, Java and the Sandwich Islands; _Pirinampus_ (1 sp.), Brazil; _Conorhynchus_ (1 sp.), Brazil; _Notoglanis_ (1 sp.), Madeira, Amazon Valley; _Callophysus_ (3 sp.), Tropical South America; _Auchenaspis_ (1 sp.), Tropical Africa; _Arius_ (68 sp.), all Tropical regions; _Galeichthys_ (1 sp.), Cape of Good Hope; _Genidens_ (1 sp.), Brazil; _Hemipimelodus_ (3 sp.), India, Sumatra, and Borneo; _Ketingus_ (1 sp.), Sunda Islands; _Ælurichthys_ (4 sp.), Eastern United States to Guiana; _Paradiplomystax_ (1 sp.), Brazil; _Diplomystax_ (1 sp.), Chili; _Osteogeniosus_ (3 sp.), India to Java; _Batrachocephalus_ (1 sp.), Java and Sumatra; _Bagarius_ (1 sp.), India to Java; _Euclyptosternum_ (1 sp.), India; _Glyptosternum_ (8 sp.), Himalayas, Central India, Java, and Sumatra; _Hara_ (3 sp.), Continental India; _Amblyceps_ (3 sp.), Continental India.

Sub-family 5 (SILURIDÆ STENOBRANCHIÆ) is confined to South America and Africa, with one genus and species in the Ganges. It consists of three groups: Doradina (12 genera), South America and Africa; Rhinoglanina (3 genera), Central Africa and the Ganges; Malapterurina (1 genus), Tropical Africa. The distribution of the genera is as follows:--

_Ageniosus_ (4 sp.), Surinam to La Plata; _Tetranematichthys_ (1 sp.), Central Brazil, Rio Guaporé; _Euanemus_ (1 sp.), Surinam and Brazil; _Auchenipterus_ (9 sp.), Equatorial America; _Centromochlus_ (2 sp.), Equatorial America; _Trachelyopterus_ (2 sp.), Equatorial America; _Cetopsis_ (3 sp.), Brazil; _Asterophysus_ (1 sp.), Rio Negro, North Brazil; _Doras_ (13 sp.), Tropical South America east of Andes; _Oxydoras_ (7 sp.), Amazon Valley and Guiana; _Rhinodoras_ (3 sp.), Tropical South America east of Andes; _Synodontis_ (12 sp.), Tropical Africa; _Rhinoglanis_ (1 sp.), Upper Nile; _Mochocus_ (1 sp.), Nile; _Callomystax_ (1 sp.), Nile; _Malapterurus_ (3 sp.), Tropical Africa.

Sub-family 6 (SILURIDÆ PROTEROPODES) inhabits Tropical America and Northern India as far as Tenasserim. It consists of two groups: the Hypostomatina (17 genera), with the same distribution as the sub-family, and the Aspredinina (3 genera), {444}confined to Equatorial America. The distribution of the genera is as follows:--

_Arges_ (2 sp.), Andes of Peru and Ecuador; _Stygogenes_ (2 sp.), Andes; _Brontes_ (1 sp.), Andes; _Astroblepus_ (1 sp.), Popayan; _Callichthys_ (11 sp.), Tropical South America east of Andes, and Trinidad; _Plecostomus_ (15 sp.), Tropical South America east of Andes, and Trinidad; _Liposarcus_ (3 sp.), Surinam and Brazil; _Chætostomus_ (25 sp.), Tropical America, Trinidad, and Porto Rico; _Pterygoplichthys_ (4 sp.), Brazil; _Rhinelepis_ (1 sp.), Brazil; _Acanthicus_ (2 sp.), Equatorial America; _Loricaria_ (17 sp.), Tropical South America east of Andes; _Acestra_ (4 sp.), Brazil and Guiana; _Sisor_ (1 sp.), Northern Bengal; _Erethistes_ (1 sp.), Assam; _Pseudecheneis_ (1 sp.), Khasya Hills; _Exostoma_ (2 sp.), Assam and Tenasserim; _Bunocephalus_ (2 sp.), Guiana; _Bunocephalichthys_ (1 sp.), Rio Branco, North Brazil; _Aspredo_ (6 sp.), Guiana.

Sub-family 7 (SILURIDÆ OPISTHOPTERÆ) consists of two groups: Nematogenyina (2 genera), and Trichomycterina (3 genera), and is confined to South America. The distribution of the genera is as follows:--

_Heptapterus_ (2 sp.), South America; _Nematogenys_ (1 sp.), Chili; _Trichomycterus_ (7 sp.), South America to 15,000 feet elevation; _Eremophilus_ (1 sp.), Andes of Bogota; _Pariodon_ (1 sp.), Amazon.

Sub-family 8 (SILURIDÆ BRANCHICOLÆ) is confined to Tropical South America. It consists of one group, Stegophilina, and 2 genera: _Stegophilus_ (1 sp.), Brazil; and _Vandellia_ (2 sp.), Amazon Valley.

FAMILY 60. CHARACINIDÆ. (47 Genera, 230 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with scaly bodies and without barbels."

DISTRIBUTION.--The Neotropical and Ethiopian regions.

This extensive family is divided by Dr. Günther into 10 groups, viz.: Erythrinina (5 genera), South America; Curumatina {445}(6 genera), South America; Citharinina (1 genus), Tropical Africa; Anostomatina (3 genera), South America; Tetragonopterina (16 genera), South America and Tropical Africa; Hydrocyonina (9 genera), Tropical America and Tropical Africa; Distichodontina (1 genus), Tropical Africa; Icthyborina (1 genus), Africa; Crenuchina (1 genus), Equatorial America; Serrasalmonina (4 genera), South America.

