Description of a new fish from Alaska (<I>Anarrhichas lepturus</I>), with notes upon other species of the genus <I>Anarrhichas</I>

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212 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

l>ESCKIPTIO:V OF A IVEW

FI^iH FROITI Ar,A.SKA

(AIVARRHK

IIA$«

t.EE»TBJKi;S>,

WBTSI NOTES

lH»OIV

OTHER SPECIES OF THE

OEIVUS AI>rARRHI€HAS.

By TARLETON H. BEAN.

The

UnitedStatesNational

Museum

liasreceivedfrom Mr.Lucieii

M.

Turnera species of Aiiarrhichas, wliichIat first

hoped

would proveto be the orientaUs of Pallas.* It differs,however, widely from the de- scriptionof that species,

and

does not correspond with

any

other

known

tome.

Two

specimens of the

Alaskan

Anarrhichas were secured at St.

Michael'sin187G. These arethe first

and

only representatives of the genus fromthe Pacific in the

Museum

collection.

One

of them,:N^o. 21509,isGOOmillimetreslong; the other,No.21510, is495millimetres.

The

lengthsto the origin of themiddle caudal rays are555

and

455respectively,

and

withthesealltheother

measurements

arecompared.

Description. — The

^greatest ^height ^of^the

body

^{(.20) is} ^contained⁵

timesinthe unit of length,

and

equals thedistance ofthe dorsalfrom the

end

of thesnout(.20). Itsheightatthepectorals(.17^)^iscontained 3times in the distance of the anal from the snout(.52.^).

The

least heightofthetail (.04i)is contained twicein tlie lengthofthe middle caudalrays(.09).

The

greatestlengthofthe

head

(.24)equals₁J timesitsgreatestheight

(.10),

and

iscontainedinthe unit oflength4 times.

The

distancefrom thenostrilto the anterior

margin

ofthe orbit(.015)^iscontained3times inthe distance

between

the eyes(.045).

The

greatestwidthofthe

head

(.11)^isalittlelessthanhalf itslength,

and

iscontained9timesinthe unit of length.

The

widthofthe interorbital area(.045)^isabout equal tothelengthofthesnout(.04-.045).

The

lengthoftheupper

jaw

(.13) equals3times the widthof the interorbital area,

and

alittle

more

than one-half ofthe lengthofthe head.

The

maxillaryextendstotheper- pendicular throughthe middleof the lengthofthe head,the angleof the

mouth

beingequally distantfrom the

end

ofthesnout

and

the

end

of the opercularflap.

The

lengthof the mandil>ie(.145)nearly equals that of the pectoral (.15),

and

iscontained7timesintheunitof length.

The

mandibleex- tendstoapointaboutequally distantfromthe

end

ofthesnout

and

the originofthe dorsal. Thereare four largecaninesintheupper

jaw and

five inthe k)wer,allof

them

strongly recurved.

Behind

the canines in each

jaw

areafewshort,sharp, conicalteeth,alsorecurved.

The

palatines are in

two

rows, 4 teeth in the outer

and

5inthe innerseries.

The

teeth of the outerseriesare

much

the longer.

Vomerine

teethten, in

two

series.

The

vomerine patch beginsin

advance

of the palatines,

and

*Zoi3g.Eosso-Asiatica,iii,1831, p. 77.

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PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 213

extendsfarther

back

than thelatter.

The

lengthof the palatineseries istothat ofthevomerineas 16 to27.

The

distance from the snout to the orbit (.05-.055) is contained, nearlyor quite 4 timesinthatfromthesnouttothe origin ofthedorsaL

The

long diameterof theeye(.035)equals one-seventh, or slightly

more

thanone-seventh, ofthe lengthofthehead,

and

notquite one-fourth of thelengthofthelowerjaw.

The

distance

between

the

end

ofthesnout

and

the origin of the dorsal (.20) iscontained 5 times in the unit of length,

and

equalstwice the lengthof the longest dorsalray(.10).

The

distance of the anal from the snout (.52) equals 3 times the heightof the

body

atthe pectorals.

The

length of the firstanalray (.035)equalsthelong diameteroftlieeye(.035).

