17. PLEURONECTES. 453 



19. Plenronectes asperrimTis. 



Platessa asperrima, Schlep. Faun. Japon. Poiss. p. 177. 

 Clidoderma asperrimum, Bleek. in Cornpt. Rend. Acad. Sc, Amstird. xiii. 

 1862, Beuron. 



D. 75. A. 61. 



The height of the body is rather less than two-fifths of the total 

 length (without caudal), the length of the head two-ninths. The 

 greatest depth between the anal fin and the straight portion of the 

 lateral line is nearly equal to the length of the head. Scales none ; 

 head, body, and fin-rays densely covered with rough tubercles, some 

 of which are much larger than the others, which are granule-like ; 

 some of the largest tubercles with a longitudinal keel. A series of 

 these tubercles runs along the base of the dorsal and anal fins. 

 Lateral line and the whole blind side smooth ; the former makes a 

 slight curve above the pectoral, the depth, of the curve being much 

 less than the width of the base of the pectoral. Snout as long as the 

 eye, the diameter of which is one-fifth of the length of the head. 

 Lower jaw prominent \ each jaw with two series of slender conical 

 teeth. The space between the orbits is granulated, and its width is 

 one-third of the diameter of the eye. The dorsal fin commences 

 above the anterior part of the eye, and its distance from the caudal 

 is less than the depth of the free portion of the tail ; the longest 

 dorsal rays are behind the middle of the length of the fin, and shorter 

 than the pectoral, the length of which is two-fifths of that of the 

 head. Ventral very short, not half so long as the pectoral. Brown- 

 ish. (Schleg.) 



Japan. 



20. Pleuronectes variegatus. 



Platessa variegata, Schlep. Faun. Japm. Poiss. p. 176. pi. 90. 

 D. 79-81. A. 58-60. 



The height of the body is contained twice and a third in the total 

 length (withotit caudal), the length of the head four times and a half. 

 The greatest depth between the anal fin and the straight portion of 

 the lateral line is more than the length of the head. Scales ciliated ; 

 lateral line with a curve above the pectoral, the depth of the curve 

 being equal to the width of the base of the pectoral. Head scaly, 

 without ridge ; interorbital space flattish, scaly, its width being one- 

 third of the horizontal diameter of the eye, which equals the length 

 of the snout. Lower jaw prominent, maxillary longer than the eye ; 

 upper jaw with two series of conical teeth. Vertical fins covered 

 with minute scales ; the dorsal commences above the front margin 

 of the eye, and its distance from the caudal is much less than the 

 depth of the free portion of the tail. The^length of the pectoral 

 equals that of the longest dorsal rays, which are somewhat behind 

 the middle of the length of the dorsal fin, and one-half of the length 

 of the head. Greenish, marbled with darker ; vertical fins with 

 round blackish spots. (ScJileg.) 



Japan. 



