A REVIEW OF THE HERRING-LIKE FISHES OF JAPAN. 



By David Starr Jordan and Albert Christian Herre, 



Of Stanford Thdversity, California. 



In this paper is given a descriptive list of the species of fishes rela- 

 ted to the Clupeidt\?, or herring- famil}', known to inhabit the waters 

 of Japan. The paper is based on the collection made in 1900, by 

 Professors Jordan and Snyder. Series of the species named are in 

 the United States National Museum and in the collections of Stanford 

 Universit3^ 



The Japanese herring-like fishes, Isosjjondyll, without adipose fin, 

 belong to ten different families, most of them largely represented by 

 extinct forms. Of all the bonj^ fishes, these are the most ancient, and 

 the most primitive, the families and some of the genus going back to 

 Mesozoic times. They are connected by an unbroken series with the 

 later ganoid forms. It is evident that, with the possible exception of 

 Pterothrlss\is^ none of these groups originated in the Japanese fauna. 

 Each genus represented is widely distributed and as a rule but a single 

 species of each one occurs in Japan. 



ANALYTICAL KEY TO FAMILIES. 



a. (Clupeoidea) . Adipose fin, none. 

 h. Head scaleless; no barl:)els. 

 c. Dorsal fin inserted anteriorly, usually well before anal; shore fishes or river 

 fishes, usually silvery in coloration and with the skeleton firm; air bladder 

 well developed. 

 d. Gular i)late present, between branches of lower jaw; mouth large, teeth 

 present, all pointed; lateral line present; axillaiy scales and sheaths large. 



Elopid^, I 

 dd. Gular plate, none. 

 e. Lateral line well developed. 

 /. Dorsal fin very long, of 55 to 65 rays, extending almost the length of the 



back; mouth small, inferior; skull cavernous Pterothrissid^, II 



ff. Dorsal fin short, not extending the length of the back. 



g. Teeth present; no accessory branchial organ; mouth small, horizon- 

 tal; posterior part of tongue and roof of mouth covered with coarse 



paved teeth Albulidje, III 



gg. Teeth none; an accessory branchial organ Ijchind gill cavity. 



Chanid^, IV 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXXI— No. 1499. 



013 



