The Japanese Flatfishes of the Genus Samariscus

抄録

The flatfishes of the genus Samariscus are among the rare fishes in Japanese waters and have been known only from KAMOBARA'S several records. Although he reported three species, Samariscus maculatus (GÜNTHER), S. inornatus (LLOYD) and S. jajionicus KAMOHARA (1934: 461; 1936a: 21; 1936b: 1006), he finally recognized the last mentioned two species from Japan (1938: 61).
Recently, having had an occasion to identify a rather, large number of the specimens of the flatfishes taken from deep-waters around Japan and the adjacent regions by means of motor-trawlers, we were very fortunate enough to find two kinds of specimens of Samariscus which agree well with KAMOHARA'S two species (1938: 61). As a result of detailed examinations of these fishes, however, we have found an evidence to indicate that the one form represents an apparently undescribed species which called herein Samariscus latus and that KAMOHARA'S Samariscus inornatus falls into this species. The other one, Samariscus japonicus, although rather well marked, is somewhat variable as supplemented in this paper.
The measurements of various parts of body which would appear in the present work were made in exactly the same way as NORMAN had done in his work (1934: 50·51).
The present study is a part: of the results of our investigations on the deep-water fishes of Japan and the adjacent regions. The expenses f Jr the studies of the present series were defrayed by the research f and by Mr. Keizo SHIBUSAWA from 1943 to 1945 and by the Ministry of Education from 1948 to 1951. We are also greatly indebted to Messrs. Reizo ISHIYAMA and Akira OCHIAI for their assistances rendered in obtaining the material.