FLATFISIIi:S (HETEROSOMAIA) 



(,enus 11. CI.IDODERMA. 



flidodirma, Blocker, iSt 

 luinck and Schlegel] 



Akad. \V,'t. ATTisterdam, 

 Q33. Ann. .\r,K. Xat. 



His;., (u.) 



II, p. ;; 



a.5/>,-. 



Body rather deep, compressed. Eyes on the right side, separated by a low, 

 narrow, scaled ridge, the upper close to edge of head ; snout and upper parts of eye- 

 balls densely tuberculate. Olfactory lamina? in moderate number, parallel, without 

 rachis. Mouth of moderate size, the length of the maxillary on ocular side less 

 than J, on blind side nearly i that of head ; jaws and dentition much stronger on 

 blind side of head ; teeth stout, conical, somewhat enlarged anteriorly, in two distinct 

 series in both jaws, those of the outer row stronger ; vomer toothless. Gill-rakers 

 short, stout, few in number ; lower pharyngeals narrow, scarcely approximated 

 anteriorly, each with 2 or 3 irregular series of teeth. Dorsal fin commencing at a short 

 distance behind nostrils of blind side and above or a little in advance of eye ; rays 

 simple or bifid distally, scaled only on ocular side. Tip of first interha>mal spine not 

 projecting in front of anal fin. Pectoral fin of ocular side larger than that of blind 

 side : middle rays branched. Pelvic fins short-based, subequal and subsymmetrical. 

 Caudal fin with the middle rays longest ; caudal peduncle short. No .scales ; ocular 

 side (in adults) with close--set, rough, bony tubercles, most of which bear small spines ; 

 larger tubercles arranged in 6 more or less definite longitudinal rows ; blind side quite 

 smooth. Lateral line with a low curve above the pectoral fin ; asupratemporal branch 

 of moderate length. \"ent median, between the pelvic fins ; 4 pyloric appendages. 



A single species from Japan. 



The true position of this aberrant genus is somewhat doubtful, but it appears to 

 be more nearly related to \'erasper than to Platichthvs, with which it has previously 

 been associated In some respects it forms a connecting link between the large and 

 symmetrical-mouthed genera and those in which the jaws and dentition are markedly 

 asymmetrical. 



I. CLIDODERMA ASPEKKl.Mr.M (Temminck and Schlegel) 



