Jorda7i and Evermmui. — Fishes of North America. 2601 



/ Coccolus* BONAPAKTE, iu Cocco, Alcimi Pesci Messina, 21, 1844 (aniiectens,- larval form- 

 probably of P. podas, with the right eye in transit to the left side). 



Bothus, Bonaparte, Catologo Metodico, 49, 184G (podas) ; not of Kafinesque. 



JUtomboidichthys, Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sci. Indo-Nederl. Mauad. and Makassar, 67, 1357-58 

 (inyriagter). 



Platophrys, Bleeker, Coruptes Keudus Acad. Sci. Auisterd., xiii, 1802, I'leuron., 5 

 (ocellatus). 



Eyes and color on the left side. Body ovate, strongly compressed; 

 mouth of the large type, but comparatively small ; the maxillary | or less 

 of the length of the head; teeth small, subequal, iu 1 or 2 series; no teeth 

 on vomer or palatines. Interorbital space broad and concave, broadest iu 

 adult males. Gill rakers moderate. Dorsal fin begiuniug in frout of eye, 

 all its rays simple; ventral of colored side on ridge of abdomen; caudal 

 convex behind ; ])ectoral of left side usually with 1 or more filamentous 

 rays, longest in the male. Scales very small, ctenoid, adherent; lateral 

 line with a stroug arch in frout. Coloration usually variegated. 



This well-marked genus is widely difiused iu the warm seas. The sexual 

 difterences are greater than usual among llounders, and the different sexes 

 have often been taken for different species. As a rule, in the males, the 

 pectoral fin on the left side is much prolonged, the interorbital area is 

 much widened and very concave, and there are some tubercles about the 

 snout and lower eye. The young fishes, as is usually the case, resemble 

 the adult females. Lately, Dr. Emery has shown that the larval flounder, 

 known as Pdoria heckeli, is in all probability the young of Fleiironectcs 

 podas. The generic name, Coccolus, based on forms slightly more mature 

 than those called Fcloria, probably belongs here also. We have seen no 

 larval forms so young as those which have been described as Peloria 

 heckeli. We have, however, examined small transparent flounders, one 

 with the eyes quite symmetrical, taken iu the Gulf Stream, and another 

 with the eyes on the left side, taken at Key West. Both these may be 

 larv;e of Platophrys ocellatus. The figures published by Emery seem to 

 make it almost certain that the corresponding European forms belong to 

 P. podas, although some doul)t as to this is expressed by Facciola. The 

 species of Platophrys are widely distributi'd through the warm seas, uo 

 tropical waters being wholly without them. All the species oi Platophrys 

 are extremely closely related and can be distinguished with difficulty. 

 On the other hand, the variations due to difl'erences of age and sex are 

 greater than iu any other of our genera. The following analysis of the 

 species of Platophrys is very unsatisfactory. There are certainly 3 species 

 (^podas, the European 8j)ecies, maculifer, and lunatus) which are known to 

 be distinct in their adult state. The young forms oi maculifer and lunatus 

 are not well known, nor is it known how they differ from ocellatus, 

 spinosus, and other species which presumably reach a smaller size. Only 

 a thorough study of the species, iu all stages of development in their 

 native waters, can give us the characters by which the species can be 

 really discriminated. {itXarvi, broad; 6<!>pvi, eyebrow.) 



*" Parvus mole et i)lruriini'<tifiirmis, medius inter Pleuronectidas et Bibrouiiuos hie 

 piseis videturl Attaiiuii diiin illi oriilos unllaterales habeaiit, isti< vero bilaterale.s ; in hoc 

 novo geiiere oculi, alter a latiic, altere in vertico vix ad appositum latiis couvenus positi 

 sunt." (Bonaparte: (luoted by Faccioli, Su di Alcuni liari Pleuronettidi.) 



