Photo by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt] [Washington.
CAT-FISH.
Note the presence of barbels, or "feelers," round the mouth
Serpent-eels are confined to tropical and sub-tropical seas, and are remarkable for their extreme voracity. More than eighty species are known, some of which are brilliantly coloured.
The Deep-sea Eels are represented by numerous species, and dwell at depths varying from 340 to 2,000 fathoms. In some species the body is remarkably modified, the mouth being of enormous size, and the stomach capable of marvellous distension, so much so that eels of this family have been captured which had swallowed fishes several times their own weight. The tail in many of the deep-sea eels tapers to a fine hair-like point.
The Painted Eels are remarkable for their bright spotted or mottled coloration, and are of large size, ranging from 6 to 8 feet in length. Armed with formidable teeth, the larger species are held in no little fear by fishermen and bathers, attacks from these fishes being by no means rare. Their distribution is closely similar to that of the Serpent-eels.
Photo by N. Lazarnick] [New York.
PAINTED EELS FROM BERMUDA.
More than eighty species of these fishes are known.