2078 Bulletin ^y ^ United States National Museum. 



1051. CITHARICHTHYS,* Bleeker. 

 (Whiffs.) 



Citharichthys, Bleeker, Comptcs Keudii.s Acad. Sci. Amsterd., xiii, Pleurouectoidei, 6 



1862 {cayennennis ^^ spiliipterui) . 

 OrthopseUa, Gill, Proc. Ac. 'Sal. Sci. Phila. 1862, 330 {sordidus). 

 Metoponojis, Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1864, 198 (cooperi^ sordidus) . 



Eyes and color on the left side. Body oblong; mouth of the large type, 

 but comparatively small, with 1 series of ^mall, sharp teeth in each jaw; 

 no teeth on vomer or palatines. Gill rakers moderate, slender. Dorsal 

 tin beginning just in front of eye; all the fin rays simple; ventrals of 

 colored side on the ridge of the abdomen; no anal spine; caudal fin con- 

 vex or double truncate behind; none of the fins produced. Scales thin, 

 deciduous, slightly ctenoid. Lateral line nearly straight, simple. Lower 

 pharyngeals separate, each with a single row of teeth. Vertebra'- 30 to 

 40. This genus includes small flounders of weak organization, espe- 

 cially characteristic of the sandy shores of tropical America. The sub- 

 genus OrthopseUa includes species of more northern range and somewhat 

 diflerent form, and especially noteworthy as having an increased num- 

 ber of vertebra'. The two groups intergrade so perfectly that no sharp 

 line of division can be drawn between them. {Citharus, an allied genus; 

 iX^iv<i, fish — a fish which lies on its yiBapo<i, or ribs; that is, on its side.) 



Orthop.setta (opflos, straight; xl/rirTa, flounder): 

 a. VertebriB 37 to 40; interorbital ridge sharply elevated; the head not closely com- 

 pressed ; eyes large; species of the North Pacific. 

 6. Interocular space concave, scaly, at least behind. 

 c. Gill rakers a; + 16 to 18. 



d. Scales 65 to 70 ; dorsal rays 95 ; anal 77 ; depth 2J. soedidus, 3048. 



dd. Scales 46 to 50; dorsal rays 83 to 87 ; anal 67 to 70; depth 2? in length. 



FEAGILIS, 3049. 



cc. Gill rakers a; -f 10 or 11 ; dorsal rays about 84; anal 65; scales 50; depth 2^ 



in length. xanthostiomus, 3050. 



bb. Interocular space a sharp, naked ridge; dorsal rays 85 to 90; anal 68 to 72; 



scales 55 to 60; head 3J in length; depth 2J. STiaM.s;us, 3051. 



CiTHAKICHTHYS: 



aa. Vertebr.'e 33 to 36; interorbital ridge low and narrow, the head closely compressed. 

 Species of the Atlantic or the Tropics. 

 e. Eyes large, 3 to 4A in head. 



/. Head large, 3 to 3^ in length. 



g. Interorbital space very narrow, 5 in eye; snout with a spine; pectoral 

 of eyed side elongate, J longer than head; maxillary 2J in liead. 

 D. 91 ; A. 73 ; scales 48. DINOCEROS, 3052. 



gg. Interorbital sjjace very broad, 2 in eye; snout without spine; pec- 

 toral of eyed side shorter than head; maxillary 2| in head. D. 

 78 ; A. 62 ; scales 43. platophrys, 3053. 



ff. Head smaller, about 4 in length. 



h. Body comparatively elongate, the depth about 2J in length; mouth 

 very small; the maxillary 3J in head; dorsal rays 83; anal 67; 

 scales 40; eye 4 in head. arctifrons, 3054. 



* "Aa the name Citharichthys was introduced a short time before that of Orthopsetta, 

 proposed for the Pgeitichthys .sordidtts, and was framed for a species related to that type, 

 that name must bo adopted if the O. sordida is not regarded as generically distinct." 

 (Gill.) 



