THE OATFTiSHES OF VENiEZUEILA SCHULTZ 325 



LORICARIA URACANTHA RUPESTRE. new subspecies 



Plate 12, A, B 



Holotype. — U.S.N.M. No. 121102, a male specimen 79 mm. in 

 staiKlard length, taken by Leonard P. Schultz, March 20, 1942, in the 

 Rio San Pedro at the bridge south of Mene Grande, Motatan system, 

 Maracaibo Basin. 



Paratypes (all taken by L. P. Schultz).— U.S.N.M. No. 121104, 39 

 specimens, 45 to 85 mm. in standard length, taken along with the 

 holotype and bearing the same data; U.S.N.M. No. 121105, 67 speci- 

 mens, 27 to 91 mm., collected March 17-20, 1942, in the Rio San 

 Juan above the bridge south of Mene Grande, Motatjin system; 

 U.S.N.M. No. 121103, 4 specimens, 20 to 78 mm., collected March 

 25, 1942, from the Rio Motatan, 4 km. above Motatan; U.S.N.M. No. 

 121106, 3 specimens, 38 to 90 mm., taken April 1, 1942, in the Rio 

 Tdchira 7 km. north of San Antonio, Catatumbo system, Maracaibo 

 Basm; U.S.N.M. No. 121107, 2 specimens, 24 and 28 mm., taken 

 March 24, 1942, in the Rio Motatan 8 Ian. below Motatan. 



The above listed specimens were taken in ra.pidl37" to slow flowmg 

 water among small stones and rubble; none was seen over muddy 

 bottom. 



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

 In table 24 are recorded certain measurements for the holotype and 

 two paratypes, as well as for a specimen of Loricaria uraeantha 

 uracantha from the Rio Chagres, Panama. 



The following counts were made on the holotype and paratypes, 

 respectively: Dorsal rays I, 7, I, 7, I, 7; anal I, 5; I, 5; I, 5; pectoral 

 always I, 6; pelvic always I, 5; caudal fin rays always i + lO+i; 

 plates along midsides 17 + 13; 15 + 14; 16 + 12; plates from last ray of 

 anal fin (including the plate in which last ray occurs) to base of caudal 

 fin 18; 17; 17; teeth in ramus of upper jaw 8; 8; 9; and in lower jaw 

 9; 10; 9; barbels 20; 10; 20; 6 or 7 plates across middle of belly between 

 the fourth plates in front of pelvic fin base. 



Body greatly depressed, covered all over with bony plates, those 

 along sides with keels that end in a spine; supraoccipital with a pair 

 of low keels diverging posteriorly; next two median plates behind 

 supraoccipital with a pair of low keels, but the plate in front of the 

 origin of the dorsal fin without keels; orbital rims a little elevated, 

 the interorbital space concave, area between nostrils convex, this 

 convexity extending to tip of snout; eye with a notch posteriorly; 

 adult males with bristles along cheeks and on top of head and body 

 from between eyes to second plate in front of dorsal fin; all fins rather 

 short, the upper ray of caudal fin filamentous, this about half standard 

 length on some specimens; upper surface of pectoral rays of males 

 spiny; first ray of each fin a little produced except on adult males; 



