PROCEEDINGS of united states national museum. 
215 
SYNOPSIS OF THE PEDICULATE FISHES OF THE EASTERN COAST OF 
i:\TRATKOPICAL NORTH AMERICA. 
By THEODORE 
The present sketch of the North American Pediculate Fishes is ex- 
tracted from a general work on the fishes of the corresponding region, 
which it is proposed to publish in instalments aud as convenience 
may dictate. The issue of that relative to the Pediculates seems to be 
at least as much called for as any other on account of the recent addi- 
tions to our knowledge of the group and the rarity of the volumes in 
which those additions have been recorded. The recent discovery, too, 
of so many northern and deep-sea forms not far from our eastern coast 
renders it possible that any of the types hereiu enumerated may be 
found in the same waters, and the present synopsis may lead to their 
ready identification. The knowledge of the northern forms is chiefly 
due to Dr. Liitken. 
Synopsis of Families. 
la. Branchial apertures in or behind the inferior axillae of the pectoral fins ; anterior 
dorsal ray superior; mouth more or less opening upwards ; the lower jaw 
generally projecting beyond or closing in front of upper. 
2a. Pseudobrachia with three actinosts ; pseudobrancliiu) not developed. 
за. Pectoral members geuiculated, with elongated pseudobrachia ; ventral fins 
developed Antennariids. 
зб. Pectoral members not geniculated, with moderate pseudobrachia ; ventral 
tins suppressed Ceratiids. 
26. Pseudobrachia with two actinosts; pseudobranchiie developed. 
3. Pectoral members little geuiculated, but with elongated pseudobrachia; 
ventral fins separated by wide interval Lophiids. 
16. Branchial apertures in the superior axilla; of the pectoral fins ; auterior dorsal ray 
in a cavity overhung by the anterior margin of the forehead; mouth sub- 
terminal or inferior, the lower jaw beiug generally received within the 
upper Maltiieids. 
ANTENNARIIDS. 
Pediculates with elongated geniculate pseudobrachia, provided with 
three actiuosts, i. e., 
Pediculates with a compressed body; the mouth opening upwards; 
the branchial apertures perforated in the lower axils of the pectorals; 
no pseudobranchiie; the dorsals represented by (1) at least a frontal or 
superior rostral spine, and (2) an oblong soft dorsal; the pectoral nipm- 
bers distinctly geuiculated, with elongated pseudobrachia and three 
actiuosts; and with well developed and approximated a l 
ANTENNAPIIN^E. 
Antennariids with the body oval and with tumid aWoiqen, the.hctj.d 
compressed, the mouth quite large; teeth on the palate a!?VeilV.i^aws• 
spinous dorsal represented by three spiues ; soft dorsal quite elevated ; 
aud pelvic boues elongated. 216 
PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
PTEROPHRYNE.* 
Antennariiues with skin naked and smooth; caudal peduncle free; 
mouth oblique; dorsal spines completely exserted ; soft dorsal and anal 
expanded vertically; pectorals and wrists slender, and ventrals elon- 
gated. 
Pterophryne histrio. 
Common Frog-fish. Mouse-fish. 
1758—Lophius liistrio, Linnd, Systema Naturae, 10. ed., p. 237; 12. ed., 1.1, p. 403; Gmel. 
ed., t. 1, p. 1481. 
1815—Lophius gibbus, MitchiU, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y., v. 1, pi. 4, f. 9. i 
1837—Chironectes pictus, Cut. fy Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 393, pi. 363. 
1837—Chironectes tumidus, Cuv. Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 397. 
1837—Chironectes laevigatas, Cuv. Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 399. 
1837—Chironectes nesogallicns, Cuv. Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 401. 
1837—Chironectes marmoratus, Cuv. 4' Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 402. 
1839—Chironectes laevigatus, Slorer, Boston Journ. Nat. Hist., v. 2, p. 383 ; Rep. Ich. 
and Herp. Mass., p. 73. 
1842—Chironectes laevigatus, DeKay, Zoology of New York, Fishes, p. 165, pi. 27, f. 83. 
1842—Chironectes gibbus, DeKay, Zoology of New York, Fishes, p. 164, pi. 24, f. 74. 
1853—Chironectes laevigatus, Storer, Mem. Am. Acad. Arts and Sc., n. s., v. 5, p. 270 5 
Hist. Fishes Mass., p. 104, pi. 18, f. 3. 
1861—Antennarius marmoratus, Gunther, Cat. Fishes in Brit. Mus., v. 3, p. 185. 
1863—Pterophryne laevigatus, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phila., [v. 15,] p. 90. 
