Penpoint Gunnel

Caudal rounded, somewhat elevated dorsally; pectorals small and rounded (Ref. 6885). Color variable- from green through brown to red; dark dots spaced in a broken line along midside of body, sometimes also light spots; narrow dark line down and back from eye to operculum, sometimes through eye; some fresh specimens with a silvery line margined with orange and black from middle of maxillary through lower part of eye to nape and opercle (Ref. 6885).

Oviparous (Ref. 101786). Adhesive eggs attached to a nest substrate are brooded by both parents (Ref. 101786).

Dorsal spines (total): 40 - 44; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 38 - 42

Found in intertidal areas, especially in tide pools (Ref. 2850). May remain out of the water under rocks or seaweeds (Ref. 31184). Feeds on small crustaceans and mollusks (Ref. 6885). Pairs are found coiled around egg masses (Ref. 4925). Breathes air when out of water (Ref. 31184).

aquarium: public aquariums

Apodichthys flavidus Girard, 1854:150

[Holotype]

USNM [494], between 11 and 12 inches long [= 279–305 mm], Presidio, Bay of San Francisco, California, W.P. Trowbridge.

Remarks: The specimen is somewhat distorted, and the caudal-fin rays are broken off and contained in a vial. A rough measure of the SL is about 270 mm; the caudal-fin rays measure about 16 mm (or about 286 mm TL).

Apodichthys fucorum Jordan and Gilbert, 1880a: 139

“Numerous typical examples” [Syntypes]

Remarks: According to the catalog register, USNM 26994 originally contained over 60 specimens, of which some were sent to ZMUC. The 60 may not have included two specimens that were in Jordan's collection at Butler University. These two specimens were sent to USNM in 1993 [acc. no. 402185] and were added to USNM 26994. E.B. Böhlke (1984:140) reported the presence of a paratype [sic] of Apodichthys fucorum as ANSP 10501, formerly part of USFC [sic] 26994, E.B. Böhlke informed us (pers. comm., 24 March 1995) that she obtained her information from a note written by H.W. Fowler.

[Lectotype]

[USNM 26994, 96.4 mm SL], Monterey, California.

Remarks: The description appears to have been based on a single specimen 4.35 inches [= 110 mm] in “extreme length” and 4.10 inches [= 104 mm] to base of caudal fin, although no single specimen was designated type. Most of the 38 specimens we found in USNM 26994 were segregated in groups, each group tightly tied with string and each with a USNM metal catalog number tag. We removed all of the strings and tags, but impressions of the strings marred most of the specimens. We selected a specimen in relatively good condition, which we designate herein as lectotype. The lectotype retains the original catalog number.

[Paralectotypes]

[USNM 335151 (37)]. Formerly part of USNM 26994. See remarks under lectotype above.

Pholis gilli Evermann and Goldsborough, 1907:337

Type [Holotype]

USNM 57826, 6.75 inches long [=171 mm; ~167 mm SL, ~178 mm TL], Bering Sea, 1902, sent in by Mrs. E.W. Clark, [acc. no. 47988].

Remarks: A paper tag bearing the printed number 246 is tied to the holotype.

Apodichthys inornatus Gill, 1862:279 [footnote]

[Holotype] [LOST]

USNM, 13 inches [=~330 mm] long, obtained by naturalist of the Northwestern Boundary Commission.

Remarks: There is no indication that anyone has seen the holotype since its original description. We were unable to locate it in a search of the collection and believe it to be lost.

Muraenoides maxillaris T.H. Bean, 1881:147

Type [Holotype]

USNM 23999, Saint Paul Island, Bering Sea, H.W. Elliott, 1872.

Remarks: The holotype was not found during inventory in 1980; an old entry in the catalog register book indicated that the specimen was destroyed.

Gunnellus ornatus Girard, 1854:149

[Holotype]

USNM [490], [111 mm SL], Presidio on the Bay of San Francisco, California, W.P. Trowbridge.

Remarks: Although the description appears to be based on a single specimen, the number of specimens, or sizes, were not provided. Girard (1858:117) listed only one specimen, USNM 490, that bears associated data agreeing with that given in the original description. The specimen in USNM 490 agrees well with the description.

Ulvicola sanctae-rosae [sanctaerosae] Gilbert and Starks in Gilbert, 1897:455

Type [Holotype]

USNM 47579, 4 inches [= 114 mm; 110 mm TL, 103 mm SL], rock pool at Santa Rosa Island, California, 6 January 1889, Albatross, [acc. no. 30301].

Apodichthys sanguineus Gill, 1862:279

[Syntype] [LOST]

USNM [4480?], adult, California, [between 1860–1862], S. Hubbard.

Remarks: The USNM catalog register has an entry for USNM 4480 listed as Apodichthys sanguineus and collected by Hubbard among a series of specimens also collected by Hubbard, including other species and types listed by Gill (1862). We were unable to find this lot in a search of the collection, and there is no indication that anyone has seen the holotype since its original description. We therefore believe it to be lost. Gill (1862:280) mentioned that there was a second, smaller specimen [syntype] “in the collection formed by the Northwestern Boundary Commission.” We are unaware of the present disposition of this specimen, which is not present in the USNM collection.

