Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 



431 



Odontognathus mucronalus Lacepede 1800 

 Figure 109 



Study Material. Two large specimens, 135 and i52mmTL, iii and 136 mm SL, 

 from Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, in only fair condition, the fins being more or less 

 damaged and the color badly faded. Both specimens have the ventral scutes missing 

 below the pectoral fins, causing a concavity in the ventral outline; this probably is an 

 abnormality, even though it is present in both specimens. 



Distinctive Characters. See Relationship. 



Description. Proportional dimensions in per cent of standard length, and counts, 

 based on study specimens, 1 1 1 and 136 mm SL. 



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Figure 109. Odontognathus mucronalus, about 152 mm TL (caudal damaged), 136 mm SL, Gulf of Paria, 

 Trinidad, USNM 123085. Drawn by Ann S. Green. 



Body: depth 20.5-21.5. 

 Caudal peduncle: depth 5.1—5.4. 

 Head: length 1 7.5-1 9; depth 15-17. 

 Snout: length 4.7. 

 Eye: diameter 5-0—5.5. 

 Interorhital: width 1.5 -1.9. 

 Maxillary: length 14- 14. 5. 

 Mandible: length 11 -12.5. 

 Anal fin: length of base 52—56. 

 Pectoral fin: length 19—22. 



Distance from snout to origin of: dorsal 



70-71.5. 



Scales: ca. 45—48 pockets, mostly lost in 

 preserved specimens. 



Ventral scutes : ca. 21 or 22 (some may 

 be missing because of an abnor- 

 mality). 



Fin rays: dorsal 10—12; anal 79 or 80; 

 pectoral 1 2 . 



Body with greatest thickness about 0.25 of its depth, its greatest depth 4.65—4.8 

 in SL; the dorsal outline over head concave, the ventral outline moderately convex 

 anteriorly and then concave (possibly abnormal). Caudal peduncle very short, its 

 depth 3.4—3.5 in head. 



Scales nearly all lost, a few remaining over base of anal, these very thin, notably 

 deeper than long, with nearly smooth margin and without vertical grooves. Ventral 

 SCUTES rather prominent, all except the last 3 or 4 ending in prominent spines, the 

 last ones with nearly smooth margin, missing for a short distance below base of 

 pectoral (p. 432), forming a slight concavity. 



