278 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.94 



CORYDORAS BONDI Gosllne 



Corydoras hondi Gosline. Stanford Ichth. Bull., vol. 2, No. 1, p. 20, 1940 (Rfo 

 Yuruari, 3 km. cast of El Callao and at El Callao; Rio Carichopo, tributary 

 of Rio Yuruari, 30 km. east of Upata, in Venezuela). — Myers, Stanford 

 Ichth. Bull., vol. 2, No. 4, p. 100, fig. 2, 1942 (Venezuela). 



CORYDORAS MELANISTIUS Regan 



Corydoras melanistius Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, vol. 10, p. 216, 1912 

 (Essequibo).— Myers, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 68, p. 126, 1927 (Cafio 

 de Quiribana, near Caicara, on the Orinoco). — Gosline, Stanford Ichth. 

 BuU., vol. 2, No. 1, p. 21, 1940 (Venezuela). 



Family ASTROBLEPIDAE 



Genus ASTROBLEPUS Humboldt 



Astroblepus Humboldt, Recueil d'observations de zoologie . . ., vol. 1, p. 37, 

 1805. (Tj^pe, Astroblepus grixalvii Humboldt.) 



In working up the fishes of this family from the Maracaibo Basin, I 

 found it necessary to prepare the following tentative key, separating 

 various species referred to the genus Astroblepus. This key should 

 not be considered a revision, since many of the data were obtained 

 from the original description and specimens of several species were 

 not obtainable for examination. This genus is a very difficult one 

 and is in need of careful revision. Perhaps too much emphasis has 

 been placed on the length of the first rays of pelvics and pectorals. 



TENTATIVE KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ASTROBLEPUS OF NORTHERN SOUTH 



AMERICA 



la. Teeth in outer row of premaxillary (except possibh- last one or two lateral 

 ones) bicuspid or incisors. 

 2a. Teeth (except sometimes one or two of lateral ones) in outer row of pre- 

 maxillary Y-shaped or bicuspid, sometimes one lobe smaller than the 

 other; pectoral spine extending one-half to three-quarters way out pelvics; 

 nasal flaps not ending in a distinct barbel. 

 3a. Maxillary barbel reaching to gill opeiing or beyond; pelvic fins reaching 

 two-thirds to three-quarters way to anus. 

 4a. Adipose fin with spine connected by a membrane to caudal peduncle; 

 pelvics inserted in front of dorsal origin ((Colombia). 



Astroblepus homodon (Regan) 

 46. Adipose fin without spine or with it embedded and only tip showing; 

 pelvics inserted under dorsal origin. 

 5a. Interorbital space equal to distance from eye to posterior nasal 



opening (Ecuador) Astroblepus fissidens (Regan) 



56. Interorbital space about equal to three-quarters distance from eye 

 to posterior nasal opening (Magdalena sj^stem, Colombia). 



Astroblepus nicef ori Myers 

 36. Maxillary barbel not quite reaching gill opening, usually three-quarters 

 to four-f fths of the distance; pelvic fins reaching to anus; adipose fin 

 with R spine connected by membrane to caudal peduncle; pelvics in- 

 sorted almost under origin of dorsal; interorbital space a little narrower 

 than distance from eye to posterior nasal opening (Colombia). 



Astroblepus guentheri (Boulenger) 