1678—Pterophryne histrio, Gill, Proc. TJ. S. Nat. Mus., v. 1, p. 216. 
Pterophryne with the skin of head and body, as well as dorsal tins, 
emitting cutaneous tentacles, which are generally most numerous on the 
second and third dorsal spines and abdomen ; the first dorsal spine short 
and filamentous with a smaller tip surmounted by a small tag ; the color 
light for the ground, with spotted white dots and marked with blackish 
brown around the ocular region, with several dark radii diverging from 
the eyes, and on the fins more or less interrupted blackish bands, five 
or six obliquely crossing the soft dorsal, three rectangularly crossing the 
anal, and others on the pectorals, ventrals, and caudal. 
An inhabitant of the Sargassum Seas, but occasional straggler to the 
North American coast. 
CERATIIDiE. 
Pediculates non-pediculate and deprived of ventral fins, i. e., 
Pediculates diversiform in shape, with the mouth opening more or less 
upwards; the branchial apertures in the lower axils of the pectorals; 
no pseudobranchiae; the dorsals represented by at least a frontal or 
superior rostral spine, the pectoral members not geuiculated, with short 
pseudobrachia and three actinosts, and without ventrals. 
Apparently inhabitants of the depths of the ocean in their adult con- 
dition, and, in some cases at least, near the surface in their juvenile 
state. All the known species are unicolored and blackish. 
* Pterophryne, Tzrepov, wing, quasi tin, and typvvr), toad. If considered to be too near 
Plerophrynus, the genus may be called Pterophrynoides (Qpvvoeidrjc, toad-like). PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
217 
Synojms. 
la. Mouth moderate; cephalic spine with its basal element exserted and continuous 
with the distal; pyloric cceca developed (2). 
. 2a. A second dorsal spine typically developed ; mouth with the cleft subvertical; 
1st D. with few rays; branchi® in pairs; branchial arches unarmed; 
skin with scattered spiuigerous scutell® Cerat:in.e. 
Ceratias. 
la. Mouth moderate ; cephalic spine with its basal element subcutaneous, procumbent, 
and at right or acute angle with the distal; pyloric cceca none. 
2a. A second dorsal spine developed ; branchi® in 2$ pairs; branchial arches un- 
armed ; body naked. 
3. Body and head compressed ; mouth with the cleft nearly horizontal, and 
mandibular articulation behind eye Oneirodin\e. 
Oneirodes. 
2. No second dorsal spine developed ; branchi® in pairs; branchial arches 
armed with dentigerous tubercles; body with scattered tubercular 
scutell®. 
3. Body and head compressed ; mouth with the cleft oblique; mandibular 
articulation under or behind eye Himantolophin^e. 
4a. Body oblong oval ; dorsal fin with about 9 rays, and pectoral with 
about 12f. . Himantolophus. 
4b. Body short oval ; dorsal fin with 4 rays, and pectoral with about 
17 Corynoloj)hu8. 
CEKATIINiE. 
Ceratiids with the body and head compressed; mouth with moderate 
and almost or quite vertical cleft; brauchioe in 2£ pairs; branchial 
arches unarmed ; spinous dorsal represented by a rostral spine, as well 
as, generally, by a second, whose basal element is exserted; soft with few 
rays, placed quite far back of the head ; pyloric cceca developed (2;. 
CERATIAS.* 
Ceratiines with an oblong form; skin prickly; vomer toothless; 
cephalic spine elongated and with a simple capitate extremity; second 
dorsal spine well developed, and pectorals multiradiate (i. e., with about 
20 rays). 
Ceratiaa Holbollii. 
1844—Cerntias Holbollii Kroner, Naturhist. Tidskrift, 2. r®kke, b. i, pp. G39-G49. 
18G1—Ceratias llolbolli Gunther, Cat. Fishes in Brit. Mus., v. 3, p. 205. 
Ceratias with cephalic spine reclinable beyond base of caudal fin, and 
caudal fin longer than body exclusive of head. 
Deep sea along Greenland (known from several specimens). 
ONEIltODIN^E. 
Ceratiids with the body and head compressed ; mouth with moderate 
and almost horizontal cleft; branchiae in 2£ pairs; branchial arches 
unarmed ; spinous dorsal represented by a (1) rostral spine, whose basal 
* Ceratias, Kepanac, ov, p, cue that has horns, iu allusion to the frontal ray. 218 
PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
element is procumbent and subcutaneous, and (2) a second spine, about 
intermediate beticeen the first and the dorsal fin; soft dorsal with about 
4 rays; and without pyloric cceca. 
