FAMILY III. SILURID^;. u 



Amiurus affinis Giinther, Cat., v, 103, 1864. 



Ictalurus furcatus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus., 

 1896, 134: Jordan & Snyder, Bull. U. S. Fish Com., 1900, 

 171 ; Rio Tamesin, Tampico. 



Rio Panuco north to Iowa and Ohio. 



Head 4%; depth 4 (in adults) to 5^ (in young); D. i, 6; A. 32 

 to 35. Body elongate; profile from snout to dorsal somewhat con- 

 cave, especially in adults; head small; eye small, the middle of the 

 head being behind its posterior margin; pectoral spine rather long; 

 humeral spine stout, shortish, not reaching middle of pectoral spine; 

 anal fin long, its base about 3 in body, its rays 32 to 35. 



Color silvery, plain or somewhat spotted. Length about 4 feet. 



A specimen of this species, which was reported to have been 

 caught in the Rio Tamesoe, was purchased by Dr. Jordan in 1899 

 in the Tampico Markets. This species is known to reach a weight 

 of 150 pounds, being the largest catfish known in American waters. 

 It lives in clear running streams, and is an excellent food fish. Dr. 

 Evermann informs me that this species was taken by E. W. Nelson 

 .in the Rio Soto la Marina, Tamaulipas. 



6. Ichthytelurus punctatus (Rafinesque). CHANNEL CAT; WHITE CAT. 



Silurus punctatus Rafinesque, American Monthly Magazine, 1818, 

 359; Ohio River. 



Ictalurus punctatus Woolman, Bull. U. S. Fish Com., 1894, 56; 

 Rio Grande, El Paso, Texas: Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 

 U. S. Nat. Mus., 1896, 134. 



Rio Panuco and streams tributary to the Gulf of Mexico, north in 

 the Mississippi Valley to the rivers of the Great Lake region. (Forlon.) 



Head 4; depth 5; D. i, 6; A. 25 to 30. Body elongate, slender, 

 back little elevated; head rather small, narrow, convex above; 

 eye large, a little anterior of middle of head; mouth small; 

 barbels long, the maxillary barbel reaching more or less be- 

 yond gill opening; humeral process long and slender; more 

 than y z length of pectoral spine; pectoral spine strongly serrate 

 behind. 



Color light bluish above, the sides pale or silvery, and almost 

 always with irregular, small, round dark spots; fins often with dark 

 edgings. Length about 3 feet. 



This fish, though smaller, is very similar in appearance and 

 habits to the preceding species. 



7. Ichthyaslurus meridionalis (Giinther). TROPICAL CATFISH; BAGRE. 



Amiurus meridionalis Giinther, Cat., v, 102, 1864; Rio Usuma- 

 cinta. 



