THE DISTRIBUTION OF MARINE FISHES.
Marine fishes fall, with regard to their mode of life and distribution,
into three distinct categories:--
1. _Shore Fishes_--That is, fishes which inhabit chiefly parts of the
sea in the immediate neighbourhood of land either actually raised
above, or at least but little submerged below, the surface of the
water. They do not descend to any great depth,--very few to 300
fathoms, and the majority live close to the surface. The distribution
of these fishes is determined not only by the temperature of the
surface water but also by the nature of the adjacent land, and its
animal and vegetable products; some of these fishes being confined to
flat coasts with soft or sandy bottoms, others to rocky and fissured
coasts, others to living coral formations. If it were not for the
frequent mechanical and involuntary removals to which these fishes
are exposed, their distribution within certain limits, as it no doubt
originally existed, would resemble still more that of freshwater fishes
than we find it actually does at the present period.
2. _Pelagic Fishes_--that is, fishes which inhabit the surface and
uppermost strata of the open ocean, which approach the shores only
accidentally, or occasionally (in search of prey), or periodically
(for the purpose of spawning). The majority spawn in the open sea,
their ova and young being always found at great distance from the
shore. With regard to their distribution, they are still subject to
the influences of light and the temperature of the surface water; but
they are independent of the variable local conditions which tie the
shore fish to its original home, and therefore roam freely over a space
which would take a freshwater or shore fish thousands of years to cover
in its gradual dispersal. Such as are devoid of rapidity of motion
are dispersed over similarly large areas by the oceanic currents,
more slowly than, but as surely as, the strong swimmers. Therefore,
an accurate definition of their distribution within certain areas
equivalent to the terrestrial regions is much less feasible than in the
case of shore fishes.
3. _Deep-sea Fishes_--that is, fishes which inhabit such depths of the
ocean as to be but little or not influenced by light or the surface
temperature; and which, by their organisation are prevented from
reaching the surface stratum in a healthy condition. Living almost
under identical tellurian conditions, the same type, the same species,
may inhabit an abyssal depth under the equator as well as one near the
arctic or antarctic circle; and all we know of these fishes points to
the conclusion that no separate horizontal regions can be distinguished
in the abyssal fauna, and that no division into bathymetrical strata
can be attempted on the base of generic much less of family characters.
It must not be imagined that these three categories are more sharply
defined than Freshwater and Marine Fishes. They gradually pass into
each other, and there are numerous fishes about which uncertainty
exists whether they should be placed in the Shore or Pelagic series, or
in the Pelagic or Deep-sea series; nay, many facts favour the view that
changes in the mode of life and distribution of fishes are still in
progress.
The change in habitat of numerous fishes is regulated by the
distribution of their favourite food. At certain seasons the surface
of the sea in the vicinity of land swarms with mollusks, larval
Crustaceans, Medusæ, attracting shoals of fishes from the open ocean
to the shores; and these are again pursued by fishes of larger size and
predacious habits, so that all these fishes might be included, with
equal propriety, in the littoral or pelagic series. However, species
which are known to normally spawn in the open ocean must be always
referred to the latter division.
Chondropterygii, Acanthopterygii, Anacanths, Myxinoids, and
Pharyngobranchii furnish the principal contingents to the Marine Fauna;
whilst the majority of Malacopterygians, the Ganoids, and Cyclostomes
are Freshwater Fishes.
I.--DISTRIBUTION OF SHORE FISHES.
The principal types of Shore-fishes are the following:--
CHONDROPTERYGII--
HOLOCEPHALA 4 species
PLAGIOSTOMATA--
_Carchariidæ_ (part.) 12 „
_Scylliidæ_ 30 „
_Cestraciontidæ_ 4 „
_Spinacidæ_ (part.) 8 „
_Rhinidæ_ 1 „
_Pristiophoridæ_ 4 „
_Pristidæ_ 5 „
_Rhinobatidæ_ 14 „
_Torpedinidæ_ 15 „
_Rajidæ_ 34 „
_Trygonidæ_ 47 „
ACANTHOPTERYGII--
_Percidæ_ (part. incl. Pristipomatidæ) 625 „
_Mullidæ_ 35 „
_Sparidæ_ 130 „
_Squamipinnes_ 130 „
_Cirrhitidæ_ 40 „
_Heterolepidina_ 12 „
_Scorpænidæ_ 120 „
_Cottiæ_ (part.) 100 „
_Cataphracti_ (part.) 20 „
_Trachinidæ_ 100 „
_Sciænidæ_ 100 „
_Sphyrænidæ_ 15 „
_Trichiuridæ_ 17 „
_Elacate_ 1 „
_Nomeidæ_ (part.) 5 „
_Cyttidæ_ 8 „
_Stromateus_ 9 „
_Mene_ 1 „
_Carangidæ_ (part.) 130 „
_Kurtidæ_ 7 „
_Gobiodon_ 7 „
_Callionymina_ 30 „
_Discoboli_ 11 „
_Batrachidæ_ 14 „
_Pediculati_ (part.) 11 „
_Blenniidæ_ 90 „
_Acanthoclinidæ_ 1 „
_Teuthididæ_ 30 „
_Acronuridæ_ 60 „
_Hoplognathidæ_ 3 „
_Malacanthidæ_ 3 „
_Plesiopina_ 4 „
_Trichonotidæ_ 2 „
_Cepolidæ_ 7 „
_Gobiesocidæ_ 21 „
_Psychrolutidæ_ 2 „
_Centriscidæ_ 7 „
_Fistulariidæ_ 4 „
ACANTHOPTERYGII PHARYNGOGNATHI--
_Pomacentridæ_ 150 „
_Labridæ_ 400 „
_Embiotocidæ_ 17 „
ANACANTHINI--
_Gadopsidæ_ 1 „
_Lycodidæ_ 15 „
_Gadidæ_ (part.) 50 „
_Ophidiidæ_ (part.) 40 „
_Pleuronectidæ_ 160 „
PHYSOSTOMI--
_Saurina_ (part.) 16 „
_Salmonidæ_ (part.) 7 „
_Clupeidæ_ (part.) 130 „
_Chirocentridæ_ 1 „
_Chilobranchus_ 1 „
_Murænidæ_ (part.) 200 „
_Pegasidæ_ 4 „
LOPHOBRANCHII 120 „
PLECTOGNATHI--
_Sclerodermi_ 95 „
_Gymnodontes_ 83 „
CYCLOSTOMATA--
MYXINIDÆ 5 „
LEPTOCARDII 2 „
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3587 species.
=============
These types of Shore fishes are divided among the following oceanic
areæ:--
I. The Arctic Ocean.
II. The Northern Temperate Zone.
A. The Temperate North Atlantic.
1. The British district.
2. The Mediterranean district.
3. The North American district.
B. The Temperate North Pacific.
1. The Kamtschatkan district.
2. The Japanese district.
3. The Californian district.
III. The Equatorial Zone.
A. The Tropical Atlantic.
B. The Tropical Indo-Pacific.
C. The Pacific Coast of Tropical America.
1. The Central American district.
2. The Galapagoes district.
3. The Peruvian district.
IV. The Southern Temperate Zone.
1. The Cape of Good Hope district.
2. The South Australian district.
3. The Chilian district.
4. The Patagonian district.
V. The Antarctic Ocean.
As with freshwater fishes, the main divisions of the Shore-fish faunæ
are determined by their distance from the equator, the equatorial
zone of the Freshwater series corresponding entirely to that of
the Shore-fish series. But as Marine fishes extend farther towards
the Poles than Freshwater fishes, and as the polar types are more
specialised, a distinct Arctic and Antarctic fauna may be separated
from the faunæ of the temperate zones. The two subdivisions of the
Northern temperate zone in the Freshwater series are quite analogous
to the corresponding divisions in the Coast series. In the Southern
Hemisphere the Shore-fishes of the extremity of Africa form a separate
district of the temperate zone, whilst the Freshwater fishes of
South Africa were found to be tropical types. The Marine series of
the Southern temperate zone is also much more diversified than the
Freshwater series, and admits of further subdivision, which, although
in some degree indicated in the Freshwater series, does not entirely
correspond to that proposed for the latter.