The

longestanalray (.05-.055) equals alittlelessthan half of the width of the body,

and

lessthanone-fourth of thelengthof the head.

The

ventisabout mid-

way

betweentheendof thesnout

and

that ofthedorsal,

and under

the 25thtothe27th dorsal rays.

The

length ofthe middle caudal rays (.085)iscontainedtwiceinthe heightofthe

body

atthe pectorals,

and

equalstwice the leastheightof thetail.

The

caudalisrounded.

The

distance of the pectoralfromthesnout(.23) iscontained4=^times intheunit of length,

and

the length ofthe pectoral(.15) iscontained 6|times.

The

extended pectoralreachestothe perpendicularthrough theorigin of theICvhdorsal ray.

Badial formula: D.81; A. 50-53; C.20-21; P.21.

Scales:

Head and

fins scaleless.

The median

lineofthe

body and

the wholeofthetailarecovered with small widely-separatedscales,resem- bling those of Lota,but notdepressed.

Color:

The

prevailing color of the alcoholicspecimensisdark brown, without

bands and

spots.

The

bellyis light

brown

or gray,clouded with verydark brown.

Anarrhichaslepturus needs to be contrasted onlywith.A.orientalis

and

A.lupus. Itseemsto

me

improbable that

any

speciesofAnarrhi- chascan be safely identified with orientalis.

The

description ofthat speciesiscertainlyinsufficient,

and may

beerroneous.

The

totallength, forexample,isstated tobe2feet2 inches,English

measure

; thelength of the head,1Linches

—

^aproportion whi(;h is without aparallelinthe other species of the genus.

Assuming

thatthelengthofthe

head

isnot correctly given,

and

thatitbearsthe

same

proportiontothetotallength asthat ofA.lepturus,itstilldiffersfromthelatter in(1)theabsence of scales, (2)the situation of the nostril

midway between

theeye

and

the mouth,(3) its radial formula

—

^D.84; C. 17

—

⁽⁴⁾^the^presence ^{of 6}^ca-

ninesinthe

upper

jaw.

We

must, however, accept the descrii)tion as it stands, for the

measurements

are evidentlythose intended

by

the author,in

which

event the length of the

head

alonewillserveto dis- tinguishorientalisfromallotherspecies.

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214 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

A.Jepturus is distinguished from A.lupus

by

(1) its uniform

brown

color,(2) itsscanty squamation,(3) itsslender tail,(4) itsgreater

num-

berof dorsal

and

anal rays. It resembles A. Inims in

many

respects, butdiffersfromitaswidelyas lupusdoes fromlatifrons.

Inthe

measurement

tables

which

followthe hundredthsoflengthare calculatedfromthetotallength withoutthe caudal.

A key

to the species of Anarrliicliasisgiven. Inthis

no

referenceis

made

to the denticulatus of Kroyer, because the slight descriptions

which we have

of this species do not serve to distinguish it

from

latifrons.

The

species

known on

the

American

coast asA.latifrons is evidentlythelatifronsof Steenstrup*

&

Collett,t

and

Icannotsee that itdiflersfromthedenticxilatusof Giinthert or of Ivroyer.§

TahUof Measurements.

Species:Anarrhichaglepturus.

Currentnumberof specimei

Locality ^St.Michael's,

Alaska.

Milli- metres

Extremelength ;

Lengthto orijriuof middle caudal rays Body

:

rht.

aseof pectorals,

itoftail Il.'iuiit;

Leasth Head

:

Greatest length

Distancefromnostriltoanteriormarginoforbit Greatestwidth

AVidthiifinterorbital .trea Lni^tlioffiiiout t;n-afcHt lici-ht Liii'itliof u])perjaw Lnii^tli ofiiiaiidible Distaiii(•from snoutto orbit Hiamct.roforbit DolS:ll

:

nistancefrom snout Greatest height Lt ugth of longest ray Anal

:

Distancefromsnout Lengt h offirstray Lengthoflongest"ray Caudal

:

Lengthof middle rays Pectoral

:

Distancefromsnout Length Dorsal Anal^..

.

(Caudal^. Pectoral

lOOths of length.

St. Michael's, Ahiska.

MUli- metres,

lOOths of length.

