Fig. 246.—Lycodes mucosus, from Northumberland Sound.
Nine species are known from the Arctic Ocean, four from the southern extremity of the American continent.
Gymnelis.—Body elongate, naked. Eye of moderate size or rather small. Ventrals none. Vent situated at some distance backwards from the head. Small conical teeth in the jaws, on the vomer and palatine bones. Jaws equal anteriorly. Barbel none. Six branchiostegals; gill-opening narrow, the gill membranes being attached to the isthmus. Pseudobranchiæ present; air-bladder none. Pyloric appendages two; no prominent anal papilla.
Fig. 247.—Gymnelis viridis.
One species (G. viridis) from Greenland, the other (G. pictus) from the Straits of Magelhæn.
The other genera belonging to this family are Uronectes from Baffin’s Bay, Microdesmus from Panama, Blennodesmus from the coast of North-Eastern Australia, and Maynea from the Straits of Magelhæn.
Second Family—Gadidæ.
Body more or less elongate, covered with small smooth scales. One, two, or three dorsal fins, occupying nearly the whole of the back; rays of the posterior dorsal well developed; one or two anal fins. Caudal free from dorsal and anal, or, if they are united, the dorsal with a separate anterior portion. Ventrals jugular, composed of several rays, or, if they are reduced to a filament, the dorsal is divided into two. Gill-opening wide; the gill-membranes generally not attached to the isthmus. Pseudobranchiæ none, or glandular, rudimentary. An air-bladder and pyloric appendages generally present.