[75] The table below shows approximately the composition of the fresh-water fish fauna of Europe, as compared with that of North America north of the Tropic of Cancer.
| Families. | Europe. | N. America. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamprey | Petromyzonidæ | 3 species. | 8 species. |
| Paddle-fish | Polyodontidæ | — " | 1 " |
| Sturgeon | Acipenseridæ | 10 " | 6 " |
| Garpike | Lepisosteidæ | — " | 3 " |
| Bowfin | Amiidæ | — " | 1 " |
| Mooneye | Hiodontidæ | — " | 3 " |
| Herring | Clupeidæ | 2 " | 5 " |
| Gizzard-shad | Dorosomidæ | — " | 1 " |
| Salmon | Salmonidæ | 12 " | 28 " |
| Characin | Characinidæ | — " | 1 " |
| Carp | Cyprinidæ | 61 " | 230 " |
| Loach | Cobiridæ | 3 " | — " |
| Sucker | Catostomidæ | — " | 51 " |
| Catfish | Siluridæ | 1 " | 25 " |
| Trout-perch | Percopsidæ | — " | 2 " |
| Blindfish | Amblyopsidæ | — " | 6 " |
| Killifish | Cyprinodontidæ | 3 " | 52 " |
| Mud-minnow | Umbridæ | 1 " | 2 " |
| Pike | Esocidæ | 1 " | 5 " |
| Alaska blackfish | Dalliidæ | — " | 1 " |
| Eel | Anguillidæ | 2 " | 1 " |
| Stickleback | Gasterosteidæ | 3 " | 7 " |
| Silverside | Atherinidæ | 2 " | 2 " |
| Pirate perch | Aphredoderidæ | — " | 1 " |
| Elassoma | Elassomidæ | — " | 2 " |
| Sunfish | Centrarchidæ | — " | 37 " |
| Perch | Percidæ | 11 " | 72 " |
| Bass | Serranidæ | 1 " | 4 " |
| Drum | Sciænidæ | — " | 1 " |
| Surf-fish | Embiotocidæ | — " | 1 " |
| Cichlid | Cichlidæ | — " | 2 " |
| Goby | Gobiidæ | 2 " | 6 " |
| Sculpin | Cottidæ | 2 " | 21 " |
| Blenny | Blenniidæ | 3 " | — " |
| Cod | Gadidæ | 1 " | 1 " |
| Flounder | Pleuronectidæ | 1 " | — " |
| Sole | Soleidæ | 1 " | 1 " |
Total: Europe, 21 families; 126 species. North America, 34 families; 590 species. A few new species have been added since this enumeration was made.
According to Dr. Günther (Guide to the Study of Fishes, p. 243), the total number of species now known from the temperate regions of Asia and Europe is about 360. The fauna of India, south of the Himalayas, is much more extensive, numbering 625 species. This latter fauna bears little resemblance to that of North America, being wholly tropical in its character.
[76] Amia calva Linnæus.
[77] Aphredoderus sayanus Gilliams.
[78] Micropterus salmoides Lacépède.
[79] Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque.
[80] Hiodon tergisus Le Sueur.
[81] Lepisosteus osseus Linnæus.