222 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL. 9 



Gobiosoma spiriti-sancti seems to be most closely related to G. histrio 

 and G. occidentale, agreeing with both in having a well-developed barbule 

 on the inner edge of the upper lip in front of the ej^e, tongue not entire, 

 body and base of caudal naked, head depressed, and the outer row of 

 teeth in both jaws enlarged. From these two species G. spiriti-sancti 

 differs in having a bilobed mental frenum, a broadly emarginate (not 

 deeply cleft) tongue, a second, small but distinct, barbule beneath the eye 

 just anterior to the first transverse row of cutaneous papillae, and in 

 having the posterior nostrils tubular. It also differs from histrio and 

 occidentale in fin ray counts, less depressed head, shorter snout, and 

 larger eyes. 



This species is named for Espiritu Santo Island, Gulf of California, 

 where it was first collected. 



Genus PARRELLA Ginsburg 



Parrella Ginsburg, 1938, p. 116 (type by original designation P. maxil- 

 laris Ginsburg). 



Body slender, head subterete. Mouth terminal, moderately oblique. 

 Maxillary elongate, but variable; extending from beneath center of eye in 

 some species almost to edge of preopercle in others. Tongue moderately 

 emarginate. Teeth in jaws in three or four irregular rows anteriorly, 

 tapering to one or two rows laterally. Outer row of teeth in both jaws 

 larger than the inner teeth. No papillae or flaps on the shoulder girdle. 

 No crest or ridge along the predorsal mid-line. Scales large, 28 to 38, 

 deciduous. Antedorsal area and ventral surface of abdomen naked or 

 scaled. Sides of head pectoral, base and throat naked. 



Dorsal spines VII, fin rather elevated, but not notably filamentous. 

 Dorsal rays 12 or 13. Anal rays 11 to 13. Pectoral 16 to 21, fin long 

 and pointed. Caudal fin elongate, from slightly less to more than one- 

 half of standard length. 



This genus, as now defined, is a heterogeneous group composed of five 

 rather widely divergent species, seemingly more closely related to one 

 another than to any other group. Ginsburg (1939, p. 57) is of the 

 opinion that Parrella, as now constituted, bridges the gap in some 

 important respects between Microgobius and Bollmania. 



