FISHES CONTAINED IN MUSEUMS OF JAPAN. 303 



The type ^Yas taken in the open sea in a net in deep 

 water. The species is named in honor of Professor Dairoku 

 KiKUCHi, the distinguished President of the Imperial University 

 of Tokyo, in recognition of his interest in scientific research. 



This species is distinguished from most other sturgeons by 

 the very long dorsal fin. From Acipenser mikadoi Hilgendorf, 

 the only other Japanese species known, it is separated by the 

 characters in the following analysis. 



a. Dorsal very long, of more than 60 rays ; anal of about 

 40; dorsal plates 11; skin between series of shields nearly 

 smooth. Sagami Bay kikuchîi. 



aa. Dorsal moderate, of 35 to 40 rays ; anal of about 30 ; 

 dorsal plates 7 or 8 ; skin between series of shields with small 

 stellate plates. Rivers of Hokkaido (Ishikari River ; Streams of 

 Teshio ; Mukawa) mikadoi. 



2. Lepidopus aomori Joedan and Snyder, new species. 



Head 11 "/j in length ; depth 23 7^ ; dorsal spines 127 ; eye 

 5 Ya ill head ; snout 2 Yg. 



Maxillary not quite reaching eye ; 2 7g in head. Teeth 

 moderate ; close set ; equal, except 4 strong canines in front of 

 upper jaw. Pectoral 2 72 in head. No anal fin. Caudal very 

 small, forked. Vertebrae 120. Color silvery. No ventral fins 

 are evident on the dried skin. The dorsal spines are broken 

 off; the above count being made from the neural spines at base 

 of fin. 



Type, a dried specimen about 8 ft. long, in good condition 

 except for the broken dorsal fin, preserved in the Museum of 

 Aomori. Locality, Bay of Aomori, Province of Aomori, Japan. 



Local name, Ta chin u wo ; meaning sword-fish. 