I. SHORE FISHES OF THE ARCTIC OCEAN.
The Shore fishes clearly prove a continuity of the Arctic circumpolar
fauna, as the southern limit of which we may indicate the southern
extremity of Greenland and the Aleutian Archipelago, or 60° of lat. N.
Towards the North, fishes become less in variety of species and fewer
in number of individuals, and only very few genera are restricted to
this fauna.
The highest latitude at which Shore fishes have been observed is
83° N. lat. The late Arctic Expedition collected at and near that
latitude specimens of _Cottus quadricornis_, _Icelus hamatus_,
_Cyclopterus spinosus_, _Liparis fabricii_, _Gymnelis viridis_, and
_Gadus fabricii_. This number probably would have been larger if the
difficulties of collecting fishes in those high latitudes were not
almost insuperable for the greater part of the year.
As far as we know, the fishes north and south of Behring’s Straits
belong to the same generic or family types as those of the
corresponding latitudes of the Eastern Hemisphere, though the majority
are specifically distinct. But the information we possess of the fishes
of the northernmost extremity of the Pacific is extremely scanty and
vague. Farther south, whence now and then a collection reaches Europe,
we meet with some European species, as the Herring, Halibut, Hake.
The Chondropterygians are very scarce, and it is doubtful whether
another Chondropterygian, beside the pelagic _Læmargus_ or Greenland
Shark, crosses the Arctic circle. In the more temperate latitudes
of South Greenland, Iceland, and Northern Scandinavia, _Acanthias_,
_Centroscyllium_, and a species of _Raja_, also _Chimæra_, are met with.
Of Acanthopterygians the families of _Cottidæ_, _Cataphracti_,
_Discoboli_, and _Blenniidæ_ are well represented, and several of
the genera are characteristic of the Arctic fauna: marine species
of _Cottus_; _Centridermichthys_, _Icelus_, _Triglops_; _Agonus_,
_Aspidophoroides_; _Anarrhichas_, _Centronotus_, _Stichæus_;
_Cyclopterus_ and _Liparis_. Two species of _Sebastes_ are rather
common.
Characteristic is also the development of Gadoid fishes, of which some
thirteen species, belonging to _Gadus_, _Merluccius_, and _Molva_,
form one of the principal articles of food to the inhabitants of the
coasts of the Arctic Ocean. The Blennioid Anacanthini or _Lycodidæ_,
are limited to the Arctic and Antarctic coasts. _Ammodytes_ and a few
Flat-fishes (_Hippoglossoides_ and _Pleuronectes_) are common in the
more temperate parts.
Labroids only exceptionally penetrate so far towards the north.
Physostomes are very scarce, and represented only by a few species of
_Clupea_ and by _Mallotus_; the latter is an ancient inhabitant of the
Greenland coasts, fossil remains, indistinguishable from the species
of the present day, being frequently found in nodules of clay of
comparatively recent formation.
The Arctic climate is still less favourable to the existence of
Lophobranchs, only a few _Syngnathus_ and _Nerophis_ being present in
the more southern latitudes, to which they have been carried by oceanic
currents from their more congenial home in the south. Scleroderms and
Plectognaths are entirely absent.
The Gadoids are accompanied by _Myxine_, which parasitically thrives in
them.
II. THE NORTHERN TEMPERATE ZONE.
A. _Shore Fishes of the Temperate North Atlantic_.
This part of the fauna may be subdivided into three districts:--
1. The fishes of the north-eastern shores, viz. of the British
islands, of Scandinavia so far as it is not included in the Arctic
fauna, and of the continent of Europe southwards to about 40° of lat.
N.--_British_ district.
2. The fishes of the Mediterranean shores and of the adjoining shores
of the Atlantic, including the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary
Islands--_Mediterranean_ district.
3. The fishes of the western shores, from 60° lat. N. to about 30° lat.
N.--the _North American_ district.
1. The _British_ district shows scarcely any marked distinctive
features; the character of its fauna is simply intermediate between
that of the Arctic Ocean and the Mediterranean district; truly Arctic
forms disappear, while such as are also found in the Mediterranean make
their appearance. Also with regard to the abundance of individuals
and variety of fishes this district forms a transition from the north
towards the south.
Besides the few Arctic Chondropterygians, all of which extend into this
district, the small shore Dog-fishes are well represented (_Mustelus_,
_Galeus_, _Scyllium_, _Pristiurus_); the ubiquitous Rhina or Monk-fish
is common; of Rays, _Raja_ predominates in a variety of species over
_Torpedo_ and _Trygon_, which are still scarce.
Of Acanthopterygians, _Centridermichthys_, _Icelus_, _Triglops_, and
_Aspidophoroides_, do not extend from the north into this district; and
_Cottus_, _Anarrhichas_, _Centronotus_, _Stichæus_, the _Discoboli_
disappear within its limits. Nearly all the remainder are genera which
are also found in the Mediterranean districts. The following are the
principal forms, and known to propagate on these shores: _Labrax_;
_Serranus_, _Polyprion_, _Dentex_; _Mullus_; _Cantharus_, _Pagrus_,
_Pagellus_; _Sebastes_; _Cottus_, _Trigla_, _Agonus_; _Trachinus_;
_Sciæna_ (?); _Zeus_; _Trachurus_, _Capros_; _Callionymus_;
_Discoboli_; _Lophius_; _Anarrhichas_, _Centronotus_, _Stich__æus_;
_Blenniops_, _Zoarces_ (not in Mediterranean); _Cepola_; _Lepadogaster_.
Of the Anacanthini the Gadoids are as numerous as in the Arctic
Ocean, most being common to both districts; they are represented by
_Gadus_, _Gadiculus_, _Merluccius_, _Phycis_, _Molva_, _Motella_,
_Raniceps_, and _Brosmius_; but, whilst the majority show their
northern origin by not extending into the Mediterranean, _Ammodytes_
and most _Pleuronectidæ_ prove themselves to be the more southern
representatives of this order. In the British district we find
_Hippoglossus_, _Hippoglossoides_, _Rhombus_, _Phrynorhombus_,
_Pleuronectes_, _Solea_, and only the two first are not met with in the
Mediterranean.
Labroids are common; with the exception of the North American
_Tautoga_, all the other genera are met with.
Physostomes are not well represented, viz. by one species of _Osmerus_,
one of _Engraulis_, one of _Conger_, and about five of _Clupea_.
_Syngnathus_ and _Nerophis_ become more common as we proceed
southwards; but the existence of Scleroderms and Plectognaths is
indicated by single individuals only, stragglers from their southern
home, and unable to establish themselves in a climate ungenial to them.
The Gadoids are accompanied by _Myxine_; and _Branchiostoma_ may be
found in all suitable localities.
2. The _Mediterranean_ district is distinguished by a great variety of
forms; yet, with the exception of a few genera established for single
species, none of the forms can be considered peculiar to it; and even
that small number of peculiar genera is more and more diminished as
our knowledge of the distribution of fishes advances. Some genera are
identical with those found on the western coasts of the Atlantic and in
the West Indies; but a most remarkable and unexpected affinity obtains
with another very distant fauna, viz. that of Japan. The number of
genera common to the Mediterranean district and the Japanese coasts
is larger than that of the genera common to the Mediterranean and the
opposite American coasts.
