THE CATFISHES OF VENEZUELA — SICHULTZ 209 



Genus PIMELODELLA Eigenmann and Eigenmann 



Pimelodella Eigenmann and Eigenmann, Proc. California Acad. Sci., ser. 2, 

 vol. 1, p. 131, 1888. (Type, Pimelodus cristatus Miiller and Troschel.) 



It is with considerable regret that I must add new names to this 

 already complicated group of species, but since it has been impossible 

 to obtain the loan of needed comparative material, I have felt it 

 necessary to describe the Maracaibo forms as new and hope their 

 relationships can be worked out more correctly when the genus is 

 again carefully revised. 



Brachyrhamdla imitator Myers, Bull. Alus. Comp. Zool., vol. 68, 

 No. 3, pp. 123-124, 1927, a new genus and species, described without 

 a figure, based on a single specimen 50 mm. in length, is not dis- 

 tinguishable from Pimelodella in the published account, and Dr. 

 Chapman, of the California Academy of Sciences, informs me that 

 the type cannot be found. I therefore quote the description: 



"Brachtehamdia, gen. nov. 



"jSpaxi's, short, and Rhamdia, a genus of Pimelodidae. 



"Genotype. — Br achy rhamdia imitator Myers. 



"Pimelodinae. Allied to Pimelodella. 



"Body rather compact; somewhat compressed and deep. Occipital process 

 forming a bridge with the dorsal plate. Dorsal and pectoral spines pungent 

 those of the latter with thorns along the basal half of the posterior edge. Humeral, 

 process spine-like. Fontanel not continued behind eyes, without a bridge. Eyes 

 with free orbital rims. Barbels normal. Caudal deeply forked. Head entirely 

 covered with skin. 



"Brachtrhamdia imitator, sp. nov. 



"Head Z]i in body-length. Depth Zy>. Eye 3J4 in head, circular. Dorsal I, 6. 

 Anal 9. 



"Body in general shape like Corydoras, the head deep and the skull arched. 

 MaxiUary barbel lying in a groove below eye, long, reaching tip of anal rays. 

 Outer mental barbel nearly reaching tip of pectoral spine. Inner mental barbel 

 shorter. Premaxillary teeth in a band, without backward projecting angles. 

 Pectoral spines very sUghtly longer than dorsal spine, the latter smooth, the 

 former with eight strong thorns along the basal half of the posterior margin. 

 Dorsal origin V/^ times as far from caudal base as from snout-tip. Pelvics inserted 

 on vertical of next to last dorsal ray. Adipose fin high, the length of its base 

 slightly less than length of dorsal spine. 



"Dull brownish yellow, Hght on belly. Posterior sides finely mottled. A black 

 masque-like zone from occiput down over eyes and across cheek. Another wide 

 black zone from dorsal origin to humeral process, this running up and involving 

 the spine and first raj- of dorsal. 



"Type. — 17,695 I.U. 50 mm. Venezuela: Caiio de Quiribana, near Caicara. 

 May, 1925. Carl Ternetz. 



"Taken with, and very similar in color and form to Corydoras melanistius 

 Regan." 



Unfortunately not enough information is given for B. imitator 

 Myers to enable me to include it in the keys prepared for this report. 



