Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 2865 



conical snout; a single nostril, corresponding to the anterior nostril of 

 other Liparids, the posterior opening being wholly wanting. The typical 

 species, C, mirabilis, differs from all known species of Liparis except L. 

 cyclostigma in its large size, compressed form, and translucent gelatinous 

 texture. (upvtiTok'koc,, crystal; iy^v^ fish.) 



2458(a). CRYSTALLICHTHYS MIRABILIS, Jordan & Gilbert, new species. 



Head 4 in length; depth 2-J; snout '2\ in head; eye 3 in snout; width 

 of mouth -J- length of head; length of gill slit snout, equaling distance 

 from front of eye to front of nostril tube; P. 33. Head and body com- 

 pressed, especially along upper profile, which descends 111 a gentle, nearly 

 even curve to tip of snout; lower profile less curved, nearly straight and 

 horizontal on anterior third of body ; snout conical, tapering to a sharp 

 tip, its lower profile nearly horizontal, protruding beyond the mouth for 

 a distance (measured axially) equaling f its length ; mandibular symphysis 

 vertically below nostril tube; upper jaw strongly arched anteriorly, the 

 mandible much shorter, nearly transverse in position. When the mouth 

 is closed, there is exposed the entire width of the thick upper lip and the 

 anterior portion of the band of fringes which precedes the premaxillary 

 teeth. Teeth slender, shorter than in Liparis cyclostigma, arranged in 

 about 25 oblique series in the of each jaw; the posterior longer teeth 

 more or less distinctly 3-lobed in both jaws, the anterior teeth shorter, 

 simple. A deep cleft on lower side of snout running from its tip to front 

 of preniaxillaries, deepening backward, opening into the deep groove 

 above premaxillaries ; from base of cleft arises a high free fold, the 

 sharp edge of Avhich nearly reaches the margins of the cleft; a series of 

 3 large pores along each side of this cleft, with 3 more equally spaced 

 on each side and parallel with front of mouth ; belonging to this series 

 but distant from them and much smaller, is another on middle of cheek 

 below eye, and 1 halfway between eye and middle of gill slit; a pore 

 behind eye, and a series of 4 on each side of nape complete the pores 

 of the head; no pore in the position of the posterior nasal open- 

 ing ; a second series of 6 on each side of mandible and preopercle ; no 

 other pores on head. Nostril single, in a distinct wide tube, as long 

 as the diameter of pupil ; distance from eye to angle of mouth 3|- in 

 head; vertical from angle of mouth, passing through front of orbit. 

 Gill cleft narrow, reaching base of first pectoral ray, its length 4f in head. 

 Lateral line rising in an abrupt curve from upper end of gill opening, 

 decurved again behind pectorals, to reach middle of sides, on the posterior 

 half of which it becomes obsolete; anteriorly the lateral line is accom- 

 panied above by a second series of pores which is not curved, but runs 

 straight forward from just above the summit of the curve. Dorsal and 

 anal fins enveloped anteriorly in thick gelatinous tissue, so that their 

 points of origin and number of fin rays can not be determined, the fins 

 high, the longest anal ray equaling length of snout and eye; 32 dorsal and 

 33 anal rays can be distinguished in the posterior transparent portions of 

 the fins, the total number of rays being greater; last anal ray joining outer 

 caudal ray at middle of length of the latter; dorsal joined narrowly to 



