FISHES PLEURONECTIDAE PARALICTHYS MACULOSUS. 



147 



PAEALICHTHYS MACULOSUS, Grd. 



SPEC. CHAR. Body quite elongated and ellipsoid ; peduncle of the tail strangulated. Lower jaw slightly the longest -, 

 posterior extremity of maxillary dilated, and extending to a vertical line drawn posteriorly to the orbits. Origin of the anal 

 fin situated opposite the base of the pectorals. Dorsal and anal fins even posteriorly. Posterior margin of the caudal sub- 

 truncated. Scales small and pectinated. Reddish brown, maculated. 



SYN. Pleuronectes maculosus, GRD. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 155. 



The body is elongated, sub-elliptical, the dorsal and ventral outlines constituting most 

 regular curves, into which the head iramerges with but a very slight depression above the eyes. 

 The peduncle of the tail is slightly contracted immediately behind the posterior margin of both 

 the dorsal and anal fins, which terminate evenly. From this point to the base of the caudal 

 fin the caudal region assumes a dove tail appearance. The caudal fin itself is undulating 

 upon its posterior edge, the external and central rays being slightly longer than the intermediate 

 ones. 



The total length of the specimen now before us is about seven inches and a half, the head 

 entering in it four times and one-third. The lower jaw is the longest ; the posterior extremity 

 of the maxillar bone reaches a vertical line drawn behind the posterior rim of the orbit- 

 Slender and conical teeth may be observed on either side of the jaws. The eyes, which are 

 placed on the right side, are of medium size, elliptical in shape, their horizontal diameter 

 entering about five times and a half in the length of the side of the head. The origin of the 

 dorsal fin is situated opposite the anterior rim of the orbit ; that of the anal is placed opposite 

 the base of the pectorals, both of these fins being composed of simple rays. The rays of the 

 caudal are highly dichotomised. The pectorals are moderate sized, and composed of slender 

 and bifurcated rays, except the outer ones, which remain simple. The ventrals are quite small, 

 inserted in advance of the pectorals, overlapping the vent ; and extending as far as the third 

 ray of the anal. Their rays are likewise bifurcated. 



Br. VI : VII ; D 68 ; A 52 ; C 3, 1, 7, 6, 1, 2 ; V 6 ; P 1, 10. 



The scales are small, sub-elliptical, longer than deep, and pectinated. They extend over the 

 opercular apparatus, the head, and even the jaws ; they may also be observed on the rays of 

 most of the fins, especially on the caudal. The lateral line starts from the scapular region, 

 describing an arch above the pectoral fins, to follow afterwards the middle of the flanks to the 

 caudal fin. 



The ground color of the right side, being the one on which the eyes are situated, is reddish 

 brown, scattered all over with numerous spots of a darker hue. The left side is uniformly pale 

 yellow. 



List of specimens. 



