330 



PROOEEiDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSE-UM 



VOL. 94 



The above listed specimens occurred mostly over sandy to fine 

 gravelly bottoms in a moderately flowing current. 



Description. — Based on the holotype and the paratypes. Detailed 

 measurements were made on two of the types of Loricaria variegata 

 venezuelae and on two of L. v. variegata and those measurements are 

 recorded in table 25. 



The following counts were made: Dorsal rays, I, 7, rarely I, 8; anal 

 and pelvic always 1,5; pectoral always 1,6; caudal fin rays always 

 i + 10 + i; teeth are from 4 to 6 on the upper ramus and 6 or 7 on the 

 lower ramus of jaws; there are 3 plates in front of dorsal fin and 19 

 plates from anal fin to base of caudal fin rays, and usually 14 barbels 

 on the posterior margin of the lower lip between the maxillary barbels 

 at each corner of the mouth. 



Table 25. — Measurements {expressed in hundredths of the standard length) of two 

 subspecies of Loricaria variegata 



Characters 



Standard length (in mm.).-- -- 



Length of head to tip of supraoccipital 



Length of head to end of opercle 



Length of head to end of temporal plate 



Width of head at base of pectorals 



Greatest depth of body 



Width of body at plate that crosses anal origin. 



Length of snout -.. 



Diameter of eye (not including notch) 



Bony interorbital space (rear of notch) 



Postorbital length of head 



Least depth of caudal peduncle _ 



Width of caudal peduncle in front of caudal fin 



Length of caudal peduncle.. .-. 



Length of spine of dorsal fin..- 



Length of spine of anal fin ., 



Length of spine of pectoral fin 



Length of spine of pelvic fln... 



Length of last ray of pelvic fln 



Length of last ray of pectoral fin 



Length of last ray of anal fin. 



Length of last ray of dorsal fin 



Tip of snout to origin of dorsal fin 



Tip of snout to origin of anal fin 



Tip of snout to base of pelvic fin.. 



Tip of snout to base of pectoral fln... 



Distance from center of anus to anal origin 



U.S.N.M. 

 No. 79144 



230 

 21.4 

 16.8 

 23.5 

 18.7 

 7.65 

 12.9 

 11.8 

 2.70 

 3.67 

 8.57 

 1.52 

 3.26 

 49.0 

 17.8 

 16.4 

 17.4 

 16.2 

 7.78 

 7.48 

 9.22 

 7.09 

 31.8 

 46.8 

 32.9 

 17.2 

 10.2 



The body of this species is much depressed throughout its length; 

 its greatest depth at origin of dorsal is about one-half its width at 

 base of pectorals and only twice the width of the interorbital space; 

 the belly is only partially covered with plates; there is a series of 

 plates along the midventral line from anus to over pectoral girdle 



