FAMILY XXI. CICHLID^;. 223 



212. Thorichthys helleri (Steindachner). 



Heros helleri Steindachner, Chromiden Mexicos, 1864, 8; Rio Teapa, 

 Tabasco, Mexico. 



Cichlasoma helleri Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus., 

 1896, 1521. 



Heros maculipinnis Steindachner, Chromiden Mexicos, 1864, 13; 

 Rio Zanopa, Mexico: B. A. Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1892, 

 541; Santa Maria, Vera Cruz: Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 

 U. S. Nat. Mus., 1898, 1529. 



Lowland streams of Mexico which empty into the Gulf south of the 

 city of Vera Cruz. (Otopa ; El Hule ; Obispo ; Perez ; San Juan Evan- 

 gelista.) 



Head 2^; depth 2 to 2^; D. xvi or xvii, 9; A. vn or vin-y or 8; 

 scales 6-30, 12. ' Body rather deep, much compressed; mouth mod- 

 erate, maxillary 3^3 in head ; lips rather thick, the lower with a frenum ; 

 jaws equal, outer series of teeth little enlarged; preorbital 3 to 3^ in 

 head; postorbital 2%; interorbital 3; diameter of eye 3> in head; 

 cheeks with about 5 rows of scales; eighth dorsal spine 2^ in head; last 

 dorsal spine if to 2; middle rays of soft dorsal and anal produced 

 into a filament which extends about to or past middle of caudal fin; 

 pectoral fin long and slender, pointed, its length equal to that of 

 head; ventrals with their tips produced, reaching base of sixth anal 

 spine, their length slightly more than the length of head; caudal fin 

 lunate, the tips of outer rays produced into short filaments; least 

 depth of caudal peduncle 2$ in the head; its length if in its depth; 

 gill rakers short, about 12 on first gill arch. 



Color light olivaceous, sides with 6 rather indistinct dark cross-bars; 

 a black blotch on third band below lateral line and at extremity of 

 pectoral fin ; a black blotch on opercle in front of pectoral fin ; side of 

 head with a few small blue spots, occasionally a few dark dots with 

 blue centers; blue spots on soft dorsal, soft anal, and caudal fin; mem- 

 brane of spinous dorsal slightly lighter near its tip. Length about 6 

 inches. 



These little fishes are exceedingly numerous in small isolated 

 ponds, especially where there is a considerable amount of vegetation. 

 They are attracted by anything which enters the water and will jump 

 out of it in an apparently playful mood. Where abundant they are 

 easily caught in the hand, for as soon as your fingers touch the water 

 they will come leaping toward you. 



213. Thorichthys ellioti sp. nov. 



Type, No. 4727, F. C. M., 5^ inches in length; Motzorongo, 

 Vera Cruz. 



