FISHES OF THE GULF OF MAINE 5 



this in turn carries us to Key E (p. 7) because which refers it to section 2. And here the black 



it has three separate, well developed dorsal fins. lateral line and the dark blotch on each shoulder 



Since there are 3 dorsal fins and 2 anal fins, name it a haddock, 

 section 1 of Key E sends us to the key to the cod Any other Gulf of Maine species is to be named 



and silver hake families (p. 173). Turning to the in the same way, starting with Key A, section 1, 



first section of the latter we find that our fish fits and following through the appropriate alternatives 



the first alternative (3 dorsal fins and 2 anals) , as thev refer it from section to section. 



KEY TO GULF OF MAINE FISHES 

 Key A 



1. Mouth soft, with no firm jaws; no pectoral fins; form eel-like 2 



Mouth has firm jaws; pectoral fins are present even if the form is eel-like 3 



2. Two separate fins on the back; no barbels on the snout Lamprey, p. 12 



Only one fin on the back; with barbels on the snout Hag, p. 10 



3. Five gill openings on each side 4 



Only one gill opening on each side 5 



4. General form cylindrical in all Gulf of Maine species; the forward edges of the pectoral fins are not attached to the 



sides of the head forward, past the gill openings; the gill openings are not confined to the lower surface; the upper 



margin of each orbit is free from the eyeball, as a free eyelid Sharks, key, p. 16 



General form very fiat, disclike; the forward edges of the pectoral fins are attached to the sides of the head forward 

 past all of the gill openings; the gill openings are confined to the lower surface; the upper margin of each orbit is 

 not free from the eyeball (no free eyelid) Skates and Rays, key, p. 57 



5. The bones of the head are fused in a tubular snout, with the mouth at its lip refer to Key B, p. 6 



No tubular snout 6 



6. One or both jaws are prolonged as a bony sword or bill _ refer to Key C, p. 6 



Neither jaw is greatly prolonged 7 



7. Body abruptly square-cut, close behind the very high dorsal and anal fins refer to Sunfishes, key, p. 529 



Body with distinct tail part 8 



8. There is a sucking plate or disc, either on the top of the head or on the chest 9 



There is no sucking disc or plate 11 



9. The sucking plate is on the top of the head refer to Remora family, key, p. 485 



The sucking disc is on the chest 10 



10. General form is like a tadpole; the anal fin originates about as far back as the tips of the pectorals. 



refer to Sea snail family, key, p. 464 



General form is not like a tadpole, but is high arched, with longitudinal ridges; the anal fin originates far behind the 



tips of the pectorals refer to Lumpfish family, key, p. 459 



11. Tail like a shark, i. e., with the upper lobe much longer than the lower Sturgeons, key, p. 81 



Tail with the upper and lower lobes of equal lengths, or nearly so 12 



12. No clear separation between the anal and the caudal fins, which together form one continuous fin (the anal portion 



may be either long or short) refer to Key D, p. 6 



Anal and caudal fins are separated by a deep notch, or by a space 13 



13. Sides of body and head, or both, with luminescent spots or patches, easily seen if not damaged. 



refer to Luminescent fishes, key, p. 141 

 No luminescent organs 14 



14. There is a fleshy ("adipose") fin, with neither rays nor spines, either in front of the rayed dorsal fin, or behind it.. 15 

 There is no fleshy ("adipose") fin, but both the dorsals (if there are two) are supported by rays or by spines that can 



be felt, if not seen 18 



15. The adipose fin is on the nape of the neck, in front of the dorsal fin Tilefish, p. 426 



The adipose fin is behind the dorsal fin 16 



16. The dorsal fin extends nearly the entire length of the body Lancetfish, p. 161 



The dorsal fin is short, standing about midway of the body 17 



17. Tail deeply forked refer to Smelts and Argentine Key, p. 133 



Tail nearly square or only slightly forked refer to Salmon key, p. 120 



18. The head is fringed with fleshy tags or flaps 19 



The head is not fringed with fleshy tags or flaps 22 



19. The pectorals are armlike 20 



The pectorals are not armlike 21 



