EDWIN CHAPIN STARKS 33 abruptly at the beginning of the fine soft part of the barbel. The groove that it occupies encroaches somewhat upon the eyeball below. ‘There is only about one of these specimens to a dozen of the others.
Between these extremes are nearly all of the intermediate stages, and coérdinating with it are the size and shape of the first anal rays. These are enlarged and form a process in the specimens with the large, bony, curved maxillary barbel, but not at all differentiated from the other rays in those with the straight, fine, scarcely ossified barbel, while they are slightly enlarged in those with the barbel slightly enlarged, curved and ossified.
The enlarged anal process suggests a copulatory organ. It is as long as the pectoral spine, or two-fifths longer than the rays behind it, and is formed of two rays, with a third slightly enlarged and closely attached to it. These appear to be the first rays, but upon dissecting away the integument two slender shorter rays are found in front of them. The enlarged rays, though they become stiff and spine-like, do not lose their articulations. The tip of the process is strongly hooked up and back. In a specimen with the ossified portion of the barbel no wider than the pectoral spine, and the ossified portion shorter and passing into the fleshy portion imperceptibly, the anal process is enlarged but not hard and spine-like at the tip, and not hooked up. In those where the condition of the barbel is about midway between the extremes, that of the anal process is also about midway between, perceptibly enlarged, but not longer than the other rays. Whether these characters go with sex I am unable to ascertain with the specimens at hand. Some specimens have the abdominal cavity filled with fat, and the bases of the fins thickened with fat. This gives to the fins of preserved specimens an orange-yellow color. In other specimens this condition is not apparent. It cannot be correlated with the condition of the barbel or anal process.
105. Ageneiosus ucayalensis Castelnau.
Many specimens were taken in the market at Para, where it seems to be as abundant as Ageneiosus dentatus, which it much resembles. From the latter it may be known by the slightly more slender body, the longer snout as compared with the width of the head at the eyes (as compared with the length of the head or the body the difference does not appear), the smaller eyes, the wider band of teeth on the premaxillary, the longer and more strongly curved mouth, the more strongly projecting upper jaw, and the slenderer spines. The color is usually more bluish, less spotted above, becoming more abruptly white on the sides, and seldom with a black or dusky
34 FISHES FROM BRAZIL spot on the base of the caudal rays above and below. ‘The difference in the width of the band of teeth as given by Dr. Eigenmann, ‘depth of intermaxillary band of teeth in front equals a diameter of the eye” in this species, and “depth of intermaxillary band of teeth scarcely more than half as wide as eye’ in A. dentatus is not such a difference as might appear, for it is usually considerably more than half as wide as the eye in the latter species, and the difference between them is as much a variation in the size of the eye as of the teeth. When the bands of teeth are directly compared with each other it is only a little wider in A. ucayalensis. 106. Ageneiosus dentatus Kner.
Common in the market at Para, where several specimens were taken. On the back are indications of cross bands or mottled spots, especially in the young, and the color is made up of rather coarse dots. FAMILY HYPOPHATHALMIDA.
107. Hypophthalmus edentatus Spix.
This species is very common in the market at Para, where a series of specimens from 4 to 16 inches in length was collected. ‘These show very well the branching tubes of the lateral line system developing with size, and also shortening of the barbels, as described by Dr. Eigenmann. 108. Cetopsis cecutiens Lichtenstein.
A single specimen from Para, and two from the Rio Madeira, the latter collected about 400 miles above the mouth of the river by Dr. Baker and Mr. Mann.
In the largest one, 10%4 inches in length, the skin has so grown over the eye as to almost completely hide it.
FamMity LORICARID.
109. Farlowella hargreavesi Higenmann, This species was described as new in my manuscript, but it has recently appeared under the above name in Doctor Eigenmann’s Freshwater Fishes of British Guiana (Mem. Carnegie Mus. Vol. V, p. 252). I leave my description and comparisons stand as I have written them, however, as they show some slight variation from, and add a little to, the description of thetype.
A single specimen, 8 inches in length, was collected in the market at Para.
