Vol. 31, pp. 9-14 May 16, 1918 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



A REVISION OF THE VIVIPAROUS PERCHES. 

 BY CARL L. HUBBS. 



Viviparity has been developed to a high degree of perfection 

 in certain groups of fishes, among the most notable of which 

 are the Viviparous Perches or Surf -fishes of California. These 

 fishes form a compact group, the family Embiotocidae, which is 

 well differentiated from other Percoid types. 



The several genera of the Embiotocidae form three groups, 

 here defined as subfamilies, which differ from one another in 

 the structure of the anal fin, and in dentition. In a general 

 view the most primitive of these three groups appears to be the 

 Embiotocinae. This group contains three-fifths of the genera, 

 and includes the forms of unusual range or habitat, such as the 

 two Japanese genera; those species ranging northward to the 

 Puget Sound fauna ; the species descending to moderate depths 

 on the continental shelf (Zalembius rosaceus), and the only fresh- 

 water representative of the group (Hysterocarpus traski). The 

 other species of Embiotocinae inhabit the bays, beaches, and 

 reefs of the Californian faunal region. The Amphistichinae 

 comprise several surf fishes of California, while the Microme- 

 trinae, a specialized offshoot from the Embiotocinae, include 

 only two species, living almost exclusively along the rocky reefs 

 of California. 



Most of the genera of the Embiotocidae are now regarded as 

 monotypic. Such an arrangement of the species doubtless ex- 

 presses very well their isolated position with reference to one 

 another, but as the expression is one of difference and not of 

 resemblance, it might be urged with justice that the more closely 

 related of the genera should be united. As is frequently the 



4— Pkoc. Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. 31, 1918. (9) 



