The Geographical & Geological Distribution of Animals (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... II. Distribution of the Vertebrata.--Fishes.--Amphibians.--Reptiles.--Birds.--Mammals. FISHES. The geographical distribution of fishes is at the present day, and probably has been for a considerable number of past geological periods, world-wide. Although vastly more abundant, if not individually at least specifically, in the regions of elevated temperature than in those of the opposite extreme, both as regards the marine and fresh-water forms, they are still far from wanting in waters of icy coldness, whether these be in high latitudes, the oceanic abysses, or elevated mountain lakes or streams. The officers of the British Polar Expedition, under command of Sir George Nares, obtained specimens of the charr (Salmo arcturus and S. Naresii) from beyond the eighty-second parallel of north latitude, the highest point at which fresh-water fishes have been observed, and from a still higher latitude, the eighty-third, some half-dozen species of shore fishes, among them a bull-head and cod (Cottus quadricornis, Gadus Fabricii, Icelus hamatus, Cyclopteris spinosus, Liparis Fabricii, Gymnelis viridis).108 And were it not for the insuperable obstacles that were interposed in the way of fishing, there can be no doubt that many additional forms would have been discovered. The number of forms that descend into, or inhabit, the abyssal waters whose temperature is about that of freezing is very considerable; Gunther100 enumerates thirty-nine species whose range extends to, or passes beyond, the fifteen hundred fathom line, thus penetrating deep into the zone of icy coldness. In the European Alpine region fishes (salmonoids) inhabit the lakes or streams situated at about the level of perpetual snow, and there is very little doubt that the same is the case...