Erythrichthys.—Body elongate, covered with small ciliated scales. Mouth very protractile, the pedicles of the intermaxillary extending to the occiput. Dentition quite rudimentary or entirely absent Two dorsal fins connected by a series of very feeble spines; also the anterior spines are feeble. Præoperculum not serrated.
Fig. 161.—Erythrichthys nitidus.
Fig. 162.—Enlarged scale.
Fig. 163.—Protractile mouth.
Small fishes from various tropical and temperate seas. Four species: the species figured occurs, but is not common, on the coasts of Western Austria, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Oligorus.—Body oblong, covered with small scales. Cleft of the mouth rather oblique, the lower jaw being the longer. Teeth villiform, without canines; teeth on the vomer and palatine bones. One dorsal, with eleven spines; anal with three; caudal fin rounded. Præoperculum with a single smooth or obtusely denticulated margin.
To this genus belong two fishes well known on account of the excellent flavour of their flesh. The first (O. macquariensis) is called by the colonists “Murray-Cod,” being plentiful in the Murray River and other rivers of South Australia. It attains to a length of more than three feet, and to a weight of nearly 100 lbs. The second (O. gigas) is found in the sea, on the coast of New Zealand, and called by the Maoris and colonists “Hapuku.” Its average weight is about 45 lbs., but occasionally large specimens of more than a hundredweight are caught. At certain localities it is so plentiful that it may form an important article of trade. Dr. Hector, who has had opportunity of examining it in a fresh state, has pointed out anatomical differences from the Murray-Cod, from which it appears that it would be better placed in a distinct genus.