The Chondropterygians found in the British district continue in the
Mediterranean, their number being increased by _Centrina_, _Spinax_,
_Pteroplatea_, and some species of _Rhinobatus_, a genus more
numerously represented in the Tropics. _Torpedo_ and _Trygon_ are
common.
The greatest variety belong to the Acanthopterygians, as will be seen
from the following list:--_Labrax_; _Anthias_, _Serranus_, _Polyprion_,
_Apogon_, _Pomatomus_, _Pristipoma_, _Diagramma_ (an Indian genus
with two Mediterranean species, and otherwise not represented in the
Atlantic), _Dentex_, _Mæna_, _Smaris_; _Mullus_; _Cantharus_, _Box_,
_Scatharxs_, _Oblata_, _Sargus_, _Pagrus_, _Pagellus_, _Chrysophrys_;
_Sebastes_, _Scorpæna_; _Hoplostethus_, _Beryx_, _Polymixia_; _Trigla_,
_Lepidotrigla_, _Agonus_, _Peristethus_; _Trachinus_, _Uranoscopus_;
_Umbrina_, _Sciæna_; _Sphyræna_; _Aphanopus_, _Lepidopus_,
_Nesiarchus_, _Trichiurus_, _Thyrsites_; _Cubiceps_; _Zeus_, _Cyttus_;
_Stromateus_; _Trachurus_, _Caranx_, _Capros_, _Diretmus_, _Antigonia_;
_Callionymus_; _Batrachus_; _Lophius_; _Cristiceps_, _Tripterygium_;
_Cepola_; _Lepadogaster_; _Centriscus_; _Notacanthus_.
The _Labridæ_ are as common as, or even more so than, in the British
district, and represented by the same genera. But, besides, some
other Pharyngognaths, properly belonging to the Tropical Atlantic,
have fully established themselves, though only by a few species, viz.
_Glyphidodon_ and _Heliastes_; _Cossyphus_, _Novacula_, _Julis_,
_Coris_, and _Scarus_.
The Gadoids show a marked decrease of development; and the species of
_Gadus_, _Gadiculus_, _Mora_, _Strinsia_, _Phycis_, and _Molva_, which
are peculiar to the Mediterranean, seem to inhabit rather the colder
water of moderate depths, than the surface near the shore. _Motella_,
however, proves to be a true Shore fish also in the Mediterranean,
at least in its adult state. _Ophidium_ and _Fierasfer_ appear now
besides _Ammodytes_. As the Gadoids decrease, so the _Pleuronectidæ_
increase, the genera of the Mediterranean district being _Rhombus_,
_Phrynorhombus_, _Arnoglossus_, _Citharus_, _Rhomboidichthys_,
_Pleuronectes_ (a northern genus not extending farther southwards),
_Solea_, _Synaptura_, and _Ammopleurops_.
The variety of Physostomes is small; the following only being
superadded to those of the British district:--_Saurus_ (a tropical
genus), _Aulopus_; _Congromuræna_, _Heteroconger_, _Myrus_,
_Ophichthys_, _Muræna_.
The Lophobranchs are more numerous in species and individuals than in
the British district; and, besides _Syngnathus_ and _Nerophis_, several
species of _Hippocampus_ are common. Also a few species of _Balistes_
occur.
_Myxine_ is lost in this district; whilst _Branchiostoma_ is abundant.
3. The shore fishes of the _North American_ district consist, as on
the eastern coasts of the North Atlantic, of northern and southern
elements; but they are still more mixed with each other than on the
European coasts, so that a boundary line cannot be drawn between
them. The affinity to the fauna of the eastern shores is great,
but almost entirely limited to the genera composing the fauna of
the British district. British genera not found on the American
coasts are--_Galeus_, _Scyllium_, _Chimæra_, _Mullus_, _Pagellus_,
_Trigla_, _Trachinus_, _Zeus_, _Callionymus_. The southern elements
of North America are rather derived from the West Indies, and
have no special affinity to Mediterranean forms; very few of the
non-British Mediterranean forms extend across the Atlantic; instead
of a Mediterranean we find a West Indian element. Many of the British
_species_ range across the Atlantic, and inhabit in an unchanged
condition the northern parts of this district; and from the frequent
occurrence of isolated specimens of other British species on the North
American coast, we may presume that many more occasionally cross the
Atlantic, but without being able to obtain a permanent footing.
The genera peculiar to this district are few in number, and composed
of very few species, viz. _Hemitripterus_, _Pammelas_, _Chasmodes_,
_Cryptacanthodes_, and _Tautoga_.
The close resemblance of what must be considered northern forms to
those of Europe will be evident from the following list:--
_Mustelus, Rhina, Torpedo, Raja, Trygon._
_Labrax, Centropristis, Serranus; Pagrus, Chrysophrys; Sebastes,
Hemitripterus; Cottus, Aspidophoroides; Uranoscopus; Micropogon,
Pogonias, Sciæna; Trachurus, Pammelas; Cyclopterus, Liparis; Lophius;
Anarrhichas, Chasmodes, Stichcæus, Centronotus, Cryptacanthodes,
Zoarces._
_Tautoga, Ctenolabrus._
_Gadus, Merluccius, Phycis, Molva, Motella, Brosmius; Ophidium_ (one
species, perhaps identical with a Mediterranean species); _Ammodytes;
Hippoglossus, Hippoglossoides, Rhombus, Pleuronectes_.
_Osmerus, Mallotus; Engraulis, Clupea; Conger._
_Syngnathus--Myxine--Branchiostoma._
West Indian genera, or at least genera which are more developed within
the tropics, and which extend more or less northwards in the North
American district, are:--
_Pteroplatea_ (also in the Mediterranean).
_Gerres, Dules (auriga), Lobotes, Ephippus; Sargus; Prionotus; Umbrina,
Otolithus, Larimus; Sphyræna_ (Mediterr.); _Trichiurus_ (Mediterr.);
_Elacate; Cybium, Trachynotus; Stromateus_ (Mediterr.); _Caranx_;
_Batrachus_ (Mediterr.); _Malthe_.
_Pseudorhombus_, _Solea_ (Mediterr.)
_Saurus_ (Mediterr.); _Etrumeus, Albula, Elops, Megalops_.
_Hippocampus_ (Mediterr.)
_Balistes, Monacanthus._
B. SHORE FISHES OF THE TEMPERATE NORTH PACIFIC.
This fauna shows a great affinity to that of the temperate North
Atlantic, not only in including a considerable proportion of identical
genera, and even of species, but also in having its constituent parts
similarly distributed. However, our knowledge of the ichthyology of
this fauna is by no means complete. Very few collections have been
made in Northern Japan, and on the coasts farther north of it; and,
again, the ichthyology of the coasts of Southern California is but
little known. Southern Japan has been well searched, but very little
attention has been paid to the extent of the northward range of the
species. In collections made by Mr. Swinhoe at Chefoo, in lat. 37° N.,
the proportions of temperate and tropical fishes were found to be about
equal. Thus, the details of the distribution of the fishes of these
shores have still to be worked out; nevertheless, three divisions may
be recognised which, for the present, may be defined as follows:--
1. The fishes of the north-western shores, to about 37° lat. N.,
including the corresponding northern parts of Japan--_Kamtschatkan_
district; this corresponds to the British district of the Atlantic.
2. The fishes of Southern Japan and the corresponding shores of the
continent of Asia, between 37° and 30° lat. N.--_Japanese_ district,
which corresponds to the Mediterranean.
