130 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1884. 



A EEVIEW OF THE AMERICAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS SYNODTJS. 

 BY SETH E. MEEK. 



I have attempted in this paper to give a review of the American 

 species of Synodus^ with a detailed description of certain species 

 imperfectly described elsewhere. The paper is based on speci- 

 mens collected by Professor Jordan at Cedar Kej-s and Kej^ West, 

 Florida, and Havana, Cuba, belonging to the United States 

 National Museum and the Museum of the Indiana University. 

 All the Atlantic species here recognized, except Synodus saurus, 

 are contained in this collection. 



I am very much indebted to Professor Jordan for use of his 

 library and for other aids. 



Analysis of American Species of Synodus. 



a. Snout short, obtuse, S^ in length of premaxillary ; head sorne-» 

 what compressed, much deeper than broad ; anal fin com* 

 paratively long, its rays about 14 ; head 31 in length ; origin 

 of dorsal midway between snout and adipose fin ; scales 

 4-55-6 ( Trachinocephalus Gill). myops. 1. 



aa. Snout long, pointed, about 2^ in premaxillar} ; head depressed , 

 little if any deeper than broad ; anal comparatively short, 

 rays 10 to 12 ; head 4 to 4§ in length (Syiiodus). 

 b. Scales large, 43 to 50 in lateral line; origin of dorsal midway 

 between tip of snout and adipose fin ; lateral line with a 

 blunt keel posteriorly, 

 c. First and last rays of dorsal coterminous when the fin is 

 depressed ; black blotch of scapula very small or obso- 

 lete ; D. I-IO ; A. I--11 to 12 ; scales 4-45-5. 



intermedius. 2, 



cc. Tips of first dorsal rays not reaching last when the fin is 



depressed ; scapula with a large black blotch ; D. I-ll 



to 12 ; i^. I-IO to 11 ; scales 4-48-6. anolis. 3. 



hb. Scales small, 55 to 70 in lateral line. 



d. Dorsal fin much higher than long ; tips of first rays 

 extending beyond tips of last when the fin is 

 depressed ; length of fin 1 1 in length of longest ray, 

 and 2^ in head; teeth large; D. 1-9; A. I-ll; 

 scales 4-57-6. spixianus. 4. 