The following is the distribution of the genera:--

_Macrodon_ (4 sp.), Tropical America; _Erythrinus_ (5 sp.), Brazil and Guiana; _Lebiasina_ (1 sp.), West Equatorial America; _Pyrrhulina_ (1 sp.), Guiana; _Corynopoma_ (4 sp.), Trinidad only; _Curimatus_ (15 sp.), Tropical South America and Trinidad; _Prochilodus_ (12 sp.), South America to the La Plata; _Cæntropus_ (2 sp.), East Equatorial America; _Hemiodus_ (8 sp.), Equatorial America east of Andes; _Saccodon_ (1 sp.), Ecuador; _Parodon_ (1 sp.), Brazil; _Citharinus_ (2 sp.), Tropical Africa; _Anostomus_ (8 sp.), Tropical America; _Rhytiodus_ (2 sp.), Equatorial America; _Leporinus_ (14 sp.), South America East of Andes; _Piabucina_ (2 sp.), Guiana; _Alestes_ (4 sp.), Tropical Africa; _Brachyalestes_ (5 sp.), Tropical Africa; _Tetragonopterus_ (32 sp.), Tropical America; _Scissor_ (1 sp.), South America; _Pseudochalceus_ (1 sp.), West Ecuador; _Chirodon_ (2 sp.), Chili; _Chalceus_ (1 sp.), Guiana; _Brycon_ (10 sp.), South America east of Andes; _Chalcinopsis_ (4 sp.), Central America and Ecuador; _Bryconops_ (2 sp.), Tropical America; _Creagrutus_ (1 sp.), Western Ecuador; _Chalcinus_ (4 sp.), Tropical South America; _Gastropelecus_ (8 sp.), Tropical South America; _Piabuca_ (2 sp.), Equatorial America; _Agoniates_ (1 sp.), Guiana; _Anacyrtus_ (7 sp.), Central and South America; _Hystricodon_ (1 sp.), Equatorial America; _Salminus_ (3 sp.), South America; _Hydrocyon_ (3 sp.), Tropical Africa; _Sarcodaces_ (1 sp.), West Africa; _Oligosarcus_ (1 sp.), Brazil; _Xiphoramphus_ (7 sp.), South America east of Andes; _Xiphostoma_ (5 sp.), Equatorial America east of Andes; _Cynodon_ (3 sp.), Tropical America East of Andes; _Distichodus_ (7 sp.), Tropical Africa; _Icthyborus_ (3 sp.), Nile; _Crenuchus_ (1 sp.), Guiana; _Mylesinus_ (1 sp.), Equatorial America; _Serrasalmo_ (13 sp.), Tropical South America east of Andes; _Myletes_ (18 sp.), {446}Tropical South America east of Andes; _Catoprion_ (1. sp.), Brazil and Guiana.

FAMILY 61.--HAPLOCHITONIDÆ. (2 Genera, 3 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with naked or scaly bodies and without barbels."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate South America and South Australia.

The genera are, _Haplochiton_ (2 sp.), Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands; _Prototroctes_ (2 sp.), Southern Australia and New Zealand.

FAMILY 62.--STERNOPTYCHIDÆ. (6 Genera, 12 Species.)

"Marine fishes, with very thin deciduous scales or none, and with a row of phosphorescent spots or organs on the under surface of the body."

DISTRIBUTION.--Mediterranean and Atlantic.

These are deep-sea fishes found in the Mediterranean sea, and in the deep Atlantic from the coasts of Norway to the Azores and the Tropics.

FAMILY 63.--SCOPELIDÆ. (11 Genera, 47 Species.)

"Marine fishes, somewhat resembling the fresh-water Siluridæ."

DISTRIBUTION.--Almost universal, but most abundant in warm and tropical seas.

These are deep-sea fishes, abounding in the Mediterranean and the great oceans, a few extending north to near Greenland and south to Tasmania.

{447}FAMILY 64.--STOMIATIDÆ. (4 Genera, 8 Species.)

"Small marine fishes, naked or with very fine scales."

DISTRIBUTION.--The Mediterranean and Atlantic.

These are deep-sea fishes, ranging from Greenland to beyond the Equator.

FAMILY 65.--SALMONIDÆ (15 Genera, 157 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, many species periodically descending to the sea and a few altogether marine:--Salmon and Trout."

DISTRIBUTION.--The Palæarctic and Nearctic Regions, and one genus and species in New Zealand. A considerable number of species are confined to single lakes or rivers, others have a wide distribution.

The genera are distributed as follows:--

_Salmo_ (83 sp.), rivers and lakes of the Palæarctic and Nearctic Regions, as far south as Algeria, Asia Minor, the Hindoo-Koosh and Kamschatka, and to about 38° North Latitude in North America, many of the species migratory; _Onchorhynchus_ (8 sp.), American and Asiatic rivers entering the Pacific, as far south as San Francisco and the Amur; _Brachymystax_ (1 sp.), Siberian rivers, from Lake Baikal and the Atlai Mountains northwards; _Luciotrutta_ (2 sp.), Caspian Sea and Volga; _Plecoglossus_ (1 sp.), Japan and Formosa; _Osmerus_ (3 sp.), rivers of temperate Europe and North America entering the Atlantic, and one species in California; _Thaleichthys_ (1 sp.), Columbia River, Vancouver's Island; _Hypomesus_ (1 sp.), coasts of California, Vancouver's Island, and North-eastern Asia; _Mallotus_ (1 sp.), coasts of Arctic America from Greenland to Kamschatka; _Retropinna_ (1 sp.), fresh waters of New Zealand; _Coregonus_ (41 sp.), fresh waters of northern parts of temperate Europe, Asia and North America, many of the species migratory: _Thymallus_ (6 sp.), fresh waters of temperate parts of {448}Europe, Asia, and North America; _Argentina_ (4 sp.), Mediterranean and deep seas of Western Europe; _Microstoma_ (2 sp.), Mediterranean, and seas of Greenland; _Salarix_ (2 sp.), China and Japan, in seas and rivers. _Salmo_, _Osmerus_, _Coregonus_, and _Thymallus_, are British genera.

FAMILY 66.--PERCOPSIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"A fresh-water fish covered with toothed scales."

DISTRIBUTION.--Lake Superior, North America.

FAMILY 67.--GALAXIDÆ. (1 Genus, 12 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with neither scales nor barbels."

DISTRIBUTION.--The temperate zone of the Southern Hemisphere.

The only genus, _Galaxias_, is found in New Zealand, Tasmania, and Tierra del Fuego, ranging north as far as Queensland and Chili; and one of the species is absolutely identical in the two regions.

FAMILY 68.--MORMYRIDÆ. (3 Genera, 25 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with scales on the body and tail but not on the head, and no barbels."

DISTRIBUTION.--The Ethiopian Region.

Most abundant in the Nile, a few from the Gambia, the Congo, and Rovuma. The genera are:--

_Mormyrus_ (1 sp.), Nile, Gambia, West Africa, Mozambique, Rovuma; _Hyperopsius_ (2 sp.), Nile and West Africa; _Mormyrops_ (4 sp.), Nile, West Africa and Mozambique.

{449}FAMILY 69.--GYMNARCHIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, resembling the Mormyridæ, but with tapering finless tail, and neither anal nor ventral fins."

DISTRIBUTION.--Ethiopian region.

The only genus, _Gymnarchus_, inhabits the Nile and the rivers of West Africa.