EDWIN CHAPIN STARKS 35 ‘The head, measured to the end of the temporal plate, is contained 334 times in the length to the caudal. It is wider than in related species, and rapidly tapers, as viewed from above, to a point half way between the eyes and the tip of the snout, thence the taper is scarcely perceptible to the slightly expanded tip of the snout. The length of the snout is contained 456 times in the entire length to the caudal. Opposite the eyes the depth of the head is contained 14% times in its width. The surface of the head and snout are everywhere finely granular, with the granulations not bristle-like or otherwise differentiated at the side. The teeth of the upper jaw are long and slender, hooked inwards, their points flattened and unevenly divided into two or three unequal cusps. There are at least 24 of them on each side of the jaw. The diameter of the eye is contained 14 times in the length of the head; 3 times in the interorbital; once in the space to the anterior nostril; and 114 times in the space to the upper end of the gill opening. :
The breast has a median series of plates; the one between the ventrals and just in front of the vent is enlarged. At the vent a lateral plate extends entirely across the body and is pierced by the vent. Directly behind it is the last median ventral plate. Seven plates are in the median series between the occipital plate and the dorsal. The same number of lower lateral plates are between the pectoral and ventral.
The pectoral is contained 2% times in the head, and reaches a diameter of the eye past the front of the ventral. The ventral is contained 3% times in the head, and does not reach to the anal. The anal has 6 rays, is inserted behind the front of the dorsal and reaches a trifle past it. Its first ray is contained 134 times in the head. The caudal lobes are produced. A conspicuous dark band, about twice the diameter of the eye at its widest part, runs from the tip of the snout to the caudal. The entire snout is dark and the color parts into the lateral band of each side where the snout grows broad. The band thence curves upward, surrounding the eye, and arches backward, following the contour of the back. It follows along the side of the caudal peduncle with a round white spot at the posterior edge of each plate, and divides on the caudal fin in a black stripe along each lobe near the edge. The other fins are colorless, and except the ventral, have round dusky spots on the first two or three rays. This species is related to Farlowella gladius and F. gracilis, but differ as shown in the appended table. Of the only other two species with a median series of ventral plates F. kneri has a much blunter, shorter, and wider snout, and a much larger eye, while F. oxyrhynchus has the postdorsal part of the body much shorter as compared with the predorsal part.
36 FISHES FROM BRAZIL TABLE SHOWING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FARLOWELLA HARGREAVESI, F. GLADIUS AND F. GRACILIS.
For Ff. gladius the measurements are taken both from the original description and from a description published by Regan (Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. XVII, 1904, p. 303).
hargreavest gladius | gracilis | Length of head in length of body.......... 38 33@ 32 Width of head in length of head........... 3 a + | Dai uot avers 6 Ae spn ats are eh ey han byte! galps Ata Les 14 18 @ 123 ID VemmmterOr Oita emir ele ereree mite ctr te 3 oe 3@ Interorbital in head@.n. cue eee eseles oy 5 58 Distance from supraoccipital to first dorsal ray in length of body 22.4...) 64 6 6} Postorbital part of head in snout from nakedonraltancae ree eee ee ener Zs Die 33@ Number of lateral iscutesas: 0. eee 35 33 33 Length of 2nd and 3rd dorsal scutes in their Width nila ie cis ottsweneam meee ey ait 2 3 © 22@ Pectoral ending in relation to front of ven- Graal atte sok ots We orci tee seer past not to just to @ ene thyotmMorsal Tayi se louse sieresteriere ater 13 2 21@ Wenethiot frst analgray esc + s)pe ere eerie ts Ds 21@ Wiblackilateralibande en esis ene etocnteed: present absent absent @According to Boulenger. According to Regan and the picture it is 33. @According to Regan. According to the picture it is 163. @According to Regan. The picture shows it to be 23. @According to the picture. These characters not described by Regan, who states ‘‘other characters similar to the preceding species [F. gladius].”’ @According to picture. Boulenger describes them ‘‘as more than twice as long asibLroade 110. Loricaria cataphracta Linneus.
Three specimens from Para.
111. Plecostomus emarginatus (Cuvier and Valenciennes). A few specimens were collected by Dr. Baker and Mr. Mann in the Madeira River about 400 miles from its mouth. 112. Plecostomus pusarum Starks, new species. Plate 6.
