44 o Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 



Scales lost from specimens at hand; fairly large (judging from pockets). Ven- 

 tral SCUTES strong, 15—19 (most frequently 16 or 17) before pelvic fins and 8—10 

 (usually 9 or 10) behind them. 



Head 3.85-4.55 in SL, its depth at vertical from crossgroove at occiput 4.55- 

 5.9. Snout generally about equal to length of eye, without a definite median notch. 



Figure 114. Chirocentrodon bleekerianus, about 87 mm TL (caudal damaged), 70 mm SL, Kingston, Jamaica, 

 USNM 128274. Drawn by Ann S. Green. 



3.25—4.0 in head. Eye 3.0-4.0 in head. Interorbital 6.0-8.2. Cheek triangular, 

 rather longer than deep. Mouth moderately oblique. Maxillary rather strongly con- 

 vex, narrow posteriorly, generally reaching vertical from posterior margin of eye, 

 1.25— 1.55 in head. Mandible projecting moderately, its tip well below dorsal outline 

 of head, its margin within mouth rising rather gradually, 1.45— 1.75 in head. Gill 

 RAKERS strongly serrate along inner margin, those at angle of first arch a little shorter 

 than eye, not increasing in number with age, 14—18 (most frequently 15 or 16) on 

 lower limb of first arch. Teeth prominent; an outer series of small teeth on mandible, 

 with I or 2 canines on each side anteriorly forming an incomplete inner series; a 

 somewhat irregular series on premaxillaries, with some of the anterior teeth (2 or 3 on 



each side) somewhat canine-like; a series of rather 

 prominent slender pointed teeth, generally irregular 

 in size, on margin of maxillary; a few pointed ones 

 on vomer laterally; small teeth on palatines and ptery- 

 goids; and a narrow band of minute teeth on mid- 

 line of tongue. 



Dorsal fin small, not greatly elevated anteriorly, 

 its longest rays generally reaching nearly or quite to 

 tip of last ray if deflexed, its origin a little nearer 

 to base of caudal than to posterior margin of eye, 

 its distance from margin of snout 1.6— 1.7 in SL. 

 Caudal fin broadly forked, the lower lobe the larger, 

 nearly as long as head (Fig. 1 14). Anal fin long, its 

 anterior rays somewhat elevated, its origin about 



P'icuRE 115. Chirocentradon bleekeria- 

 nus, enlarged head showing teeth, same 

 specimen as shown in Fig. 114. Drawn 

 bv Ann S. Green. 