FAMILY 70.--ESOCIDÆ. (1 Genus, 7 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with scaly bodies, no barbels, and dorsal fins situated towards the tail."

DISTRIBUTION.--The Nearctic and Palæarctic regions.

One species, the Pike (_Esox lucius_) ranges from Lapland to Turkey, and in America from the Arctic regions to the Albany river; the remainder are American species extending South as far as New Orleans.

FAMILY 71.--UMBRIDÆ. (1 Genus, 2 Species.)

"Small fresh-water scaly fishes, without barbels or adipose fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--Central Europe and Temperate North America.

FAMILY 72.--SCOMBRESOCIDÆ. (5 Genera, 136 Species.)

"Marine or fresh-water fishes, with scaly bodies and a series of keeled scales along each side of the belly."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate and tropical regions.

All the genera have a wide distribution. A species of _Belone_ and one of _Scombresox_ are found on the British coast. The Flying-fishes (_Exocetus_, 44 sp.), belong to this family. They abound in all tropical seas and extend as far as the Mediterranean and Australia. None of the genera are exclusively fresh-water, {450}but a few species of _Belone_, and _Hemiramphus_ are found in rivers in various parts of the world.

FAMILY 73.--CYPRINODONTIDÆ. (20 Genera, 106 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, covered with scales, the sexes frequently differing, mostly viviparous."

DISTRIBUTION.--Southern Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, but most abundant in Tropical America.

The distribution of the genera is as follows:--

_Cyprinodon_ (11 sp.), Italy, North Africa and Western Asia to Persia, also North America from Texas to New York; _Fitzroya_ (1 sp.), Montevideo; _Characodon_ (1 sp.), Central America; _Tellia_ (1 sp.), Alpine pools of the Atlas: _Limnurgus_ (1 sp.), Mexican plateau; _Lucania_ (1 sp.), Texas; _Haplochilus_ (18 sp.), India, Java, Japan, Tropical Africa, Madagascar, and the Seychelle Islands, Carolina to Brazil, Jamaica; _Fundulus_ (17 sp.), North and Central America and Ecuador, Spain and East Africa; _Rivulus_ (3 sp.), Tropical America, Cuba and Trinidad; _Orestias_ (6 sp.), Lake Titacaca, Andes; _Jenynsia_ (1 sp.), Rio Plata; _Pseudoxiphophorus_ (2 sp.), Central America; _Belonesox_ (1 sp.), Central America; _Gambusia_ (8 sp.), Antilles, Central America and Texas; _Anableps_ (3 sp.), Central and Equatorial America; _Poecilia_ (16 sp.), Antilles, Central and South America; _Mollienesia_ (4 sp.), Louisiana to Mexico; _Platypoecilus_ (1 sp.), Mexico; _Girardinus_ (10 sp.), Antilles and South Carolina to Uruguay; _Lepistes_ (1 sp.), Barbadoes.

FAMILY 74.--HETEROPYGII. (2 Genera, 2 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with posterior dorsal fin, and very small scales."

DISTRIBUTION.--Fresh waters of the United States.

_Amblyopsis_ (1 sp.) is a blind fish found in the caverns of Kentucky; while _Chologastes_ (1 sp.), which only differs from it in having perfect eyes, is found in ditches in South Carolina.

{451}FAMILY 75.--CYPRINIDÆ. (109 Genera, 790 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, generally scaly, with no adipose fin, and pharyngeal teeth only, the mouth being toothless."

DISTRIBUTION.--Fresh waters of the Old World and North America, but absent from Australia and South America.

This enormous family is divided by Dr. Günther into fourteen groups, the distribution of which is as follows:--

Catostomina (4 genera), North America and North-east Asia; Cyprinina (39 genera), same range as the family; Rohteichthyina (1 genus), Malay Archipelago; Leptobarbina (1 genus), Malay Archipelago; Rasborina (5 genera), East Africa to China and Borneo; Semiplotina (2 genera), Western Asia; Xenocypridina (3 genera), Eastern Asia; Leuciscina (10 genera), Palæarctic and Nearctic regions; Rhodeina (3 genera), Palæarctic region; Danionina (9 genera), India to China and Japan; Hypophthalmichthyina (1 genus), China; Abramidina (16 genera), same range as the family; Homalopterina (2 genera), India to Java; Cobitidina (10 genera), Palæarctic and Oriental regions.