Pholis schultzi Schultz, 1931:45

[Type material] [Syntypes]

Remarks: The complex nomenclatural history of this species was treated by Schultz and Hubbs (1961), which is essentially correct except for attributing the species name to Hubbs, and indicating, erroneously, that Hubbs was not indicated as responsible for the name in Schultz (1931). Schultz (1931:48) gave the name as Pholis schultzi Hubbs. Even so, it appears, unfortunately, according to the wording of ICZN Article 50(a) that Schultz must be considered author of the name, a fact first noted by Robins et al. (1980:53, 88). No type material was mentioned in Schultz (1931). The first mention of types, including designation of a lectotype, was given in Schultz and Hubbs (1961). We accept their statement that Schultz's (1931) description was based on only three lots of specimens, USNM 104366, 104367, 117582, comprising 3, 6, and 30 specimens. Some of the specimens from these lots were apparently deposited at MCZ subsequently.

[Lectotype]

[USNM 195955, 81 mm SL, Cape Johnson, N of Mora, Washington, L.P. Schultz, 1 June 1931, originally cataloged as part of UW 3033 and then as USNM 104366, acc. no. 142501.]

[Paralectotypes]

[USNM 104366 (28)], same data as lectotype.

Remarks: The lot originally contained 30 specimens. One specimen is now cataloged as MCZ 35974, thus accounting for all the specimens in this lot.

[USNM 104367 (4), acc. no. 142501].

Remarks: The lot originally contained six specimens. An undated entry in the computer catalog register indicates that only five specimens were present. Two specimens from this lot are cataloged as MCZ 35939, but according to K. Hartel (in litt. 22 March 1995), this lot is no longer present in the MCZ collection.

[USNM 117582 (3), acc. no. 156279], all specimens accounted for.

Centronotus subfrenatus Gill, 1859:146

[Syntypes] (several specimens) [4]

Remarks: The types of Gill's species have not been reported since the original description, and we cannot demonstrate unequivocally that the specimens listed below are his types. We believe, however, that circumstantial evidence strongly favors their acceptance as his types. Based on other USNM catalog entries on the same page, these specimens were cataloged into the collections during 1869 with the name Centronotus bifrenatus. This name has never been published [and is not to be considered as such here] but is close enough to Gill's name to arouse suspicion. Gill mentioned that he had several specimens but that only one was in good condition. Of the four specimens in this putative syntypic lot, only one, the largest (~150 mm SL), is in good condition, and it agrees extremely well with Gill's description, including details of the color pattern, and particularly that of the bands and spots on the head. We herein designate this specimen lectotype. Gill reported that the dorsal fin comprised 76–79 spines, and we count 79 in the lectotype and 78, 79, and 81 in the three paralectotypes. Yatsu (1981:176) considered Gill's species to be a junior synonym of Enedrias nebulosa (Temminck and Schlegel) and gave the range of dorsal-fin spines as 76–83.

[Lectotype]

[USNM 5693], collected by J. Morrow, during Commodore Perry's expedition to Japan [1852–1854].

[Paralectotypes]

[USNM 336601] [3].

Apodichthys virescens Ayres, 1855b:55

[Syntypes?]

[Lectotype?]

[USNM 496, 260 mm SL], Bay of San Francisco, California, collected by W.O. Ayres.

Remarks: An old handwritten indication that these specimens are “types” is entered in the USNM catalog register. There is no date of collection nor date received entered in the catalog register. In most instances we know of, specimens of various Ayres species sent to USNM are reported to have been collected in 1856 (see also Girard, 1858, who lists many Ayres specimens with 1856 collection dates). If such is the case for USNM 496, the specimens cannot be types. On the other hand, there is an indication that Ayres deposited type specimens at USNM (see footnote referenced above in Anarrhichthys felis (Anarhichadidae)). Ayres's description appears to be based on a single specimen; however, his (1855b:56) mention that the largest specimens he had seen were 9 inches [= 241 mm; SL or TL not specified] indicates that he may have had more than one specimen before him. The two specimens that we consider to be syntypes are about 257 mm SL, somewhat longer than the size reported by Ayres. Both specimens agree reasonably well with the description, except for body color pattern. Ayres reported markings on the head but otherwise indicated that the species is uniformly green. The syntypes exhibit numerous dark bands dorsally on the body, with some band continuing into the dorsal fin and others continuing into the anal fin. In spite of the discrepancies, it is possible that these specimens are Ayres's syntypes. We herein designate the specimen in better condition as lectotype. The lectotype retains the original catalog number.

[Paralectotype]

[USNM 336443 (1)], removed from USNM 496.

The penpoint gunnel (Apodichthys flavidus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pholidae, the gunnels. This fish occurs in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.