On the species of <I>Astroscopus</I> of the eastern United States

(1)

PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 57

Table of Measurements.

Currentnumberof specimen.

Lengthto origin ofmiddle caudal rays

.

Eody

:

Greatestheiglit Greatest width Heightatventrals Least heightoftail

Head:

Greatest length Greatest width Widthofinterorbitalarea Lengthof snout Lengthofoperculum Lengthofupper jaw Lengthof mandible Distancefromsnouttoorbit Diameteroieye Dorsal(spinous)

:

Distancefromsnout Lengtii of base Lengthoflongest ray.

.

Anal:

Distancefromsnout...

Lengthofbase Lengthof longest ray.

.

Caudal:"

Lengthofmiddle rays.

Lengthofe.^terual rays Pectoral

:

DistiMieefromsnout...

Leniith Ventral

:

Distance from snout

—

Length Brauchiostegals Dorsal Anal Pectoral Ventral.

!N'urabcrofscales in lateral line

Kumbi-r^<)ftransverserowsuliuve latcnil line ^-^•

Xumbiroftransverse rows- belowlateral linefromoriginof ventral

.

iSTumbcr ofca;calappendages Vent:

Distance from snout

Wasiiixgtox,Jjjril 25, 1879,

22,4

MilU- metres.

lOOths of length.

19 10

8i 4* 5i

H

11 5i 5i 65 15i

6 68i 18i Oi 6i 14 27 10 48

OIV

THE SPECIES OF ASTKOSCOPr.S OF THE EASTERN UMTEH

STATES.

By TAKI.ETON

IS.

BEAN.

The

family TJranoscopidiv of Gill has

two

representativeson the east coast of theUnitedStates,Astroscopusy-(jrwctim (0.

&

V.)Gill,

and

A.

anoplus (C.

&

V.)Brevoort.

The

former

was

describedfrom theCarib-

bean

Sea,

and

is

now

forthefirsttime recordedinourwaters. A.^cino- plus

was

founded

npon young

individuals sent

by

Professor LeConte,

and

the immaturityof the specimens hasled toconsiderable confusion in thediagnosesof genera. Cuvier

and

Valenciennessupposedthe spe- ciestobescaleless. Brs. Gill

and

Giinther both

employed

this as one of the characters separating it from Uranoscoims,the latter in18G0*

assigning theU. anoplos ofCuvier

and

Valenciennesto his

new

genus,

*Cat. Fish.Brit.Mus.ii,18C0, p.22<>.

~"

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58 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

Agnus, withthe distinguisbiug characters of a

naked body and

the ab- seuce ofa

mament

^hi the mouth. Dr. Oill,in 1861,*used the

same

characters in transferring the

same

speciesfrom TJranoscopus to Astro- scopus ofBrevoort, adding

some

particuhirs as tothe mailingofthe

head and

thearmatureof thepreopercuhim.

The

species, intact,iscovered with scales, which in the

young

are inconspicuous,hutin the adult

may

bereadily counted.

The

genus Astroscojms,however,^iswell sep- arated from Uranoscoptts,

and may

be thusdefined

:

ASTROSCOPUS

Brevoort.

UranoscojniHuixCuv.

&

Val.,Hist.Nat.Poiss.,viii,1831, p. 493.

Adroscopm Bkkvookt,Proc. Pliila.Acad. Nat. Sci.,Jan.1880,p.20.—Gill,op.cit., 1861, p.IP.}.

A(inusGtrxTHER,Cat. Fish.Brit.Mas.,ii,1860, p. 229.

UpscloriphoritsGill,op. et loc.cit.

Head

above withits

crown

covered witha

bony

plate,fromthemiddle of the anterior

margin

of

which

arisesa y-shapedapophysis, thelimbs ofwhich extendtotheorbits. Postocular region covered only with^skin.

Preopercuhim

with

two

bluntprocessestgenerally radiatingfrom the angleofitsanterior limb,oneof

which

isdirected

downwards and

^for- wards.

Humeral

spine inconspicuous.

Lower jaw

entirebeneath. Lips furuished with

numerous

filaments.

No

spines before the ventrals.|

No

intralabial filament.

Head and

bellywithoutscales_; therest ofthe

body

covered with small scales.

