61. Eumicrotremus binilai Popov 



Eumicrotremus orbis Schmidt (non Gunther), 1904, I.e., p. 154 (in part no. 

 12915). 



Eumicrotremus biralal PopoVp 1928, I.e., p. 2, illust. (Okhotsk Sea and 

 Avachin Bay) Soldatov and Lindberg, 1930, I.e., p. 134. 



This species is known from the Japan and Okhotsk Seas and Avachin Bay J/ 

 A.M. Popov^./ lists this species from the Kara Sea (68" 58' N 72" 24 E) 

 (Vaygach, 1912) on the basis of seven young. However the author does not 

 present data by which ic may be identified as E. birulai and establish the paradox 

 of distribution of the warm water type m the north polar sea. The DALNE- 

 VOSTOTCHNIK expedition (1932) found this species only as far north as southern 

 Anadyr Gulf, in contrast to E . orbis. (North of Anadyr Gulf one only finds 

 E. orbis). 



E. birulai is common at depths of 46 to 104 meters on rocky gravel and sand. 

 It occurs at higher temperatures than E. orbis , usually close to zero or above. 



The presence of tube -like papillae on the chin places this species m the 

 E . orbis (Gunther)r./ group primarily, but i differs from it in a series of 

 characters as follows: 



1. First dorsal low, base and anterior section covered with thick skin. 



2. Body covered with low conical shaped tubercles, almost equal in size. 

 Tubercles gradually smaller posteriorly (in E. orbis tubercles change 

 size abruptly posteriorly) . 



3. Tubercles around anal ring on abdomen equally small, the two large 

 tubercles at base of anal fin absent (present in E. orbis ) . 



4. Body more globular than in E. orbis and a much more abrupt snout. 



5. Distance from disk to anus larger, about two times or more the eye 

 diameter (in E. orbis it is usually only equal to the eye, or less). 



Although they vary greatly, these characters allow the identification of 

 both young and adult without doubt. In our collection are young eXiAmples (30 to 

 40 mm) taken in a trawl at Natalie Bay (Koriak Land, 61° N) in late July. These 

 young differ from young of E . orbis from the Chukchi Sea in the greater number 

 of spines on the body and larger eye, in addition to the above characters . 



i/ 



2/ 

 3/ 



E. birulai was erroneously omitted from A.M. Popov's list of fishes of Avachfj 

 Bay (Copeia, 1933, no. 2, pp. 59-67). 



"Arctica". Arctic Inst. USSR, 1933, no. 1, p. 161. 



To this species group, which is characterized by the presence of papillae on the 

 chin, also belong E spine sus (Muller), E. orbis (Gunther), and E. birulai Popov. 

 Closer to this group which has pores on the chin is E. derjugini Popov, from the 

 Barents and Kara seas, and the Hudson Bay (Vladykov, 1933), and in the form of the 

 subspecies ochotensis Popov from Japan and Okhotsk Seas . Unknown in Bering Sea. 



39 



