160 



BULLETIN 150, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Summary. — In order to present a guide to the study of the specific 

 characters of these fishes the following outlines are given. The first 

 list suggests the characters which the writer has found to be the most 

 valuable in separating and detecting species. The second list involves 

 those characters which could not be adequately studied but which 

 give promise of being of taxonomic importance and warrant further 

 study. For modification of characters in the genus see table on 

 page 36. 



List 1 



Body Depth. 



Length. 

 Head Depth, snout. 



Depth, occiput. 



Angle of mouth. 



Eye Size. 



Gill slit in relation to pectoral. 

 Teeth Trilobed. 



Shape. 



Size. 



Bands. 



Single series. 



Pectoral. 



Coloration. 



Number of ra3's. 

 Level of upper edge. 

 Rudimentary rays. 

 Depth of notch. 

 Length of lower lobe. 

 Spacing of rays. 

 Separation of rays of 



lower lobe. 

 Body. 



Peritoneum. 

 Stomach. 

 Gill cavity. 

 Mouth. 



Distribution. 



List 2 



Anal 



CaudaL 



Coeca__ 

 Prickles. 



Number of rays. 

 Number of rays. 

 Shape. 



Connection with dor- 

 sal and anal. 

 Number. 



Head Nostril. 



Eye Pupil. 



Color. 

 Pores Formula. 



Position. 



Size. 



United on chin. 

 Dorsal Number of rays. 



Buried in tissue. 



Spinelike rays. 



DLSTRIBUTION 



The genus Paraliparis is represented throughout the regions occu- 

 pied by Careprodus, that is, the cold northern and southern regions 

 of the Atlantic and Pacific and the depths of the tropical Pacific. 

 The limits of the bathymetrical distribution of the two genera are 

 practically identical. Paraliparis has been taken in depths ranging 

 from 30 to 1793 fathoms. The distribution of the two genera differ 

 in two particulars. A smaller percentage of the species of Paraliparis 

 have been taken in the North Pacific and a larger percentage in the 

 tropical Pacific. Also the genus typically inhabits greater depths 

 than does Careprodus. About half of the species are found above 

 and half below the 500 fathom level. The 300-fathom level holds 

 the same relation to the distribution of the species of Careprodus. 



