SILURIDA. 95 
The anus is situated behind the ventrals, some distance behind their 
bases, and much in advance of the anal fin. 
Coloration: brown or yellowish, more or less marbled or spotted. 
The genus Pelodichthys is at first sight recognized by the long body, 
flat in front; the depressed and broad oblong head with the projecting 
lower jaw, by the posterior extension of the upper bands of teeth, by the 
partly concealed dorsal spine, the small size of the anal fin, and the recur- 
rence of the caudal fin. But one species is definitely known. The 
various nominal species described by Rafinesque and Valenciennes, I 
think, were all based on the common olivaris. 
Those who hold that the mere naming of a genus, without explana- 
tion or attempt at characterization, gives validity to such name, will 
call this genus Glanis instead of Pelodichthys. 
ANALYSIS OF SPECIES. 
*Body very long, slender, depressed forwards, closely compressed behind, the head ex- 
tremely flat, the lower jaw longest; barbel short; dorsal spine small, half the height 
of the fin, enveloped in thick skin ; pectoral spine very strong, flattened, serrate be- 
hind; caudal somewhat emarginate; anal short, its base about 7 in body, of 12 to 
15 rays; premaxillary band of teeth with a large distinct backward process on each 
side; coloration mottled brown and yellowish, whitish below ; size large, 
OLIVARIS, 22. 
22, PELODICHTHYS OLIVARIS, (Rajinesque) Gill & Jordan. 
Mud Catfish. 
(Figs. 52 and 53.) 
Silurus olivaris, RAFINESQUE (1818), Am. Monthly Mag. iii, Sept. 355. 
Hopladelus olivaris, GILL (1862), Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 45.—Copr (1869), 
Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 237.—JorRDAN (1876), Man. Vert. 303.—NELSON 
(1876), Bull. Dls. Mus. Nat. Hist. 50.—GimL (1876), Ich. Capt. Simpson’s 
Expl. 426.—JoRDAN & COPELAND (1876), Check List, 160.—JoRDAN (1877), 
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 46. 
Pelodichthys olivaris, JORDAN (1877), Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. N. Y. —. 
Glanis limosus, Rar. (1818), Am. Monthly Mag. iii, 447, and 1v, 107 (name only). 
Pilodictis limosus, Rar. (1819), Journal de Physique, 422. 
Pylodictis limosus, Rav. (1820), Ich. Ohiensis, 67. 
Silurus nebulosus, Rar, (1820), Quart. Journ. Sci. Lit. Arts, London, 50. 
Pimelodus nebulosus, Rar. (1820), Ich. Oh. 64. 
Silurus viscosus, Rar, (1820), Quart. Journ. Sci. Lit. Arts, 50. 
Pimelodus viscosus, Rar. (1820), Ich. Oh. 66. 
Silurus limosus, Rar. (1820), Quart. Journ. Sci. Lit. Arts, 51. 
Pimelodus limosus, Rav, (1820), Ich. Oh. 67.—KiRTLAND (1846), Bost. Journ. Nat, 
Hist. iv, 335.—STORER (1846), Synopsis, 404. 
Pimelodus punctulatus, Cuv. & VAL. (1840), xv, 134.—Dkr Kay (1842), Fishes N. Y. 187.— 
STORER (1846), Synopsis, 403.—GUNTHER (1864), Cat. Fishes, v, —. 
Pimelodus cwneus, Cuv. & VAL. (1840), xv, 135.—Du’ Kay (1842), 1. c.—SToORER (1846), 
1. ec. 403. 
Habitat.—Ohio Valley to lowa and South. 
