Fig. 227.—Patæcus fronto.
Three species of this singular form are known from South and West Australia.
Zoarces.—Body elongate, with the scales rudimentary; conical teeth in the jaws. Dorsal fin long, with a depression on the tail, which is formed by a series of spines much shorter than the rays. No other fin-spines. No separate caudal fin. Ventrals short, formed by three or four rays. Gill-openings wide.
Two species are known, one from the European, and the other from the North American side of the Atlantic. The former, Z. viviparus, is well known by the name of “Viviparous Blenny;” as is signified by this name it produces its young alive. These are so matured at the time of their birth that on their first exclusion they swim about with the utmost agility. No fewer than from two to three hundred young are sometimes produced by one female, and the abdomen of the mother is so distended before parturition that it is impossible to touch it without causing them to be extruded. Full grown individuals are about twelve inches long, but the American species (Z. anguillaris) attains to a length of two or three feet.
Other genera of the family of Blennoids are:—Blennophis, Nemophis, Plagiotremus, Neoclinus, Cebidichthys, Myxodes, Heterostichus, Dictyosoma, Lepidoblennius, Dactyloscopus, Gunellichthys, Urocentrus, Stichæopsis, Sticharium, Notograptus, Pholidichthys, and Pseudoblennius.
Fifth Family—Acanthoclinidæ.
Body elongate, low, compressed, covered with small scales. One dorsal fin, occupying nearly the whole of the back, and chiefly composed of spines. Anal fin long, with numerous spines. Ventrals jugular, composed of a few rays only.
Of this family one fish only is known (Acanthoclinus littoreus), a small Blenny abundant on the coast of New Zealand.
Sixth Family—Mastacembelidæ.
Body elongate, eel-like, covered with very small scales. Mandible long, but little moveable. Dorsal fin very long, the anterior portion composed of numerous short isolated spines; anal fin with spines anteriorly. Ventrals none. The humeral arch is not suspended from the skull. Gill-openings reduced to a slit at the lower part of the side of the head.