ONEIRODES.* 
Oneirodinae with oval form ; the skin naked; the vomer dentigerous; 
and the cephalic spine with a bulbous termination, surmounted by slen- 
der filaments in several transverse rows. 
Oneirodes Eschrichtii. 
1871—Oneirodes Eschrichtii Liitken, Overs, over Dansk. Vidensk. Selsk. Forhandl., 1871, 
pp. 57-74 ; res. fr., pp. 9-18, pi. 2. 
Oneirodes with the terminal element of the cephalic spine rather 
longer than the proximal subcutaneous; the caudal shorter than the 
distance between its base and the branchial apertures; and the color 
black except the terminal half of the spinal bulb, which is whitish. 
Deep sea off Greenland: known from a single specimen 205millimetres 
long. 
HIMANTOLOPHINiE. 
Ceratiids with the body and head compressed, with moderate oblique 
cleft mouth, the mandibular articulation under the eyes; branchiae in 
pairs; branchial arches armed with dentigerous tubercles; spi- 
nous dorsal represented only by a rostral spine, whose basal element is 
procumbent and subcutaneous; and soft dorsal with about 5—9 rays. 
HIMANTOLOPHUS.t 
Himantolopliines of an oblong oval form, a dorsal of about 9 rays, and 
pectorals with about 12 rays each (?). 
Himantolophus Grcenlandicus. 
1837—Himantolophus Crceulandicus Reinhardt, Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Nat. og Math. 
Afh., 4. raekke, b. 7, p. 74. 
Ilimantolophus with the height of the body equal to two-fifths of the 
length, and the frontal ray provided with 11 tentacles (Liitken). 
Habitat.—Sea off Greenland (known only from the remains of a speci- 
men 23 inches long). 
CORYXOLOPHUS.t 
Himantolopliines of an abbreviated oval form, a dorsal of about 5 
rays, and pectorals with about 17 rays each. 
*Omirod(8, ’ovetpudrjg, dream-like, in allusion to the small and almost covered eyes. 
iHimantoloplius, ipdg, uvrog, a tboug, and hoipog, a tuft. • 
t Corynolophus, nopvvr), yg, “ a stick with a knob at the end ”, or club, and Xotyog, a 
tuft. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
219 
Corynolophus Reinhardt!. 
1878—Coryuoloplius Reinhardti, Liitken, K. Dausk. Vidensk. Selsk. Skr., Nat. og Math. 
Afh., 5. rmkke, b. 5, p. 321, etc. 
Corynolophus with the height of the body equal to three-fourths of the 
total length, and the frontal ray furnished with 8 tentacles. 
Habitat.—Sea off Greenland (described from a specimen 14 inches 
long). 
LOPIIIID.E. 
Pediculates with pseudobranchim, i. e., 
Pediculates with the body differentiated into a wide depressed head and 
contracted conical trunk; the mouth opening forwards and upwards; the 
branchial apertures iu the inferior axils of the pectoral members ; pseudo- 
branchiae; the spinous dorsal represented by a group of independent 
cephalic spines (3) and a small postcephalic finlet (with 3 spines); the 
pectoral members scarcely geniculated, but with elongated pseudobra- 
cliia, and with three actinosts; and with ventrals well developed. 
LOPHIUS.* 
Lophiids with vomerine teeth. 
Lophius piscatorius. 
Bellows-fish. 
1758—Lophius piscatorius, Linnccus, Syst. Nat., 10 ed., t. 1, p. 236 (12 ed., t. 1. p 402; 
Gml. ed., t. 1, p. 1479). 
1815—Lophius foliatus, Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y., v. 1, p. 467. 
1815—Lophius piscator, Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soe. N. Y., v. 1, p. 467. 
1837—Lophius piscatorius, Cuv. <$• Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 344, pi. 362. 
1837—Lophius aniericanus, Cuv. Val, Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 381. 
1839—Lophius piscatorius, Siorer, Boston Jouru. Nat. Hist., v. 2, p. 3c0 ; Rep. Ich. and 
Ilerp. Mass , pp. 71, 404. 
1842—Lophius araericanus, DeKay, Zoology of New York, Fishes, p. 162, pi. 28, f. 87. 
1853—Lophius aniericanus, Slorer, Mem. Am. Acad. Arts and Sc., n. s., v. 5, p. 267 ; Hist. 
Fishes Mass., p. 101, pi. 18, f. 2. 
1861—Lophius piscatorius, Giinther, Cat. Fishes in Brit. Mas., v. 3, p. 179. 
1861— Lophius aniericanus, Giinther, Cat. Fishes in Brit. Mas., v. 3, p. 181 (d. s.). 