The following is the distribution of the genera:--

_Catostomus_ (16 sp.), Nearctic region and Eastern Siberia; _Moxostoma_ (2 sp.), Eastern United States; _Sclerognathus_ (5 sp.), Temperate North America to Guatemala, also Northern China; _Carpiodes_ (1 sp.), United States; _Cyprinus_ (2 sp.), Temperate parts of Palæarctic region (1 sp. British); _Carassius_ (3 sp.), Temperate Palæarctic region (1 sp. British); _Catla_ (1 sp.), Continental India; _Cirrhina_ (5 sp.), Continental India to China; _Dangila_ (6 sp.), Java, Sumatra, Borneo; _Osteochilus_ (14 sp.), Siam to Java and Sumatra; _Labeo_ (27 sp.), Tropical Africa and Oriental region; _Tylognathus_ (10 sp.), Syria, India to Java; _Abrostomus_ (2 sp.), South Africa; _Discognathus_ (4 sp.), Syria to India and Java, mostly in mountain streams; _Crossochilus_ (9 sp.), India to Sumatra and Java; _Gymnostomus_ (7 sp.), Continental India; _Epalzeorhynchus_ (1 sp.), Sumatra and Borneo; _Capoeta_ (13 sp.), Western Asia; _Barbus_ (163 sp.), Temperate or Tropical {452}parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa (1 sp. British); _Thynnichthys_ (2 sp.), Pegu, Borneo, and Sumatra; _Barbichthys_ (1 sp.), Java, Sumatra, and Borneo; _Amblyrhynchichthys_ (1 sp.), Sumatra and Borneo; _Albulichthys_ (1 sp.), Sumatra and Borneo; _Oreinus_ (3 sp.), Himalayan region; _Schizothorax_ (13 sp.), Himalayan region and west to Afghanistan and Persia; _Ptychobarbus_ (1 sp.), Thibet; _Gymnocypris_ (1 sp.), loc. unknown; _Schizopygopsis_ (1 sp.), Thibet; _Diptychus_ (1 sp.), Himalayas and Thibet; _Aulopyge_ (1 sp.), Western Asia; _Gobio_ (2 sp.), Temperate Europe (1 sp. British); _Pseudogobio_ (4 sp.), China, Japan, and Formosa; _Ceratichthys_ (9 sp.), Temperate North America; _Bungia_ (1 sp.), Western Asia, Herat; _Pimephales_ (2 sp.), Eastern United States; _Hyborhynchus_ (3 sp.), Eastern United States; _Ericymba_ (1 sp.), United States; _Pseudorasbora_ (1 sp.), Japan, China; _Cochlognathus_ (1 sp.), Texas; _Exoglossum_ (2 sp.), United States; _Rhinichthys_ (6 sp.), Eastern United States; _Rohteichthys_ (1 sp.), Borneo and Sumatra; _Leptobarbina_ (1 sp.), Sumatra and Borneo; _Rasbora_ (12 sp.), East Coast of Africa, India, to Java and Borneo; _Luciosma_ (3 sp.), Java, Sumatra, and Borneo; _Nuria_ (2 sp.), India, Tenasserim, and Ceylon; _Aphyocypris_ (1 sp.), North China; _Amblypharyngodon_ (3 sp.), India to Tenasserim; _Cyprinion_ (3 sp.), Syria and Persia; _Semiplotus_ (1 sp.), Assam; _Xenocypris_ (1 sp.), China; _Paracanthobrama_ (1 sp.), China; _Mystacoleucus_ (1 sp.), Sumatra; _Leuciscus_ (84 sp.), Nearctic and Palæarctic regions (5 sp. are British); _Ctenopharyngodon_ (1 sp.), China; _Mylopharodon_ (1 sp.), California; _Paraphoxinus_ (2 sp.), South-eastern Europe; _Meda_ (1 sp.), River Gila; _Tinca_ (1 sp.), Europe (Britain to Constantinople); _Leucosomus_ (8 sp.), Nearctic region; _Chondrostoma_ (7 sp.), Europe and Western Asia; _Orthodon_ (1 sp.), California; _Acrochilus_ (1 sp.), Columbia River; _Achilognathus_ (6 sp.), China, Japan, and Formosa; _Rhodeus_ (3 sp.), Central Europe and China; _Pseudoperilampus_ (1 sp.), Japan; _Danio_ (8 sp.), India and Ceylon; _Pterosarion_ (2 sp.), Central India and Assam; _Aspidoparia_ (3 sp.), Continental India; _Barilius_ (15 sp.), East Africa and Continental India; _Bola_ (1 sp.), Ganges to Bramahputra; _Schacra_ (1 sp.), Bengal; _Opsariichthys_ (5 sp.), Japan and Formosa; _Squaliobarbus_ (1 sp.), China; _Ochetobius_ (1 sp.), North China; {453}_Hypophthalmichthys_ (2 sp.), China; _Abramis_ (16 sp.), North America, Central Europe, and Western Asia (1 sp. is British); _Aspius_ (3 sp.), East Europe, Western Asia, China; _Alburnus_ (15 sp.), Europe and Western Asia (1 British sp.); _Rasborichthys_ (1 sp.), Borneo; _Elopichthys_ (1 sp.), China; _Pelotrophus_ (2 sp.), East Africa; _Acanthobrama_ (3 sp.), Western Asia; _Osteobrama_ (5 sp.), Continental India; _Chanodichthys_ (6 sp.), China and Formosa; _Smiliogaster_ (1 sp.), Bengal; _Culter_ (2 sp.), China; _Pelecus_ (1 sp.), Eastern Europe; _Eustira_ (1 sp.), Ceylon; _Chela_ (16 sp.), India to Siam, Java and Borneo; _Pseudolabuca_ (1 sp.), China; _Cachius_ (1 sp.), Continental India; _Homaloptera_ (8 sp.), India to Cochin China, Java, and Sumatra; _Psilorhynchus_ (2 sp.), North-eastern India; _Misgurnus_ (5 sp.), Europe to India, China, and Japan; _Nemachilus_ (37 sp.), Europe and Asia; _Cobitis_ (3 sp.), Europe, India, Japan; _Lepidocepalichthys_ (3 sp.), India, Ceylon, and Java; _Acanthopsis_ (2 sp.), Tenasserim, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo; _Botia_ (7 sp.), India to Japan and Sunda Isles; _Oreonectes_ (1 sp.), China; _Lepidocephalus_ (1 sp.), Java and Sumatra; _Acanthopthalmus_ (2 sp.), Java and Sumatra; _Apua_ (1 sp.), Tenasserim; _Kneria_ (2 sp.), Tropical Africa.

FAMILY 76.--GONORHYNCHIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"A marine fish with spiny scales, mouth with barbels, and with short dorsal fin opposite the ventrals."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate parts of Southern Oceans, and Japan.

FAMILY 77.--HYODONTIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"A fresh-water fish with cycloid scales and posterior dorsal fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--Fresh waters of North America.

{454}FAMILY 78.--OSTEOGLOSSIDÆ. (3 Genera, 5 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with large hard scales, and dorsal fin opposite and equal to the anal fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--Tropical rivers.

The genera are:--_Osteoglossum_ (3 sp.), Eastern South America, Sunda Islands, and Queensland; _Arapaima_ (1 sp.), Eastern South America--the "Pirarucú" of the Amazon; _Heterotis_ (1 sp.), Tropical Africa.

FAMILY 79.--CLUPEIDÆ. (18 Genera, 161 Species.)

"Marine scaly fishes, without barbels, and with the abdomen often compressed and serrated."

DISTRIBUTION.--Seas of the whole globe, many species entering rivers. They are most abundant in the Indian seas, less so in America, scarce in Africa, while they are almost absent from Australia. The Herring, Sprat, Shad, and Pilchard, are British species of _Clupea_, a genus which contains 61 species and ranges all over the world.

FAMILY 80.--CHIROCENTRIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"A marine fish, with thin deciduous scales, no barbels, and posterior dorsal fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--The Eastern seas from Africa to China.

FAMILY 81.--ALEPOCEPHALIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"A marine fish, covered with thin cycloid scales, no barbels, and posterior dorsal fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--Deep waters of the Mediterranean.

{455}FAMILY 82.--NOTOPTERIDÆ. (1 Genus, 5 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, without barbels, head and body scaly, long tapering tail, and short posterior dorsal fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--Rivers of India, Siam, the Sunda Islands, and West Africa.

FAMILY 83.--HALOSAURIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"Marine fishes, with cycloid scales, a short median dorsal fin, and no barbels."

DISTRIBUTION.--Deep waters of the Atlantic, Madeira.

FAMILY 84.--GYMNOTIDÆ. (5 Genera, 20 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with elongate bodies, pointed tail, and no dorsal fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--Tropical America from Trinidad to the River Parana.