3. The fishes of the eastern shores southwards to the latitude of
San Francisco--_Californian_ district; this corresponds to the North
American district of the Atlantic.
Too little is known of the shore fishes of the coasts between San
Francisco and the tropic to enable us to treat of it as a separate
division.
The Shore fishes of the North Pacific generally are composed of the
following elements:--
_a._ Arctic forms which extend into the Arctic Ocean, and the majority
of which are also found in the British district.
_b._ Peculiar forms limited to the North Pacific, like the
_Heterolepidina_, _Embiotocidæ_, and certain Cottoid and Blennioid
genera.
_c._ Forms identical with fishes of the Mediterranean.
_d._ Peculiar forms limited to the southern parts of Japan.
_e._ Tropical forms which have entered the North Pacific from the
south.
* * * * *
1. The small list of fishes which we can assign to the _Kamtschatkan_
district is due rather to the imperfect manner in which its fauna has
been explored than to its actual poverty of fishes; thus, although we
may be sure that sooner or later the small kinds of Dog-fishes of the
British district will be found there also, at present we have positive
knowledge of the occurrence of only two Chondropterygians, viz.
_Chimæra_ and _Raja_. The species of the latter genus seem to be much
less numerous than in the Atlantic.
Of Acanthopterygians the following are known:--_Sebastes_; _Chirus_,
_Agrammus_; _Podabrus_, _Blepsias_, _Cottus_, _Centridermichthys_,
_Hemilepidotus_, _Agonus_; _Trichodon_; _Callionymus_; _Liparis_;
_Dictyosoma_, _Stichæus_, _Centronotus_.
Labroids are absent; they are clearly a type unable to endure great
cold; of the Embiotocoids which represent them in the Pacific, one
species only (a species of _Ditrema_) is known from this district.
The Gadoids are, so far as we know at present, sparsely represented,
viz. by isolated species of _Gadus_, _Motella_, and _Lotella_, the
latter being an inhabitant of moderate depths rather than of the
surface. _Hippoglossus_, _Pleuronectes_, and _Parophrys_, seem to occur
everywhere at suitable localities.
The Physostomes are nearly the same as in the British district, viz. a
Smelt (_Hypomesus_), probably also the Arctic _Mallotus_, an Anchovy,
several species of _Clupea_, and the Conger-eel. A very singular
Salmonoid fish, _Salanx_, which is limited to the north-western
Pacific, occurs in great abundance.
Also, the Lophobranchs correspond in their development to those of the
British district, _Nerophis_ being replaced by _Urocampus_.
Neither Myxinoids nor _Branchiostoma_ have as yet been found.
2. The _Japanese_ district is, like the Mediterranean, distinguished
by a great variety of forms; some of them are peculiar to it (marked
_J._ in the following list); others occur in the Mediterranean, though
also in other districts (_M._) The resemblance to the Mediterranean
is even greater than would appear from the following list of genera,
inasmuch as a considerable number of species are identical in both
districts. Three of the Berycoid genera have hitherto been found in
the Japanese and Mediterranean districts only, and nowhere else.
Another very singular fact is that some of the most characteristic
genera, like _Mullus_, _Zeus_, _Callionymus_, _Centriscus_, inhabit
the Mediterranean and Japanese districts, _but have never reached the
opposite American coasts, either in the Atlantic or Pacific_; although,
at least in the latter, the oceanic currents would rather favour
than obstruct their dispersal in the direction towards America. Bold
as the hypothesis may appear, we can only account for the singular
distribution of these shore fishes by assuming that the Mediterranean
and Japanese seas were in direct and open communication with each other
within the period of the existence of the present Teleosteous Fauna.
Gadoids have disappeared, or are represented by forms inhabiting
moderate depths. Neither Myxine nor _Branchiostoma_ are known to have
as yet been found.
_List of Japanese Shore Fishes._
_Chimæra_ (M.)
_Galeus_ (M.), _Mustelus_ (M.), _Triacis_, _Scyllium_ (M.),
_Crossorhinus_, _Pristiophorus_, _Cestracion_; _Rhina_ (M.);
_Rhinobatus_ (M.), _Narcine_, _Raja_ (M.), _Trygon_ (M.), _Pteroplatea_
(M.)
_Percalabrax_ (J.), _Niphon_ (J.), _Centropristis_, _Anthias_ (M.),
_Serranus_ (M.), _Apogon_ (M.), _Scombrops_ (J.), _Acropoma_, _Anoplus_
(J.), _Pristipoma_ (M.), _Hapalogenys_ (J.), _Histiopterus_, _Velifer_
(J.), _Dentex_ (M.), _Erythrichthys_--_Mullidæ_ (M.)--_Girella_,
_Pagrus_ (M.), _Chrysophrys_ (M.)--_Chilodactylus_--_Sebastes_
(M.), _Scorpæna_ (M.), _Aploactis_, _Trichopleura_,
_Pelor_--_Monocentris_ (J.), _Hoplostethus_ (M.), _Beryx_ (M.),
_Polymixia_ (M.)--_Platycephalus_, _Hoplichthys_ (J.), _Bembras_
(J.), _Prionotus_, _Lepidotrigla_ (M.), _Trigla_ (M.), _Peristethus_
(M.)--_Uranoscopus_ (M.), _Percis_, _Sillago_, _Latilus_.--_Sciæna_
(M.), _Otolithus_--_Sphyræna_ (M.)--_Lepidopus_ (M.), _Trichiurus_
(M.)--_Zeus_ (M.)--_Caranx_, _Trachurus_ (M.)--_Callionymus_
(M.)--_Lophius_ (M.), _Halieuthæa_ (J.)--_Hoplognathus_--_Cepola_
(M.)--_Centriscus_ (M.), _Fistularia_.
_Heliastes_ (M.)--_Labrichthys_, _Duymæria_, _Platyglossus_, _Novacula_
(M.), _Julis_ (M.), _Coris_ (M.)
_Sirembo_ (J.)--_Motella_ (M.)--_Ateleopus_ (J.)
_Pseudorhombus_, _Pleuronectes_ (M.), _Solea_ (M.), _Synaptura_ (M.)
_Saurus_ (M.), _Harpodon_.--_Salanx_ (J.)--_Engraulis_ (M.), _Clupea_
(M.), _Etrumeus_--_Conger_ (M.), _Congromuræna_ (M.), _Murænesox_ (M.),
_Oxyconger_, _Myrus_ (M.), _Ophichthys_ (M.), _Muræna_ (M.)
_Syngnathus_ (M.), _Hippocampus_ (M.), _Solenognathus_.
_Triacanthus_, _Monacanthus_, _Ostracion_.
3. The _Californian_ district includes a marked northern element, the
principal constituents of which are identical with types occurring in
the corresponding district of the Atlantic, viz. the North American,
as exemplified by _Discoboli_, _Anarrhichas_, _Centronotus_, _Cottus_,
_Hippoglossus_, _Clupea_ (_harengus_), etc. But it possesses also,
in the greatest degree of development, some types almost peculiar
to itself, as the _Heterolepidina_, some remarkable Cottoid and
Blennioid genera, and more especially the Embiotocoids--viviparous
Pharyngognaths--which replace the Labroids of the other hemisphere.
Gadoids are much less numerous than in the North American district. The
southern forms are but little known, but it may be anticipated that,
owing to the partial identity of the Faunæ of the two coasts of the
Isthmus of Panama, a fair proportion of West Indian forms will be found
to have entered this district from the south. The following are the
principal genera:--
_Chimœra_, _Galeus_, _Mustelus_, _Triacis_, _Cestracion_, _Rhina_,
_Raja_.