1872—Lophius piscatorius, Lyman, 6th Ann. Kep., Ini. Fish., p. 44 (Waquoit Weir). 
Lophius with a tridentate humeral spine, 11-12 rays in the dorsal tin, 
and the mouth behind the hyoid bone immaculate. 
Habitat.—Coast waters from Newfoundland to North Carolina. 
MALTHEIID^E. 
Pediculates with the branchial apertures in the superior axils of the 
pectorals, i. e., 
Pediculates with a depressed body; the mouth subterminal or inferior, 
and the lower jaw generally received within the upper; the branchial 
apertures in the superior axils of the pectoral tins; no pseudobranchiae; 
*Lophius, the ancient Latin name of the type of the geuu-1. 220 
PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
the spinous dorsal represented by a tentacle in a cavity overhung by the 
forehead, and the soft small and far behind ; the pectoral members 
strongly geniculate, and with long pseudobrachia and three actiuosts ; 
and the ventrals well developed. 
Inhabitants of temperate and tropical seas at moderate or great depths. 
MALTHEINiE. 
Maltheids with a cordiform cephalic disk and a stout caudal portion, 
and with the frontal region elevated. 
MALTHE.* 
Maltheines of unique genus. 
Malthe vespertilio.t 
1758—Lophius vespertilio, Linne, Syst. Nat., 10 ed., 1.1, p. 236 (12 ed., t. 1, p. 402 ; Gmel. 
ed., t. 1, p. 1480). 
1837—Malthea vespertilio, Cur. <$• Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 440. 
1837—Makhaca uasuta, Cuv $ Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissous, t. 12, p. 452. (In part.) 
1837—Malthaea notata, Cuv. Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 453. (In part.) 
1842—Malthea nasuta, DeKay, Zoology of New York, Fishes, p. 167. (In part; not 
figure.) 
1842—Malthea notata, DeKay, Zoology of New York, Fishes, p. 167. 
1842—Malthea vespertilio, DeKay, Zoology of New York, Fishes, p. 167. 
1861—Malthe vespertilio, Giinthei-, Cat. Fishes in Brit. Mus., v. 3, p. 200. 
Malthe with the forehead produced into a more or less elongated sub- 
conical process, its width greater between the anterior angles of the 
orbit than between the posterior ones, and the frontal cavity higher 
than wide. 
Newfoundland to West Indies. 
Malthe cubifrons. 
1836— Lophius (Malthe) cnbifious, Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Am., Fishes, p. 103, pi. 96. 
1837— Malthaja nasnta, Cuv. Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissous, t. 12, p. 452. (In part.) 
1842—Malthea nasnta, DeKay, Zoology of New York, F.sbes, p. 166, pi. 28, f. 89. (In 
part, i. e. fig., copied from Richardson.) 
1861—Malthe cubifrons, Gunther, Cat. Fishes in Brit. Mus., v. 3, p. 203. 
Malthe with the forehead decurved and in front with a button-like 
tubercle, the width between the anterior angle of the orbit nearly equal 
/xuMtj, the Greek name of a loose-bodied fish.— lacirera- 
mollie. On trouve ce nom dans Oppien parmi cenx de plusienrs grands poissous cartila- 
gineux, et l’espece qui le porte y est dEsignEe comme remarquable par sa mollesse. 
Suidas, qui la place dans une Enumeration dn meme genre, dit qu’elle est difficile a 
vaincre. Sur ces deux traits BElou a peusE que la malthee Etait la baudroie, et, bien 
que son opinion n’ait pas EtE adoptEe, et n’ait peut-etrepas dtl l’etre, M. Cuvier a cru 
pouvoir s’eu prEvaloir pour dEriver de ydldy le nom de malthcea, qu’il a donuE a uu petit 
genre dEmembrE de celui des baudroies.”—Cuv. et. Val.. Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, 
p. 438. 
t Whatever may be the value of the nominal species introduced by Cuvier and Va- 
lenciennes, all those found along the United States coast, recently examined by myself, 
belong to one species. I think, however, that formerly I saw a second species of the 
M. vespertilio type. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
221 
to that between the posterior ones, and the frontal cavity much broader 
than high. 
Until lately, known from a single specimen obtained in Labrador by 
Audubon, the ornithologist, and now preserved iij the British Museum. 
There is, however, a specimen in the collection of the Smithsonian In- 
stitution from St. Augustine, Florida, whence it was sent by I)r. J. M. 
Laing, U. S. A. 
The relations of tbo North American genera to the other members of 
the families in question will be exhibited in the subsequent notes.