The genera are distributed as follows:--

_Sternarchus_ (8 sp.), Guiana and Brazil; _Rhamphichthys_ (6 sp.), Guiana and Brazil; _Sternophygus_ (4 sp.), Tropical America; _Carapus_ (1 sp.), Trinidad to Brazil; _Gymnotus_, (1 sp.--the Electric eel), Tropical South America.

FAMILY 85.--SYMBRANCHIDÆ. (4 Genera, 6 Species.)

"Marine and fresh-water fishes, having elongate bodies without fins, and very minute scales or none."

DISTRIBUTION.--Fresh waters and coasts of Western Australia and Tasmania.

The genera are:--

_Amphipnous_ (1 sp.), Bengal; _Monopterus_ (1 sp.), Siam to Northern China and Sunda Islands; _Symbranchus_ (3 sp.), Tropical {456}America, and India to Australia; _Chilobranchus_ (1 sp.), Australia and Tasmania.

FAMILY 86.--MURÆNIDÆ. (26 Genera, 230 Species.)

"Marine or fresh-water fishes, with cylindrical or band-like bodies and no ventral fins."

DISTRIBUTION.--The seas and fresh waters of temperate and tropical regions. This family is divided by Dr. Günther into two sub-families and nine sections. The genus _Anguilla_, comprising our common Eel and a number of species from all parts of the world, is the only one which is found in fresh water, though even here most of the species are marine. _Anguilla_ and _Conger_ are the only British genera.

FAMILY 87.--PEGASIDÆ. (1 Genus, 4 Species.)

"Small marine fishes, covered with bony plates, and short opposite dorsal and anal fins."

DISTRIBUTION.--Indian Ocean and seas of China and Australia.

_Order V.--LOPHOBRANCHII._

"Fish with a segmented bony covering, long snout, and small toothless mouth."

FAMILY 88.--SOLENOSTOMIDÆ. (1 Genus, 3 Species.)

"Marine Lophobranchii, with wide gill openings and two dorsal fins."

DISTRIBUTION.--Indian Ocean, from Zanzibar to China and the Moluccas.

{457}FAMILY 89.--SYNGNATHIDÆ. (15 Genera, 112 Species.)

"Marine Lophobranchii, with very small gill opening and one soft dorsal fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--All the tropical and temperate seas. Some species of _Syngnathus_, _Doryichthys_, and _Coelonotus_ enter fresh water, and a few live in it exclusively. _Siphonostoma_, _Syngnathus_, _Nerophis_, and _Hippocampus_ are British genera. The _Hippocampina_ (5 genera, 25 sp.), or Sea-horses, are peculiar to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, except three or four species of _Hippocampus_ in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

_Order VI.--PLECTOGNATHI._

"Fishes covered with rough scales or shields, having a narrow mouth, and soft posterior dorsal fin."

FAMILY 90.--SCLERODERMI. (7 Genera, 95 Species.)

"Marine Plectognathi, with toothed jaws."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate and Tropical seas, but much more abundant in the Tropics.

FAMILY 91.--GYMNODONTES. (10 Genera, 82 Species.)

"Marine or fresh-water Plectognathi, with jaws modified into a beak."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate and tropical regions.

Some species of _Tetrodon_ are found in the rivers of Tropical America, Africa, and Asia. Species of _Tetrodon_ and _Orthagoriscus_ have been found on the British coasts.

{458}SUB-CLASS II.--DIPNOI.

FAMILY 92.--SIRENOIDEI. (3 Genera, 3 Species.)

"Eel-shaped fresh-water fishes, covered with cycloid scales; the vertical fins forming a continuous border to the compressed tapering tail."

DISTRIBUTION.--Rivers of Tropical Africa, South America, and Australia.

The genera are:--_Protopterus_ (1 sp.), Tropical Africa; _Lepidosiren_ (1 sp.), Amazon Valley; _Ceratodus_ (1 sp.), Queensland.

SUB-CLASS III.--GANOIDEI.

_Order I.--HOLOSTEI._

"Body covered with scales."

FAMILY 93.--AMIIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"A fresh-water fish, with cycloid scales and a long soft dorsal fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--United States.

FAMILY 94.--POLYPTERIDÆ. (2 Genera, 2 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with ganoid scales and dorsal spines."

DISTRIBUTION.--Central and Western Africa.

The genera are:--

_Polypterus_ (1 sp.), the Nile and rivers of West Africa; _Calamoichthys_ (1 sp.), Old Calabar.

{459}FAMILY 95.--LEPIDOSTEIDÆ. (1 Genus, 3 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with ganoid scales, and dorsal and anal fins composed of articulated rays."

DISTRIBUTION.--The genus Lepidosteus, the Garfishes or Bony Pikes, inhabits North America to Mexico and Cuba.

_Order II.--CHONDROSTEI._

"Sub-cartilaginous scaleless fishes with heterocercal tail, the skin with osseous bucklers or naked."

FAMILY 96.--ACCIPENSERIDÆ. (2 Genera, 20 Species.)

"Marine or fresh-water fishes with osseous bucklers and inferior mouth."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate and Arctic regions of the northern hemisphere. ACCIPENSER (19 sp.), comprising the Sturgeons, has the distribution of the family; most of the species are marine, but some are confined to the Caspian and Black Seas and the great American lakes with the rivers flowing into them, while the Danube, Mississippi, and Columbia River have peculiar species. The other genus, SCAPHIRHYNCHUS (1 sp.), is confined to the Mississippi and its tributaries.

FAMILY 97.--POLYDONTIDÆ. (1 Genus, 2 Species.)

"Fresh-water fishes, with wide lateral mouth and naked skin."

DISTRIBUTION.--The Mississippi and Yang-tse-kiang rivers.

{460}SUB CLASS IV.--CHONDROPTERYGII. (SHARKS AND RAYS.)

_Order I.--HOLOCEPHALA. (Chimæras.)_

FAMILY 98.--CHIMÆRIDÆ. (2 Genera, 4 Species.)

"Shark-like marine fishes, snout of the male with a prehensile organ."

DISTRIBUTION.--Northern and Southern temperate seas. _Chimæra_ is British.

_Order II.--PLAGIOSTOMATA._

Sub-order.--SELACHOIDEA. (Sharks.)

FAMILY 99.--CARCHARIIDÆ. (11 Genera, 59 Species.)

"Sharks with two dorsals and a nictitating membrane."

DISTRIBUTION.--Seas of the Arctic, temperate, and tropical regions. Species of _Galeus_ and _Mustelus_ have occurred on our coasts.

FAMILY 100.--LAMNIDÆ. (5 Genera, 7 Species.)

