1941 CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS ^ 



The color was described by Dr. Longley as dark olive green in a living animal, 

 with a comparatively large number of faint vertical series of white spots forming 

 crosslines at the segments of the body and tail; some of the white bars more 

 distinct than others; three on trunk, eleven on tail, the latter not all equally dis- 

 tinct. 



The color of preserved specimens varies from grayish to brownish, irregularly 

 spotted with darker spots. Upper half of trunk with three and tail with eight to 

 ten white crossbands in adults, wanting in the smaller specimens; snout with a 

 dark lateral band, extending on cornea; two dark diverging bands behind eye, 

 extending forward on cornea. 



Body keels low, not carinate; snout shorter than postorbital part of head. The 

 following proportions and enumerations are based on 4 specimens varying from 

 68 to 102 mm. in length: Head 11 to 12; depth 18 to 24; dorsal base 12 to 13. Eye 

 in head 6.5 to 7.5; snout 3.4 to 4.0; depth 2.0 to 2.1; dorsal base 1.05 to 1.1. D. 18 

 to 21, on 1 + 4 or l / 2 + 5 rings; rings 17 or 18 + 32 to 34; egg pouch on 18 rings 

 in the single male at hand. Dr. Longley counted D. 18 or 19, on 1 + 4 rings; 

 rings 17 + 32. In the 2 specimens questionably identified by Dr. Longley as 

 S. crinigerum, the counts are, D. 18 and 19, on 1 + 4 rings; rings 17 + 33 an< ^ 



17 + 34- 

 A small size seems to be attained, as a male 100 mm. long is sexually fully 



mature. 



Bermuda to Florida and Puerto Rico. S. F. H. 



Syngnathus dunckeri Metzelaar 



Syngnathus dnnc\eri Metzelaar, Trop. atl. Vissch., 1919, p. 28, fig. 9 — Curacao. 

 Corythotchthys bermudensis Beebe and Tee-Van, Zoologica, vol. 13, 1932, p. 113 — Ber- 

 muda. 



This species is not rare about Long Key and inside Bird Key reef. 



The type of Corythoichthys bermudensis, with 2 others like it, has 26 caudal 

 rings. But the caudal keels in none of the 3 are symmetrically and fully formed, 

 and the unusual number of 8 or 9 caudal rays is present, indicating abnormality. 

 Comparing these 3 with specimens in which the caudal keels are fully formed 

 and which have the customary 10 caudal rays, one finds in the latter the more 

 usual number of rings, namely, 16 or 17 -f- 33 or 34. Available specimens in the 

 New York Zoological Society collection, with the type, show that the dorsal rays 

 may vary from 23 to 25, that the fin may be on 6 to 7 caudal rings, and that the 

 brood pouch may occupy 15 to 19 caudal rings. 



A specimen 80 mm. long, standard length 77 mm., may be described as fol- 

 lows: Depth 4.0 mm.; tip of rostrum to anus 28 mm.; head 7.0 mm.; snout 2.25 

 mm.; eye 1.2 mm. Rings 17 + 32, brood pouch on 17 caudal rings; D. 23 on o + 

 6 rings. Lateral keel of trunk ending on last body ring; superior caudal keel 

 beginning on first caudal ring, above and behind end of lateral keel of trunk; 

 rostral keel very low, without beading; supraorbital ridges and occipital and 

 nuchal keels exceedingly low; keels on trunk not strong; body distinctly angulate 

 in cross section. 



