Nine species are known from the tropical Indo-Pacific. They belong to the most singularly formed and most beautifully coloured fishes of the Tropics, and formerly were believed to be able to fly, like Dactylopterus. But the membrane connecting their pectoral rays is much too short and feeble to enable them to raise themselves from the surface of the water.
Apistus.—Head and body compressed, covered with ctenoid scales of rather small size. Some bones of the head, and especially the præorbital, are armed with spines. One dorsal with fifteen spines; the anal with three. The pectoral fin is elongate, and one ray is completely detached from the fin. Villiform teeth in the jaws, on the vomer, and palatine bones. Air-bladder present. A cleft behind the fourth gill.
Two species from the Indian Ocean. These fishes are very small, but of interest on account of the prolongation of their pectoral fins, which indicates that they can take long flying leaps out of the water. However, this requires confirmation by actual observation.
Agriopus.—Head and body compressed, scaleless; head without any, or with very feeble, armature. Cleft of the mouth small, at the end of the produced snout. One dorsal fin, which commences from the head, the spinous portion being formed by from seventeen to twenty-one strong spines; anal short. Villiform teeth in the jaws, generally none on the vomer.
Seven species. This singular genus is peculiar to the temperate parts of the South Pacific, occurring at the Cape, on the coast of South Australia, and Chili. The largest species (A. torvus) attains a length of two and a half feet. Nothing is known of its mode of life.
Synanceia.—General appearance of the fish, especially of the head, monstrous. Scales none; skin with numerous soft warty protuberances or filaments. Mouth directed upwards, wide. Eyes small. From thirteen to sixteen dorsal spines; pectoral fins very large. Villiform teeth in the jaws, and sometimes on the vomer.
Four species are known from the Indo-Pacific, of which S. horrida and S. verrucosa are the most generally distributed, and, unfortunately, the most common. They are justly feared on account of the great danger accompanying wounds which they inflict with their poisoned dorsal spines, as has been already noticed above, p. 191. The greatest length to which they attain does not seem to exceed eighteen inches. They are very voracious fishes, and their stomach is of so great a capacity that they are able to swallow fishes one-third of their own bulk.
Micropus.—Head and body strongly compressed, short, and deep; no scales, but the skin is covered with minute tubercles. Snout very short, with nearly vertical anterior profile. Præorbital, præ- and inter-operculum with spines on the edge. Dorsal fin with seven or eight, anal with two spines. Pectorals short, ventrals rudimentary. Jaws with villiform teeth.
These fishes belong to the smallest of Acanthopterygians, scarcely exceeding 1½ inches in length. Two species are known, which are rather common on the coral reefs of the Pacific.
Chorismodactylus.—Head and body rather compressed, scaleless, with skinny flaps. Bones of the head with prominent ridges; the præorbital, præoperculum, and operculum armed; a depression on the occiput. One dorsal fin, with thirteen spines; the anal with two. Three free pectoral appendages. Ventral fins with one spine and five rays. Villiform teeth in the jaws only.