1941 CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS 4 q 



nostrils at preorbital border, left one opening upward, right one downward. 



Ground color faintly olivaceous, crossed by brown bands of an average width 

 a little less than long diameter of eye, not quite as wide as the interspaces, and 

 curved backward dorsally and ventrally; seventeen dark bands across mid-line 

 of fish, and three more darker ones on caudal fin; most of the interspaces divided 

 wholly or partly by bars of lighter brown than the main bands; outer face of each 

 eye with horizontal line of brown of width of pupil crossing iris, which has a 

 pattern of radial streaks about it. 



Little change has taken place in color, which agrees except in minor details 

 with the type. So far as I am able to judge from descriptions, the color con- 

 stitutes the chief diagnostic character. 



As the fins are enveloped in skin, the rays are rather difficult to count, and the 

 enumerations given in descriptions cannot be relied upon too confidently. In the 

 Tortugas specimen, however, the rays can be counted fairly accurately. It seems 

 significant that, in counts made independently, Dr. Longley enumerated only 

 one more ray in each median fin than I did. I have recounted as carefully as 

 possible, without dissection, the dorsal and anal rays in the type. The anal ray 

 count seems to be correctly given as 47 in the original description, but the dorsal 

 count of "about 70" rays seems too high, as I am able to count only about 60. 1 



The following measurements and enumerations are based on the Tortugas 

 specimen and the type. The proportions and counts of the type are enclosed in 

 parentheses. Head 4.8 (5.25); depth 1.7 (1.5). Eye in head 3.8 (4.2); snout 3.2 

 (3.0); maxillary 3.0 (2.9). D. 64 (about 60); A. 45 (47); P. 2 rudimentary rays 

 on ocular side (represented only by a papilla) ; V. 5 (5). 



Gulf of Mexico. S. F. H. 



Family CYNOGLOSSIDAE. Tonguefishes 



Symphurus diomedeanus (Goode and Bean) 



One specimen with injured head, 115 mm. long, taken in 80 to 100 fathoms, is 

 at hand. 



The Tortugas fish was compared with the type, with which it seems to agree 

 fairly well except in color. The differences may be ascribed to age, as the type is 

 a larger specimen, being 150 mm. long. The smaller Tortugas specimen has in- 

 definite dark spots, arranged more or less in longitudinal rows; also indications 

 of dark spots on the posterior fourth or so of the dorsal and anal fins. The type 

 is plain in color, except for several black spots on the posterior parts of the dorsal 

 and anal, which are notably more prominent than in the Tortugas fish. 



The following enumerations are based on the Tortugas specimen and the 

 type. Those of the type are enclosed in parentheses. D. 91 (96) ; A. 82 (79) ; 

 scales about 100 (about 85). 



Gulf of Mexico. S. F. H. 



1 Since this account was prepared, Gunter (Copeia, No. 4, 1939, p. 188) has described 4 

 additional specimens. He found that the number of dorsal rays given in the original descrip- 

 tion was too high. Comparisons with related species are made. 



