Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 



1891 



hofly morp slender. These characters are variable, aud specimens from 

 the Oregon coast show varions intergradations. 



Artedius pugetensis, Steindachnek, Iclith. Beitrage, v, 133, pi. 14, fig. 2, 1876, Puget 

 Sound, Fox Island near Steilacoom, Port Townsend, and San Francisco. (Coll. 

 Steindacbner.) * 



Chitonotux megaeephalus, Lockincton, Proc.U. S. Nat. Mus. 1881, 141, off San Francisco. 

 (Coll. W. N. Lockington.) 



Icelus pugetensig, Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis, 692, 1883. 



Icelns megaccphalus, Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis, 692, 1883. 



Chitonotus pugetensii, Jordan & Starks, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci. 1895, 805. 



708. TARANDICHTHYS, Jordan & Evermann. 



Tarandlchthys, Jordan & Evermann, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci. 1896, 225 (filamentosns). 



This genus is close to Icdinns, from which it differs in the presence of 

 bony plates behind the axil, and in having 1 or more of the dorsal spines 

 produced in filaments, these specially developed in the male. Three or 4 

 preopercular spines, the upper one strong and widely branched. The dorsal 

 band of plates is less complete than in Icelinus. Deep water of the North 

 Pacific, (rdpavdo?, reindeer, from the antler-like spines; ix^V';, fish.) 



a. Occiput with a pit-like depression ; nasal, 2 postocnlar, and occipital spines, strongly 

 developed; first 2 dorsal spines filamentous in the male; postaxillary plates 

 present ; dorsal series of plates scarcely reaching end of soft dorsal. 



CAVIFRONS, 2272. 



an. Occiput with no pit-like depression. 



h. First 2 dorsal spines filamentous, about equally produced; dorsal series of 



plates much longer than head, reaching end of soft dorsal; postaxillary 



plates present; nasal filament present. filamentosus, 2273. 



66. First dorsal spine filamentous, the second little, if at all, produced ; dorsal 



series of plates usually shorter than head, not reaching middle of soft 



dorsal; no nasal filament ; postaxillary plates present. tenuis, 2274. 



2272. TARANDIIHTHYS CATIFRONS (Gilbert). 

 Head 2f to 3 ; depth U ; eye 3* in head ; snout 3L D. X, 14 or 15 ; A. 12 

 or 13; lateral line 38. Body not slender; depth of caudal peduncle about 

 ^ its length. Mouth small; maxillary reaching but little beyond front of 

 pupil, 2f to 3 in head ; interorbital space narrow, groove-like, its width 

 i diameter of pupil ; nasal spines very strong, more than i width of pupil, 

 without filament; supraorbital ridge ending above posterior margin of 

 orbit in a strong spine as large as that on nasal Ijone; by the side of this, 

 behind the eye, another equally strong; behind these spines the outline is 

 suddenly broken by a deep circular pit, as large as pupil, bounded later- 

 ally and posteriorly by the short occipital ridges; occipital spines strong; 

 supraorbital flap well developed ; no other conspicuous filaments in our 

 specimens ; upper preopercular spine strong, f diameter of orbit, with 1 

 process directed backward and 3 to 5 upward, the usual 3 spines below 

 this ; a spinous point at lower angle of subopercle, and a short spine on 



* "Kommt in sehr grosser-Menge im Puget Sunde bei der Fox Insel, niichst Steilacoom, 

 bei Port Townsend, viel selteuer bei San Francisco vor und laicht im October an aeichten 

 sandigen Uberstellen." (Steindaohner). 



