392 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
THE PLAICE (sw. rodsfottan). 
PLEURONECTES PLATESSA. 
Plate XXI, fig. 2. 
Body oval, its greatest depth in full-grown specimens varying between 38 and 42 % ( sometimes as much as 45 %) 
of its length. Dorsal fin with at most about 75 ( 63 — 7 6 a ) rays, anal with at most about 55 (■ 48 — 57 b ). Least 
depth of the tail as a ride less than 9 % (7 — 8 1 J 2 % c ) of the length of the body or about 33 % (30 — 35 % d ) of 
the length of the head, which is more than 20 % (in full-grown specimens 21 — 24 %) of the length of the body. 
Distance between the anal fin and the tip of the snout usually less than 33 % {in adult specimens 28 — 32 %>, but 
sometimes 34 %) of the length of the body. Anal spine behind the vent present. Bays of the ventral fins (>. 
Head without muciferous cavities. Lateral line only slightly curved in the abdominal region (above the pectoral 
fins). Vertebrce 43 or 44 e . Jaw-teeth in adult specimens close-set, compressed incisors, on the eye side few, and 
generally smaller and more scattered than on the blind side; pharyngeal teeth obtuse molars; the triangular lower 
pharyngeals contiguous at the inner margin. Median fronted ridge between the eyes continued backwards by a 
raised bar, generally with five distinct protuberances. Scales as a rule cycloid. Coloration of the eye side 
grayish greenish-brown, with round, red or flame-yellow, brown-edged spots scattered on the body 
and also on the vertical fins. 
R. br. 7; D. (53—76(77); A. (47)52—57(61); P. 10—12; 
V. 6; C. #+13 — 16+#; Lin. lat., por. 80 — 90; Vert. 43 — 44. 
Syn. Platessa, Auson. (vide Gesner: De Aqnat., p. 675). 
Pleuronectes oculis et tuberculis sex a dextra capitis, lateribus 
glabris, spina ad anutn, Art., Gen., p. 17; Syn., p. 30; 
Spec., p. 57; Lin., Fix. Suec., ed. I, p. 113; It. Wgot., 
p. 179; Pleuronectes, Sldtt-vahr, Lin., It. Scan., p. 326 et 
in indice VII. 
Pleuronectes Platessa, Lin., Syst. Nat., ed. X, tom. I, p. 269; 
Retz., Fn. Suec., Lin., p. 330; Qvens., Vet.-Akad. Handl. 
1806, p. 211; Ntlss., Prodr. Ichtli. Scand ., p. 54; Faber, 
Tidskr. f. Naturv. Kbhvn, Bd. V, p. 245; Id., Isis, 1828, 
p. 865; Schagerstr., Physiogr. Sallsk. Tidskr., p. 310; 
Nilss., Scand. Fn., Fisk., p. 612; Ekstr., v. Wright, Stand. 
Fisk., ed. 1, p. 219, tab. 60; Gthr, Cat. Brit. Mus. Fish., 
vol. IV, p. 440; Lindstr., Gotl. Liins Husb. Sallsk. Arsber. 
1866, p. 26 (sep.); Coll., Vid. Selsk. Fork. Christ. 1874, 
Tilltegsh., p. 144; Malm, Gbgs , Boh. Fn., p. 525; Winth,, 
Naturh. Tidskr. Kbhvn, ser. 3, vol. XII, p. 39; Gigl., Espos. 
intern. Peso. Berl. 1880, Sez. Ital. Cat., p. 98; Benecke, 
Fische, Fischer., Fischz. West., O.-Preuss., p. 96; Day, 
Fish. Gt. Brit., Irel., vol. II, p. 25, tab. Cl; Mela, Vert. 
Fenn ., p. 307, tab. IX; M6b., Hcke, Fisch. Osts ., p. 91; 
Lillj., Sv., Norg. Fisk., vol. II, p. 358. 
Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus, Pall., Zoogr. Ross. As., tom. 
Ill, p. 423. 
Platessa vulgaris, Flem., Brit. Anim., p. 198; Gottsche, 
Wiegm. Arch. Naturg. Jahrg. 1, Bd. 2, p. 136; Kb., Daxim. 
Fisk., vol. 2, p. 248; Thomfs., Nat. Hist. Irel., vol. IV, 
p. 192; Mor., Hist. Nat. Poiss. Fr., tom. Ill, p. 291. 
Pleuronectes borealis, Faber, Isis 1828, p. 868; Schagerstr., 
Physiogr. Sallsk. Tidskr., p. 310. 
Pleuronectes Pallasii, Steind., Stzber. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math. 
Naturw. CL, Bd. LXXX, Abth. I, p. 163. 
The ordinary length of" the Plaice on the west 
coast of Sweden is between 25 and 35 cm., though, 
even there, it often attains a larger size. Specimens 
more than 60 cm. long are, however, rare in Bohusl&n. 
The length of the Plaice seems nowhere to exceed 80 
cm. This size is sufficient, however, to render it the 
largest species of the genus. 
The body is oval and, in youth especially, rather 
elongated, the greatest depth, excluding the tins, vary- 
ing in young specimens (less than 2 dm. long) between 
44 and 49 % of the length to the base of the caudal 
tin, and in older specimens between 50 and 57 % of 
the latter measurement. The thickness is somewhat 
less than 1 / 5 of the depth. Both in the depth and 
thickness, however, there are many individual varia- 
tions. In this species too, we often find that when a 
specimen has exceeded the ordinary size of the species, 
it reverts, by a kind of reaction, to the juvenile form. 
The relative length of the head decreases with age, 
and varies, subject to the same remark with regard to 
individual variations, in young specimens between 31 V 2 
and 28 % of the length from the tip of the snout to the 
base of the caudal fin, and in older specimens between 
“ According to Gottsche 61 — 77; the latter number is also given by Artedi. 
6 Sometimes 47, according to Kroyer; sometimes 61, according to Gottsche. 
c Exceptionally 9. 
d Exceptionally 40. 
e The latter number in two of the skeletons in the possession of the Royal Museum. 