_Serranus_; _Chirus_, _Ophiodon_, _Zaniolepis_; _Sebastes_;
_Nautichthys_, _Scorpœnichthys_, _Cottus_, _Centridermichthys_,
_Hemilepidotus_, _Artedius_, _Prionotus_, _Agonus_; _Cyclopterus_,
_Liparis_; _Anarrhichas_, _Neoclinus_, _Cebidichthys_, _Stichœus_,
_Centronotus_, _Apodichthys_; _Psychrolutes_; _Auliscops_.
_Embiotocidœ_.
_Gadus_. _Hippoglossus_, _Psettichthys_, _Citharichthys_,
_Paralichthys_, _Pleuronectes_, _Parophrys_.
_Osmerus_, _Thaleichthys_, _Hypomesus_; _Engraulis_, _Clupea_.
_Syngnathus_.
III.--THE EQUATORIAL ZONE.
As we approach the Tropic from the north, the tribes characteristic
of the Arctic and Temperate zones become scarcer, and disappear
altogether: to be replaced by the greater variety of Tropical types.
Of Chondropterygians, the _Chimœridœ_, _Spinacidœ_, _Mustelus_, and
_Raja_, do not pass the Tropic, or appear in single species only;
and of Teleosteans, the _Berycidæ_, _Pagrus_, the _Heterolepidina_,
_Cottus_ and allied genera, _Lophius_, _Anarrhichas_, _Stichæus_,
_Lepadogaster_, _Psychrolutes_, _Centriscus_, _Notacanthus_, the
_Labridæ_ and _Embiotocidæ_, the _Lycodidæ_, _Gadidæ_, and marine
_Salmonidæ_ disappear either entirely, or retire from the shores and
surface into the depths of the ocean.
With regard to variety of forms, as well as to number of individuals,
this zone far surpasses either of the temperate zones; in this
respect, the life in the sea is as that on the land. Coast fishes
are not confined to the actual coast-line, but abound on the
coral reefs, with which some parts of the Atlantic and Pacific
are studded, and many of which are submerged below the water. The
abundance of animal and vegetable life which flourishes on them
renders them the favourite pasture-grounds for the endless variety of
coral-fishes (_Squamipinnes_, _Acronuridæ_, _Pomacentridæ_, _Julidæ_,
_Plectognathi_, etc.), and for the larger predatory kinds. The colours
and grotesque forms of the Fishes of the Tropics have justly excited
the admiration of the earliest observers. Scarlet, black, blue, pink,
red, yellow, etc., are arranged in patterns of the most bizarre
fashion, mingling in spots, lines, bands; and reminding us of the words
of Captain Cook when describing the coral-reefs of Palmerston Island:
“The glowing appearance of the Mollusks was still inferior to that of
the multitude of fishes that glided gently along, seemingly with the
most perfect security. The colours of the different sorts were the most
beautiful that can be imagined--the yellow, blue, red, black, etc., far
exceeding anything that art can produce. Their various forms, also,
contributed to increase the richness of this sub-marine grotto, which
could not be surveyed without a pleasing transport.”
Of Chondropterygians the _Scylliidæ_, _Pristis_ (Saw-fishes),
_Rhinobatidæ_, and _Trygonidæ_ attain to the greatest development.
Of Acanthopterygians _Centropristis_, _Serranus_, _Plectropoma_,
_Mesoprion_, _Priacanthus_, _Apogon_, _Pristipoma_, _Hæmulon_,
_Diagramma_, _Gerres_, _Scolopsis_, _Synagris_, _Cæsio_, _Mullidæ_,
_Lethrinus_, _Squamipinnes_, _Cirrhites_, some genera of _Scorpænidæ_,
_Platycephalus_, _Sciænidæ_, _Sphyræna_, _Caranx_ _Equula_,
_Callionymus_, _Teuthis_, _Acanthurus_, _Naseus_, are represented by
numerous species; and the majority of these genera and families are
limited to this zone. Of Pharyngognaths the _Pomacentridæ_, _Julidina_,
and _Scarina_, are met with near every coral formation in a living
condition. Of Gadoids, a singular minute form, _Bregmaceros_, is almost
the only representative, the other forms belonging to deep water, and
rarely ascending to the surface. Flat-fishes (_Pleuronectidæ_) are
common on sandy coasts, and the majority of the genera are peculiar
to the Tropics. Of _Physostomi_ only the _Saurina_, _Clupeidæ_, and
_Murænidæ_ are represented, the _Clupeidæ_ being exceedingly numerous
in individuals, whilst the _Murænidæ_ live more isolated, but show a
still greater variety of species. Lophobranchii and Sclerodermi are
generally distributed. Branchiostoma has been found on several coasts.
Geographically it is convenient to describe the Coast fauna of the
tropical Atlantic separately from that of the Indo-Pacific ocean. The
differences between them, however, are far less numerous and important
than between the freshwater or terrestrial faunæ of continental
regions. The majority of the principal types are found in both, many of
the species being even identical; but the species are far more abundant
in the Indo-Pacific than in the Atlantic, owing to the greater extent
of the archipelagoes in the former. But for the broken and varied
character of the coasts of the West Indies, the shores of the tropical
Atlantic would, by their general uniformity, afford but a limited
variety of conditions to the development of specific and generic
forms, whilst the deep inlets of the Indian ocean, with the varying
configuration of their coasts, and the different nature of their
bottom, its long peninsulas, and its archipelagoes, and the scattered
islands of the tropical Pacific, render this part of the globe the
most perfect for the development of fish-life. The fishes of the
Indian and Pacific oceans (between the Tropics) are almost identical,
and the number of species ranging from the Red Sea and east coast of
Africa to Polynesia, even to its westernmost islands, is very great
indeed. However, this Indo-Pacific fauna does not reach the Pacific
coast of South America. The wide space devoid of islands, east of the
Sandwich Islands and the Marquesas group, together with the current
of cold water which sweeps northwards along the South American coast,
has proved to be a very effectual barrier to the eastward extension
of the Indo-Pacific fauna of coast fishes; and, consequently, we find
an assemblage of fishes on the American coast and at the Galapagoes
Islands, sufficiently distinct to constitute a distinct zoological
division.
The following list, which contains only the principal genera and groups
of coast fishes, will give an idea of the affinity of the tropical
Atlantic and Indo-Pacific:--[28]
Trop.-Atl. Indo-Pac.
