466 
BULLETIN OP THE BUREAU OP FISHERIES 
Table 11. — Frequency distribution of dorsal rays, anal rays, and gill rakers on the lower limb of the 
first arch, of respectively 227, 249, and 277 specimens of Paralichthys — Continued 
ANAL RAYS 
Number 
Frequency 
Number 
Frequency 
Number 
Frequency 
54 
2 
60 
16 
66 
21 
55 
4 
61 
16 
67 
18 
56 
13 
62 
5 
68 .. 
29 
57 
20 
63 
6 
69 
17 
58 
14 
64 
12 
70 
15 
59 
22 
65 
16 
71 
3 
GILL RAKERS 
8 
8 
12 
9 
! 15 
58 
9 
31 
13 
7 
' 16 
30 
10 
74 
14 
11 
17__ 
8 
11 
44 
Correlated with the high number of gill rakers in dentatus is a high fin-ray count 
for both the dorsal and anal. While there is much overlapping between the two 
Figure 80. — Frequency distribution of anal rays in 249 specimens of Paralichthys. Graph 
based on Table 11 
species, the average differences are pronounced. The range in the dorsal rays for 
dentatus in 107 specimens enumerated is 80 to 95 with an average of 87.3 rays. The 
range for the rays in this fin for albiguttus is much greater, reaching from 72 to 95 
(therefore occupying the entire range of dentatus, as well as extending far below it) 
in the 173 specimens enumerated, but the average is only 79.5. The range in the 
number of rays in the anal in dentatus is 60 to 71 in 95 specimens enumerated and 
the average is 67.1. In 148 specimens of albiguttus the range again is much greater 
(therefore extending through the entire range of dentatus and much lower), reaching 
from 54 to 71, with an average of 60.7 rays. 
The extremely great range in the number of fin rays in albiguttus suggests that 
two species may be confused, and it is on this character, chiefly, that the two nominal 
species albiguttus and lethostigmus, have been held to be separate and distinct. How- 
ever, as already indicated, the large number of specimens of Paralichthys examined 
with respect to the dorsal and anal rays, give no indication of a third species, for 
when the counts are plotted, as to frequency (see figs. 80 and 81), two modes are 
