Jordan and Evennann. — Fishes of North America. 3 



I. BRANCHIOSTOMA, Coata. 



(Lancelets.) 



Brtmchioslotna, Costa, Ceuui Zoiilogici Napol., 49, 1834, (luhricum = lanceolatum). 

 Amphhxiii', Yarrell, British Fishes, 4G8, 1830, {hmceolatus). 



Lancelets with the gonads or reproductive structure present ou both 

 sides of the median line. Anal fin present, with traces of rays. Verte- 

 bral cohunn not produced backward into a caudal process. Six or 7 

 species recognized, found in the warm seas, usually buried in sand Hats 

 at no great depth. They are very tenacious of life, and will endure con- 

 siderable mutilation. (iSfjdyxui, gills; aTb/:ia, mouth, the cirri about the 

 mouth having been taken for gills by Costa). 



a. Myoconiniatii or muscular bauds, 58 to 64. 



h. Myocommata behiud veut, 11 to 13, the formula usually 35 -f- 14 -f- 12 = 61. 



LANCEOLATUM, 1. 



hb. Jlyocommata behind vuut, 7 to 10, the formula usually 35 -|- 14 + 9 = 58. 



CARIB.EUM, 2. 



ua. BIyocommata or muscular bands, 65 to 70, the usual formula 44-1-16 + 9 = 69; size larger 

 than iu other American species ; the tail short. californiense, 3. 



1. BRANCHIOSTOMA LANCEOLATUM, (Pallas). 



(European Lancelet ; Ampiiioxus.) 



Muscular bands usually 35 + 14 -|- 12 = 61. Usual length 1^ inches. The 

 common European species, with the tail stoutish and rather long; abun- 

 dant on the sandy shores of the Mediterranean, and known from Southern 

 England and Scandinavia. The Lancelet of the Chesapeake Bay, accord- 

 ing to Dr. Andrews, is referable to this species rather than to B. caribo-um. 

 {lanceolatus, lance-shaped.) (Eu.) 



Limax tanceolatm, Pallas, Spicilegia Zoiil., X, 19, 1774, Cornwall. 



Branchiostoma luhrwum, Ccsta, Cenui Zoiil. Napol., 49, 1834, Naples. 



Amphioxus lanceolatus, Yarrell, British Fishes, 408, 1836, and of many writers ou anatomy ; GfN- 



THER, Cat., VIII, 513, 1870 ; Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis, 867, 1883 ; Gintheb, Kept. ZoUl. H. 



M. S. Alert, 32, 1884 ; Andrews, Studies Biol. Lab. Johns Hopkins Univ., v, 238, 1893. 



2. BRANCHIOSTOMA CARIBJIUM,* Sundevall. 



(West Indian Lancelet.) 



Muscular bands (myocommata) usually 35 -f- 1-1 + 9 = 58; gonads 22 to 

 26 on each side ; usual length If inches; tail short; extremities attenuate. 

 In shallow waters, buried in the sand, from Beaufort, N. C, to the mouth 

 of the La Plata; abundant off the Carolina coast and iu localities iu 

 Florida (Port Tampa), Jamaica, Brazil, etc. (Name from the Caribbean 

 sea.) 



Branchiostoma caribie)tm,SviiDEV ALL, Olfers, Vet. Akad. Forhandl., 12, 1853 , St. Thomas; Rio 

 Janeiro; GDntiieb, Voyage Alert, 32, 1884 ; Jordan & Gilheut, Synopsis, 3; Andrews, I. c, 

 240, 1893. 



♦This species is not very diflforent from B. laitctolatuni , and may vary into it. 