"Sharks with two dorsals and no nictitating membrane."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate and tropical seas. Species of _Lamna_, _Alopecias_, and _Selache_ have occurred in British seas.

{461}FAMILY 101.--RHINODONTIDÆ. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"Sharks with two dorsal fins, the second small, and no nictitating membrane."

DISTRIBUTION.--South and East Africa.

FAMILY 102.--NOTIDANIDÆ. (1 Genus, 4 Species.)

"Sharks with one dorsal fin and no nictitating membrane."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate and tropical seas, from the North Atlantic to the Cape of Good Hope and California. One species has occurred on our southern coasts.

FAMILY 103.--SCYLLIIDÆ. (7 Genera, 25 Species.)

"Sharks with one dorsal fin and no nictitating membrane."

DISTRIBUTION.--All temperate and tropical seas. Species of _Scyllium_ and _Pristiurus_ are British.

FAMILY 104.--CESTRACIONTIDÆ. (1 Genus, 4 Species.)

"Sharks with two dorsal fins and no nictitating membrane."

DISTRIBUTION.--Pacific Ocean from Japan to New Zealand, Moluccan Sea.

FAMILY 105.--SPINACIDÆ. (10 Genera, 21 Species.)

"Sharks with two dorsal fins and no nictitating membrane, no anal fin."

DISTRIBUTION.--Arctic, temperate, and tropical seas. Species of _Acanthias_, _Læmargus_, and _Echinorhinus_ have occurred on our coasts.

{462}FAMILY 106.--RHINIDÆ (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"Sharks with depressed flat body and large expanded pectoral fins."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate and tropical seas, from Britain to California and Australia.

FAMILY 107.--PRISTIOPHORIDÆ. (1 Genus, 4 Species.)

"Sharks with produced flat snout, armed with teeth on each edge."

DISTRIBUTION.--Seas of Japan and Australia.

Sub-order BATOIDEI. (Rays.)

FAMILY 108.--PRISTIDÆ. (1 Genus, 5 Species.)

"Rays with produced snout and lateral saw-like teeth."

DISTRIBUTION.--Seas of tropical and sub-tropical regions.

FAMILY 109.--RHINOBATIDÆ. (3 Genera, 15 Species.)

"Rays with long and strong tail, having a caudal and two dorsal fins."

DISTRIBUTION.--Tropical and sub-tropical seas.

FAMILY 110.--TORPEDINIDÆ. (6 Genera, 15 Species.)

"Rays with broad smooth disc, and an electric organ."

DISTRIBUTION.--Tropical and temperate seas, from Britain to Tasmania.

FAMILY 111.--RAIIDÆ. (4 Genera, 29 Species.)

"Rays with broad rhombic disc and no serrated caudal spine."

DISTRIBUTION.--All temperate and tropical seas. Several species of _Raia_ are found on our coasts.

{463}FAMILY 112.--TRYGONIDÆ (6 Genera, 43 Species.)

"Rays with the pectoral fins extending to end of snout."

DISTRIBUTION.--Seas of all temperate and tropical regions, and rivers of Tropical America. A species of _Trygon_ has occurred on our Southern coast. _Ellipesurus_ and _Tæniura_ are found in the fresh waters of the interior of South America, while the latter genus occurs also in the Indian seas, but not in the Atlantic.

FAMILY 113.--MYLOBATIDÆ. (5 Genera, 22 Species.)

"Rays with very broad pectoral fins not extending to end of snout."

DISTRIBUTION.--Temperate and tropical seas. A species of MYLIOBATIS is British, but most of the species and genera are confined to tropical seas. _Dicerobatis_ and _Ceratoptera_ are very large Rays, commonly called Sea-devils.

SUB-CLASS V.--CYCLOSTOMATA.

"Cartilaginous fishes, with suctorial mouths and without lateral fins."

FAMILY 114.--PETROMYZONTIDÆ. (4 Genera, 12 Species.)

"Marine or fresh-water eel-like fishes, with suctorial mouths and without barbels."

DISTRIBUTION.--Coasts and fresh waters of temperate regions of both hemispheres. Three species of _Petromyzon_ (Lampreys), are British.

{464}FAMILY 115.--MYXINIDÆ. (2 Genera, 5 Species.)

"Marine eel-like fishes, with four pairs of barbels."

DISTRIBUTION.--Seas of the temperate regions of both hemispheres.

SUB-CLASS VI.--LEPTOCARDII.

FAMILY 116.--CIRRHOSTOMI. (1 Genus, 1 Species.)

"A small marine fish with no jaws or fins, and with rudimentary eyes."

DISTRIBUTION.--The only species, the Lancelet (_Amphioxus_), is the lowest form of living vertebrate. It is found in the temperate regions of both hemispheres, and has occurred on our southern coast.

_Remarks on the Distribution of Fishes._

_Marine Fish._--There are about 80 families of marine fishes, and of these no less than 50 are universally, or almost universally, distributed over the seas and oceans of the globe. Of the remainder many are widely distributed, some species even ranging from the North Atlantic to Australia. Six families are confined to the Northern Seas, but four of these consist of single species only, the other two being the Discoboli (2 genera, 11 sp.), and the Accipenseridæ (2 genera and 20 sp.). Only one family (Acanthoclinidæ) is confined to the Southern oceans, and that consists of but a single species. Four families (Sternoptychidæ, Stomiatidæ, Alepocephalidæ and Halosauridæ) are confined to the Atlantic Ocean, while 13 are found only in the Pacific; and of the remainder several are more abundant in the Pacific than the Atlantic. Two families (Lycodidæ and Gadidæ) are found in the Arctic and Antarctic seas only, though the {465}latter family has a single species in the Indian seas. Among the curiosities of distribution are,--the extensive genus _Diagramma_, confined to the Pacific with the exception of one species in the Mediterranean; the single species constituting the family Lophotidæ, found only in the Mediterranean and Japan; the small family of Notacanthi, confined to Greenland, the Mediterranean, and West Australia; and the four families, Sternoptychidæ, Stomiatidæ, Alepocephalidæ, and Halosauridæ, which are believed to inhabit exclusively the depths of the ocean, and are therefore very rarely obtained.

_Fresh-water Fish._--There are 36 families of fishes which inhabit fresh water exclusively, and 5 others, which are both marine and fresh-water. These present many interesting peculiarities of distribution. The Neotropical region is the richest in families, and probably also in genera and species. No less than 22 families inhabit it, and of these 6 are altogether peculiar. The Ethiopian and Nearctic regions each have 18 families, the former with 3, and the latter with 5 peculiar. Several isolated forms, requiring to be placed in distinct families, inhabit the great American lakes; and, no doubt, when the African lakes are equally well known, they will be found also to possess many peculiar forms. The Oriental region comes next, with 17 families, of which 3 are peculiar. The Palæarctic has 12, and the Australian 11 families, each with only 1 altogether peculiar to it.

