FISHES 



93 



/. anguilla Evermann & Kendall. Eel cat. Length 450 mm.; 

 color pale bluish or yellowish: Mississippi Valley from the Ohio to 

 Louisiana. 



2. Ameiurus Rafinesque. Small catfish and bullheads. Body 

 rather stout; head broad; mouth large; rays of dorsal fin about I, 6; anal 



Fig. 40. — Anal and caudal fins of Ictaliirus punctatiis (fro?n Fishes of Illinois). 



15 to 35; tail usually convex or truncate; barbels 8: premaxillary teeth 

 a transverse band (Fig. 41): numerous species, all in America except 

 A. cantonensis. in China. 



c d 



Fig. 41. — Premaxillary teeth of: a, Ameiurus melas; b, Noturiis flavus; c, Le plops olivaris, 

 and d, Schilbeodes gyrinus {from Fishes of Illinois). 



Key to the American Species of Ameiurus 



ai Caudal fin forked. 



bi In the Great Lakes and northwards 1 . lacustris. 



hi From the Delaware River to Texas A. catus. 



a2 Caudal fin truncated or convex, 

 bi Eyes well developed. 



Ci Anal fin with 24 to 27 rays A. natalis. 



Co Anal fin with 15 to 22 rays. 



di Lower jaw projecting A. vulgaris. 



<\i Lower jaw not projecting, 

 ei Body robust. 



