FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
173 
C. Kendall’s field notes of 1894, based on investigations made in Chesapeake Bay, in which he 
lists the capture of a few specimens during March. This flounder is a rather obscure species and 
its relationship is not well known. It apparently differs from E. crossotus principally in having 
a more slender body, the depth being less than half the length. Nothing is known concerning its 
habits and life history. Its length probably seldom exceeds 4)^ inches. 
Habitat . — Long Island, N. Y., to Virginia, and probably southward. 
Chesapeake localities.— -(a) Previous records: Cape Charles City, Va. Also recorded in Dr. 
William C. Kendall’s unpublished notes in 1894 from off Lynnhaven Roads and off Cape Henry, 
Va. ( b ) Specimens in collection: None. 
82 . Etropus crossotus Jordan and Gilbert. 
Etropus crossotus Jordan and Gilbert, Proc., U. S. Nat. Mus., IV, 1881, p. 364; Mazatlan, Mexico. Jordan and Evermanu, 
1896-1900, p. 2689, PI. CCCLXXXVI, tig. 946. 
Head 4 to 4.85; depth 1.75 to 2.55; D. 75 to 81; A. 55 to 64; scales 41 to 44. Body elliptical, 
very strongly compressed; dorsal and ventral outlines about evenly convex; head short; snout 
very short, 5 to 7 in head; eye 3.05 to 3.8; interorbital very narrpw, a mere ridge; mouth small, 
strongly oblique; maxillary reaching anterior margin of lower eye, 3.5 to 3.9 in head; teeth in 
jaws small, in a single series, greatly reduced or wanting in upper jaw on eyed side; gill rakers 7 to 9 
Fig. 88 . — Etropus crossotus. From a specimen 4?i inches long 
on lower limb of first arch; lateral line nearly straight; scales rather large, ctenoid on eyed side, 
cycloid on blind side, with small accessory scales at base; origin of dorsal a little in advance of upper 
eye; caudal fin round; origin of anal a little behind vertical from base of pectorals; ventral fins 
small, the left one on the ridge of the abdomen; pectoral fins moderate, the one on the eyed side 
notably longer than the one on the blind side, 1.15 to 1.4 in head. 
Color in alcohol brownish, more or less spotted with dusky markings, occasionally with a series 
of dark blotches along the side on the lateral line; fins pale, with dark specks. 
This species is represented in the present collection by 20 specimens, ranging from 50 to 115 
millimeters (2 to 4J^ inches) in length. This small flounder is recognized by its extreme thinness 
and its deep body, which in the adult is quite half as deep as long, whereas in E. microstomus the 
depth is less than half the length. The small number of scales (41 to 44) in a lateral series also at 
once separates it from all other flounders of Chesapeake Bay. 
The life history and habits of this little flounder are but little known. It is chiefly a fish of the 
American Tropics, occurring only as a straggler as far north as Chesapeake Bay. It is most fre- 
quently taken along sandy shores and is too small to be of commercial value, as it probably does not 
exceed a length of 6 inches. 
Habitat . — Both coasts of tropical America; on the Pacific from Lower California to Panama, 
and on the Atlantic from Virginia to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 
