MUD CATFISH. 797 



Genus 12. PELODICHTHYS. Eafinesque. 



Pilodictis, Eafinesque (1819), Prodrome de Soixante dix Genres, etc., in Journal de 



Physique, de Chymie, et d'Hiatoire Naturelle, Paris, 422. 

 Leptops, Eafinesque (1820) Ichthyologia Ohiensis, 64. 

 Opladelua, Rafinesquk (1820), Ichthyologia Ohiensis, 64. 

 Ilietia, Eafinesque (1820, Ichthyologia Ohiensis, 66. 

 Pylodictis, Eafinesque (1820), Ichthyologia Ohiensis, 67. 



Sopladelus, Gill (1862), Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist , 45, and of most late authors. 

 PelodiolUhya, Gill and Jordan, MSS. — Jordan (1876), Ann. Lyo. Nat. Hist , N. Y , — . 

 Pimelodus sp , Kirtland, Cuv. and Val,, et Auot. 



Etymology, pelos, mud; ichthus, fish. 



Type, PilodicHs limosis, Eaf. = Silurua olivaria, Eaf. 



Body much elongated, very slender, much depressed, anteriorly broader than high ; 

 head large, very wide and depressed, laterally expanded, above broadly ovate, and in 

 profile cuneiform ; skin very thick, entirely concealing the skull ; supraoccipital bone 

 entirely free from the head of the second interspinal; eyes small; mouth very large, 

 anterior and transverse; the lower jaw always projects beyond the upper; teeth in 

 broad villiform bands on the intermaxillaries and dentaries ; the intermaxillary band 

 is convex anteriorly, and proceeds to the insertion of the maxillaries, where it is ab- 

 ruptly angularly deflected, and proceeds backward as an elongated triangular extension. 

 The band at the symphysis is slightly divided and anteriorly separated by a small tri- 

 angular extension of the labial membiane; the lower dental is anteriorly semicircular 

 and attenuated to the corners of the mouth ; there are about twelve branchiostegal 

 rays on each side; the dorsal fin is situated over the posterior half of the interval be- 

 tween the pectorals and ventrals, and has a spine and about seven branched rays ; the 

 spine is rather small, and more or less enveloped in the thick skin ; the adipose fin is 

 large, and has an elongated base resting over the anal ; it is very obese and inclines 

 rapidly backward ; it is rather less free posteriorly than in Amiurua ; the anal fin is 

 small ; it commences far behind the anus, is a little longer than high, and is composed 

 of about fourteen rays ; the caudal fin is oblong, subtruncated, placed on a vertical 

 basis, and with numerous accessory simple rays, recurrent above and beneath the caudal 

 peduncle ; the pectorals have a broad, compressed spine, serrated or dentated on its 

 external and interual margins, and with the prolonged fleshy integument obliquely 

 striated ; the ventrals are rounded and have nine rays, one simple and eight branched ; 

 vent well behind ventrals, much in advance of anal ; coloration brown or yellowish, 

 more or less marbled or spotted. But one species is yet known. 



22. Pelodichthys olivaris (Eafinesque) Gill and Jordan. 



Mud Catfish. 



Silurua olivaria, Eafinesque (1818), Am. Monthly Mag., iii, Sept., 355. 



Sopladelua olivaris, Gill (1862), Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 45.— Cope (1867), Jonrn. 



Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 237.— Jordan (1876), Man. Vert., 303; (1877), Proc. Acad. 



Nat. Sci. Phila., 46 —Nelson (1877), Bull. Ills. Mus. Nat. Hist., 50.— Gill (1876), 



Ich. Capt. Simpson's Expl , 426.— Jordan and Copbland (1876), Check List, 170. 

 Pelodichthys olivaris, Jordan (1876). Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist., N. Y., — ; Bull. U. S. Nat. 



Mus., X, 1877, 95 ; Man. Vert,, 2d Ed., 1878, 334. 



