PLEURONECTIN^ 333 



(ienus 17. LIMANDA. 



Limanda, Gottsche, 1835, Arch. Naturgesch., i (2), p. 136 [Pleuronecies limanda, Linnaeus]. 

 Myzopselta, Gill, 1864, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., xvi, p. 217 [Plalessa ferriiginca, Storer]. 



Body ovate, compressed. Eyes on the right side, separated by a narrow ridge, 

 which may be naked or scaled, the upper close to edge of head : postocular ridge, 

 if present, rugose ; snout and eye-balls not scaled. Olfactory laminae in moderate 

 number, parallel, without rachis. Mouth of moderate size, the length of the maxillary 

 on bhnd side less than J that of head ; jaws and dentition stronger on blind side 

 of head, but at least 6 teeth on ocular side of both jaws ; teeth bluntly conical, lanceo- 

 late or with truncated tips, usually not much compressed, not forming a continuous 

 cutting edge; not enlarged anteriorly, uniserial in both jaws ; vomer toothless, Gill- 

 rakers few in number; lower pharyngeals narrow, their width 4f to 7 in the length, 

 slender, scarcely or not much approximated anteriorly, their inner edges evenly 

 curved, each with two widely separated rows of conical teeth. Dorsal fin with 

 less than 85 rays, commencing behmd posterior nostril of blind side and above eye ; 

 all the rays simple, some of them scaled, at least on ocular side. Tip of first inter- 

 haemal spine projecting in front of anal fin, which has less than 65 rays. Pectoral 

 fin of ocular side usually larger than that of blind side ; middle rays branched. Pelvic 

 fins short-ba,sed, subequal and subsymmetrical. Caudal fin with 11 or 12 branched 

 rays, middle rays longest ; caudal peduncle short or of moderate length. Scales 

 small, adherent, imbricated (at least anteriorly), ctenoid or cycloid ; spinules, if present, 

 short, usually not numerous ; no supplementary scales. Lateral hne with a distinct 

 and rather high curve above the pectoral fin ; supratemporal branch, if present, 

 without posterior prolongation. Vent median or a little on blind side, between the 

 pelvic fins ; intestine not very narrow, of moderate length, usually with 2 or 3 coils, 

 nearly entirely contained within body-cavity of blind side ; 3 + i pyloric appendages, 

 of moderate length or rather elongate. VertebrjE 40 to 41 (10- 11 -j- 29-30). 

 Five or six species from the North Atlantic and North Pacific. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Head 35 to 4^ in length ; eye 3J to 5J in head ; maxillary on ocular side 

 3I to 3I in head. 



A. No distinct rugose postocular ridge ; lateral line with short supratemporal 



branch ; 73 to 90 scales in lateral line ; 6 to 10 gill-rakers on lower 

 part of anterior arch ; no yellow streaks at edges of body on blind side. 



1. 31 to 38 scales between lateral line and middle of back . i. limanda. 



2. 25 to 31 scales between lateral line and middle of back. 



a. Depth 2 to 2j in length ; upper jaw on ocular side more or less 



arched ; scales on ocular side of body mostly with a single 

 (sometimes 2 or 3) spinule . . . . . .2. aspera. 



b. Depth 2j to 2 J in length ; upper jaw on ocular side nearly straight ; 



scales on ocular side of body with a row of 3 to 10 rather feeble 

 spinules ....... 3. sakhalinensis. 



B. A distinct rugose postocular ridge ; lateral line without supratemporal 



branch ; 88 to 95 scales in lateral hne ; 10 to 12 gill-rakers on lower 

 part of anterior arch ; yellow streaks at edges of body on bhnd side 



4. ferruginea. 

 II. Head 3 to 3 J in length ; eye 5J to 6J in head ; maxillary on ocular side 3} to 

 4i in head ; a distinct rugose postocular ridge ; lateral line without 

 supratemporal branch ; yellow streaks at edges of body on blind side. 



A. 65 scales in lateral line ; maxillary on ocular side 3I to 4 in head ; pectoral 



with 8 to 10 rays ; fine dark streaks along series of scales 5. punctatissima. 



B. 95 scales in lateral line ; maxillary on ocular side 4J in head : pectoral 



with 12 rays ; no dark streaks along series of scales . . 6. proboscidea. 