Scylliidæ -- 13
_Pristis_ 3 4
_Rhinobatidæ_ 4 8
_Torpedinidæ_ 1 8
_Trygonidæ_ 14 24
_Etelis_ 1 1
_Aprion_ -- 1
_Apsilus_ 1 --
_Centropristis_ 15 --
_Anthias_ 4 5
_Serranus_ 30 85
_Plectropoma_ 11 5
_Grammistes_ -- 2
_Rhypticus_ 3 --
_Diploprion_ -- 1
_Myriodon_ -- 1
_Mesoprion_ 15 50
_Priacanthus_ 4 12
_Apogon_ and _Chilodipterus_ 2 75
_Pristipoma_ 12 14
_Hæmulon_ 15 --
_Diagramma_ -- 30
_Gerres_ 12 16
_Scolopsis_ -- 20
Dentex and _Symphorus_ -- 7
_Synagris_ and _Pentapus_ -- 24
_Cæsio_ -- 12
Mullidæ 5 22
Sargus 7 2
_Lethrinus_ 1 18
_Chrysophrys_ 1 7
_Pimelepterus_ 1 5
_Squamipinnes_ 13 110
_Toxotes_ -- 2
_Cirrhites_ -- 20
Scorpænidæ 2 65
_Myripristis_ 3 15
_Holocentrum_ 6 25
_Platycephalus_ -- 25
Prionotus 1 --
Trigla -- 4
Peristethus 2 6
Uranoscopina 2 8
_Champsodon_ -- 1
_Percis_ -- 10
_Sillago_ -- 5
Latilus 1 2
_Opisthognathus_ 2 5
_Pseudochromis_ -- 8
_Cichlops_ and _Pseudoplesiops_ -- 2
_Sciænidæ_ 44 43
_Sphyræna_ 1 10
_Trichiuridæ_ 6 5
_Caranx_ 20 60
_Chorinemus_ 4 7
_Trachynotus_ 6 4
_Psettus_ 1 2
_Platax_ -- 7
_Zanclus_ -- 1
_Equula_ and _Gazza_ -- 20
_Teuthis_ -- 30
_Acanthurus_ 3 42
_Naseus_ -- 12
_Kurtidæ_ 1 6
_Gobiodon_ -- 7
Callionymus -- 17
_Batrachidæ_ 5 4
_Tetrabrachium_ -- 1
Malthe 1 --
_Petroscirtes_ -- 30
Clinus 6 --
_Dactyloscopus_ 1 --
_Malacanthus_ 1 2
Cepola -- 1
Gobiesocidæ 5 1
_Amphisile_ -- 3
_Fistulariidæ_ 3 3
_Pomacentridæ_ 17 120
_Lachnolæmus_ 1 --
_Julidina_ 36 190
Pseudodax -- 1
_Scarina_ 21 65
Pseudophycis -- 1
_Bregmaceros_ -- 1
Ophidiidæ 3 7
_Fierasfer_ -- 6
Pleuronectidæ 21 56
_Saurina_ 5 9
Clupeidæ. 33 84
_Chirocentrus_ -- 1
_Murænidæ_ 47 130
_Pegasus_ -- 3
_Solenostoma_ -- 2
Syngnathidæ 7 41
_Sclerodermi_ 16 67
Gymnodontes 23 40
A. _Shore Fishes of the Tropical Atlantic._
The boundaries of the tropical Atlantic extend zoologically a few
degrees beyond the Northern and Southern Tropics, but as the mixture
with the types of the temperate zone is very gradual, no distinct
boundary line can be drawn between the tropical and temperate faunæ.
Types, almost exclusively limited to it, and not found in the
Indo-Pacific, are few in number, as _Centropristis_, _Rhypticus_,
_Hæmulon_, _Malthe_. A few others preponderate with regard to the
number of species, as _Plectropoma_, _Sargus_, _Trachynotus_,
_Batrachidæ_, and _Gobiesocidæ_. The Sciænoids are equally represented
in both oceans. All the remainder are found in both; but in the
minority in the Atlantic, where they are sometimes represented by one
or two species only (for instance, _Lethrinus_).
B. _Shore Fishes of the Tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean._
The ichthyological boundaries of this part of the tropical zone may be
approximately given as 30° of lat. N. and S.; on the Australian coasts
it should probably be placed still farther south, viz., to 34°; it
includes, as mentioned above, the Sandwich Islands, and all the islands
of the South Sea, but not the American coasts.
Some eighty genera of Shore fishes are peculiar to the Indo-Pacific,
but the majority consists of one or a few species only; comparatively
few have a plurality of species, as _Diagramma_, _Lethrinus_, _Equula_,
_Teuthis_, _Amphiprion_, _Dascyllus_, _Choerops_, _Chilinus_,
_Anampses_, _Stethojulis_, _Coris_, _Coilia_.
The Sea-perches, large and small, which feed on Crustaceans and other
small fishes, and the coral-feeding Pharyngognaths are the types which
show the greatest generic and specific variety in the Indo-Pacific.
Then follow the _Squamipinnes_ and _Murænidæ_, the _Clupeidæ_ and
_Carangidæ_ families in which the variety is more that of species than
of genus. The _Scorpænidæ_, _Pleuronectidæ_, _Acronuridæ_, _Sciænidæ_,
_Syngnathidæ_, and _Teuthyes_, are those which contribute the next
largest contingents. Of shore-loving Chondropterygians the _Scylliidæ_
and _Trygonidæ_ only are represented in moderate numbers, though they
are more numerous in this ocean than in any other.
C. _Shore Fishes of the Pacific Coasts of Tropical America_.
As boundaries within which this fauna is comprised, may be indicated
30° lat. N. and S., as in the Indo-Pacific. Its distinction from the
Indo-Pacific lies in the almost entire absence of coral-feeding fishes.
There are scarcely any Squamipinnes, Pharyngognaths or Acronuridæ,
and the Teuthyes are entirely absent. The genera that remain are such
as are found in the tropical zone generally, but the species are
entirely different from those of the Indo-Pacific. They are mixed with
a sprinkling of peculiar genera, consisting of one or two species,
like _Discopyge_, _Hoplopagrus_, _Doydixodon_, but they are too few in
number to give a strikingly peculiar character to this fauna.
The Three districts are distinguishable:--
a. _Central American district_, in which we include, for the present,
Lower California, shows so near an affinity to the tropical Atlantic
that, if it were not separated from it by the neck of land uniting
the two American Continents, it would most assuredly be regarded as
a portion of the Fauna of the tropical Atlantic. With scarcely any
exceptions the genera are identical, and of the species found on the
Pacific side nearly one-half have proved to be the same as those of the
Atlantic. The explanation of this fact has been found in the existence
of communications between the two oceans by channels and straits
which must have been open till within a recent period. The isthmus of
Central America was then partially submerged, and appeared as a chain
of islands similar to that of the Antilles; but as the reef-building
corals flourished chiefly north and east of those islands, and were
absent south and west of them, reef-fishes were excluded from the
Pacific shores when the communications were destroyed by the upheaval
of the land.
_b_. The _Galapagoes district_ received its coast fauna principally
from the Central American district, a part of the species being
absolutely the same as on the coast of the Isthmus of Panama, or as
in the West Indies. Yet the isolation of this group has continued
a sufficiently long period to allow of the development of a number
of distinct species of either peculiarly Atlantic genera (such as
_Centropristis_, _Rhypticus_, _Gobiesox_, _Prionotus_), or at least
tropical genera (such as _Chrysophrys_, _Pristipoma_, _Holacanthus_,
_Caranx_, _Balistes_). A few other types from the Peruvian coast
(_Doydixodon_), or even from Japan (_Prionurus_), have established
themselves in this group of islands. A species of _Cestracion_ has also
reached the Galapagoes, but whether from the south, north, or west,
cannot be determined.
The presence of the Atlantic fauna on the Pacific side is felt still
farther west than the Galapagoes, some Atlantic species having
reached the Sandwich Islands, as _Chætodon humeralis_ and _Blennius
brevipinnis_.
c. The _Peruvian district_ possesses a very limited variety of
shore fishes, which belong, with few exceptions, like _Discopyge_,
_Hoplognathus_, _Doydixodon_, to genera distributed throughout the
tropical zone, or even beyond it. But the species, so far as they are
known at present, are distinct from those of the Indo-Pacific, as well
as of the tropical Atlantic; and therefore this district cannot be
joined either to the Central American or the Galapagoes.
IV.--THE SOUTHERN TEMPERATE ZONE.
This zone includes the coasts of the southern extremity of Africa, from
about 30° lat. S., of the south of Australia with Tasmania, of New
Zealand, and the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America between
30° and 50° lat. S.
