Some are oviparous, others (Zoarces, Diplacanthopoma, Hephthocara, Lucifuga) viviparous. The eyes are absent, or at least not visible externally in some of the bathybial forms (Typhlonus, Aphyonus, Tauredophidium), as well as in the only known freshwater forms, the Cuban Cave-Fishes Stygicola and Lucifuga, which are evidently allied to the marine Brotula, whilst the blind Cave-Fishes of North America (cf. p. [618]) are derived from freshwater types. It is believed that blind fishes are found also in caves of the island of Jamaica, but no specimens have been seen by naturalists. The largest Cuban Cave-Fish is 5 inches long.[[755]]
Fam. 13. Congrogadidae.—Eel-shaped Fishes without ventrals, allied to the Blenniidae, but with all the rays soft and articulated, the post-temporal small and ankylosed to the skull, and the sub-orbitals produced into laminae supporting the eyeball. Lips much developed; gill-membranes free from isthmus; scales very small.
A single genus, Congrogadus, with three species from the Australian and East Indian coasts. The recently described Japanese genus Hierichthys has been referred to this family.
Fam. 14. Ophidiidae.—Degraded Blenniids, closely related to the Zoarcidae, with pseudobranchiae, with tapering tail without distinct caudal fin, and with the ventral fins each reduced to a pair of filaments or a bifid ray inserted just behind the chin at the extremity of the clavicle, which is produced forwards as a slender rod.
Small marine, carnivorous fishes, from the Atlantic and Southern Pacific coasts as well as from great depths in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. About 25 species are known. Genera: Ophidium, Lepophidium, Genypterus.
Fam. 15. Podatelidae.—Mouth inferior, protractile, toothless or with minute teeth. Praecaudal vertebrae with transverse processes, to which the ribs are attached. Gill-membranes narrowly attached to isthmus; 8 or 9 branchiostegal rays; gills 4; no pseudobranchiae. Supratemporal loosely attached by ligament to the skull; scapula cartilaginous, perforate, bearing the base of the pectoral fin, which is an undivided cartilaginous plate; coracoid small, ossified. Ventral fins jugular, each reduced to a single stout filament made up of two intimately coherent rays. Body short, tail elongate and tapering, compressed; no scales. A short dorsal fin, without spines, situated above the pectorals; a long anal fin, continuous with the caudal.
Fig. 431.—Pectoral arch of Podateles indicus. cl, Clavicle; cor, coracoid; pelv, pelvis; ptr, pterygial; ptte, post-temporal; sc, scapula; scl, supraclavicle.
The genus Podateles (Ateleopus) comprises only two species from the deep sea, one from Japan and one from India.
Division IX.—TAENIOSOMI.