GILBERT AND STAllKS — FISHES OF PANAMA BAY 85 



156. Peprilus palometa (Jordan ct Bollman). 



Tliis species was frequently hrouglit to the Panama market. As tlie type of 

 the species was only 7 cm. in length, we supplement the original description by the 

 following taken from specimens 19 to 23 cm. in entire length. 



Head 3J to 3i in length without caudal; depth i ,'9 to i,»o. Eye 4J to 4f in head; maxillary 

 3J; ilorsal III, 44 to 46; anal III, 41 to 43. Lateral line 100. Gill-rakers 5+ 16 or 17. 



Body compressed and deep, the dorsal and ventral outlines similar in contour behind the 

 head. Dorsal profile of head more convex than ventral; the snout blunt. Mouth small and oblique, 

 the maxillary i)arely reaching past the anterior orbital rim. Teeth in a single row on jaws; none 

 evident on vomer or palatines. Gill-rakers about half as long as the diameter of the eye. 



A few scales ]3resent on head under and behind the eye, and a few at ujjper end of opercle; 

 head otherwise naked. Scales on body smooth, crowded, and loosely attached; those of lateral line 

 more firmly attached. Dorsal, anal, and caudal (ins covered with fine crowded scales. 



In the co-types, with which we have compared our specimens, no lobes are evident on the 

 dorsal and anal fins. In the adult specimens, the lobes are well developed, though variable in length; 

 they are generally longer in the larger specimens. The spines of dorsal and anal are scaled over, as 

 are the rays. Anal lobe much longer than that of dorsal, often reaching to below the tips of the last 

 anal rays,, or to base of caudal fin. Dorsal lobe sometimes extending to opposite tip of pectoral, 

 sometimes reaching further back. Dorsal and anal rays behind the lobes of about equal height, 

 generally a little higher than the diameter of eye, though often less than that in the smaller specimens. 

 Tip of pectoral generally reaching to half way between its base and tips of middle caudal rays. Pelvic 

 bones ending as a short sharp spine. Upper lobe of caudal the longer, sometimes filamentous. 



Color bluish brown on back, silvery on lower parts of body. Top of head and snout colored 

 like the back. Opercle with dusky brown areas. Dorsal, anal and caudal variously dusky. Pectoral 

 dusky behind base; the rays sparsely covered towards their ends with rather large brown dots. 



(12) 



November SO, 19U3. 



