Fishes of the JVestern North Atlantic 



423 



of tail spine; its dorsal lobe, originating about under tip ot spine, about half as long as 

 its ventral lobe; supporting rays evident when viewed against a strong light or when 

 partially dried. Pelvics extending rearward beyond posterior levels of pectorals for a 

 distance a little less than half the distance between eyes; anterior margin nearly straight; 

 posterior (distal) margin moderately convex; corners broadly rounded; anterior margin 

 about 60-65 % ^5 1°"S ^^ distance from pelvic origin to rear corner. Claspers of mature 



Figure 100. Urolophus jamaicensis. A Opened mouth (cut at corners) of female, 375 mm long, from Palm 

 Beach, Florida (Harv. Mus. Comp. Zool., No. 36399), with left-hand nasal curtain roUed forward to show 

 nostrils, tooth bands, transverse curtain on roof of mouth, and papillae on floor of mouth, about 1 .7 X . B Eye 

 and spiracle of same, about 1.3 X. C Front upper teeth (above the line) and rear upper teeth (below the line) 

 of same, about 22 X. i) Side view of upper tooth of same, about 22 X. J Upper teeth of mature male, about 

 325 mm long, from Indian Key, Florida (Harv. Mus. Comp. Zool., No. 33), about 20 X. F Side view of one 

 tooth of same, about 17 X. 



male rather robust, with rounded tips, without projecting hooks, extending beyond rear 

 limits of pelvics for a distance about half as long as anterior (outer) margins of pelvics. 

 Color. The upper surfaces of the disc and tail (including caudal fin) usually have 

 a fine-meshed reticulate pattern of dark greenish, pinkish, or ashy brown on a pale 

 background; or conversely, they have a close-set pattern of small pale whitish, yellowish 

 or golden spots on a dark ground of one of the tints just stated. However, individuals 

 vary widely in color and in pattern, even among series taken at the same locality and at 



