FISHES-FLEURONECTIDAE—PARALICTHYS MACULOSUS. 
147 
PARALICHTHYS MACULOSUS, Grd. 
Spec. Char. —Body quite elongated and ellipsoid ; peduncle of the tail strangulated. Lower jaw slightly the longest ; 
posterior extremity of maxillary dilated, and extending to a vertical line drawn posteriorly to the orbits. Origin of the anal 
fin situated opposite the base of the pectorals. Dorsal and anal fins even posteriorly. Posterior margin of the caudal sub¬ 
truncated. Scales small and pectinated. Reddish brown, maculated. 
Stn. —Pleuronectes maculosus, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 155. 
The body is elongated, sub-elliptical, the dorsal and ventral outlines constituting most 
regular curves, into which the head immerges with hut a very slight depression above the eyes. 
The peduncle of the tail is slightly contracted immediately behind the posterior margin of both 
the dorsal and anal fins, which terminate evenly. From this point to the base of the caudal 
fin the caudal region assumes a dove tail appearauce. The caudal fin itself is undulating 
upon its posterior edge, the external and central rays being slightly longer than the intermediate 
ones. 
The total length of the specimen now before us is about seven inches and a half, the head 
entering in it four times and one-third. The lower jaw is the longest ; the posterior extremity 
of the maxillar bone reaches a vertical line drawn behind the posterior rim of the orbit* 
Slender and conical teeth may be observed on either side of the jaws. The eyes, which are 
placed on the right side, are of medium size, elliptical in shape, their horizontal diameter 
entering about five times and a half in the length of the side of the head. The origin of the 
dorsal fin is situated opposite the anterior rim of the orbit ; that of the anal is placed opposite 
the base of the pectorals, both of these fins being composed of simple rays. The rays of the 
caudal are highly dichotomised. The pectorals are moderate sized, and composed of slender 
and bifurcated rays, except the outer ones, which remain simple. The ventrals are quite small, 
inserted in advance of the pectorals, overlapping the vent, and extending as far as the third 
ray of the anal. Their rays are likewise bifurcated. 
Br. YI: YII; D 68; A 52 ; C 3, 1, 7, 6, 1, 2 ; Y 6 ; P 1, 10. 
The scales are small, sub-elliptical, longer than deep, and pectinated. They extend over the 
opercular apparatus, the head, and even the jaws ; they may also be observed on the rays of 
most of the fins, especially on the caudal. The lateral line starts from the scapular region, 
describing an arch above the pectoral fins, to follow afterwards the middle of the flanks to the 
caudal fin. 
The ground color of the right side, being the one on which the eyes are situated, is reddish 
brown, scattered all over with numerous spots of a darker hue. The left side is uniformly pale 
yellow. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
No. of 
spec. 
Age. 
Locality. 
When col¬ 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Nature of 
specimen. 
Collected by— 
701 
i 
Adult.. 
San Diego, Cal_ 
1853 
Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge . 
Alcoholic_ 
A. Cassidy_ 