Two

dorsal fins; the first

composed

of four short spines,the second about equal^totheanal.

1.Astroscopusy-grsecum(Cuv.

&

Val.)Gill.

Urano'ivopiisii-tjra'cum Cuv.

&

Val.,Hist.Nat. Poiss.,iii,1829, p. 308.—GtJN- TiiER,Cat. Fish.Brit.Mus.,ii,I860, p. 229.

Astrocopusy-fjrcvciimGiLL, Proc. Acad. Nat.Sci. Phila.,xii,1860, p. 21.

Upscloiqihonts u-grwciimGll.1.,OT[).cit.,xiii,1831, p. 113.

Thereare

now two

specimensofthisspecies inthe National

Museum,

one(No.18011)takenintheSaint John'sPtiver,Florida,

by

Prof.S.F.

Baird,April2, 1877•, the other (No. 18029) collected ⁱⁿ the I\Iatanzas Kiver Inlet,Florida,

by

Mr. JosephC. Willetts, inFebruary,1877. In acollectionof color-sketches of^fishes

made

forProf.LouisAgassiz,

and now

lent

by

the

Museum

of Comparative Zoology to the National

Museum,

are illustrationsof A. y-grwciim from

Hampton

Koads,Va., Charleston,S.

C, and

^Pensacola,^Fla.

Description.— The

greatestheightof the

body

(.26)equalstwice the lengthofthe

operculum

(.13). Itsgreatestwidth(.21)equalstlieheight at the ventrals (.21),

and

the distance of theventrals from the snout

(.21).

The

leastheightof thetail(.10) iscontained10timesinthetotal length,

and

equalsthedistance

between

the eyes(.10).

The

lengthof the caudal peduncle(.08)equals that of the last analray(.08),

and

is

contained_12.Jtimesinthetotal length.

*Proc. Phila. Acad. Nat.^Sci.,1861, p. 113.

tMore markedinA.etii02)IiisthaninA.n-fjrn'cum.

tTheseare present in Uranoscopus^scalerandTJ.anper,and probablyⁱⁿallspecies of TJmmscopus. I

am

notawarethatthishas beenpreviously mentioned.

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PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 59 The

greatest lengtliof the

head

(.37)slightly-exceeds thedistance of thespinousdorsal

from

the snout(.30).

The

lengthofthe postocular depression(.11)equals

more

than3timesthelengthofthe snout(.03A),

and

iscontained about9times in the total length.

The

widthof this depression(.07^)equals about f ^of ^its ^length.

The

greatestwidth of the

head

(.28)equals4times the lengthofthe seconddorsal spine(.07).

The

jawsare shorterthaninA.ayioplns.

The

lengthof iha ujiper(.15i) equalshalfthelength oftheanal base(.31),

and

iscontained 0^ times inthetotallength(lessthan6timesinA.anoplus).

The

lengthof the mandible(.21) iscontained4|times in the total length.

The

maxilla extendstoa perpendicular,

drawn

ata distancebehind the eye equalto theshortdiameter ofthe eye,

and

the mandible endsinthe

same

ver- tical.

The

long diameteroftheeye(.03)equals half thelengthofthe lastrayof theseconddorsal(.00).

The

distance of thespinousdorsal

from

the snout(.30) isalittleless thanthe greatestlengthofthe

head

(.37).

The

lengthof itsbase(.11) iscontained9times inthe total length,

and

equals the lengthof the postocular depression.

The

spines are all longer than inA. ano2>his.

The

^length^of^the^first(.07i)^isnearly_^the lengthofthe

upper

jaw,

and

slightlyexceedsthat of thesecond(.07),

which

equals^-of thelengthof the mandible.

The

lastspine(.02.^) is^ aslongas thefirst.

The

length ofthebaseofthesecond dorsal(.30)^is contained3.^timesinthetotal length,

and

equals3times the distance

between

the eyes. Itslongest ray(.10^)equals

somewhat more than

halfthelengthof the

head (much

lessthanhalfinA.anoplus).

The

lengthofthelastray(.00)equalsthe distancefrom the snouttotheorbit(.00).

The

distance of theanal from the snout(.57)equals nearly3 times the lengthof the longest dorsal ray. Itslengthofbase(.31) isalmost equal to that of the second dorsal.

