EEVISION OF THE FISH FAMILY LIPARIDAE 99 



the segmentation of the anterior dorsal and anal fin rays was investi- 

 gated and the number of unsegmented rays in each fin. 



Dorsal Anal 

 Species fin fln 



gilberti 15 7 



Do 12 6 



melanurus 9 3 



sinensis 15 3 



ranula 14 4 



mirabilis (?) 12 



The connection between the dorsal and caudal is nearly constant 

 for the genus and is typically less then one-half the length of the caudal. 



Anal Jin. — The number of anal rays varies from 32 to 57. What has 

 been said concerning the taxonomic value of the number of dorsal 

 rays applies equally well to the number of anal rays. It is doubtful 

 if the number of dorsal or anal rays for the species varies more than 

 six or seven. The number of anal rays in a species is always less than 

 the number of dorsal rays and, with a few exceptions, in which the 

 numbers are equal, greater than the number of pectoral rays. In 

 Liparis the pectoral typically has a greater number of rays than the 

 anal. A few of the anterior anal rays are unsegmented. The con- 

 nection between the anal and caudal varies from three to six tenths of 

 the length of the latter but is of little taxonomic value. 



Caudal Jin. — The number of caudal rays varies from 6 to 12 but is 

 typically 8 or 10. There are few or no rudimentary rays at the base 

 of the caudal. All the rays typically enter into the body of the fin. 

 The variation of the number of caudal rays within a species has not 

 been studied, and until this is done we can not utilize the number of 

 rays in separating species. 



The caudal is typically truncate or slightly rounded. An exception 

 is found in C. Jurcelliis, in which the caudal is slightly forked, and in 

 C. cypselurus, in which it is deeply forked. 



Pectoral fin. — The pectoral presents a number of important char- 

 acters. The number of rays, the extent of the pectoral notch, and 

 the length of the pectoral fin, especially of the lower lobe, can be uti- 

 lized to a considerable extent in distinguishing the species. 



The number of pectoral rays varies from 21 to 37. The number 

 of rays for any one species apparently does not vary more than four 

 or five. The pectoral shows the greatest reduction in the more special- 

 ized members of the genus. In Liparis, as we have already noted, the 

 number of pectoral rays, typically exceeds the number of anal rays. 

 In Careprodus the change has been in the opposite direction and the 

 pectoral typically has a smaller number of rays than the anal fin. 



The pectoral notch may be absent or extend nearly to the base of 

 the fin. In C. Jurcellus the notch is absent or hardly discernible and 

 in C. cypselurus very shallow. It is typically distinct, however. 



