GILBERT AND ST AKKS — FISHES OF PANAMA BAY 179 



320. Evermannia panamensis sp. no v. 



Plate XXX, Fig. 55. 



Head 3^ in length, depth 5^-. Dorsal IV, 16; anal 14; pectoral 19. 



Body slender, highest opposite base of ventrals, which in preserved specimens protrude much 

 below the general contour of the belly. The body tapers comparatively little posteriorly. The upper 

 profile descends in a long even curve from the front of the dorsal to the tip of the snout, with an 

 indentation in front of occiput. The lower jaw is curved upward toward tip, well included within the 

 upper. The teeth are minute, slender, and slightly curved; in a narrow band on the e.xtreme edge of 

 each jaw, growing wider in front; the outer series is slightly enlarged. The ma.xillary extends beyond 

 the_orbit for a distance about equal to its diameter; its posterior extremity slightly behind the middle of 

 the head. The eyes are small, 6i- in head, separated by a narrow space which is less than half their 

 diameter. 



The edge of the shoulder-girdle has one rather long flexible appendage, inserted opposite the 

 fourth to si.xth pectoral ray counted from below. 



The first dorsal spine is filamentous in the male, e.xtending in the type specimen to base of 

 ninth soft ray, when depressed. The second spine is also somewhat produced, reaching in the type 

 to slightly beyond the base of the second soft ray of dorsal. The third and fourth dorsal spines are 

 shortened, but extend slightly beyond base of first soft ray. The first three spines are close-set and 

 evenly spaced; the fourth is more widely separated from the third, the interval about equaling that 

 separating the first from the third spine. The distance between the base of the fourth dorsal spine and 

 the origin of the second dorsal equals the length of the snout. In females the first spine is usually 

 produced, but less so than in males. In some specimens it fails to reach the base of the first soft ray. 



The origin of the anal is opposite the interspace between the third and fourth dorsal rays. 

 Its last ray is slightly posterior to the last dorsal ray. The last rays of the dorsal and anal overlap 

 the base of the caudal. The caudal is produced, lanceolate, its length four-fifths that of head. 

 Scales small, cycloid, partially embedded, not easily distinguishable. 



Color in spirits: males dusky brown, somewhat lighter toward middle line of belly, the pigment 

 dots on head much coarser and more widely spaced than those on sides of body. A faint vertical 

 dark line below the eye. Pectorals, ventrals, dorsals, and upper half of caudal fin translucent, with 

 dusky rays. Anal black, its upper half translucent, strongly contrasting. In life the upper half of 

 caudal was yellow. 



The females are lighter and less uniform in coloration. The ground color is light olive, the 

 upper part of head and the dorsal region finely mottled with brown, the sides of body with narrow 

 streaks following the lines which separate the myotomes. The dorsal fins have translucent membranes, 

 and almost uniformly dusky rays. The caudal has the upper half plain or faintly cross-banded, the 

 lower half translucent or faintly shaded, the coloration of the two halves never sharply distinguished 

 as in the male; there is a faint submarginal dusky streak, better defined on upper half of fin; the 

 margin is narrowly translucent or whitish. The basal two-thirds of anal fin is dusky, more intense 

 toward middle of fin, the marginal third translucent or whitish. The pectorals and ventrals are 

 translucent, the former with dusky rays, the latter unmarked. 



This species is closely related to E. zosterura. It is more extensively scaled 

 than the latter, and seems to attain a larger size. It has one or two more soft rays 

 in the dorsal and anal fins. The male is readily distinguished by its striking and 

 peculiar coloration. The females require careful inspection, but can be separated 

 usually at sight by the coloration of the second dorsal fin, which is noticeably speckled 

 in E. zosterura. 



Forty specimens of this species were obtained in tide-pools on the Panama 

 reef. 



