FLATFISHKS (HF.TKKOSOMATA) 



J I Body elongate-elliptical ; skin rather tlun, the median 

 fins not very densely scaled ; lips thin ; gill-opening 

 extending above level of a.xil of pectoral ; dorsal origin 

 well behind posterior nostril of blind side ; hn-rays 

 not stout, 

 it No mucous cavities on blind side of head ; posterior 



rays of dorsal and anal branched . -;3 Tanakius. 



§§ Large mucous cavities on blind side of head : all dorsal 



and anal rays simple . . .;4. GLvnocKrHAiA's. 



Two very short pyloric appendages ; lower pharyngeals broader, 

 2 to 4j times as long as broad, massive, the inner edges more or 

 less angular, usually approximated for at least -J their length, 

 the teeth usually coarser and blunter, often molarift^rm, in 2 or 

 more series. 

 a. Scales well developed, ctenoid in male, smoother in female ; 

 no bony tubercles ; teeth incisor-like, forming a continuous 

 cutting edge : supratemporal branch of lateral line without 

 posterior prolongation ..... 25. Liopsktta. 

 fi. Scales well developed, all strongly ctenoif-l in both sexes, some 

 of those on head nearly tuberculate ; teeth incisor-like, close- 

 set ; supratemporal Ijranch of lateral line with short 

 posterior prolongation ..... 26. Inopsktta. 

 y. Scales reduced, more or less embedded in the skin, all cycloid : 

 head and body with bony tubercles or rugose plates ; teeth 

 obtusely conical or rather incisor-like, not usually forming 

 a continuous cutting edge .... 27. Platichthys. 



Genus i. ATHEKESTHES. 



Body rather elongate, compressed. Eyes on the right side, separated by a narrow, 

 scaled space, the upper with a more or less vertical range. Olfactory lamina' in 

 moderate number, arranged transversely to or radiating from a long central rachis. 

 Mouth very large, oblique, the length of the maxillary more than i that of head : 

 jaws and dentition about equally developed on both sides ; teeth in two series in 

 both jaws, some of them long, freely depressible, wide-set. others small, fixed and 

 close-set ; most of the teeth with barbed tips ; vomer toothless. Gill-rakers rather 

 long and slender, few in number ; lower pharyngeals very narrow, scarcely appro.xi- 

 mated anteriorly, each with two series of slender, slightly curved teeth with barbed 

 tips, the teeth of the inner row ranch larger than those of the outer. Dorsal fin with 

 98 to 114 rays, comraencing well behind nostrils of blind side and above eye ; most 

 of the rays simple, scaled on both sides. Tip of first interhaemal spine not projecting 

 m front of anal fin, which has 80 to 8g rays. Pectoral fins unequal, that of ocular 

 side larger ; middle rays branched. Pelvic fins short-based, subequal and subsym- 

 metrical. Caudal fin lunate ; caudal peduncle slender. Scales small, thin, rather 

 deciduous, feebly ctenoid on ocular side, cycloid on blind side ; supplementary scales 

 present. Lateral line without a distinct curve above the pectoral fin. Vent median, 

 between the pelvic fins. \'ertehrrp 40 to 53 (12 + 37 — 41). 



One or two species from the North Pacific. 



