The Ranch It 



MaRL'KO. SllISHIGASIIlKA. KoKKAX ( il )I.I)FISH 



Literally translated, tlie name ranclni means Holland wurm. The significance is not apparent, 

 except in the fact that in erndy times any new or slrang'e animal or ])lant or production was regarded 

 as of 1 )ntch origin an(l named accordingl}'. Another and a later name in \er\- general use is mariiko. 

 meaning round lisli. This \ariety is called also Chosen, or Km can, goldfish, in allusion to a possible 

 origin or a possible route from China to japan. There is usually a peculiar growth or wart-like 

 protuberance on the head, and this gi\es rise to other names — shishigashira and shishigashira 

 ranchu. lion-head and lion-head ranchu. 



The wide de|)arture of the ranchu from the original form suggests that the i>arenl stock must 

 ha\e been a \ery earl\- offshoot of the wakin steiu, probably earlier than the ryukin and the demekin, 

 which are the other move primitise types now grown in Japan. 



The ranchu is easily recognized by its short, rounded bod\-, broad head, short caudal fui, and 

 deficient dorsal lin. .\s the length, depth, and breadtli id' the body are about etjual. and as the 

 back and belly are broad and rounded and the caudal peduncle very short, the form of the body 

 proper is almost globular and a median cross section would be a nearly perfect circle. The head is short 

 and as broad as deei), and the snout is broad, short, and routided. The back is nearly straight or 

 only slighth- elex'ated and shows no trace of a fin. The caudal is short and three-lobed. with the 

 lobes rounded and the two lateral out's ha\ing a tendency to spread horizontally. The pectoral ancl 

 \'eutral fins arc small and present no peculi.arities. The anal is short and double. .\ curious sickle- 

 shaped a])pcndagc sometimes appears on the dorsal edge of the caudal lin. 



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