348 FIELD MUSEUM or NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. X. 



48. Genus Neetroplus Gunther. 



Neetroplus Gunther, Trans. Zool. Soc. London, VI, 1869, 469 (type 



Neetroplus nematopus Gunther). 



Body ovate to elongate, compressed ; mouth small ; the anterior teeth in 

 each jaw compressed and incisor-like. In other respects like Cichlasoma. 



This genus contains three species, one each in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, 

 and Panama. 



79. Neetroplus panamensis Meek & Hildebrand. 



Neetroplus panamensis Meek & Hildebrand, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. 



Pub., Zool. Ser., X, 1913, 90 (Rio Mandingo, Bas Obispo, Canal 



Zone, Panama). 



Head 2.9 to 3.1; depth 2 to 2.25; D. XVII (rarely XVIII), 9 or 10; 

 A. VI (rarely VII), 7; scales 27 to 30. 



Body rather short, compressed; head moderate; snout blunt, equal 

 to or shorter than postorbital part of head, 2.4 to 3 in head; eye 3 to 

 3.84; mouth small, terminal; maxillary failing to reach anterior margin 

 of eye, 3.25 to 3.75 in head; cheeks with 3 rows of rather large scales; 

 lips thin, the lower one free only at sides; teeth in the jaws distinctly 

 compressed, incisor-like, with reddish brown tips; gill-membranes 

 broadly connected across isthmus; gill-rakers short, 7 or 8 on lower limb 

 of first arch; scales moderate, ctenoid, 2^ to 3 rows between lateral line 

 and middle of base of dorsal; lateral line interrupted under soft portion 

 of dorsal, reappearing on third row of scales below its original course; 

 origin of dorsal over margin of opercle, the spines graduated, the last 

 one 2.3 to 2.8 in head; the soft portion scaly at base, pointed, a few of 

 the middle rays produced, reaching to distal fourth of caudal; caudal 

 fin scaly at base, its margin evenly convex; anal fin with 6 or rarely 7 

 strong, graduated spines, the soft portion similar to that o f dorsal; 

 ventral fins with the outer rays produced, often reaching opposite the 

 4th or 5th anal spine; pectoral fins not quite reaching origin of anal, i.i 

 to 1.24 in head. 



Back bluish black; sides reddish or brownish. Young with black- 

 ish bars, these obscure or wanting in adult; a prominent dark blotch on 

 middle of sides below posterior portion of spinous dorsal, and sometimes 

 with a series of irregular black blotches on lower part of side from above 

 base of pectorals to base of caudal; vertical fins dark, tinged with red in 

 adult; ventral fins always pale blue. 



There are 42 specimens, ranging from 65 to 103 mm. in length, in the 

 present collection. 



Habitat: Rio Chagres Basin. 



