APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 253 



snout 2.3 to 2.7 in head; eye small, 4.4 to 6.9 in head; interorbital 

 space convex, 2.2 to 2.5 in head; free margin of dorsal fin concave; 

 lateral line absent in young, incomplete in adult. 



Color olivaceous to coppery; each scale with a dark spot, these 

 forming lines along rows of scales ; fins plain. 



Length about 18 inches. 



This species inhabits smaller rivers, creeks, and ponds from the 

 Great Lakes to North Carolina and Texas. It is not abundant any- 

 where and is of little value as a food fish. 



Genus Moxostoma Rafinesque. 



REDHORSE SUCKERS. 



Body elongate, more or less compressed; mouth inferior, lips 

 transversely plicate, the folds rarely so broken as to form papillae ; 

 posterior fontanelle well open ; phar.yngeal bones weak, the teeth rather 

 coarse; lateral line well developed; air bladder in 3 parts; caudal fin 

 well forked. 



a. Lips strongly plicate; halves of the lower lip meeting in wide 

 angle; margin of dorsal fin convex. aureolum, 253 



aa. Folds of the lower lip more or less broken into papillae; dorsal 

 fin with its margin straight or concave. 



b. Head long, 3.5 to 4.3 in body; halves of lower lip meeting in a 

 sharp angle; margin of dorsal fin straight. anisurum, 254 



bb. Head short, 4.5 to 5.5 in head; halves of lower lip truncate 

 behind; margin of dorsal fin convex. breviceps, 254 



Moxostoma aureolum (LeSueur). COMMON REDHORSE. 



Head 3.9 to 4.5 ; depth3.6 to 4.4; D. 12 to 14; A. 7 ; scales 41 to 48. 



Body elongate, robust anteriorly, compressed posteriorly; the 

 back little elevated; head moderate, flattened above, the cheeks 

 nearly vertical; mouth large, lips thick, coarsely plicate; eye large, 



FIG. 25. LIPS OF THE COMMON REDHORSE. 



Moxostoma aureolum (Le S.). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 



