J or da n a n d Everm ami. — Fishes of North A m erica . 2253 



824. ILYPNUS, Jordan & Everinann. 

 Ilypnus, Jordan &. E\t;rmann, Check-List Fishes, 460, 1896 {(jilhcrti). 



This genus is allied to Clevelandia, from which it differs chiefly in the 

 presence of dermal flaps on the inner edge of the shoulder girdle ; scales 

 minute, embedded, cycloid; dorsal with 5 spines; occiput transversely 

 rounded, without median keel ; maxillary moderate. Small gobies, inhab- 

 iting mud flats. {iXv?, mud; V7tvo<;, slumber.) 



2.585. ILYPNUS GILBERTI (Eigenmann & Eigeimiann.) 



Head 3 to 3i (31^ to 4 in total) ; depth 5 to 5^ (6 to 7). D. V-15 to 17; A. 

 14 to 16 ; B. 5 ; vertebra- 1.5 + 19. Form elongate, compressed. Head long, 

 subcorneal, about as high as wide, its width 2i in its length. Profile 

 nearly straight from eyes to spinous dorsal, decidedly decurved in front 

 of eyes. Eye entirely above the premaxillary level, 1 in snout, 4i in 

 head, i in interorbital. Mouth slightly oblique; maxillary extending to 

 below middle of eye, lower jaw slightly included. Teeth villiform, in a 

 broad band in each jaw, the outer series of lower jaw somewhat enlarged. 

 One, rarely 2, dermal flaps on inner edge of shoulder girdle. Scales 

 cycloid, embedded, very small; head, nape, and breast naked. Distance 

 from tip of snout to insertion of spinous dorsal 2| in length; highest 

 dorsal spine about j length of head; soft dorsal rays lower; interdorsal 

 area about i orbital diameter; tip of last dorsal ray not reaching base of 

 caudal ; caudal broad and rounded when expanded ; anal similar to soft 

 dorsal flu ; ventral fins large, nearly reaching vent in specimens If inches 

 Jong. Pectorals usually shorter than ventrals. Color in life, sand color; 

 head and body with small rust-colored spots, which are dotted with blacky 

 the pnnctulatious forming a more or less regular network; dorsal fins 

 hyaline at base, bright rust-colored above, and rather broadly margined 

 with white, everywhere black punctate except on margins ; about 3 groups 

 of black dots on each ray, giving a barred appearance to these fins; cau- 

 dal margined with white, upper and lower parts of fin rust colored, me- 

 dian portion dark gray; about 5 wavy, rustlike, vertical bars; entire fin 

 dotted with black except its margin; anal fin hyaline at base, sparsely 

 dotted, its middle third jet-black, margined with white; pectorals and 

 ventrals milky white, yellowish, sparingly black dotted and white edged; 

 a large, conspicuous, metallic blue-black spot on opercie ; top of head 

 blackish; belly white or yellowish; chin and throat white, sometimes 



distance from end of snout to middle of pupil ; length of base of soft dorsal not quite 

 equaling length of head; distance of posterior end irom caudal fin equaling distance 

 between the 2 dorsal tins. Origin of anal behind that of soft dorsal and a little posterior 

 to middle of total length of tish ; its base IJ times in base of soft dorsal, or about 4 in 

 length of tish to base of caudal fin ; pectorals moderate, a little more than A length of 

 head; ventrals inserted slightly behind the pectorals and about equaling them in length. 

 Color in life whitish beneatli, grayish or mottled above; 6 double white spots along the 

 back, alternating witii tine blackish areas; a white spot behind each eye on top of head; 

 cheek with 2 dark bands extending obliquely backward and downward from eye ; a num- 

 ber of dark splotches on opercles; about 7 dusky areas along the side, the last and most 

 marked being upon the base of the caudal tin; dorsal fins finely marked lengtliwise by 

 about 4 series of small dark sjiots ; caudal crossed by 5 or 6 wavy vertical bars of very fine 

 dark spots or points; anal, pectorals, anil ventrals plain. In alcohol these markings are 

 less plaiu, eapecially the white aud black areas upon the back. Length 2* inches. 



