Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Volume III, 1863-1867Various
Science
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Volume III, 1863-1867
Various
California Academy of Sciences -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals
Another was striped and cross-barred with brown, and mingled
with this pattern were blotches of olive-brown, yellowish and
purple, but no rings. Fins marked like the body, but paler.
It is possible that the rings observed in the first one, and
not seen in any other, were caused by the growth of vegetable
parasites, which are often found on fish of similar habits.
REMARKS.—This is the first instance of a _Myxodes_ being found
on our coast north of the equator, though a nearly allied
genus, the _Heterostichus_, has been long known. I was in some
doubt whether to refer the fish to _Myxodes_ on account of the
meagre descriptions of the genus accessible, but having sent a
copy of the outline to Mr. Gill, I have been confirmed in the
correctness of the diagnosis. The following are some of the
most important generic characters not shown in the outline of
our species:
Branchiæ VI-VI, the apertures freely connected below. Teeth
uniserial in each jaw, those of lower jaw largest, some of
those along sides larger than the rest. No teeth on vomer.
Scales minute, entire, cycloid, closely adherent—none on head
or fins.
The two-lobed form of the spinous dorsal does not apparently
exist in some of the species. Suspecting that some of the
other characters will be found sufficient to distinguish it, I
propose for it provisionally the name GIBBONSIA, in honor of
Dr. W. P. Gibbons, of Alameda County, whose descriptions of our
viviparous fishes, published in 1854, by the Academy, have only
of late been awarded the credit they deserve.
These beautiful little fish are found at low water in holes
among rocks along our coast south of Point Conception, and at
the adjoining islands. Their varied and elegant coloration
would make them beautiful objects for a marine aquarium, but
I had nothing suitable for the purpose, in which I could keep
them alive long enough to study their habits.
I obtained three at Pt. Loma, San Diego, three at Catalina
I., and two at Santa Barbara I., all manifestly of the same
species, though differing individually in color, as above
mentioned. They have no popular name.
GILLICHTYHS, n. g.[8]
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