LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS UNIVERSITY SERIES THE FISHES OF THE Stanford Expedition to Brazil BY EDWIN CHAPIN STARKS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ZOOLOGY WITH FIFTEEN PLATES (ISSUED MARCH 17, 1913) STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CALIFORNIA PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY 1913
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esers oO yh och Savste oes 3 ldemmanlhy, (Galleon een oaebad Ss Gon sdoe + idaranilhysSolshanayenganGooacuore5 Bamily wR binobatideey ).. 2.2.0... - 5) Mairyad liv aeleri GGG aoiar.,2/ss ors ice eel pectic 6 Metanilyae asyatichde sa.
sa as ieicrleieie aie ate 6 amailvaselopiciass ashi. 6 v4y.04 eatery 8 HamanlyaeAllipilidaesys titers cee 8 iamuliva Glupeidae 2. 2a accies ascot 8 Hamily Eneraulididé 2.055... 9 Bamuly Osteoglossid@....2.5.6.008. 12 Family Symbranchide........../.. 12 amily Ophichthyides....i0....).. 12 RamaihyaiMurcenidce ss 358 ic sncesiisie s « 12 Bamuahyn@Characinida). s,s hncecsees:
13 BRamiulya Gymnotide:.:. oss. acces -- 21 Family Electrophoride............ 25 Family Bunocephalide............. 25 Ramnalyesulurideeyi)653oc.ieleseieis2025 Family Hypopthalmide............ 34 Bamuily (oricatidae: 0.42554 5..4.c 0% 34 Banuly (Callichthyide...... 0.3.5. 39 Family Synodontide............... 39 HamiuliyaPoecilivdae®2s).sansanaes:39 Becsiy Belonidee ss sooo iis ale cles es 40 Family Hemiramphide............ 40 amily xoccetidces sso 50 Woy sc. 40 Hamilysyngnathide 2 0.030. . 40 Hanmiihy (Atherinide. 3) 4. heu.s ie so 41 Pamiily Mine ibides l3)s ec yee ie bk 41 Bamily Sphyraenide.. 0.60.5... 41 BRamily: Holocentrida) 0. 00.405... 4] Ramis scombridcey../ja.)0me et ooo 42 Banaihyeninichiunidae. ol. ae). oo: 42 Family Carangida: 0.5.2 0.4..05-% 43 Family Apogonichthyide.......... 44 Family \Centropomidz +... <.'!). 45 BRamilyasernanid ces Vacs sais 45 BRamahyetttanidice ys sais ye eis 46 . Ramiulynevesnatliclaenys sc sv ecpectss ale sy:
46 Mannilys Spariddes'. scien denen cei 47 Ram#ilynGerridcsey ys vac haces crs: 47 Pamily;,Polynemidzewi ys toa sae 49 BamathysScicemideyesae)s-aesseers49 Bamily.Cichiltdaeny vous eee ese acs 54 Family Pomacentride...2...5..:.- 58 BRamilys wabridaeceaeccsscaon cee 59 RamilysscanGererecec aces ocean 61 Ramily Ephippidces. ace.cesciect- 61 Family Chetodontide............- 61 Ramily vAcanthunidee saa. sich cl 62 Bamailya Balistideeten sss seeie- cee 63 Family Monacanthide...........-. 63 amily, Ostractidaes 2.34. o--c0 == 63 Ramily, Detraodontide:.. <<... 2. - 63 Hamily, Diodontide.s. 3.2. .2a-.---- 64 Kamiya SCOnpenidaeycq secs esas 64 Hamulys Gobtidasecri serie cere see 64 Family Echeneidide ............-- 69 Family Malacanthide............. 69 Hamily, Dactyloscopida nyse 424. 70 Family’ Batrachoidide.. 0.3.) .25 71 BamilyGobiesocidaeasa.aieeerees 73 RamiulynBlennitdee:|yyasnectnca ce ele 74 Family, Pleuronectidzw 43.2... 4.4: 76 amily Solerdaayy.js esr ecialcieiietaes 76 RamilyeAntennceridce ses a. sees iM Family Ogcocephalide............. 77
FISHES FROM BRAZIL COLLECTED BY THE STANFORD EXPEDITION OF 1911 HE following pages contain an account of the fishes collected by the author as a member of the Stanford Expedition to Brazil in the summer of 1911.
Several weeks were spent at Natal, in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, where the rock pools, though containing a rather small fauna, proved to be the most fruitful collecting ground in the vicinity. Seining was done in the harbor and as far up the estuary as Carnahubinha. ‘Two trips were made in a trawling boat, equipped with an otter trawl, that a local company had imported from England, but on account of the great quantities of seaweed that filled and wrecked the nets few fishes were secured. ‘The fish market was extemely poor, and contributed but very little to the collection. Seldom Over six or seven of the commonest species were represented at one time, and the prices that they commanded proved the supply to be far short of the demand.
