No.1744. REVIEW OF FLOUNDERS STARKS I \ /> T II < > \l l's< >\ 



287 



PLEURONICHTHYS RITTERI Starks and Morris. 



This species is more nearly related to Pleuronichihys <>cill<itus than 

 to any other, and may be distinguished as indicate, I under the de- 

 scription of that species. 



Head 4 to Ah in Length of body to base of caudal; depth 1} to •_'. 

 Upper orbit 2| to 3 in head; maxillary I; length of caudal peduncle 

 from 3J to 4J, its depth from l> to 2\. Number of dorsal rays from 

 61 to 68; anal rays 45 to 46; scales in series below lateral line, 7!) to 

 84; gill-rakers, 4 to 6+10 to 11. 



Body more strongly curved than in Pleuronichihys ccenosus, the 

 dorsal curve broken at the middle of the upper eye by the projecting 

 snout, though less so than in Pleuronichihys oceUatus. The inter- 

 orbital ridge is lower than in Pleuronichihys ccenosus, with two 

 tubercles at the anterior end, and a low conical spine on the posterior 

 end pointing posteriorly and slightly downward. On the posterior 

 margin of the upper orbit are two small tubercles, and on its anterior 

 margin a smaller one. The upper jaw has no teeth on the eyed side. 

 There are three or four rows on the blind side of each jaw, and one 

 row on the eyed side of the mandible. The nostrils of the blind side 

 are closer to the base of the dorsal lin than in Ph uronichthys <>c< llatus. 



The dorsal fin arises on, or a very little below, the level of the tip 

 of the snout. The ventral of the vyed side is inserted posterior to 

 that of the blind side a distance equal to one-half of the length of the 

 maxillary. 



The scales are imbricated except opposite the middle of the dorsal 

 and anal fins, where they arc usually separated and somewhat 

 embedded. The lateral line has a short anterior branch, and a dorsal 

 branch running posteriorly to under the middle dorsal rays. 



The color in alcohol is dark brown with a small dark spot the size 

 of the pupil, or a little larger, slightly posterior to or at the middle of 

 the body, and two larger, more distinct spots opposite to the posterior 

 fifth of the dorsal and anal fins at the base of the rays. 



Here described from six specimens from San Diego (the type and 

 cotypes) from 4^ to 10 inches in length." 



Measun rru nts of I'll uronichthys ritteri. 



Length of body without caudal, in nun 



Depth of body in hundredths of length 



Length of head 



Longitudinal diameter of upper orbit 



in tance across both orbits 



Length of maxillary 



Ventral of eyed side posterior to that of blind 



Length of caudal peduncle to marginal caudal rays . 



Depth caudal peduncle 



Number of dorsal rays 



Number of anal rays 



Scales in longitudinal .vries below lateral line 



Gill-rakers 



127 



52. 7 



26 



8. »; 



i» 



i,. i 

 ;i 



:. 



12 



f, 

 84 



5 II 



i, ■ II 



^Original described in University of California Publications, vol. \\, 1907, p. 243, Contr. to Lab. of 

 Marino Biological Association of San Diego, XVI, 



