124 Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 



Elops snurus Linnaeus 1766 



Ladyfish," Bigeye Herring, Tenpounder, Slcipjack, Macabi, Matejuelo Blanco, 

 Matejuelo Real, Long John, Benane 



Figures 20, 21 



Study Material. Many specimens, including an almost complete growth series 

 ranging from larvae to adults 550 mm long. 



Distinctive Characters. See Remarks, p. 123. 



^^,,,;.,^— ^>^^' 



Figure 20. Elops saiinis; U. S. National Museum specimen. Drawn by H. L. Todd. 



Description. Proportional dimensions in per cent of standard length, based on 

 study specimens. 



Body: depth 14. 5-19. 3. 

 Head: length 25—31. 

 Snout: length 5.8-7.0. 

 Eye: diameter 5.0—6.3. 

 Maxillary: length 14. 5-1 7.8. 

 Anal fin: length of base 9.8-1 1.8. 

 Pectoral fin: length 14-16. 



Scales: 103-120. 



Branchiostegals : 26—32. 



Gill rakers: 6-8+ 10-15 (excluding ru- 

 diments). 



Fin rays: dorsal 21—25; '^^'^ I4~i7; 

 pectoral 16 or 17. 



Vertebrae: 73-80 (10 specimens). 



Body very slender, only moderately compressed, its depth 5.2—6.9 in SL. Scales 

 small, thin, with crenulate membranous border (fully described by Merriman, 5/: 

 113). Lateral line nearly straight, extending onto base of caudal. Head low, flat 

 above, 3.25-4.0 in SL. Snout rather long, usually a little longer than eye, 4.1-4.75 

 in head. Eye near upper profile, wholly in anterior half of head, 4.55-5.2 in head. 

 Interorbital flat, 5.7-8.4 in head. Gill rakers about 67% of (^he eye, scarcely 

 denticulate, their entire surface rough, generally i or 2 rudiments in large specimens 



9. In scientific literature, as well as in earlier popular books on American game fishes, the name Ladyfish was usually 

 applied to Albula 'uulpes (p. 134). But to the angler, who alone takes much interest in either of them, "Ladyfish" 

 means Elops while Albula is universally termed "Bonefish." 



