49 6 



Suborder Heterosomata 



of flounders, having the ventral fin of the eyed side extended 

 along the ridge of the abdomen. The eyes and color are, how- 

 ever, on the right side. The eyes are separated by a narrow 

 interorbital ridge. In most of these forms the body is broad 

 and covered with rough scales. The species are mostly less 

 than six inches long, and nearly all are confined to the warmer 

 parts of America, many of them ascending the rivers. A very 

 few (Aseraggodes, Pardachirus) are found in Japan and China. 

 Some are scaleless and some have but a single small gill-open- 

 ing on the blind side. The principal genus is Achirus. Achirus 

 fasciatus, the common American sole, or hog-choker, is abun- 

 dant from Boston to Galveston. Achirus lineatus and other 

 species are found in the West Indies and on the west coast of 

 Mexico. Almost all the species of Achirus are banded with 

 black and the pectorals are very small or wanting altogether. 

 All these species are practically useless as food from their very 

 small size. 



FIG. 441. Hog-choker Sole, Achirus lineatus (L.). Potomac River. 



The European Soles (Soleinae). The European soles are more 

 elongate in form, with the ventral fins narrow and not extended 

 along the ridge of the abdomen. The eyes are on the right side 

 with no bony ridge between them. No species of this type is 



