REVISION OF THE FISH FAMILY LIPARIDAE 21 



The shallow water forms are typically variegated, being marked 

 with stripes, bars, blotches, and mottliags. These markings vary a 

 great deal in the species, and their significance and importance are 

 unknowb, as the variations have not been shown to be correlated 

 with sex, season, or age. They can be used to a limited extent in 

 differentiating species. 



The deeper water forms, exclusive of Liparis, with but two excep- 

 tions, are never variegated. The two exceptions are Crystallichthys 

 cyclospilus and mirabilis, which have pink blotches on the head and 

 body. A large number of the species from the intermediate depths 

 have the posterior part of the body darker than the anterior part. 

 This suggests that the black coloration appears first in the posterior 

 part of the body and encroaches on the anterior part as the species 

 becomes wholly black. The pigment is not confined to the dermis 

 but frequently occurs in the flesh. 



Bars on the fins of species of Liparis are very common, but are 

 never found on the fins of the other genera. In some species these 

 bars extend onto the body, but the latter is never strongly barred. 

 Longitudinal stripes are common among the species of Liparis but 

 are unknown in the other genera. These stripes are white to gray 

 and sometimes show traces of blue. They may have dark margins 

 and divide posteriorly. Blotches with definite margins are known 

 in but a few species of Liparis and Careproctus. Indefinite blotches 

 and markings are common in Liparis. The giant species of Liparis 

 from Japan have a reddish lining to the dermis. 



The internal membranes vary from white to black. The peri- 

 toneum is primitively white with scattered black dots. It is silvery 

 in many of the intermediate forms and black in the majority of the 

 deep-sea species. The color of the stomach varies as much as that 

 of the peritoneum, but independently, and is not black in so many 

 species. The mouth and gill cavity also vary from white to black. 

 (For a discussion of the relation between coloration and bathymet- 

 rical distribution see Burke, 1911.) 



Habits. — The primitive species of Liparis doubtless inhabited shal- 

 low waters, either resting upon the bottom or clinging to the rocks. 

 Many of the present species have the same habits, but a few of the 

 more specialized seem to have acquired free-swimming habits which 

 are of advantage where the food is scarce. Nectoliparis pelagicus is 

 the only known pelagic form. It is probable that some species of 

 Paraliparis approach this condition. 



The eggs of the species are deposited and develop, as far as known, 

 within the general habitat of the species. Liparis atlanticus has been 

 described as approaching the shore to deposit its eggs. Such a mi- 

 gration must be very short. The eggs of the deep-sea species must 

 be endemic, as the larvse are unknown from the plankton. Whether 

 91668—30 3 