If we take those regions which are sometimes supposed to be so nearly related that they should be combined, we shall find the fresh-water fishes in most cases markedly distinct. The Nearctic and Palæarctic regions, for example, together contain 20 families, but only 11 of these occur in both, and only 5 are exclusive inhabitants of these two regions. This shows an amount of diversity that would not, perhaps, be exhibited by any other class of animals. The Ethiopian and Oriental regions together possess 24 families, only 11 of which are found in both, and only 1 exclusively characteristic of the two. The Australian and Neotropical regions possess together 27 families, of which 7 are found in both, and 3 are exclusively characteristic of the two. This last fact is very interesting: the marine family of {466}Trachinidæ possesses a fresh-water genus, _Aphritis_, one species of which inhabits Tasmania, and two others Patagonia; the Haplochitonidæ (2 genera, 3 sp.) are found only in Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, and South Australia; and the Galaxidæ (1 genus, 12 sp.) inhabit the same regions, but extend to Chili, to New Zealand and to Queensland. We have here an illustration of that connection between South America and Australia which is so strongly manifested in plants, but of which there are only scattered indications in most classes of animals. The dividing line across the Malay Archipelago, separating the Oriental from the Australian regions, and which is so strikingly marked in mammalia and birds, is equally so in fresh-water fishes. No less than six families have their eastern limits in Java and Borneo; while the extensive family of Cyprinidæ has no less than 23 genera in Java and Borneo, but not a single species has been found in Celebes or the Moluccas.

The distribution of fresh-water fishes lends no support to the view that the peninsula of India belongs to the Ethiopian region. A large proportion of the Oriental families are common to the whole region; while there is hardly a single example, of a characteristic Ethiopian family or genus extending into the peninsula of India and no further.

Among the special peculiarities of distribution, is the curious fish, forming the family Comephoridæ, which is confined to Lake Baikal, among the mountains of Central Asia, 2,000 feet above the sea, and a thousand miles distant from the ocean; yet having its nearest allies in the exclusively oceanic family of the mackerels (Scomberidæ). The Characinidæ are confined to Africa and South America, distinct genera inhabiting each region. The Salmonidæ are confined to the two northern regions, except a single species of a peculiar genus in New Zealand. The genus _Osteoglossum_ has a species in South America, another in the Sunda Islands, and a third in Queensland; while the curious Sirenoidei are represented by single species of peculiar genera in Tropical America, Tropical Africa, and Tropical Australia.

_Fossil Fishes._--Fishes have existed from a very remote era, and it is remarkable that the first whose remains have been {467}discovered belong to the Ganoidei, a highly developed group which has continued to exist down to our times, and of which the sturgeon is the best known example. We may therefore be sure that the Upper Silurian rocks in which these are found, although so very far back in geological history, do not by any means lead us to the time when the primitive fish-type appeared upon the earth. In the Carboniferous and Permian formations numerous remains of fishes are found, allied to the _Lepidosteus_ or Gar-pike of North America. The next group in order of appearance, are the Plagiostomata, containing the existing Sharks and Rays. Traces of these are found in the highest Silurian beds, and become plentiful in the Devonian and Carboniferous formations and in all succeeding ages, being especially abundant in Cretaceous and Eocene strata. The Holocephali appear first in the Oolitic period, and are represented by the living Chimæridæ. The Dipnoi, to which belong the _Lepidosiren_ and _Ceratodus_, are believed to have existed in the Triassic period, from the evidence of teeth almost identical with those of the existing Australian fish. All the ancient fossil fishes belong to the above-mentioned groups, and many of them have little resemblance to existing forms. The Teleostean fishes, which form the great bulk of those now living, cannot be traced back further than the Cretaceous period, while by far the larger number first appear in the Tertiary beds. The Salmonidæ, Scopelidæ, Percidæ, Clupeidæ, Scombresocidæ, Mugilidæ, and Siluridæ, or forms closely allied to them, are found in the Cretaceous formation. In the Eocene beds we first meet with Squammipennes, Cyprinidæ, Pleuronectidæ, Characinidæ, Murænidæ, Gadidæ, Pediculati, Syngnathidæ, and Hippocampidæ.

Most of these fossils represent marine fishes, those of fresh-water origin being rare, and of little importance as an aid in determining the causes of the distribution of living forms. To understand this we must look to the various changes of the land surface which have led to the existing distribution of all the higher vertebrates, and to those special means of dispersal which Mr. Darwin has shown to be possessed by all fresh-water productions.

{468}CHAPTER XXI.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT FAMILIES AND GENERA OF INSECTS.

Although insects are, for the most part, truly terrestrial animals, and illustrate in a very striking manner the characteristic phenomena of distribution, it is impossible here to treat of them in much detail. This arises chiefly from their excessive numbers, but also from the minuteness and obscurity of many of the groups, and our imperfect knowledge of all but the European species. The number of described species of insects is uncertain, as no complete enumeration of them has ever been made; but it probably exceeds 100,000, and these may belong to somewhere about 10,000 genera--many times more than all vertebrate animals together. Of the eight Orders into which Insects are usually divided, only two--the Coleoptera and Lepidoptera--have been so thoroughly collected in all parts of the globe that they can be used, with any safety, to compare their distribution with that of vertebrate animals; and even of these it is only certain favourite groups which have been so collected. Among Lepidoptera, for example, although the extensive group of Butterflies may be said, in a general sense, to be thoroughly well known--every spot visited by civilized man having furnished its quota to our collections--yet the minute Tineidæ, or even the larger but obscure Noctuidæ, have scarcely been collected at all in tropical countries, and any attempt to study their geographical distribution would certainly lead to erroneous results. The same thing occurs, though perhaps in a less degree, among the Coleoptera. While the Carabidæ, Buprestidæ, and {469}Longicorns of the Tropics, are almost as well known as those of the Temperate Zones, the Staphylinidæ, the smaller Elateridæ, and many other obscure and minute groups, are very imperfectly represented from extra-European countries. I therefore propose to examine with some care the distribution of the Butterflies, and the Sphingina among Lepidoptera, and the following large and well-known families of Coleoptera:--Cicindelidæ, Carabidæ, Lucanidæ, Cetoniidæ, Buprestidæ, and the three families of Longicorns. These families together contain over 30,000 species, classed in nearly 3,000 genera, and comprise a large proportion of the best known and most carefully studied groups. We may therefore consider, that a detailed examination of their distribution will lead us to results which cannot be invalidated by any number of isolated facts drawn from the less known members of the class.

