Jordan and Evermann, Fishes of North America. 2651 



3022. LIOPSETTA OBSCURA (Ilerzen stein). 



To this species we refer 2 males from Shana Bay, Iturnp Island. The 

 (scales oil the colored side are everywhere strongly ctenoid and imbricated, 

 while in Herzenstein's types (supposed to be females) they were cycloid. 

 In our specimens the head is somewhat smaller, 3&- in length instead of 

 3-n,- to 3f ; the depth is greater, 21 in length instead of 2-f- to 2f ; the inter- 

 orbital space is covered with very fine scales, not naked; the curve of the 

 lateral line seems more marked, its cord contained 5 instead of 6 times in 

 the straight portion. All of the fins are higher than in the female types, 

 the pectoral of colored side being If head, the caudal lg, the ventral \ 

 head, and the highest dorsal ray If. Some of these diifereiices may well 

 be sexual. The lower pharyngeals are short and broad, the two closely 

 appressed but united in our specimens, 27 and 29 cm. long. The teeth are 

 large and very blunt, like cobble stones, and are arranged in 1 row along 

 the outer edge ; a row of larger teeth along the inner edge, and a short 

 row along the posterior edge of the triangle. The arrangement is very 

 similar is that found in L. glaclalls, but here a few small teeth, without 

 definite arrangement, are interposed in the middle of the bone, between 

 the third series described. Dorsal 59 and 62 ; anal 45 and 46 ; tubes in the 

 lateral line 79. Color on eyed side uniform dark brown on body and fins, 

 the extreme tips of the fin rays white ; on blind side yellowish white, with 

 a few irregular scattered dark spots; dorsal and anal yellowish at base, 

 becoming more or less mottled with dusky on distal half, the fins marked 

 Avith broad dark bars parallel with the rays, about 7 on the anal fin, 10 or 

 11 on the dorsal; caudal light on basal half more or less blotched with 

 darker, becoming black posteriorly. With this species we identify also a 

 number of young individuals, 9 to 15 cm. long, from the same locality 

 (Iturup Island). They are probably young females, but the viscera are in 

 such condition as to prevent positive determination. The scales are per- 

 fectly smooth, but in other respects they agree perfectly with the adult 

 males, except in their more varied coloration ; head and body brownish, 

 profusely spotted in coarser or finer pattern with light gray; also with a 

 few scattered black spots edged with gray; markings on the fins as 

 described for adults. In 7 specimens the dorsal contains 60, 62, 62, 62, 64, 

 65, and 66 rays; anal 45, 45, 45, 46, 47, 47, 48. Sea of Okhotsk. Our 

 specimens from Shana Bay, Iturup Island, one of theKurils; originally 

 described from Mantchuria. (o&scM/rus, dark.) 



Pleuronectes obscurus, HERZENSTEIN, Melanges Biologiques, 127, 1890, Mantchuria. 

 Liopsetta obscura, JORDAN & GILBERT, Rep. Fur Seal Invest., 1898. 



1039. PLATICHTHYS, Girard. 

 (STARRY FLOUNDERS.) 



Platichthys, GIRARD, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1854, 136 (rugosus=stdlatus). 



Body very robust, broad, not greatly compressed. Mouth small ; teeth 

 chiefly uniserial, incisor-like. Scales all in both sexes and on both sides 

 of body reduced to coarse scattered stellate tubercles, which are not 



