FLUKES. 
447 
Genus LEPIDORHOMBUS. 
{no canines ), pointed, recurved, small, and, set in a card on the front, part of the inter- 
Head of the vomer also f urnished with small teeth, hut the palatine hones 
teeth set in several rows (cardiform). Most, of the fin-raps branched, 
united heloiv, hut f urther hack meeting in different planes, the one crossing 
Middle wall of the branchiostegal cavity pierced above the urohyoid hone by 
Ventral fins free from, the anal fin. Scales on the eye side of the body ciliated at the hind margin, 
side smooth-margined. Anal spine and preanal spines wanting. Distance between the anal fin and 
the tip of the snout greater than the length of the head or only slightly less than it. 
Jaw-teeth of uniform size 
maxillary hones and of the lower jaw. 
and tongue smooth. Lower pharyngeal 
Branchiostegal membranes partially 
the other. Branchiostegal rays 7. 
a large hole, 
on the blind 
The following three genera, which were long com- 
bined, not unnaturally, with the preceding genus — so 
close is the connexion between them — are characteriz- 
ed in the hrst place by the peculiarity pointed out 
first by Steenstrup", that the median wall between 
the two branchial cavities is broken below the branchial 
arches and the lower pharyngeals. But they also de- 
viate more than any other of the Bothoids from the 
symmetrical piscine type, in the transference of the 
posterior parts of the dorsal and anal fins to the blind 
side. We have already observed a slight tendency in 
this direction in the case of the Brill; but here this 
asymmetry is more and more developed till it culminates 
in the termination of these fins by a distinct lobe on 
the blind side. 
The genus Lepidorhombus 1 resembles Bothus in 
the dentition of the head of the vomer and the separa- 
tion of the ventral fins from the anal fin; but, apart 
from the division of the wall of the branchial cavity, 
is of an entirely different form of body. The body is 
more elongated, narrow, and thin, the greatest height 
of the dorsal and anal fins being situated further back. 
The scales, too, are more plentiful and larger, but thin 
and, on the eye side, ciliated at the hind margin. Like 
the following genera, too, but in a still higher degree, 
Lepidorhombus is distinguished from Bothus by the 
shallower peduncle of the tail, the least depth of the 
body, which in Bothus is at least about 10 % of the 
length of the body, being at most about 7 % thereof 
in Lepidorhombus. This genus differs from the two 
following genera, apart from the characters given above, 
chiefly in the large size of the gape. Even the branch 
of the lower jaw on the blind side, which is someivhat 
shorter than that on the eye side, measures distinctly 
more than half the length of the head, in adult speci- 
mens at least about 55 % thereof; while in the follow- 
ing genera this proportion is at most a little less than 
50 %. 
The genus Lepidorhombus has been divided into 
three species, all belonging to European waters : Lepi- 
dorli. Boscii 0 , belonging to the Mediterranean, with 
elongated body and large, deciduous scales, and with 
fewer rays in the dorsal fin (75 — 82) and the anal 
(02 — 66); Lepidorh. whiff ( megastoma ), belonging to 
the Mediterranean, where it is known by the name of 
Cardine, and the Atlantic outside, up to the south of 
Great Britain and Ireland, where it bears the names 
of Whiff and Carter, with elongated body, the greatest 
depth being less than 5 / 3 of the length, and more nu- 
merous and more firmly attached scales; and the more 
northern Lepidorh. velivolans, with deeper body than 
the latter. Giglioli, however, proposed, according to 
Day, to unite these forms into one single species; and 
the opinion most generally current at present, and pro- 
bably the correct one, is that at least the last two 
forms should be regarded as one species. 
“ Overs. Dske Vid. Selsk. Forb. 1865, p. 100. 
b Gunther, subgenus, Cat. Brit.. Mas., Fisli., vol. IV, p. 407. 
0 Pleuronectes Boscii, Risso, Ichtlx. Nice , p. 319, pi. VII, fig. 33; Bonap. Fn. Ital., Ill, tav. No. 97, fig. 2. 
