396 



FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



small or rudimentary, ventral fin of right side joined to anal by a membrane. 

 Of the dozen American species, only 1 is found in North Carolina waters. 

 {Achirus, without hands, that is, pectoral fins.) 



343. ACHIRUS FASCIATUS Lacepede. 

 "Flounder"; "Hog-choker"; Sole. 



Achirus fasciatus Lacdpfede, Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, iv, 659, 662, 1803; Charleston. Smith 1893a, 

 196; Edenton Bay. Evermann & Cox, 1896, 305; Neuse River near Raleigh. Jordan & Evermann, 

 1898, 2700, pi. ccclxxxvii, fig. 948; Neuse River, Beaufort, etc. Smith, 1901, 134; Lake Mattamuskeet. 



Achirus lineatus, Yarrow, 1877, 205; Beaufort. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 368; Beaufort, and Neuse River at 

 Goldsboro. 



Achirus achirus mollis, Jordan, 1886, 30; Beaufort. Jenkins, 1887, 93; Beaufort. 



Diagnosis. — Body broad, the anterior and posterior curves similar, depth contained 1.75 

 times in length; head .28 length; mouth extending beyond front of lower eye, right lower lip 

 fringed; upper eye anterior to lower, eye .14 length of head; nostril expanded into a wide tube; 

 gill opening short; head and body covered with c'enoid scales; 66 to 75 in lateral series; lateral 

 line straight; dorsal rays 50 to 55, the fin arising by short rays at tip of snout, rays of posterior 

 third of fin longest; anal rays 37 to 46; caudal rounded; ventral rays 3 or 4. Color: above 

 mottled dusky olive, with 7 or 8 dark, narrow, vertical stripes; every second or third membrane 

 of vertical fins blackish; blind side usually white with numerous round, dark spots, sometimes 

 without markings, (jasciatus, banded.) 



Fig. 183. Hog-choker. Achirus fasciatus. 



The hog-choker is found from Massachusetts to Texas, and is the best known 

 of the American soles. It has the interesting habit of ascending streams, and in 

 places is found permanently in fresh water. As it rarely exceeds 6 inches in 

 length, it is of practically no food value. 



At Beaufort it is apparently rare, but in the lower courses of the North Car- 

 olina rivers it is common. It is a regular but uncommon inhabitant of Neuse 

 River as high up as Raleigh, is abundant in the western end of Albemarle Sound, 