17 4 23 li

1 u

14i

23i 15

*Noo;et

om

SUegten Soiilv&c.,187(5,p.43 (Vidcusk.Mcdd.fradenDatiirliistonsko ForeiungiKjobenbavn,1876,p.201, tab.iii.figs. 3,3',

&

^3").

rClira.Videusk.-Solsk.Forhandl.1879,No.1,p. 46,pi.ii,lig. 2.

tCat.Fish. Brit.Mus.iii,l.-<61,p. 211.

$Gairaard,Voy. eu Scaud.etc.,Zool., Poiss.,pi. xii, fig. 1(uo descriptionⁱ

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PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

115

Tabic of Mcasurcmait'i—Continued.

Species: Anarrhichaslupus.

Currentnumberof specimen.

Locality

Extremelength

Lengthto originof middle caudalrays.

Body:

Greatest height Greatest width.

Heightatbase of pectorals. .

Least height oftail Head:

Greatest length (lii-afcstwidth Wi<lth()fiiitiTorbitalarea Lcniithof snout Teeth

Lengthofupper jaw Lengthof mandible Distance from snoutto orbit Longdiameter of eye Dorsal

:

Distance from snout Greatest height Lengthoffirstray Lengthoflongest ray Anal:

Distance from snout Lengthoffirstray Lengthof longest ray Caudal

:

Lengthof middle rays Pectoral:

Distancefrom snout Length Branchiostegals Doisal Anal Caudal..

.

Pectoral.

Lat.42^50'N.

Lon.6r)'=50'W., 85 fth.

Lat. 42°50'N.

Lon.G5°50'W., 85 fth.

Milli- metres

13 5 4 (*)

13 14

«i

24 17 VII 75

lOOths of length.

Milli- metres.

lOOths of length.

14i

19 VII 75 40 21 20

13 14 6

n

22

11

*The vomerineseriesextends fartherbackthan thepalatines.

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216 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

Table ofMeasurements—Continued.

Species: Anarrhichaglupus.

Cnrrentnumberof specimen

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PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 217

Table of Measurements

—

Continued.

Species:Anarrhichaslatifrons, Stp.

Currentnumberof specimen.

Locality,

Extremelength

Lengthto originofmiddle caudal rays Body

:

Greatest height Greatest width Distance of anus from snout Heightatanal origin Least height oftail

Head:

Greatest length Greatestwidth Widthofinterorbitalarea Lengthofsnout

Lengthof postorhital part ofhead Lengthofupperjaw*

Lengthof mandible

Distance from snouttocentre oforbit Diameterofeye

Dorsal

:

Distance from snout Lengthofbase Lengthoffirstray Lengthoflongest ray(63d) Anal:

Distance from snout Lengthofbase Lengthoffirstray Lengthoflongestray(38th) Caudal

:

Lengthofmiddle rays Lengthof external iays Pectoral

:

Distancefromsnout Length Dorsal Anal Caudal Pectoral

Collett'smeas-

urements,

Chra. Vid.- Selsk. Forh.

1870, No. 1, p.51.

Oxljord,West i'inmark.

Milli- metres.

lOOths of length.

10.74 12.83 4.78 5.59 9.37 7.24 3.29

22.37 12.34

Banquereau.

Milli- metres,

1108 1048

lOOths of .

length.

24.33 9.25 23 4.19 18.32 11.05

9.64 10.59 2.58 19.56

1.91 4.96 5.73 5.06

*Thepalatineseriesof teethinNo.21845extendsmuchfartherbackthan the vomerineand or quitetwiceaslong as thelatter.

nearly

Key

totheSpecies ofthe GenusAnarrhichas.

A. Bandedspecies.

h. Bluish gray,with9-12darker cross-bands. Vomerineteeth extendfarther

back thanthe palatine lupus.

U.Greenish,with14 deepgreen cross-bands;operculumhavingagreen or blue spot;head, back,andsidesabove mingledbluishandred. Heightof body- containedabout5|times initslength fasciatus.

A

A. Specieswithoutbands,

c.Spotted(inlife).

d. Manylarge,round, blackspots. Vomerineteethextendnearly or quite asfarbackasthe palatine. .—....-.„-

—

^... minou.

