THE CATFISHES OF VENEZUELA — SCHITLTZ 259 



PYGIDIUM MERIDAE (Regan) 



Triehomyrterus meridae Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 7, vol. 12, p. 624, 

 1903 (Rio Albireggas, above M6rida, Venezuela [Rio Chama system]). — 

 RiBEiRO, Rev. Mus. Paulista, vol. 10, p. 725, 1918 (M^rida). 



Pygidium meridae Eigenmann, Mem. Carnegie Mus., vol. 7, No. 5, p. 315, pi. 

 49, fig. 2, 1918 (Cordillera of Merida, Venezuela); Bol. Soc. Col. Cien. Nat., 

 vol. 8, p. 161, 1920 (M6rida). 



PYGIDIUM EMANUELI EM AN U ELI, new species and subspecies 



Laucha 

 Plate 5, C 



Holotype.—JJ .S.K M . No. 121223, a specimen 174 mm. in standard 

 length, collected by Leonard P. Scliiiltz, April 3, 1942, in the Rio 

 Chama at Estanques, Estado de Merida, Venezuela. 



Paratypes (all taken by L. P. Schnltz).— U.S.N.M. No. 121224, 51 

 examples, 52 to 170 mm. in standard length, collected along with the 

 holotj^pe and bearing the same data; U.S.N.M. No. 121225, 19 speci- 

 mens, 74 to 203 mm., from the Rio Gonzales tributary to Rio Chama, 

 at La Gonzales, Estado de Merida, March 29, 1942; U.S.N.M. No. 

 121220, 14 specimens, 58 to 245 mm., in the Rio Chama, 10 km. 

 below Lagimillas, Estado de Merida, Aiarch 30, 1942. 



The above specimens were taken in swift mountain streams among 

 rubble and loose gravel m the Rio Chama system,. 



Description. — Based on the holotype and paratypes listed above. 

 Measurements of the holotype and two paratypes, expressed m hun- 

 dredths of the standard length, are recorded below, the paratypes in 

 parentheses, respectively. Standard length (in mm.) 174 (245; 77.7). 



Length of head to end of opercle 18.0 (18.5; 19.0); width of head 

 across base of pectorals 14.2 (15.3; 14.1); greatest depth of body 18.6 

 (20.8; 16.1); length of snout 8.9 (9.3; 9.0); diameter of eye 1.38 (1.55; 

 2.06); least width of fleshy interorbital space 5.17 (6.12; 6.05); post- 

 orbital length of head 8.15 (8.57; 9.01); length of longest ray (first 

 branched) of anal fin 11.8 (12.2; 12.5); length of longest ray of dorsal 

 10.6 (12.1; 14.2); length of longest ray of pelvics 8.67 (9.43; 10.7); 

 length of prolonged upper raj?- of pectoral fin 18.3 (18.2; 17.6); least 

 depth of caudal peduncle 12.6 (13.9; 12.2); length of caudal peduncle 

 21.0 (22.0; 22.0); length of longest ray of caudal fin 14.6 (15.3; 19.0); 

 distance from snout to origin of dorsal fin 62.0 (63.7; 64.6); distance 

 from snout to origin of anal fin 69.8 (73.0; 71.5); snout to anus 65.4 

 (67.4; 67.7); snout to pelvics 55.5 (56.6; 57.7); distance from insertion 

 of pelvics to anal origin 17.3 (17.1; 18.1); length of maxillary 

 barbel 15.9 (16.3; 17.4); length of lower maxillary barbel 12.2 (12.2; 

 14.2); length of nasal barbel 14.5 (13.6; 16.1); distance from eye to 

 margin of posterior nostril 3.39 (3.88; 3.22); distance from tip of 

 prolonged upper pectoral ray to pelvic fin insertion 20.3 (23.8; 17.5): 

 distance that upper ray of pectoral extends beyond tips of branched 

 pectoral rays 6.60 (6.32; 3.86). 



