SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 55 



Diagnosis. — Head, with snout, more than .5 total length of body; snout or spatula 

 reticulated, .25 to .4 total length, longest in young; opercular flap very long, extending nearly 

 to ventrals; prexamillary bone reaching behind ihe eye; eye very small, above tip of lower 

 jaw; a minute barbel on spiracle; skin scaleless, and smooth except on side of tail; dorsal fin 

 behind ventrals, the rays 60 to 60; anal arising under middle of dorsal, the rays 50 to 65; 

 caudal large, forked, asymmetrical. Color: pale green above, white below, {spathula, spatula.) 



The claim of this species to a place in the North Carolina fauna rests on 

 Professor Cope's statement that it ascends the French Broad River to near Ashe- 

 ville. It inhabits the Mississippi and tributaries. The length reaches 6 feet, of 

 which the paddle is about one-third. It was formerly supposed that the paddle 

 was used to stir up the mud, which was eaten for the minute animals it contained, 

 the interlacing gill-rakers serving as a strainer to intercept the food articles, 

 while the silt passed through; but recent investigation has shown that the 

 species feeds near the surface. Nothing is known of its spawning habits. 

 Within a comparatively few years the fish, formerly regarded as of little value, 

 has come into use on account of its eggs, which are made into caviar, and also on 

 account of its flesh, which is now highly regarded and brings a good price. 



Order CHONDROSTEI. The Cartilaginous Ganoids. 



Family ACIPENSERID^. The Sturgeons. 



Large fishes of elongate, cylindrical form; cartilaginous skeleton; body imper- 

 fectly covered with 5 longitudinal rows of large bony plates or shields, between 

 which are small irregular plates; head covered with similar large plates; snout 

 produced, with 4 flexible barbels hanging from its lower surface; mouth on under 

 side of head, small, without teeth, capable of being protracted for feeding; eyes 

 small; tail heterocercal; air-bladder large, simple, coimected with the esophagus 

 by a duct. The largest fishes found in fresh waters of northern parts of America, 

 Europe and Asia; some migratory, some found only in fresh water; very valua- 

 ble as food. Three genera, including seven American species. 



Genus ACIPENSER Linnaeus. Sturgeons. 



Bony plates not confluent; one series on back and a lateral and abdominal 

 series on each side, ventral plates often deciduous; snout more or less conical, 

 depressed; spiracle over eye; gill-rakers small, pointed. Two Atlantic coast 

 species, both found in North Carolina, differing greatly in length of snout and in 

 other respects. {Acipenser, sturgeon.) 



36. ACIPENSER OXYKHYNCHUS MitchlU. 

 "Sturgeon"; Sharp-nosed Sturgeon. 



Acipenser oxyrhynchue Mitchill, Transactions Literary and Philosophical Society of New York, i, 462, 1814 



New York. -Yarrow, 1877, 216; North, New, and Neuse rivers. 

 Acipeneer aturio oxyrkynchus, Smith, lS93a, 190, 193, 198; Pasquotank River, Edenton Bay, Roanoke River 

 Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 105, pi. xx, fig. 45. 



