1893.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 19 



A NEW EXTINCT SPECIES OF CYPRINIDiE. 



By E. D. Cope. 



Dr. J. Lindahl, Geologist of Illinois, recently sent me some spec- 

 imens of fossil fishes which were found in Pulaski County, in the 

 southern part of that State. They are indifferently preserved on 

 lamina? of a papier kohl of lacustrine origin, which is frequently 

 impregnated with pyrite. Five specimens present characters of 

 value, but no one of them is sufficiently well preserved to furnish all 

 the necessary definitions. However, the specimens agree in all 

 points where comparisons can be made, so that I believe them to 

 pertain to a single species. 



The characters displayed by this fish refer it to the Cyprinidse, 

 and to the neighborhood of the genus Leuciscus. In specimen No. 

 8,402 a cast of one of the inferior pharyngeal bones is preserved, 

 and this displays three obtusely conical teeth of an external row, 

 and a trace of a single smaller tooth of the internal row. There 

 was apparently another tooth of the external row inferior to and 

 larger than the others; the four forming a series on a curved line 

 corresponding with the axis of the bone. The apices of these 

 teeth are not perfect. The fins do not present any conspicuous 

 spines ; and the front of the dorsal fin is above the ventral ; mouth 

 terminal. These characters would refer this fish to Minnilus or 

 Gliola, but another character appears to distinguish it from these. 

 This is the absence of scales. In none of the dozen specimens sent 

 is any trace of scales to be found. As compared with the scaleless 

 genera, the American Meda, and the Old World Aulopyge, the 

 present fish differs in the absence of conspicuous spines at the front 

 of the dorsal and anal fins. Supposing the absence of scales to be 

 normal, I refer the Illinois species to a new genus under the name 

 of Aphelichthys. The species I describe as 

 Aphelichthys lindahlii sp. nov. 



The specific characters are derived from four specimens. These 

 I tabulate as follows: 



Fin rays. 



. * . 



Dorsal Vert. Caudal Vert. D. A. V. C. 



No. 8,402 15 12 11 



xr q .a, r 16 19-20 11 7 15 



No. 8,404 - 2 ] 13 ' 



No. 8,397 15 20 



& 



