294 



FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



a few anterior maxillary teeth becoming moder- 

 ately enlarged in large individuals, more so than 

 in other species of Ilippoglossina. End of maxil- 

 lary falling on a vertical through middle of eye 

 at 50 mm., generally under posterior margin of 

 pupil at 75 mm., under space between posterior 

 margin of pupil and that of eye in large speci- 

 mens. Interorbital a mere ridge; eye medium 

 large; depth 39.5 to 43.5; head 25 to 29; maxil- 

 lary 11.7 to 13.6; upper orbit 7.4 to 9.3; upper 

 eyeball 6.1 to 7.6 (measurements of 11 specimens 

 244 to 328 mm.) . Sinistral. 



Development and variability of splmiles on the 

 scales.- — The spinules begin to appear first on the 

 scales of the blind side when the fish readies a 

 total length of about 60 mm., as a rule, sometimes 

 not appearing until 70 or 75 mm. The scales at 

 the base of the caudal are the first ones to develop 

 spinules. In fish of that length the spinules are 

 visible as well marked, tiny, and somewhat round- 

 ed points clearly and cleanly projecting beyond 

 the maigin of the scale. As the tisli continues to 

 grow the spinules appear successively on the more 

 anterior scales. At tlie beginning a single con- 

 spicuous spinule appeal's on any one of the scales, 

 the number of spinules increasing with size. Dur- 

 ing the process of development, therefore, the 

 posterior scales, at the base of tlie caudal may have 

 several conspicuous spinules, the anteriormost 

 ctenoid scales, one spinule each, the numbers on 

 each scale gradually decreasing from behind 

 anteriorly. The spinules on the scales of the eyed 

 side iip])ear much later, sometimes in fish of about 

 100 to 110 imn., and quite often not appearing in 

 fish as long as 135 mm. or longer. The spinules on 

 any one scale of the blind side are generally more 

 numerous and somewhat stronger than on the 

 eyed side. 



While the ctenoid scales increase gradually in 

 number with size, their numbers are also highly 

 variable with individual tish. In large fish they 

 are nearly always present on the caudal peduncle 

 of both sides, infi-equently on the blind side only, 

 and are also nearly always present on the eyed 

 side of the head. Sometimes the spinuliferous 

 scales extend over the posterior half or even two- 

 thirds of the body, rarely over nearly the entire 

 body. The spinuliferous scales are usually more 

 numerous, and the spinules are somewhat better 

 developed on the blind side, but sometimes they 



are more numerous on the eyed side. The spi- 

 nules sometimes become visible only after drying 

 the specimen, especially in those which are thick- 

 ly covered with mucus, but they may always be 

 felt by passing the sensitive tip of the finger for- 

 ward over the surface of the fish. 



Color. — Body always having 4 strongly marked 

 ocellated spots in the same and characteristic po- 

 sitions; one each near the ends of the dorsal and 

 anal fins, respectively; and one each near the 

 dorsal and central profiles, on a vertical a little 

 nearer to the head than the base of the caudal. 

 Body and head otherwise variously mottled with 

 lighter and darker shades. Ventral of eyed side 

 with a small black spot at its distal margin; small 

 specimens having this spot diffuse, or with three 

 diffuse spots side by side. The caudal, dorsal, 

 and anal on blind side characteristically peppered 

 with minute dark chromatophores, tlistally. 



The 4 characteristic ocellated spots are present 

 in the sniiillest specimens examined, 40 mm. In 

 small fish, 40 to 50 mm., the eyed side is thickly 

 and uniformly spotted with small specks which 

 may be more or less confluent, while the blind 

 side is more or less profusely, but not thickly, 

 sprinkled with minute clear cut dots which do not 

 coalesce. The chromatojihores on the blind side, 

 except for the fins as described above, become more 

 diffusely scattered at 60 mm. and entirely disap- 

 pear at 75 mm. 



Size. — This is a comparatively small species. 

 The bulk of the specimens captured are about 12 

 inches or less. The maximum length on record is 

 that given by Storer (18G3), 16 inches. The 

 largest examined is 131/2 inches (340 mm.). 

 Nichols and Breder (1927) record a maximum 

 length of 15 inches, and a weight of 13 ounces. 



Distinctive characters and 7'e I at Ion. ship. — There 

 is no trouble in properly identifying specimens 

 belonging to this species. The characteristic posi- 

 tion of the four prominent ocellated spots is unlike 

 that of any other related American species found 

 in the Atlantic. Also, the spots are unusually well 

 marked, even in preserved specimens, as compared 

 with the other related species. In rare cases, when 

 the spots become faint in preserved fish, they may 

 be identified by a combination of structural char- 

 acters, namely, the absence of accessory scales, the 

 presence of ctenoid scales, the comparatively small 

 scales, and the few gill rakers. Its nearest relative 



