FISHES 53 



M. cyprinella (Cuvier and Valenciennes) (Fig. 25). Common 

 buffalo. Length 900 mm.; extreme weight 50 lbs.; head 3.5; depth 

 3; color brownish olive; rays of dorsal fin 27 to 29; anal 9; scales 7-37 

 to 41-6: Mississippi Valley; common in large streams. 



3. Carpiodes Rafinesque. Carp suckers. Similar to Ictiohus, 

 but smaller, pale and silvery in color and with a weak dentition: 

 12 species; 5 in ]Mexico. 



Key to the Species of Carpiodes 



ai In the Mississippi and Great Lakes basins. 



bi Body subfusiform and robust; depth about 3 C. carpio. 



bo Body thin and compressed; depth about 2.5; opercle striate. 

 Ci Lips thin and white. 



di Snout very blunt, the nostrils being near the tip C. dijformis. 



di Head small and pointed C. thompsoni. 



Co Lips thick and reddish in color C. velifer. 



ao On the Atlantic slope C. cypriniis. 



C. carpio (Raf.). Carp sucker. Extreme length 900 mm.; extreme 

 weight 10 lbs.; head 4 to 5; depth 3; color silvery gray; rays of dorsal 







Fig. 26. — Carpiodes cyprinus (from Jordan ^ Ever^nann). 



fin 27; anal 7; scales 36; lips thin: Ohio Valley, southwestward to 

 central Texas; abundant. 



C. dijformis Cope. Length 300 mm.; head 4.5; depth 2.5; color 

 silvery; snout very blunt; rays of dorsal fin 24, the anterior rays greatly 

 elongated; anal 8; scales 6-35-6; dorsal fin very high: Ohio Valley and 

 westwards; common. 



C. tJiompsoni Agassiz. Length 500 mm.; head 4.25; depth 2.5; 

 color silvery; rays of dorsal fin 27; anal 7; scales 7-39 to 41-6; head 