_Range of Insects in Time._--In considering how much weight is to be given to facts in insect distribution, and what interpretation is to be put upon the anomalies or exceptional cases that may be met with, it is important to have some idea of the antiquity of the existing groups, and of the rate at which the forms of insect life have undergone modification. The geological record, if imperfect in the case of the higher animals, is fragmentary in the extreme as regards indications of former insect life; yet the positive facts that it does disclose are of great interest, and have an important bearing on our subject. These facts and the conclusions they lead to have been discussed in our first volume (p. 166), and they must be carefully weighed in all cases of apparent conflict or incongruity between the distribution of insects and that of the higher animals.

{470}_Order--LEPIDOPTERA._

Sub-order--_Lepidoptera_ RHOPALOCERA, or BUTTERFLIES.

FAMILY 1.--DANAIDÆ. (24 Genera, 530 Species.)

The Danaidæ are now held to comprehend, not only the whole of the group so named by Doubleday, but a large portion of the Heliconidæ of that author. Their range is thus extended over the whole of the tropical regions. A few species spread northwards into the Palæarctic and Nearctic regions, but these are only stragglers, and hardly diminish the exclusively tropical character of the group. The more remarkable genera are,--_Hestia_ (10 sp.), and _Ideopsis_ (6 sp.), confined to the Malayan and Moluccan districts; _Danais_ (50 sp.), which has the range of the whole family; _Euploea_ (140 sp.), confined to the Oriental and Australian regions, but especially abundant in the Malayan and Moluccan districts; _Hamadryas_ (4 sp.), Australian region only. The remaining genera constitute the Danaioid Heliconidæ, and are strictly confined to Tropical America, except a few species which extend into the southern parts of the Nearctic region. The chief of these genera are:--

_Ithomia_ (160 sp.), _Melinæa_ (18 sp.), _Napeogenes_ (20 sp.), _Mechanitis_ (4 sp.), _Ceratina_ (32 sp.), _Dircenna_ (10 sp.), and _Lycorea_ (4 sp.). Florida, Louisiana, and Southern California, mark the northern extent of these insects.

{471}FAMILY 2.--SATYRIDÆ. (60 Genera, 835 Species.)

This family has an absolutely universal distribution, extending even into the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Many of the genera are, however, restricted in their range.

_Hætera_, _Lymanopoda_, _Calisto_, _Corades_, _Taygetis_, _Pronophila_, _Euptychia_, and some allied forms (25 genera in all) are Neotropical, the last named extending north to Canada; _Debis_, _Melanitis_, _Mycalesis_ and _Ypthima_, are mostly Oriental, but extending also into the Australian and the Ethiopian regions; _Gnaphodes_, _Leptoneura_, and a few other small genera, are exclusively Ethiopian; _Xenica_, _Hypocista_, and _Heteronympha_, are Australian; _Erebia_, _Satyrus_, _Hipparchia_, _Coenonympha_, and allies, are mostly Palæarctic, but some species are Ethiopian, and others Nearctic; _Chionabas_, is characteristic of the whole Arctic regions, but is also found in Chili and the Western Himalayas. The peculiar genera in each region are,--Neotropical, 25; Australian, 7; Oriental, 11; Ethiopian, 5; Palæarctic, 3; Nearctic, 0.

FAMILY 3.--ELYMNIIDÆ. (1 Genus, 28 Species.)

The genus _Elymnias_, which constitutes this family, is characteristic of the Malayan and Moluccan districts, with some species in Northern India and one in Ashanti. It thus agrees with several groups of Vertebrata, in showing the resemblance {472}of Malaya with West Africa independently of the Peninsula of India.

FAMILY 4. MORPHIDÆ. (10 Genera, 106 Species.)

The Morphidæ are a group of generally large-sized butterflies, especially characteristic of the Malayan and Moluccan districts, and of Tropical America; with a few species extending to the Himalayas on the west, and to Polynesia on the east. The genera are:--

_Amathusia_ (6 sp.), Northern India to Java; _Zeuxidia_ (9 sp.), the Malay district; _Discophora_ (7 sp.), Northern India to Philippines, Java and Timor; _Enispe_ (3 sp.), Northern India; _Hyades_ (15 sp.), Moluccan and Polynesian districts, except one species in Java; _Clerome_ (11 sp.), Northern India to Philippines and Celebes; _Æmona_ (1 sp.), Sikhim; _Hyantis_ (1 sp.), Waigiou; _Thaumantis_ (10 sp.), Indo-Chinese and Malayan districts; _Morpho_ (40 sp.), Neotropical region, Brazilian and Central American sub-regions.

FAMILY 5. BRASSOLIDÆ. (7 Genera, 62 Species.)

The Brassolidæ have the same distribution as the genus _Morpho_. The genera are:--

_Brassolis_ (5 sp.); _Opsiphanes_ (17 sp.); _Dynastor_ (2 sp.); _Penetes_ (1 sp.); _Caligo_ (21 sp.); _Narope_ (5 sp.); and _Dasyopthalma_ (3 sp.)

{473}FAMILY 6.--ACRÆIDÆ. (1 Genus, 90 Species.)

The genus _Acræa_ is especially abundant in the Ethiopian region, which contains two-thirds of all the known species; 3 or 4 species only, range over the whole Oriental, and most of the Australian regions; while all the rest inhabit the same districts of the Neotropical region as the Brassolidæ.

FAMILY 7.--HELICONIDÆ. (2 Genera, 114 Species.)

The true Heliconidæ are very characteristic of the Neotropical region; one species only extending into the Southern States of North America as far as Florida. The genus _Heliconius_ (83 sp.), has the range of the family; while _Eueides_ (19 sp.), is confined to the Brazilian and Central American sub-regions.

FAMILY 8.--NYMPHALIDÆ. (113 Genera, 1490 Species.)

This is the largest and most universally distributed family of butterflies, and is well illustrated by our common Fritillaries, {474}Tortoise-shell, Peacock, Painted Lady, and Purple Emperor butterflies. They are found wherever butterfly-life can exist, and some single species--like the Painted Lady (_Pyrameis cardui_)--range almost over the globe. A few of the more extensive and remarkable genera only, can be here noticed:--

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The Geographical Distribution of Animals, Volume 2Chapter XXVIII: Part IV: Geographical Zoology (10)

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