Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 2253 



824. ILYPNUS, Jordan & Evermann. 

 Ilypnus, JORDAN & EVERMANN, Check-List Fishes, 460, 1896 (yilbcrti). 



This genus is allied to Clevelandia, from which it differs chiefly in the 

 presence of dermal flaps on the inner edge of the shoulder girdle j scales 

 minute, embedded, cycloid; dorsal with 5 spines; occiput transversely 

 rounded, without median keel; maxillary moderate. Small gobies, inhab- 

 iting mud flats. (i7(.v$, mud; vrtvo$, slumber.) 



2585. ILYPNTJS GILBERT! (Eigenmann & Eigenmann.) 



Head 3 to 3i (3f to 4 in total) ; depth 5 to 5 (6 to 7). D. V-15 to 17; A. 

 14 to 16 ; B. 5 ; vertebras 15 -f- 19. Form elongate, compressed. Head long, 

 subconical, about as high as wide, its width 2 in its length. Profile 

 nearly straight from eyes to spinous dorsal, decidedly decurved in front 

 of eyes. Eye entirely above the premaxillary level, 1 in snout, 4 in 

 head, in interorbital. Mouth slightly oblique; maxillary extending to 

 below middle of eye, lower jaw slightly included. Teeth villiform, in a 

 broad band in each jaw, the outer series of lower jaw somewhat enlarged. 

 One, rarely 2, dermal flaps on inner edge of shoulder girdle. Scales 

 cycloid, embedded, very small; head, nape, and breast naked. Distance 

 from tip of snout to insertion of spinous dorsal 2f in length; highest 

 dorsal spine about | length of head; soft dorsal rays lower; interdorsal 

 area about orbital diameter; tip of last dorsal ray not reaching base of 

 caudal; caudal broad and rounded when expanded; anal similar to soft 

 dorsal fin ; ventral fins large, nearly reaching vent in specimens If inches 

 Jong. Pectorals usually shorter than ventrals. Color in life, sand color; 

 head and body with small rust-colored spots, which are dotted with black 

 the punctulations forming a more or less regular network; dorsal fins 

 hyaline at base, bright rust-colored above, and rather broadly margined 

 with white, everywhere black punctate except on margins ; about 3 groups 

 of black dots on each ray, giving a barred appearance to these fins ; cau- 

 dal margined with white, upper and lower parts of fin rust colored, me- 

 dian portion dark gray; about 5 wavy, rustlike, vertical bars; entire fin 

 dotted with black except its margin; anal fin hyaline at base, sparsely 

 dotted, its middle third jet-black, margined with white; pectorals and 

 ventrals milky white, yellowish, sparingly black dotted and white edged; 

 a large, conspicuous, metallic blue-black spot on opercle ; top of head 

 blackish; belly white or yellowish; chin and throat white, sometimes 



distance from end of snout to middle of pupil; length of base of soft dorsal not quite 

 equaling length of head; distance of posterior end from caudal fin equaling distance 

 between the 2 dorsal fins. Origin of anal behind that of soft dorsal and a little posterior 

 to middle of total length of fish; its base 1 times in base of soft dorsal, or about 4 in 

 length offish to base of caudal fin; pectorals moderate, a little more than ^length of 

 head; ventrals inserted slightly behind the pectorals and about equaling them in length. 

 Color in life whitish beneath, grayish or mottled above; 6 double white spots along the 

 back, alternating with tine blackish areas; a white spot behind each eye on top of head; 

 cheek with 2 dark bands extending obliquely backward and downward fi*om eye; a num- 

 ber of dark splotches on opercles ; about 7 dusky areas along the side, the last and most 

 marked being upon the base of the caudal fin; dorsal fins finely marked lengthwise by 

 about 4 series of small dark spots . caudal crossed by 5 or 6 wavy'vertical bars of very fine 

 dark spots or points ; anal, pectorals, and ventrals plain. In alcohol these markings are 

 Jess plain, especially the white and black areas upon the back. Length 2f inches. 



