152 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 282 



from the probable hildebrandi species group by color pattern and 

 nine rather than eight pelvic rays; from Noturus albater by generally 

 fewer pectoral rays and color pattern; from Noturus trautmani by 

 better developed anterior serrae of the pectoral spine, a bolder color 

 pattern in preservation, a longer posterior process of the cleithrum, 

 a lower adipose and upper caudal fin, a longer anal base, and more 

 vertebrae. 



Description. — Counts and measurements are given in tables 17 

 to 26. Head somewhat depressed; lower jaw included; eye moderate, 

 about 1.5 to 1.8 times in snout; posterior process of cleithrum short 

 but distinct, about equal in length to the width of the pectoral spine 

 including the anterior but not the posterior serrae; pectoral spine 

 relatively short, slightly curved, with recurved posterior serrae and 

 very fine, yet distinct anterior serrae; dorsal spine stout; adipose fin 

 moderately low and relatively long, without a free posterior margin, 

 united to the caudal fin; procurrent caudal rays of moderate length; 

 tail slightly rounded posteriorly, middle rays longest; body elongate, 

 dorsal and ventral surfaces only slightly tapering posteriorly; poste- 

 rior corners of premaxillary tooth band rounded. The largest speci- 

 men is 64 mm. in standard length. 



The caudal fin has (extremes in parentheses) : (16) 17 to 20 (22) 

 upper simple rays; (13) 15 to 18 (19) branched rays of which there 

 are modally 7, often 8, in the upper half and 8 to 10 in the lower 

 half of the fin; and (11) 13 to 17 (18) lower simple rays. There are 

 six to eight gill rakers on the first arch; the pectoral spines bear five 

 to nine recurved serrae; and there are typically six soft dorsal rays. 

 Five cleared and stained specimens from the Green River system 

 have the pectoral radials fused and twelve vertebrae anterior to the 

 anal origin. 



Background color in aquarium specimens from the Green River 

 system yellowish gray, lightly diffused with pink. In preservation 

 golden yellow or light yellow, dark brown on dorsum and side in one 

 example, with numerous minute chromatophores completely covering 

 the side and upper surface. Pelvic fin and ventral surface of head 

 and abdomen immaculate, except a light band of pigment often 

 on the chin in front of mental barbels; mental barbels immaculate 

 or sometimes with scattered pigment; a dark brown bar on posterior 

 end of head passes downward over the operculum and a branch 

 follows the lateral line to below the dorsal fin; a similar colored band 

 extends forward from below the eye onto the snout, through the 

 nares; upper barbels well pigmented; lower cheek light, with moderate 

 chromatophores; top of head dark; dorsal fin immaculate except 

 dark brown at base of first three rays and over dorsal spine; a dark 

 brown saddle, beginning just anterior to base of dorsal spine, extends 



