i 94 i CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS 83 



hand, the pectorals are short in the young, and become proportionately much 

 longer and falcate with age. 



The ovate, strongly compressed body, the filamentous rays of the second dorsal 

 and anal, and other fin developments already discussed distinguish this species. 



Both coasts of tropical America, straying northward to Cape Cod. S. F. H. 



Oligoplites saurus (Bloch and Schneider). Leatherjacket 



This species is included in the fauna of Tortugas on the basis of a record by 

 Jordan and Thompson (Bull. U. S. Bur. Fish., vol. 24, 1904 (1905), p. 237), who 

 stated, "Taken at Garden Key. . . ." Dr. Longley presumably did not see it. The 

 species apparently is rare also at Key West. 



It is recognized by its long, thin body (depth about 3.3 to 4.0 in standard 

 length), which is plain bluish and silvery in life, covered with small linear scales 

 embedded at various angles to each other; gill membranes separate; rakers in 

 moderate number, about 13 to 15 on lower limb of first arch; D. V-1,19 to 21; 

 A. H-1,19 to 21. 



Both coasts of tropical America, straying northward to or beyond New York. 



S. F. H. 



Family APOGONIDAE. Cardinal Fishes 



The species, in part, are closely related, and not well understood. Three re- 

 cently described ones are included. For the convenience of those who may use 

 this book, the principal differentiating characters of the species found at Tortugas 

 are set forth in a key. S. F. H. 



Key to the Genera and Species 



a. Dorsal spines normally 6; anal spines 2 



b. Preopercle with posterior margin weakly to strongly serrate . . Apogon 

 c. Color chiefly brownish, with few to many chromatophores 

 on sides, at least some of them with silvery centers 

 d. Scales on caudal peduncle, counting close behind base 

 of dorsal, in 6 rows from one lateral line to the oppo- 

 site one; small canines in anterior part of upper jaw, 

 and laterally in lower jaw; chromatophores on sides 



below lateral line, mostly 1 to a scale pigmentarius 



dd. Scales on caudal peduncle in 5 rows from one lateral 

 line to the opposite one; no canines, the teeth being 

 small and of nearly uniform size; chromatophores on 



sides below lateral line more numerous con\lim 



cc. Color chiefly red in life, pale in spirits; no large chromato- 

 phores; with or without dark points, or a few large black 

 spots, or a few black crossbars 



e. No definite black markings; with or without dark 

 points; no black spots or bands 

 /. Scales in median series before dorsal 5; pre- 



opercular margin weakly serrate .... aurohneatus 



