Anacanthim is an order of osseous fishes, including the cod, plaice, etc, with spineless fins, cycloid or ctenoid scales, the ventral fins either absent or below the pectorals, and ductless swim-bladder. Research Anacanthim
The bichir (African mud-fish) is an African fish of the genusPolypterus, found in tropical swamps and rivers in Africa. It is cylindrical in shape, and some species grow to 70 centimetres or more. They show many 'primitive' features, such as breathing air by using the swim bladder, having a spiral valve in the intestine, having heavy bony scales, and having larvae with external gills. These, and the fleshy fins, lead some scientists to think they are related to the lungfish and coelacanths. Research Bichir
Bladder Senna (Colutea arborescens) is a much-branched leguminous shrub of Southern Europe with bladder-like pods and purgative properties. The leaves are pinnately divided, the rounded leaflets up to three centimetres long. The plant bears showy yellow flowers carried in loose stalked clusters arising from the leaf axils of young shoots. Research Bladder Senna
The bowfin or mud-fish (Amia calva) is a ganoidfish found in still water in the USA. Like its allies it has a well-developed swim-bladder, which functions as a lung, the animal rising to the surface to gulp air. Research Bowfin
Comfrey (Symphytum) is a large, handsome plant of the borage family. It is common in watery places and on the banks of rivers. The stems are branched and leafy, almost one metre high, winged in part with elliptical leaves. The flowers are white, pink or purple and droop in forked clusters. The roots abound in mucilage, which is useful in irritations of the throat, intestines, and bladder. Research Comfrey
Cystopteris is the bladder-fern, a genus of polypodiaceous delicate flaccid ferns. Two are natives of Britain, Cystopteris fragilis (the brittle fern), which is common, and Cystopteris montana, which is very rare. Research Cystopteris
The Dipnoi are an order of fishes, including only the singular mud-fishes (Lepidosiren), important as exhibiting the transition, between fishes and the amphibia. Formerly Lepidosiren was reckoned the lowest of the amphibia, now it constitutes the highest order of fishes. The body is fish-like in shape, covered with small horny scales of a cycloid character; the pectoral and ventral fins are represented by two pairs of long filiform organs; the heart has two auricles and one ventricle, and the respiratory organs are twofold, consisting of ordinary gills opening externally, and of true lungs - formed by the modified swimming-bladder - communicating with the oesophagus by means of an air-duct or trachea, whence the name. They are also called Protopteri. The combination of respiratory organs is similar to that which is presented by the tailed amphibians with persistent gills (perennibranchiate), as the axolotl. This interesting group is allied to the ganoids through the Ceratodus of Queensland. The Lepidosiren paradoxa is found in the Amazon; Lepidosiren annectens in the Gambia. Research Dipnoi
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Anacanthim
