Geographic Variation in the North American Cyprinid Fish, Hybopsis gracilisCross, Frank B. (Frank Bernard)
Science
Geographic Variation in the North American Cyprinid Fish, Hybopsis gracilis
Cross, Frank B. (Frank Bernard)
Cyprinidae; Fishes -- North America
Specimens were obtained from the following institutions: University of
Alberta (abbreviated UA in the text); Museum of Zoology, University of
Michigan (UMMZ); University of Missouri (UM); Montana State College
(MSC); University of Oklahoma Museum of Zoology (UOMZ); University of
Saskatchewan; Royal Ontario Museum, Division of Zoology, Toronto (ROMZ);
University of Wyoming (WU); Museum of Natural History, University of
Kansas (KU). Specimens examined are listed in the accounts of the
subspecies.
We are grateful to D. A. Boag, Reeve M. Bailey, Arthur L. Witt, C. J. D.
Brown, Carl Riggs, F. M. Atton, W. B. Scott, and George Baxter, all
staff-members of the institutions listed in the immediately preceding
paragraph, for placing specimens at our disposal. Mr. William Peters
analyzed the contents of stomachs of specimens that were used for study
of the food habits. Mr. Artie L. Metcalf assisted in collecting
specimens. Drs. Kenneth B. Armitage and E. Raymond Hall offered valued
suggestions in connection with the preparation of the manuscript.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES
=Hybopsis gracilis= (Richardson)
Flathead Chub
(Synonymy under accounts of subspecies)
_Description._--Pharyngeal teeth 2,4-4,2, hooked; dorsal fin of
moderate size, falcate, first principal ray longest, extending beyond
posterior rays in depressed fin, its origin usually slightly in front
of insertion of pelvic fin, approximately equidistant from tip of snout
and base of caudal fin, rays 8, rarely 9; pectoral fin strongly
falcate, rays 14-20, usually 16-18; pelvic rays 8, rarely 9; anal fin
falcate, rays 8, rarely 9; caudal rays 19, rarely 20.
Body slightly compressed, nearly terete; head-length 23.1-28.8 per cent
of standard length; head broad and flattened, snout subconical,
premaxillae protractile, upper lip not medially expanded; mouth
subterminal, nearly horizontal, large; a single pair of terminal
maxillary barbels; orbit usually 5-7 per cent of standard length;
lateral line slightly decurved; intestine short, peritoneum silvery.
Color brown or olivaceous dorsally, silver or creamy white ventrally,
without distinctive markings; dusky lateral band evident in preserved
specimens.
Taste-buds present on membrane between first and second principal rays
of all fins, and on first to sixth interradial membranes of pectoral
fin. On the caudal fin, taste buds between first and second principal
rays of upper and lower lobes, though present, are less well developed
than on other fins. Moore (1950:88) states that taste buds are numerous
on the barbels, cheeks, lips, chin, snout, opercles and branchial
membranes, and are present in decreasing numbers over the body.
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