The

^first ^ray^{(.04) is}^{half as}^long^as^the

last (.08); the longest(.14i)^iscontained nearly4timesinthedistance fromthesnouttotheoriginoftheanal,

and

nearly7timesinthetotal length.

The

lengthofthe middle caudal rays(.25)equals'^ofthetotallength.

The

lengthof the externalrays(.23)equals that of the ventral(.23).

The

distance of the pectoral from thesnout (.35i)equals 5timesthe lengthofthe seconddorsal sphie. ^Itslength(.30i)equals 5 times that ofthelastdorsal ray. Itextendsto the fourthanalray.

The

distance oftheventral from the snout(.24)does notgreatly ex- ceeditslength (.23),

and

isequaltothe heightof the

body

at the ventrals(.24).

The

ventralextendstoaboutthe origin ofthe spinousdorsal.

The

ventis

under

theanteriorraysoftheseconddorsal.

Eadial formula: B.

VI;

D. IV, 14; A.13; P. 19-20; V. 0. L.^lat.

ca. 80.

Color. —Astroscopus ygrceeum has, on the upper parts, luiinerous whitespots,someofwhichare aslongastheshortdiameterof the eye.

XoTE —In

the tables of

measurements

theunit oflengthisthelength of

body

tothe origin of themiddle caudalrays.

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60 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

Table of Measurements.

Species,Astroscopus y-grcecum.

Currentnumberofspecimen

Locality ^IMat.anzasRiver

IInlet,Florida.

Saint.Tohn's River,Florida.

ExtremelenEcth

Lengtlito origin ofmiddle caudalrays Body

:

'Greatest height Greatestwidth Heightatventrals Least height of-tail

Length ofcaudal peduncle Head

:

Greatest length

Lengthofot'cipitaldepression...

Width<ifocciiiitaldepression...

Greatrstwidtli

"Widthof iiileidi'bitalarea Lenuth^<.t'siKnit Lengtli,ifop.irulum Lengtii(ifliiaxilhiry Lengtli ofiiiaudible Distance from snouttoorbit Diameteroforbit Dorsal(spinous)

:

Distancefrom snout Lengthofbase Lengthoffiistspine Lengthofsecond spine Lengthoflastspino Dorsal(soft):

Lengthofbase Lengthoffirstlay Lengthof longest ray Lengthof lastfray Anal

:

Distancefromsnout : .

Lengthofbase Lengthoffirstray Lengthof longestray Lengthoflastray Caudal

:

Lengthofmiddle rays Lengthofexternal rays Pectoral

:

Distancefromsnout Length Ventral

:

Distancefromsnout Length Branchiostegals Dorsal Anal Caudal Pectoral

"Ventral

Jfumberofscalesin lateral line

MiUi- metres.

VI IV,14 13 IG 20 G ca.80

lOOths of length.

Milli- metres.

2:;^

VI IV,14 13

lOOths of length.

Astroscopusanoplus(C.

&

V.) Brevoort.

UrauoscopiiaauopJosCuv.

&

^Val.,^Hist.^Nat.^Poiss.,Aiii, 18.j1,p. 493.(described fromyoungsiJecimens sentbyProf.LeConte):DeKay,Nat. Hist.N.

Y., Fisbes,184'3, p.37,pL xxii,lis. C5: Stoker, Syn. Fishes N.A., 184G, p. 4G("Sonth Carolina,LeConte");Mem. Amor. Acad., ii, p.

298.

AstroscopusanoplusGill exBrevoortMSS.,Proc. Acad. Nat.Sci.Pbila.,xii, Jan. 1860, p.20;^xiii,May, 1861, p. 114; Cat. Fisbes E.Coast N.A., 1861, p.43; Pep. U.S.Com.Fisb., 1873, p.798:Yarrow, Proc.Acad.

Nat. Sci. Pbila., 1877, p. 207:Jordan

&

^Gxlbkut, Proc.U. S. Nat.

Mus.,i,1879, p. 372.

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PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 61

J(jru(sanophisGunther,Cat.Fisli.Brit,Mus.,ii,I80O, p. 229.

AstroscojmsgutiatiisAbbott,Proc.Acad. Nat. Sci.Phila.,xii,1860,p. 3G5, pi.

\ii:Gill, Cat. Fish. E. Coast N.A.,Jan.1881, p. 43.