The most striking character of this fauna is the reappearance
of types inhabiting the corresponding latitudes of the Northern
Hemisphere, and not found in the intervening tropical zone. This
interruption of the continuity in the geographical distribution
of Shore-fishes is exemplified by species as well as genera, for
instance--_Chimæra monstrosa_, _Galeus canis_, _Acanthias vulgaris_,
_Acanthias blainvillii_, _Rhina squatina_, _Zeus faber_, _Lophius
piscatorius_, _Centriscus scolopax_, _Engraulis encrasicholus_,
_Clupea sprattus_, _Conger vulgaris_. Instances of genera are still
more numerous--_Cestracion_, _Spinax_, _Pristiophorus_, _Raja_;
_Callanthias_, _Polyprion_, _Histiopterus_, _Cantharus_, _Box_,
_Girella_, _Pagellus_, _Chilodactylus_, _Sebastes_, _Aploactis_,
_Agonus_, _Lepidopus_, _Cyttus_, _Psychrolutidæ_, _Notacanthus_;
_Lycodes_, _Merluccius_, _Lotella_, _Phycis_, _Motella_; _Aulopus_;
_Urocampus_, _Solenognathus_; _Myxine_.
Naturally, where the coasts of the tropical zone are continuous with
those of the temperate, a number of tropical genera enter the latter,
and genera which we have found between the tropics as well as in the
temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, extend in a similar manner
towards the south. But the truly tropical forms are absent; there
are no _Squamipinnes_, scarcely any _Mullidæ_, no _Acronuri_, no
_Teuthyes_, no _Pomacentridæ_ (with a single exception on the coast of
Chili), only one genus of _Julidina_, no _Scarina_, which are replaced
by another group of Pharyngognaths, the _Odacina_. The _Labrina_,
so characteristic of the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere,
reappear in a distinct genus (_Malacopterus_) on the coast of Juan
Fernandez.
The family of _Berycidæ_, equally interesting with regard to their
distribution in time and in space, consists of temperate and tropical
genera. The genus by which this family is represented in the southern
temperate zone (_Trachichthys_) is much more nearly allied to the
northern than to the tropical genera.
The true _Cottina_ and _Heterolepidina_ (forms with a bony stay of the
præoperculum, which is generally armed) have not crossed the tropical
zone; they are replaced by fishes extremely similar in general form,
and having the same habits, but lacking that osteological peculiarity.
Their southern analogues belong chiefly to the family _Trachinidæ_, and
are types of genera peculiar to the Southern Hemisphere.
The _Discoboli_ of the Northern Hemisphere have likewise not penetrated
to the south, where they are represented by _Gobiesocidæ_. These two
families replace each other in their distribution over the globe.
Nearly all the _Pleuronectidæ_ (but they are not numerous) belong to
distinct genera, some, however, being remarkably similar in general
form to the northern _Pleuronectes_.
With Gadoids _Myxinidæ_ reappear, one species being extremely similar
to the European Myxine. _Bdellostoma_ is a genus peculiar to the
southern temperate zone.
As in the northern temperate zone, so in the southern, the number of
individuals and the variety of forms is much less than between the
tropics. This is especially apparent on comparing the numbers of
species constituting a genus. In this zone genera composed of more than
ten species are the exception, the majority having only from one to
five.
The proportion of genera limited to this zone is rather high; they
will be indicated under the several districts, which we distinguish on
geographical rather than zoological grounds.
1. The _Cape of Good Hope_ district.
The principal genera found in this district are the following (those
limited to the entire zone being marked with a single (*) and those
peculiar to this district with a double (**) asterisk):--
_Chimæra_, *_Callorhynchus_, _Galeus_, **_Leptocarcharias_, _Scyllium_,
_Acanthias_, _Rhinobatus_, _Torpedo_, _Narcine_, _Astrape_, _Raja_.
_Serranus_, _Dentex_, _Pristipoma_; _Cantharus_, _Box_, **_Dipterodon_,
_Sagrus_, _Pagrus_, _Pagellus_, _Chrysophrys_; *_Chilodactylus_;
_Sebastes_, *_Agriopus_; _Trigla_; _Sphyræna_; _Lepidopus_,
_Thyrsites_; _Zeus_; _Caranx_; _Lophius_; _Clinus_ (10 species),
_Cristiceps_; **_Chorisochismus_.
*_Halidesmus_, *_Genypterus_, _Motella_.
_Syngnathus_.--*_Bdellostoma_.
This list contains many northern forms, which in conjunction with
the peculiarly southern types (_Callorhynchus_, _Chilodactylus_,
_Agriopus_, _Clinus_, _Genypterus_, _Bdellostoma_) leave no doubt
that this district belongs to the southern temperate zone, whilst the
Freshwater fishes of South Africa are members of the tropical fauna.
Only a few (_Rhinobatus_, _Narcine_, _Astrape_, and _Sphyræna_) have
entered from the neighbouring tropical coasts. The development of
Sparoids is greater than in any of the other districts of this zone,
and may be regarded as one of its distinguishing features.
2. The _South Australian_ district comprises the southern coasts of
Australia (northwards, about to the latitude of Sydney), Tasmania,
and New Zealand. It is the richest in the southern temperate zone,
partly in consequence of a considerable influx of tropical forms on the
eastern coast of Australia, where they penetrate farther southwards
than should have been expected from merely geographical considerations;
partly in consequence of the thorough manner in which the ichthyology
of New South Wales and New Zealand has been explored. On the other
hand, the western half of the south coast of Australia is still almost
a _terra incognita_.
The shore-fishes of New Zealand are not so distinct from those of
south-eastern Australia as to deserve to be placed in a separate
district. Beside the genera which enter this zone from the Tropics,
and which are more numerous on the Australian coast than on that of
New Zealand, and beside a few very local genera, the remainder are
identical. Many of the South Australian species, besides, are found
also on the coasts of New Zealand. The principal points of difference
are the extraordinary development of Monacanthus on the coast of South
Australia, and the apparently total absence in Australia of Gadoids,
which in the New Zealand Fauna are represented by six genera.
_Shore-fishes of the South Australian district._
South Australia
and Tasmania. New Zealand.
