Eel-like freshwater fishes from Tropical America.
Sternarchus.—Tail terminating in a distinct small caudal fin. Teeth small. A rudimentary dorsal fin is indicated by an adipose band fitting into a groove on the back of the tail; it is easily detached, so as to appear as a thong-like appendage fixed in front. Branchiostegals four.
Eight species, some have the snout compressed and of moderate length, like St. Bonapartii from the River Amazons; others have it produced into a long tube, as St. oxyrhynchus from the Essequibo.
Rhamphichthys.—Caudal fin none; teeth none; no trace of a dorsal fin. No free orbital margin.
Six species, of which, again, some have a tubiform snout, whilst in the others it is short.
Sternopygus.—Caudal fin none; no trace of a dorsal fin. Both jaws with small villiform teeth; similar teeth on each side of the palate. Body scaly.
Four species, very common, and growing to a length of 30 inches.
Carapus.—Caudal fin none; no trace of a dorsal fin. A series of conical teeth in each jaw. Anterior nostrils, wide in the upper lip. Body scaly.
One species (C. fasciatus) extremely common, and found all over tropical America, east of the Andes, from 18 to 24 inches long.
Gymnotus.—Caudal and dorsal fins absent; anal extending to the end of the tail. Scales none. Teeth conical, in a single series. Eyes exceedingly small.