BIG-JAWED STJCKEE. 831 



Diagnosis — This species may be known by the presence of about 17 

 dorsal spines and a large mouth. 



Habits. — This is a large species frequently taken with M. macrolepido- 

 turn in Lake Erie. I have also seen several from the Ohio River at Cin- 

 cinnati and Marietta. It is a species of northern distribution. 



Genus 23. PLACOPHARYNX. Cope. 



Placopharynx, Cope, Proo. Am. Philos Soc. Phila., 1870, 477. 

 Type, Plaoopharynx carinatus, Cope. 

 Etymology, plax, a broad surface ; pharugx, pharynx. 



This genns is identical, with Myxoatoma in a 1 respects, except in the development of 

 the phnryngeal bones and teeth. The pharyngeal bones are very strong and the teeth 

 on the lower half of the bone are much reduced in nomber (6 to 10). They are nearly 

 cylindrical in form, being little compressed, and with a broad, rounded or ilattened 

 grindii'g snrface. In ^ize and form, these enlarged teeth are extremely irregular. The 

 upper teeth are small, and compressed as in Myxoatoma. The mouth in Placopharynx is 

 larger than in any species of Myxoetoma and the lips are much more developed. 



But one species is known. 



48. Placopharykx carinatus Cope. 



Big:-Jawe(l Sucker. 



Placopharynx carinatus^ Cope, Proo. Am. Philos Soc. Phila., 1876, 4fc7. — Jordan, Fishes 

 of lad., 1875, 211 (name oulv) ; Man. Vert , 1876, d96 ; 2d Ed., Ifc78, 311 ; Proc. Acad. 

 Nat. Soi. Pbila., Ir77, 72 ; Bnll. U. S. Nat. Mus., ix, 1K77, 50 (name only) ; xii, 1878, 

 lOH; Bull. U. S Geol. Sarv., vol. iv, 1877, No. 2, p. 417.— Nelson, Bull. No. 1, Ills. 

 Mns Nat. Hist., 1876, 49.— Jordan and Copeland, Check List, 1876, 158 —Jordan 

 and Gilbert, in Klippart's Rfpt., Ib77, 53 (name only).— Klippart, First Report of 

 Ohio Fish Commission, 1877, 86. 

 DescripHon — Body oblong, moderately compressed, heavy at the shoulders ; head very 

 large ; eye small, behind the middle of the head ; mouth extremely large, the lower jaw 

 oblique when the nlouth is closed, the mouth thus opening forward as well as down- 

 ward ;. lips very thick, coarstiy plicate, the lower lip full and heavy, truncated behind ; 

 head above evenly rounded (carinate, according to Professor Cope) ; color brassy-green 

 above, pale below; lower fins red; head 3f ; depth Sf; D. 13; scales 6-45-6; V. 9. 

 Length 18 to 24 inches. 



Habitat, Missiesippi Valley and Upper Great Lakes. 



Diagnosis. — This large coarse species may be certainly known only by 

 the examination of its pharyngeal teeth. 



Habits — This fish is probably common in the Western Rivers, but owing 

 to its great similarity of form to the Common Red Horse, has been over- 

 looked by most naturalists. The writer has met with the following 

 specimens : (a) a complete skeleton of a very large specimen found by Dr. 

 J. M. Wheaton in the Scioto River near Columbus ; (6) two young speci- 



