Jordan and Evermann . Fishes of North A merica . 2661 



? Coccolus,* BONAPAKTE, in Cocco, Alcuni Pesci Messina, 21, 1844 (annectens; larval form- 

 probably of P. podas, with the right eye in transit to the left side) . 



Bothus, BONAPARTE, Catologo Metodico, 49, 1846 (podas); not of RAFINESQUE. 



Rhomboidichthys, BLEEKER, Act. Soc. Sci. Indo-Nederl. Manad. and Makassar, 67, 1357-58 

 (myriastcr). 



Platophrys, BLEEKER, Comptes Reudus Acad. Sci. Amsterd., xnr, 1862, Pleuron., 5 

 (ocellatus). 



Eyes and color on the left side. Body ovate, strongly compressed; 

 mouth of the large type, hut comparatively small ; the maxillary ^ or less 

 of the length of the head; teeth small, subequal, in 1 or 2 series; no teeth 

 on vomer or palatines. luterorbital space broad and concave, broadest in 

 adult males. Gill rakers moderate. Dorsal fin beginning in front of eye, 

 all its rays simple; ventral of colored side on ridge of abdomen; caudal 

 convex behind ; pectoral of left side usually with 1 or more filamentous 

 rays, longest in the male. Scales very small, ctenoid, adherent; lateral 

 line with a strong arch in front. Coloration usually variegated. 



This well-marked genus is widely diffused in the warm seas. The sexual 

 differences are greater than usual among flounders, and the different sexes 

 have often been taken for different species. As a rule, in the males, the 

 pectoral fin on the left side is much prolonged, the interorbital area is 

 much widened and very concave, and there are some tubercles about the 

 snout and lower eye. The young fishes, as is usually the case, resemble 

 the adult females. Lately, Dr. Emery has shown that the larval flounder, 

 known as Peloria heckeli, is in all probability the young of Pleuronectes 

 podas. The generic name, Coccolus, based on forms slightly more mature 

 than those called Peloria, probably belongs here also. We have seen no 

 larval forms so young as those which have been described as Peloria 

 heckeli. We have, however, examined small transparent flounders, one 

 with the eyes quite symmetrical, taken in the Gulf Stream, and another 

 with the eyes on the left side, taken at Key West. Both these may be 

 larvto of Platophrys ocellatus. The figures published by Emery seem to 

 make it almost certain that the corresponding European forms belong to 

 P. podas, although some doubt as to this is expressed by Facciola. The 

 species of Platophrys are widely distributed through the warm seas, no 

 tropical waters being wholly without them. All the species of PlatopTirys 

 are extremely closely related and can be distinguished with difficulty. 

 On the other hand, the variations due to differences of age and sex are 

 greater than in any other of our genera. The following analysis of the 

 species of Platophrys is very unsatisfactory. There are certainly 3 species 

 (podas, the European species, maculifer, and lunatus) which are known to 

 be distinct in their adult state. The young forms of maculifer and lunatus 

 are not well known, nor is it known how they differ from ocellatus, 

 82)inosus, and other species which presumably reach a smaller size. Only 

 a thorough study of the species, in all stages of development in their 

 native waters, can give us the characters by which the species can be 

 really discriminated. (TtXarvS, broad; 6</>pv$, eyebrow.) 



* "Parvus mole et pleuronectiformis, medius inter Pleuronectidas et Bibroniinos hie 

 piscis videtur ! Attamen dum illi oculos unilaterales habeant, iste vero bilaterales ; in hoc 

 novo geuere oculi, alter a latere, altere in vertice vix ad appositum latus convenus positi 

 sunt." (Bonaparte: quoted by Facciola, Su di Alcuni Rari Pleuronettidi.) 



