TRIGLIDAE Sea Robins 



PrioTtotus trihulua (Cuvier) Southern Sea Robin 



Two juveniles, 2.5 cm. in length, were taken in a seine haul in area "A" 

 on November 4, 1955. Both specimens were placed in a 30-gallon aquariunn. One 

 died within a few days; the other lived for nearly 5 months. At time of death it had 

 attained a length of 16.0 cm. During captivity it became quite tame and could be 

 fed by hand. 



PLEURONECTIDAE Flounders 



I'arnJicfithys letfiostigma J orda.n and Gilbert Southern Flounder 



Adult flounders were found in the study area throughout the year. They 

 occurred in greatest abundance from October through November during a migra- 

 tion that is known locally as the "fall run". Whether this migration is from the 

 bays, bayous, and lagoons seaward, or vice versa, is unknown. The presence of 

 ripe gonads in specimens captured during this period indicates that the migration 

 nnay be linked with spawning activities. 



Juveniles, varying from 1.8 to 3.4 cm. in length, appeared occasionally in 

 plankton net catches made in February (four specimens), March (six specimens), 

 April (four specimens), and May (three specimens). One juvenile, 10.2 cm. in 

 length, was dip-netted on September 2, 1955. 



TETRODONTIDAE (TETRAODONTIDAE) Swellfishes 



S-phaeroides sp. Swellfish, Puffer 



A total of six juvenile swellfish were taken over the period of collections, 

 four in a single seine haul in area "A" on December 6, 1955. Unfortunately, 

 positive identifications were not made, and as three species of swellfish are 

 known to occur along the Texas coast, namely: i'^. spengleri {QlocYi) , S.nephelus (Goode 

 and Bean), and f^.narmorotvs (Ranzani), the lagoon specimens are given only to genus. 



GOBIESOCIDAE Clingfishes 



Gohiesox strumosus Cope Clingfish 



Juvenile and young clingfish were observed on nunnerous occasions, but due 

 to their habit of clinging tenaciously to subnnerged rocks, usually in hard-to-get-at 

 places, only 20 specimens were taken. Two larvae were found in a plankton set 

 made on April 16, 1954; the rest, varying in length from 2.0 to 3.5 cm., were 

 dip-netted during the months of April and May. 



Several specimens lived for a long as 5 months in an aquarium and became 

 very tanne, taking food from one's fingers. 



BATRACHOIDIDAE Toadfishes 



Opsanus beta Goode and Bean Toadfish, Oyster Dog 



Strictly bottom inhabitants, toadfishes never appeared in our collections but 

 were caught frequently by anglers in the warmer months. Because of their ugly 

 appearance, slimy skin, their ability to inflict a painful wound with teeth or spines, 

 and a tendency to swallow hook and line, they are regarded as pests, even more 

 so than silver eels or hardhead catfish. 



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