312 



FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



Subgenus Chaenopsetta 



Chaenopsetta Giii., Cat. Fish. E. Coast North America 

 (supp. Proc. Acatl. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 13, 1861), 

 p. 50, 1861 (genot.vpe Paralichtliiis dentatus (Lin- 

 naeus) =Pto<essn oUonga StoTer=Plates»a ocellaris De 

 Kay by ruonotypy, both latter names cited in the origi- 

 nal account being synonyms of dentatus). 



Chaenopsetta Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 

 1864:216 (genus first defined). 



This subgenus differs from typical Paralichthys 

 in having cycloid scales on both sides in large as 

 well as in small specimens. The species compris- 

 ing this subgenus seem to form a natural and re- 

 lated group. Its possible derivation from the 

 subgenus ParalicMKys through oestiiaHus to 

 woohnani is suggested above (p. 301). All the 

 known species occur on the Atlantic and Pacific 

 Coasts of North and South America. 



PARALICHTHYS WOOLMANI 



(PL.^TE 11) 



Diagnosis. — Scales c-ycloid on both sides at all 

 ages, 62 to 71. Accessory scales present, begin- 

 ning to appear in specimens of about 150 mm., 

 rather sparse at a comparatively large size, usually 

 somewhat more numerous on blind side, on either 

 side increasing in numbers somewhat with the 

 size of the fish. Total number of gill rakers on 

 outer arch 16 to 20, usually 17 to 19 ; usually 4 or 5 

 on upper limb, infrequently 6; usually 13 or 14 

 on lower limb, sometimes 12 or 15, infrequently 

 11. Anal rays 55 to 60; dorsal rays 70 to 81. 

 Pectoral rays most often 12, commonly also 11 

 (12 on both sides in 14 specimens, 11 on both sides 

 in 5, 11 on blind side and 12 on the other in 2). 

 Origin of dorsal more or less behind anterior 

 margin of eye in specimens 60 to 90 mm., generally 

 over anterior margin of eye in specimens 90 to 250 

 mm., in front of anterior margin of eye in 1 speci- 

 men 429 mm. Maxillary extending backward to 

 underneath the space between posterior margin of 

 eye and that of pupil in specimens under 100 mm., 

 to a vertical through posterior margin of eye or 

 nearly there in specimens up to 200 mm., somewhat 

 past eye in one specimen 429 mm. Maxillary and 

 head longer and body somewhat deeper than in the 

 closely related hrasilienMfi when specimens of like 

 size are compared. Sinistral. 



Color. — Color pattern more distinguishable in 

 smaller specimens. Spots, where distinct, usually 

 in 5 longitudinal rows, sometimes more or less 

 irregularly arranged, faintly suggesting 7 rows. 



Ocellated spots present, frequently numerous. 

 Spots forming the large triangle freq\iently rather 

 more jDrominent than other spots. Other shadings 

 on body variable as in related species, irregularly 

 shaded, light and dark; the intensity of the shad- 

 ings variable, sometimes light all over and often 

 very dark; ocellated character of spots in darker 

 specimens often not discernible, sometimes snowed 

 over with many white spots; sometimes sprinkled 

 profusely with small dark spots; longitudinal 

 rows of white spots along dorsal and ventral pro- 

 files sometimes more or less evident. 



Specimens examined. — Carmen Island, Gulf of 

 California (46437). La Paz. Mexico, "cotype'" of 

 Paralichthys sinaloae (47486). Cape San Lucas, 

 Lower California (7036). Panama (50334). 

 Panama City Market (78103, 81052, 81054. 81055, 

 81056). Ta'boga I., Panama (81634). Perlas L 

 Panama (Bingham Ocean. Coll.). Chame Point, 

 Panama (81635, 82698). Galapagos I., Alba- 

 tross ; type of P. woolmmii; about 240 mm. caudal 

 broken at tip (47575; as to authenticity of locality 

 of the type see following discussion). Paita, 

 Peru (77705). Total number of specimens 

 studied 22, 48 to 429 mm. 



Geographic distnhution. — ^The species has been 

 recorded hitherto from localities ranging from La 

 Paz, Sinaloa, IMexico, to Paita, Peru, and the coast 

 of Lower California at Cape San Lucas. The 

 material studied confirms this range and carries 

 the distribution somewhat northward and west- 

 ward within the Gulf of California to Carmen 

 Island. The range of this species is more exten- 

 sive than that of any other related species from 

 the American continents. 



The locality where the type specimen was cap- 

 tured is doubtful. Jordan and BoUman (1889) 

 who first listed the specimen stated that it came 

 from Panama. Later, presumably this same speci- 

 men was described as a new species by Jordan 

 and Williams (1896) who now ascribe it to the 

 Galapagos Islands, and the locality is so entered 

 on the National Museum register. Sinc« the 

 species without a doubt occurs as far as Paita, 

 Peru, it is not impossible that it extends its range 

 to the Galapagos Islands. In regard to this ques- 

 tion, Gilbert and Starks (1904) state, "The type 

 of this species was collected by the Albatross in 

 1888. at Panama . . . Later, wlien made the type 

 of a new species, it was erroneously credited to the 