In the following description only specimens between 6 and 8 inches in length are considered, though smaller ones were taken. The head to the temporal plate is contained 3 times in the length. The temporal and occipital ridges are only very slightly indicated, not nearly so well developed as in Plecostomus plecostomus. The width of the
EDWIN CHAPIN STARKS Sil head is from 1 to 1% diameters of the eye less than the length of the head. The depth of the head at the point of the supraoccipital is equal to the length of the snout. ‘The interorbital space is contained 2% times in the head, and the length of the snout from 134 to 14% times. - The distance from the anterior nostril to the tip of the snout is equal to the interorbital space. The middle of the interorbital space is only a trifle higher than the supraorbital rim, while the intermediate space between these two points is somewhat sunken on each side. ‘The eye, inside of the eyelids, is contained from 9 to 10 times in the head, and 3% to 4 times in the interorbital space. The band of teeth on each side of the mandible is contained 31% times in the interorbital space, and the width of the lower lip 2% times. The barbel does not reach to opposite the posterior edge of the lip, and is equal to the space between the eye and the posterior nostril.
The distance from the tip of the snout to the first dorsal spine is contained from 2% to 2%4 times in the length of the body. The vent is midway between the base of the caudal and the pectoral spine. The depth of the body in front of the dorsal spine is contained from 4 to 4% times in the length, and the greatest width from 3 to 3% times. The caudal peduncle in front of the adipose dorsal is as wide as it is deep. The first dorsal spine is a trifle less than the length of the head, and when the fin is reclined its tip does not reach to the middle of the last ray. The last ray is equal to the length of the snout, and for a short distance near its base it is adnate to the back. The tips of the last rays broadly overlie the adipose dorsal, reaching at least to its middle. On the posterior margin the dorsal fin is convex. The length of the pectoral spine is contained from 3 to 3% times in the length of the body, and almost a third of its length extends past the base of the ventral. The ventrals reach well past the posterior end of the anal base, or half way or more from their base to the caudal fin. The anal has a spine and 4 soft rays, and the tips of its rays do not reach so far back as the dorsal rays, but reach half way, or nearly, from their base to the caudal. The lower caudal lobe is longer than the upper, and the lowest branched ray reaches nearly to the tip of the lower simple ray, which is scarcely filamentous at the tip. The lower simple ray is contained from 21% to 2% times in the body, the upper ray from 27% to 234 times. The supraoccipital is bounded behind by a single plate. Two upper rows of plates are slightly carinate, and four plates extending back from the pectoral are bluntly carinate; the carinations are scarcely evident elsewhere. The longitudinal spinules grow coarser on the caudal peduncle, and are coarser and less numerous than in P. plecostomus. ‘There are 25 or 26
38 FISHES FROM BRAZIL lateral plates; 3 between the occipital and dorsal spine, the last very narrow medially ; 7 between the dorsals; 4 between the adipose dorsal spine and the caudal; 12 between the anal and the caudal. ‘The cross lines on the belly divide the granulations into much larger plates than in P. plecostomus, and there is a larger naked area at the bases of the ventral fins. Dark spots cover the body, on the ventral as well as the dorsal surface, and the fins. Each dorsal membrane bears two rows of them. This species is most closely related to P. flecostomus, but differs in having a smaller eye, the occipital and temporal ridges scarcely developed, the dorsal fin overlapping the adipose dorsal, the plates on the belly coarser, the spinules on the lateral scales coarser, and the whole posterior part of the body shorter, so that the anal and ventrals and vent are more posteriorly placed in relation to the caudal base.
Numerous specimens from 2 to 8 inches in length were collected in the little disconnected ponds and in the muddy stream at Ceara Mirim, the boys catching them under the overhanging grassy banks in their hands and in dip-nets. The type is 8 inches in entire length. (Pusarum, named in memory of the boys to whom I owe the collection of fishes at Ceara Mirim— the best collectors we found in Brazil.)
113. Plecostomus plecostomus (Linnzus).
Three specimens were taken at Para, the largest 8 inches in length. This species resembles Plesoctomus verres very closely. It differs not only in having the supraoccipital bounded behind by a single plate, but the dorsal is less angulated, less oblique and straight on its posterior edge, and its outline more rounded. ‘The scales on the breast and belly are more segregated into little square areas formed by diagonal cross lines. 114. Plecostomus verres (Cuvier and Valenciennes).