A trip was made to Lake Extremoz, nine or ten miles in a northwesterly direction from Natal. After several trials it was found impossible to do any seining in the lake owing to the great quantities of half disintegrated vegetable matter that is held in suspension in the water, and that quickly filled the net and made it too heavy to land, so that most of the specimens that were taken were secured by fishermen with cast nets.* In the same direction as Lake Extremoz and about nine miles farther is the town of Ceara Mirim, where several days were profitably spent in collecting in the small creek and in several little muddy ponds that were disconnected from each other, but are doubtless connected during high water. Some seining was done, but more dependence was placed upon the very efficient boys, who waded about with dip-nets and caught fishes under the overhanging muddy banks.
* The fish fauna of Lake Extremoz is made up of the usual fresh water forms of the region and, in addition, many typical salt water ones, such as Centropomus, Mugil and Gerres, showing that the lake has been connected with the sea in recent years, though it is said to be cut off by sand hills at the present time.
+ FISHES FROM BRAZIL Several days were spent at Lake Papary, about twenty-four miles south of Natal. The lake is large and shallow, with marshy banks and muddy estuaries choked with water-hyacinth, so that seining here, too, was impossible. On our account the fishermen were given permission to practice a certain method of destructive fishing that is ordinarily prohibited by law. The fishes were surrounded by a great gill-net, into which canoes were paddled and the fishes taken in extraordinarily large cast-nets or driven into the meshes of the gill-net. By this and the more usual methods of fishing a rather large collection was taken from the lake.
A few days were spent at Fortaleza, in the state of Ceara, with little results from an ichthyological standpoint, and a couple of weeks at Para, where collecting was confined to the excellent fish-market and a very good collection secured.
Several specimens were taken by Dr. Fred Baker and Mr. W. M. Mann in the Madeira River during a trip taken after the conclusion of the main part of the expedition.
I wish here to especially thank Dr. J. C. Branner, chief of our expedition, not only for the opportunity of making this collection but also to thank him, and my colleagues as well, for much help of various sorts in the making of it. To Dr. Bashford Dean I am indebted for help without which my participation in the expedition would have been impossible. In this small paper it is scarcely possible to attempt to acknowledge much of the assistance that I at various times received, but I can not forbear the pleasure of here thanking Mr. José Joaquim de Carvalhoe e Araujo, whose hospitality and influence made our stay at Papary so pleasant and profitable. This collection, including the types of the new species, is deposited among the collections of Stanford University. A set of duplicates has been sent to the American Museum in New York.
The accompanying plates, illustrating the new species, are from drawings made by Chloe Lesley Starks.
Famity GALEID.
1. Carcharhinus platyodon (Poey).
A specimen 29 inches in length, secured at Para, seems to be referable to this species. The mouth is twice as broad as it is long and the preoral part of the snout is contained 114 times in the space transversely between the corners of the mouth. The front of the head is semi-circular in outline. The fins are all more or less concave behind. The pectorals when folded
EDWIN CHAPIN STARKS 5 back almost reach to opposite the posterior end of the dorsal base. The length of the caudal from the pit on the upper part of its base to its tip is equal to the space between the front of the head and the dorsal fin. The second dorsal is a little in front of the anal, and the base slightly exceeds that of the latter in length. The anal is unlike the second dorsal in form, being deeply notched behind with its lobes almost equal, while the dorsal is concave behind, with its inner lobe reaching far behind its outer. The color is slaty blue above and pure white below. The dorsal and caudal are outlined in black, especially the caudal, which has a broad, black posterior margin. The tips of the other fins are dark. 2. Hyproprion brevirostris Poey.
A specimen, a couple of feet long, taken at Para. Its teeth are not mature enough to note their final character. They are abruptly widened at the base and very slightly serrate. In general proportions of fins and body this specimen agrees very well with current descriptions. FamMity SPHYRNID.
8. Sphyrna tiburo (Linnzus).
A small specimen collected at Natal.
FaMILy RHINOBATID-.
4, Rhinobatus percellens (Walbaum).
Two fine specimens were taken in a trawl in deep water by a fishing company at Natal, that has imported a trawler from England. The greatest width of the disk is equal to the space from the tip of the snout to the middle of the eyes. The preoral part of the snout, from between the teeth, is contained 24 times in the length to the vent. The front of the vent is midway between the tip of the snout and the base of the caudal. The width of the mouth is contained 234 in the preoral part of the snout. The lower part of the tail has a projecting flap that is wider than the usual keel. Two papille are on the margin of the spiracle; the outer one much the larger. The distance between the dorsals is equal to the width of the tail behind the base of the ventrals. The ground color is white or light sienna, with round brown spots a little smaller than the eye. Between them are smaller spots, similar in color but less regular in outline. The spots are scattered over the upper parts so closely that the ground color shows only as reticulations. There are
6 FISHES FROM BRAZIL also a few small round, light spots scattered sparsely over the middle of the back. The dark spots are somewhat larger and more conspicuous on the tail and run back on the caudal fin. On one specimen there are two pairs of dark spots on the rostral ridges. The under part of the snout has a black blotch.
Famity PRISTID-.
5. Pristis perrotteti Valenciennes.
A large “saw,” 4 feet in length, was obtained in Natal. It has 18 teeth on each side and is much more tapering than in Pristis pectinatus. 6. Pristis pectinatus Latham.
One small specimen was taken at Natal.