U])sdon])horus (juitatusGiLL, Proc.Acad.Nat.Sci. Phila.,xiii,1861, p. 113.

The

U.S. ISTational

Museum

has specimensof^.anophisfrom

Tomp-

kinsville,IST, Y.,I^orfolk,Va.,

aud

fiom au

uulmowu

locality.

The

list isas follows

:

107C1 Touug...

4022a Adult 4022b ...do 7a04 (7 Slices.)^-

Tompkinsville,K".

T

Noifolk,Ya :

do United States?

Charles Copley.

Description. — The

shape ofthe

body

is similar to that of Urano- Scopusscaber. Its greatest height (.29),

which

is at the origin ofthe spinousdorsal,iscontained 4 times in its lengthinthe young*

and

_3J timesintheadult.

The

greatestwidthof

body

(.24^)^isnearly^ofthe length,

and

equalsthe lengthoftheventral (.24i).

The

heightatthe ventrals(.27)equals three timesthe distancefromthesnouttothe cen- tre of theeye(.09).

The

least heightofthetail (.11)equalsthewidth ofthe interorbitalarea(.11),

and

iscontained9timesinthetotallength.

The

lengthofthe

head

(.39)equals3timesthe lengthofthe opercu-

lum

(.13).

There

are

two

postocular depressions,

whose

length (.OTA) equals their width (.07^),or slightly less thantwice the length of the snout(.04).

The

greatestwidthofthe

head

(.31)equalsnearly 3times theleast heightofthetail.

The

length ofthe

upper jaw

(.17) iscontained nearly times,

and

of the mandible (.23) 4J times ⁱⁿ^the^total length.

The

longdiameterof theeye(.03^)equals |thelengthof the longest analray(.14),

and

_-fVofthe lengthofthehead.

The

distance ofthe spinous dorsalfrom the snout isabout_{f of}the totallength.

The

lengthofitsbase(.12)equals twicethelengthofits firstspine(.0(3).

The

spines areall shorter than inA.y-grcccum.

The

second spineequals thefirst,

and

3timesthelast (.02).

The

lengthof thebaseoftheseconddorsal (.30)equals times thelengthofitslast ray (.05).

The

first ray equals the first spineinlength.

The

longest ray(.IG^)iscontainedGtimesinthetotallength.

The

distance of theanal from the snout (.GO)equalstwicethelength of theseconddorsal base(.30),

and

nearly twice thelengthoftheanal base(.31).

The

first anal ray (.04) equals the snout in length.

The

longest (.14) slightlyexceeds inlength the operculum, while the last (.07j^-)about equals the lengthofthe postocular depression.

The

lengthofthemiddle caudal rays(.23-?r)isusuallyalittlelessthan that of the ventral(.241).

The

distance of the pectoral from the snout (.36) equals3times the lengthof the baseofthe spinous dorsal.

The

lengthofthe pectoral (.29)exceeds the lengthoftheventral(.24^)

by

about \of thelengthof thelatter,

and

iscontained nearly 3^ timesⁱⁿthetotallength. Itex- tendstothe 5thanalray.

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62 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATtS NATIONAL MUSEUM.

The

distance oftheventral fromthesuout _(.25^)slightlyexceedsits length.

The

ventral extendstoaA^ertical throughthe anterior part of thefirstdorsal.

Kadial formula: B.

YIj

D.

lY-V,

13-11;

A.

12-13; C.lC-18; Y. 6.

L.lat.ca.113.

The

lateral linebegins about the middleoftheoperculum, ascends

backward

tonear the

upper

outline ofthebody,

under

the anterior half ofthe first dorsal,follows the upi)er outline close tothe basesofthe raysas far asthe

end

ofthesecond dorsal,from

which

point itcurves

downward

to theoriginofthe middle caudalrays,

and

thencefollows theoriginofthe basesofthelower caudalrays.

Color. —Astroscopus anojplus is minutely spottedwith whiteon the upperparts.

XoTE. —Inthemeasurementtablestheunit ofcomparisonisthelength totheoriginofthemiddle caudalrays.

Ta1)leof Measurements.

Species,Astroscopus anoplus.

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PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

6 J

Table ofMeasurements—Continwcd..

Washington,

May

6, 1879.