*Callorhynchus (antarcticus). 1 1
Galeus (canis) 1 1
Scyllium ... 2 1
**Parascyllium 1 --
Crossorhinus 1 --
Cestracion ... 2 1
Mustelus (antarcticus) 1 1
Acanthias (vulgaris and blainvillii) 2 1
Rhina 1 --
Pristiophorus 1 --
**Trygonorhina (fasciata) 1 1
Rhinobatus 1 1
Torpedo -- 1
Narcine 1 --
Raja 3 1
Trygon (Urolophus) 3 2
**Enoplosus 1 --
Anthias (richardsonii) 1 1
Callanthias 1 --
Serranus x[29] --
Plectropoma 4 --
**Lanioperca 1 --
**Arripis 3 1
Histiopterus 1 --
Erythrichthys -- 1
*Haplodactylus 2 2
Girella 4 --
**Tephræops 1 --
Pagrus 1 1
*Scorpis 2 1
**Atypichthys 1 --
**Trachichthys -- 1
**Chironemus 1 1
**Holoxenus 1 --
Chilodactylus 9 4
**Nemadactylus 1 --
**Latris 2 2
Scorpæna 4 2
**Glyptauchen 1 --
Centropogon 2 --
*Agriopus 1 1
*Aploactis 1 --
**Pentaroge 1 --
Platycephalus 5 --
Lepidotrigla 3 1
Trigla 3 1
Anema -- 1
**Crapatalus -- 1
**Kathetostoma 1 2
**Leptoscopus 1 3
Percis 2 1
*Aphritis 1 --
Sillago 2 --
*Bovichthys 1 1
*Notothenia -- 1
Sphyræna 1 --
Lepidopus -- 1
Trichiurus 1 --
Thyrsites 1 1
**Platystethus -- 2
Zeus (faber) 1 1
Cyttus 1 1
Trachurus (trachurus) 1 1
Caranx x 2
*Seriolella -- 1
Pempheris 1 --
Callionymus 3 --
Batrachus 1 --
**Brachionichthys 2 --
**Saccarius -- 1
Clinus 1 1
**Lepidoblennius 1 --
Cristiceps and Tripterygium 4 5
**Patæcus 3 --
**Acanthoclinus -- 1
**Diplocrepis -- 1
**Crepidogaster 3 1
**Trachelochismus -- 1
**Neophrynichthys -- 1
Centriscus 2 1
Notacanthus (sexspinis) 1 1
**Labrichthys 8 2
**Odax 5 1
Coridodax -- 1
**Olistherops 1 --
**Siphonognathus 1 --
Gadus -- 1
Merluccius -- 1
Lotella -- 1
**Pseudophycis -- 1
Motella -- 1
Bregmaceros -- 1
*Genypterus 1 1
**Lophonectes 1 --
**Brachypleura -- 1
Pseudorhombus -- 1
**Ammotretis 1 1
**Rhombosolea 3 3
**Peltorhamphus -- 1
Solea 1 --
Aulopus 1 --
Gonorhynchus (greyi) 1 1
Engraulis (encrasicholus) 1 1
Clupea 1 1
**Chilobranchus 1 --
Conger (vulgaris) 1 1
Ophichthys 1 1
Murænichthys 1 --
Congromuræna -- 1
Syngnathus 5 2
Ichthyocampus -- 1
**Nannocampus 1 --
Urocampus 1 --
**Stigmatophora 2 1
Solenognathus 2 1
**Phyllopteryx 2 --
Monacanthus 15 1
Ostracion 3 1
*Bdellostoma -- 1
Branchiostoma 1 1
3. The coast-line of the _Chilian district_ extends over 20
degrees of latitude only, and is nearly straight. In its northern and
warmer parts it is of a very uniform character, and exposed to high and
irregular tides, and to remarkable and sudden changes of the levels of
land and water, which must seriously interfere with fishes living and
propagating near the shore. No river of considerable size interrupts
the monotony of the physical conditions, to offer an additional element
in favour of the development of littoral animals. In the southern
parts, where the coast is lined with archipelagoes, the climate is too
severe for the majority of fishes. All these conditions combine to
render this district comparatively poor as regards variety of Shore
fishes, as will be seen from the following list:--
*Callorhynchus; Scyllium, Acanthias, Spinax; Urolophus.
Serranus, Plectropoma, Polyprion, Pristipoma, Erythrichthys;
*Haplodactylus; *Scorpis; Chilodactylus, **Mendosoma; Sebastes,
*Agriopus; Trigla, Agonus; *Aphritis, *Eleginus, Pinguipes, Latilus,
Notothenia (1 sp.) Umbrina; Thyrsites; Trachurus, Caranx, *Seriolella;
Porichthys; **Myxodes, Clinus; Sicyases, Gobiesox.
Heliastes; **Malacopterus; *Labrichthys.
Merluccius; *Genypterus; Pseudorhombus.
Engraulis, Clupea; Ophichthys, Muræna.
Syngnathus.--*Bdellostoma.
Of these genera six only are not found in other districts of this
zone. Three are peculiar to the Chilian district; _Porichthys_
and _Agonus_ have penetrated so far southwards from the Peruvian
and Californian districts; and _Polyprion_ is one of those
extraordinary instances in which a very specialised form occurs at
almost opposite points of the globe, without having left a trace of
its previous existence in, or of its passage through, the intermediate
space.
4. The _Patagonian district_ is, with the exception of the
neighbourhood of the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, almost unknown.
In that estuary occur _Mustelus vulgaris_, two _Raja_, two _Trygon_,
several Sciænoids, _Paropsis signata_ and _Percophis brasilianus_
(two fishes peculiar to this coast), _Prionotus punctatus_, _Læmonema
longifilis_ (a Gadoid), a _Pseudorhombus_, two Soles, _Engraulis
olidus_, a _Syngnathus_, _Conger vulgaris_, and _Ophichthys ocellatus_;
and if we notice the occurrence of a _Serranus_ and _Caranx_, of
_Aphritis_ and _Pinguipes_, and of two or three _Clupea_, we shall have
enumerated all that is known of this fauna. The fishes of the southern
part, viz. the coast of Patagonia proper, southwards to Magelhæn’s
Straits, are unknown; which is the more to be regretted, as it is most
probably the part in which the characteristic types of this district
are most developed.
V.--SHORE FISHES OF THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN.
To this fauna we refer the shore fishes of the southernmost extremity
of South America, from 50° lat. S., with Tierra del Fuego and the
Falkland Islands, and those of Kerguelen’s Land, with Prince Edward’s
Island. No fishes are known from the other oceanic islands of these
latitudes.
In the Southern Hemisphere surface fishes do not extend so far towards
the Pole as in the Northern; none are known from beyond 60° lat. S.,
and the Antarctic Fauna, which is analogous to the Arctic Fauna,
inhabits coasts more than ten degrees nearer to the equator. It is
very probable that the shores between 60° and the Antarctic circle
are inhabited by fishes sufficiently numerous to supply part of the
means of subsistence for the large Seals which pass there at least
some season of the year, but hitherto none have been obtained by
naturalists; all that the present state of our knowledge justifies us
in saying is, that the general character of the Fauna of Magelhæn’s
Straits and Kerguelen’s Land is extremely similar to that of Iceland
and Greenland.
As in the arctic Fauna, Chondropterygians are scarce, and represented
by _Acanthias vulgaris_ and species of _Raja_. _Holocephali_ have not
yet been found so far south, but _Callorhynchus_, which is not uncommon
near the northern boundary of this fauna, will prove to extend into it.
As to Acanthopterygians, _Cataphracti_ and _Scorpænidæ_ are
represented as in the arctic Fauna, two of the genera (_Sebastes_ and
_Agonus_) being identical. The _Cottidæ_ are replaced by six genera
of _Trachinidæ_, remarkably similar in form to arctic types; but
_Discoboli_ and the characteristic Arctic Blennioids are absent.
Gadoid Fishes reappear, but are less developed; as usual they are
accompanied by _Myxine_. The reappearance of so specialised a genus as
_Lycodes_ is most remarkable. Flat-fishes are scarce as in the North,
and belong to peculiar genera.
Physostomes are probably not entirely absent, but hitherto none have
been met with so far south. Lophobranchs are scarce, as in the Arctic
zone; however, it is noteworthy that a peculiar genus, with persistent
embryonic characters (_Protocampus_), is rather common on the shores of
the Falkland Islands.
The following are the genera known from this zone. Those with a
single asterisk (*) are known to extend into the Temperate zone, but
not beyond it; those with a double asterisk (**) are limited to the
Antarctic shores:--
Magelhæn’s and
Falkland. Kerguelen.
Acanthias vulgaris 1 --
Raja 1 2
Psammobatis 1 --
Sebastes 1 --
**Zanclorhynchus -- 1
*Agriopus 1 --
Agonus 1 --
*Aphritis 1 --
*Eleginus 1 --
**Chænichthys 1 1
*Bovichthys 2 --
*Notothenia 8 7
**Harpagifer 1 1
Lycodes 4 --
**Magnea 1 --
Lotella 1 --
Merluccius 1 --
**Lepidopsetta -- 1
**Thysanopsetta 1 --
Syngnathus 1 --
**Protocampus 1 --
Myxine 1 --
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31 13
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[Illustration: Fig. 108.--_Chænichthys rhinoceratus_, shores
of the Antarctic Ocean.]