FamMILy DASYATID.
7. Dasyatis gymnura (Miiller).
A specimen taken at Para.
8. Dasyatis say (Le Sueur).
Two specimens with the disk 11 inches in length, caught in a trawl in deep water at Natal, are referred to this species, though there are some discrepancies between them and current descriptions. ‘The disk is no longer than broad, and is nowhere concave. ‘The front of the disk is nearly straight on each side, meeting at an angle at the snout. The greatest width is opposite the gill openings. ‘The caudal is no longer than the disk, and has a broad fold above and below. ‘There are 6 or 7 tubercles on the median line of the back in front of the shoulder girdle, and one some distance behind this, in one of the specimens. A group of 2 or 3 very small spines is on the shoulder. The skin is otherwise perfectly smooth.
The color in one of them in life was light dusky green, growing reddish toward the edges of the disk. Posteriorly it was bordered with dusky and narrowly edged with white. The caudal was white, with the dorsal and ventral folds black. The other specimen is very much darker in alcohol, but the posterior white border of the disk is evident. Both of the specimens have large irregular black blotches below.
9. Potamotrygon hystrix (Miller and Henle).
The species of this genus are very much in need of revision. Doctor Eigenmann has included this and the next with several others under one
EDWIN CHAPIN STARKS ri species (The Freshwater Fishes of British Guiana). Material at hand from Para represents two distinct forms, which seem to be referable to this and the following species.
Seven specimens were collected in the market at Para, and one near the mouth of the Madeira River (by Mr. Mann and Dr. Baker). ‘They are from 10 to 20 inches in length, or measuring the length of the disk only, from 5 to 11 inches. In these the preoral part of the snout is contained in the length to the front of the vent from 4 to 4% times. The width of the mandibular tooth-patch is contained from 13 to 13% times in the same length. The interspiracular width is contained from 14% to 1% times in the length of the snout from the eyes. The teeth are stained brown in all of the large specimens, and usually in the small ones. Counting the longest rows of teeth in the mandible from the outer side obliquely to the median line they number from 12 to 14. The largest papillae behind the teeth are about 3 times longer than broad, and nearly or quite half as long as the eye. The color is variable. All of them are light dusky brown with lighter spots scattered over the back of cream or light sienna color. ‘The spots are with blended edges shading into the ground color. Surrounding the spots at some distance from their edges are usually elongate, irregular, black blotches forming more or less regular broken rings of greater diameter than the eye. In one or two of the smaller specimens the rings are nearly complete, but in one they are entirely absent. Usually the black spots forming them are sharp-edged and very definite, but occasionally they are soft and blended. Sometimes they are so separated that they scarcely suggest rings, but run irregularly in various directions. The side of the tail is very distinctly barred with alternate light and dark spots. , 10. Potamotrygon motoro (Miiller and Henle).
Three specimens from 11 to 22 inches in length (or measuring the disk only, from 6 to 12 inches) were collected in the market at Para. The preoral part of the snout is longer than in P. Aystrix, being contained in the length to the front of the vent from 3% to 3% times. The width of the mandibular tooth-patch is contairled 10% to 11 times in the same length. The interspiracular width is contained 134 times in the snout from the eyes. The teeth are not stained brown and the longest rows from the outer side to the middle of the mandibular patch number 19 or 20. The longest papilla in the mouth are scarcely longer than broad, and do not exceed the length of the pupil. The disk is more thickly set with fine spinules than in P. hystrix, so that it is more like ordinary shagreen.
8 FISHES FROM BRAZIL In life the disk is dark brownish drab, growing more drab toward the edges. Scattered everywhere are small orange spots as large as the pupil and sharply defined by rings of color similar to the ground color but of a darker shade. ‘These are more crowded at the middle of the back and at the edges of the disk. On the tail they are less distinct and without much orange color. The side of the tail is mottled rather than barred. FamMILy ELOPIDZ.
11. HElops saurus Linneus.
A common species on the Brazilian Coast. A few specimens were collected in Lake Papary. The elongate, transparent, larval forms of this or Albula were frequently taken in the seine.
12. Tarpon atlanticus (Cuvier and Valenciennes).
One specimen was obtained at Lake Papary.
Famity ALBULIDZA.
13. Albula vulpes (Linnzus).
A single small specimen from Natal.
Famity CLUPEID~.
14. Sardinella sardina (Poey).
Specimens obtained in great abundance at Natal are placed here with some doubt. They have a distinct lateral band, which may be due to the action of formalin in destroying the overlying silvery pigment. ‘The scales are thin and entire edged, not laciniate as in Sardinella macrophthalmus, which they resemble in form. ‘The scales seem to be, moreover, more firmly adherent than is usual in S. sardina. In the lateral band they are very similar to the Pacific Coast species, S. stolifera, but the eye is considerably larger.
15. Opisthonema oglinum (Le Sueur).
Several specimens were collected at Natal. The variation of the depth is remarkable in this species as it is in the Pacific species, Ofisthonema libertate. It varies from 234 to 334 times in the length to the caudal base. 16. TIlisha flavippinnis (Valenciennes).
A few specimens collected in the market at Para.