2644 Bulletin 4.7, United States National Museum, 



1035. LI M AND A, Gottsclie. 

 (MUD DABS.) 



Limanda, GOTTSCHE, Archiv fur Naturgsch. 1835, 100 (limanda). 

 Nyzopsetta, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1864, 217 (ferruginea). 



Teeth chiefly uniserial; lateral line with a distinct arch in front, and 

 without accessory dorsal "branch; scales imbricated, rough ctenoid; ver- 

 tebrae about 40. This genus is closely allied to Pseudopleuronectes, from 

 which it differs only in the presence of an arch on the anterior part of the 

 lateral line. (Limanda, an old name of the European Dab, Limanda 

 limanda, from limns, mud.) 



a. Head comparatively large, 3 to 4 in length. 

 b. Dorsal rays 85 ; anal rays 62. 



c. Scales rather small, 90 to 100 in lateral line; scales of right side ctenoid, 

 closely imbricated, those of blind side mostly smooth; teeth conical, 

 close set, forming a continuous series, about 11 + 30 in lower jaw ; snout 

 abruptly projecting, forming in front of upper eye a sharp angle with 

 the descending profile. FERRUGINEA, 3013. 



cc. Scales larger, wide spart, about 80 in lateral line ; scales of blind side more 

 or less rough. ASPERA, 3014. 



bb. Dorsal rays 60 to 70 ; anal 47 to 53 ; scales small, 86 to 95 ; snout long, protrud- 

 ing; scales of blind side smooth. PROBOSCIDEA, 3015. 

 aa. Head very short, 5J in length; snout very short ; interorbital space very narrow. 

 D. 64 ; A. 63 ; scales 88. BEANII, 3016. 



3013. LIMANDA FERRUGINEA (Storer). 

 (RUSTY DAB.) 



Head 4 in length ; depth 2i. D.85; A. 62; scales 100. Body ovate-ellip- 

 tical, strongly compressed ; teeth small, conical, close set, in a single series 

 on each side in each jaw, about 11 -{- 30 in the lower jaw ; snout projecting, 

 forming a strong angle above upper eye, with the descending profile; 

 gill rakers of moderate length, very weak, not toothed ; eyes moderate, 

 4| in head, the lower slightly in advance of upper, separated by a high, 

 very narrow ridge, which is scaled posteriorly, and is continued backward 

 as an inconspicuous but rough ridge to the beginning of the lateral line; 

 scales imbricate, nearly uniform, those on right side rough ctenoid, those 

 on left side nearly or quite smooth ; scales on body rougher than on cheeks ; 

 caudal peduncle short, higher than long; dorsal inserted over middle 

 of eye, its middle rays highest; pectoral less than f length of head; 

 caudal fin rounded; anal spine present; lateral line simple, with a rather 

 low arch in front, the depth of which is barely | the length ; a concealed 

 spine behind ventrals ; ventral of colored side partly lateral, the other 

 wholly so; anal spine strong. Brownish olive, with numerous, irregular, 

 reddish spots ; fins similarly marked ; left side with caudal fin, caudal pe- 

 duncle and margins of dorsal and anal fins lemon yellow. Atlantic coast 

 of North America, Labrador to New York. This species is rather common 

 northward on our Atlantic coast. It is allied to the European Dab, but 

 has smaller scales and a more prominent snout. Our specimens are from 

 the east coast of Massachusetts, (ferruyineus, rusty red.) 