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218 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

dd.Brown,obscurely spottedwithdarker. Vomerineteethdonotextend nearlyso farbackas the palatine latifrons.*

cc.Unicoloi-ed.

e. Brown; D.84; C.17;^scalesnone; nostrilmidwaybetweeneye and mouth; headcontained 2^ (!) times in total length; 6

caninesinTipperjaw orientalis.

ee. Dark brown;vomerineserieslongerthan^palatine,andextends fartherback; D. 81; C. 20-21; ^scalesfew; nostrilnearer eye than mouth; head contained 4^-41 times intotal length; 4

canines inupperjaw.. ^• lepturus.

A

partial

synonymy

ofthespeciesis

appended

:

1.Anarrhichas lupusLiun6.

AiiarrhichasJiqm.^LiNNifi, Syst.Nat.,I,1766, p.430: DEKAY,Nat.Hist.N.Y., Fishes,1842, p. 158,^pi.xvi,fig.43.

Anarrhichas romerinusStorer,Hist. Fish.Mass.,1867, p. 99,pi.xyiii,fig.1.

2. AnarrhichasminorOlafsen.

Anarrhichas minorOlafsen,ReiseiIsland, 1772,§6836, p. 592, tab. 42.

Anarrhichas pantherinusZuiew, Nov.Act. Petrop.,1781,p. 271, tab.^6.

AmrrhichashojyardusAgassizinSpix,Pise.Bras., 1829, p. 92, tab. ^11.

3. AnarrhichasorientalisPallas.

AnarrhichasorientalisPallas,Zoog. Rosso-Asiat.,1831, p. 77, tab.xi.

4.Anarrhichaslatifrons Steenstrup«feHallgrimssou.

AnarrhichaslatifronsStp.

&

Hallgr.,Forh.Skand.Naturf, 3die Mote,1842, p.647:COLLETT,Chra. Vid.Selsk.Forh.,1879,No.1,p. 46,pi.ii.

Anarrhichas {Lycichthys) latifrons Gill, Baird'sAnn.Rec. S.

&

^I.^for ¹⁸⁷⁶

(1877), p. clxvii.

fAnarrhichasdenticulatus Kr5yer,Overs. Vidensk. ^Selsk.Kjobeuhavn,1844, p.140:Gaimarp, Voy. enScand.,etc., Zool., Poiss., 1845,pi. 12.

5.Aparrhichasfasciatus Bleeker.

Anarrhichas fasciatus Blkr., Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor de Dierkunde, Amsterdam, Deeliv,1874, p. 151.

U.S.National Museum,October 25, 1879.

NOTK!^ ON CERTAIN TYPICAI. SPECIMENS OF AMERICAN FISHES

IN

THE BRITISH MUSEUM AND

IN

THE MUSEUM D'HISTOIRE NATUREU.I.E AT PARIS.

By DAVID

S.

JORDAIV,

Ifl.

D.

In arecentvisitto

Europe

thewriter has

bad

theprivilegeofexam- iningthe originaltypesof certain species of

American

fishes,described

*AnarrhichaslatifronsandA.denticulatusaremadethe type of adistinctsubgenus byProfessor Gill,whoinoposestoseparjitothese from tho lupus typebythe following characters: Thegreater convexityandlongitudinal arching of theskullatthe posteriorfrontal region,and themuchgreater extensionbackwardsof tho palatineseriesof teethascompared^{with the}vomerineband. Examina- tionof the largecollectionof the three Atlantic speciesofAnarrhichasinthe NationalMuseumhas convincedmethatthese characters have not the taxonomic value claimed^forthem, owingtotheirgreat variabilityinindividxtals. TheflgureapublishedbySteenstrup(Vid.Medd.naturh. For.K.job., 1876, tab.iii)represent extremes of A.minor andA.latifrons,which, without accesstomanyexamplesof bothspecies,wouldbo misleading. A. minor,for instance,sometimes has thevomerinebandofteeth extendinglittlefartherbackthanisobservedinA.latifrons. Thedentition ofA.latifrons, too,issub- ject toconsiderable variationwithage,asisthe shape of theskull. A. minor seemstoshowcloser aflBnitytoA.latifronsthantoA.lupus.