Several specimens were collected at Para, the largest a foot in length. They agree very well with current descriptions except that “scutes carinate except on caudal peduncle” (Regan Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. XVII, p. 209) does not adequately describe these, for the scales on the caudal peduncle have low keels, not so sharp and high as they are anteriorly, but still very evident.
115. Acanthicus hystrix Spix.
A specimen of this rare species, 14 inches long without the caudal filaments, was collected in the market at Para. It has 8 soft rays in the dorsal. The barbels, unlike the specimen described by Dr. Eigenmann, scarcely reach as far posteriorly as the edge of the lower lip.
EDWIN CHAPIN STARKS 39 Famity CALLICHTHYIDA:, 116. Callichthys callichthys Linnzus.
Three specimens were taken at Para.
117. Hoplosternum thoracatum (Cuvier and Valenciennes). Several specimens were taken at Lake Papary and two at Para. FamMity SYNODONTID~.
118. Synodus feetens (Linnzus).
Two small specimens taken at Natal.
FamMILty PQ:CILLID.
119. Anableps anableps (Linnzus).
A single specimen from Para.
120. Peecilia vivipara Bloch and Schneider, A large number of specimens from 1 to 234 inches in length were collected in the little ponds at Ceara Mirim, and in a pond in a deserted part of a public park at Ceara. They are identical with specimens collected in British Guiana by Dr. Eigenmann.
The head is contained from 3% to 4 times in the length to the caudal base; the depth from 3 to 3% times. The eye is contained from 3% to 4 times in the head, or 2 times in the interorbital space. The width of the mouth is 1% times in the interorbital space. The front of the dorsal is midway between the base of the caudal and the opercle, or varying to slightly in front of the last point. The length of the pectoral is equal to the combined length of the eye and the postorbital part of the head, or to the depth of the caudal peduncle. There are 6 or 7 rays in the dorsal, and the same number in the anal, though the base of the latter is much shorter. The cross series of scales number from 26 to 28.
The males do not exceed a length of 2 inches. They have from 4 to 6 cross bars, usually a little narrower than the interspaces but not always, behind the front of the dorsal. Just above the point of the pectoral on the upper part of the side is a brown spot as large as the eye. It is conspicuous in specimens up to 1% inches in length, but in large ones it becomes lengthened into an anterior cross bar. The females have no conspicuous cross bars except a slight trace of them in the younger specimens. They may retain the dark side spot until they are 2%4 inches in length, but usually it dis-
40 FISHES FROM BRAZIL appears by the time they are 2 inches long. On both sexes the scales are bordered with brown, and the upper and lower rays of the caudal sometimes bear a spot irregular in size, and varying in color from black to its completeabsence.
Famity BELONIDA.
121. Tylosurus almeida (Quoy and Gaimard).
Specimens were secured at Lake Papary, Natal and Para. FamMity HEMIRAMPHID#.
Mw 122. Hyporhymphus unifasciatus (Ranzani).
Numerous specimens from 6 to 10 inches in length were taken at Natal. None of them has the mandible, from the tip of the upper jaw, shorter than the rest of the head, as stated by Jordan and Evermann (Fishes of N. and Mid. Am. p. 720), nor are the ventrals always inserted midway between the eye and the base of the caudal, but their insertion varies from that point to midway between the base of the caudal and the gill opening as in Hyforhamphus rose. These specimens were compared with some from Jamaica and found to agree in all of their characters.
Famity EXOCC@:TIDA.
123. Cypselurus rubescens (Rafinesque).
A large specimen of this fish flew on board of our steamer while en route between Ceara and Natal. ‘The light area on the pectoral is not nearly as large or distinct as usual.
FamMity SYNGNATHID.
124. Hippocampus punctulatus Guichenot, A few specimens of this form were collected in the harbor at Natal. Two distinct color phases are represented, but no other differences appear. The following colors were taken from live female examples. The only male collected is of the color of the second one here described. (1) The lower parts of the head, belly and tail are bright canary yellow, and the upper parts are yellowish green. Two dark brown cross bars occur between the head and the dorsal fin. ‘The second one is more conspicuous, covering two rings, and covered with irregular, longitudinal, white lines. A third cross bar is on the tail four rings behind the dorsal. Be-