Mouth with strong teeth in the superior and intermaxillary bone; behind the radial dorsal fin there is still a fatty fin and no large scales. Here belongs the Lizard-like fish (Saurus), so called on account of its resemblance to the Lizards. Live in sea and fresh-water.
Fam. 12. Ornithic Fishes, Herrings and Pikes.
The Herrings have teeth in the superior and intermaxillary bone; only one dorsal fin; mostly large scales.
Body of the Pike slightly scaled, furnished mostly with a small dorsal fin situated very far back, mouth full of teeth, but none of these in the rudimental intermaxillary bone. Dwellers in the sea and in fresh water.
Among the Pikes is placed the Exocœtus or Flying fish.
Order 5. Sensorial Fishes.
3541. Bones cartilaginous, mouth opening transversely under the snout.
Fam. 13. Thricozooid Fishes, Sharks.
Abdominales; bones cartilaginous, mouth opening transversely under the projecting snout; mostly several pairs of separate branchial apertures.
Here belong the Chimæræ, Sturgeons, Sharks, and Rays. The last ought to be held as higher in rank, partly on account of their slender tail, partly because the huge Rays, which are called Cephalopterus, have the anterior thoracic rays free and so moveable that they can seize their prey with them as with hands. All lay, with the exception of the Sturgeons, large and leathery ova, and in this approximate pretty closely to the Reptilia.