NO. 5 MYERS AND WADE : ATHERINID FISHES 129 



break at second dorsal, for its entire length, the predorsal profile some- 

 times slightly flattened. Ventral outline deeply curved, the curve some- 

 what flattened on the abdomen. Abdomen compressed, but not sharply 

 so; preventral edge flatly rounded, not keeled. Caudal peduncle length 

 (from last anal ray to end of hypural fan) 4.3-4.75 in standard length, 

 caudal peduncle depth 2.2-2.5 in its length. 



Sides of head and body scaled; 58-61 scales in a lateral series from 

 over gill-opening to caudal base. Predorsal scales along mid-line of back 

 23-26. Scales around caudal peduncle 16-18. Preventral scales 14-16. 

 Base of caudal scaled. Anal sheath present on basal part of rays, com- 

 posed of a distal row of scarcely or not at all modified scales, large and 

 rounded in form, extending along the base of the entire fin, and a proxi- 

 mal row of highly modified, very oblique scales. Second dorsal in some 

 specimens with a few irregularly placed, small, modified scales at base 

 of anterior rays. Three complete rows of scales included in the lateral 

 band under the first dorsal and part of another row both above and 

 below. Lateral line of several incomplete series of pores. 



Head short, truncated posteriorly, 4.32-4.58 in standard length ; head 

 width 1.75-1.92 in its length. Snout short and bluntly rounded from both 

 dorsal and lateral aspects, 3.25-3.86 in standard length. Eye large, 2.45- 

 2.86 in head. Upper edge of orbit not rising above dorsal outline of head, 

 its diameter equal to or slightly more than shortest distance from orbit 

 to angle of preopercle. Adipose eyelid present. Postorbital narrow, 2.41- 

 2.68 in head. Interorbital slightly convex, its width 2.58-2.86 in head. 

 Preopercle with a small, flat, rounded, closely appressed "spine" at its 

 angle. Branchiostegal rays 6. 



Mouth terminal, very oblique, the gape curved. Lower jaw slightly 

 included at tip when mouth is tightly closed. Maxillary narrow, not or 

 barely reaching front of eye when mouth is tightly closed, its length 2.45- 

 2.86 in head. Premaxillaries protractile, widely dilated posteriorly. Gape 

 restricted at corners of mouth by a membrane between the jaws. Teeth 

 of upper jaw in a narrow band of small, pointed, slightly curved, depres- 

 sible teeth, narrowing to a single row laterally in the jaws. Mandibular 

 teeth similar to upper. No vomerine or palatine teeth. Gill-membranes 

 not united, free from isthmus. Gill-rakers 14-16 on lower limb of first 

 arch. Pseudobranchiae present. 



Dorsal II to V-I, 11. First dorsal short, the spines flexible, its origin 

 above to slightly in advance of anal origin, and slightly before to slightly 

 behind mid-length of body. Origin of second dorsal over about thirteenth 



