DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF OPHICHTHYS (OPHICHTHYS 

 RETROPINNIS\ FROM PENSACOLA, FLA. 



By CARL. H. ElOENIUAIVN. 



Ophichthys retropinnis, sp. nov. 



This species is most nearly related to 0. ocellatiis and 0. guttifer. It 

 can be distinguished from these and all other described American spe- 

 cies of Ophichthys by the posterior insertion of the dorsal fin. 

 ' Head pyramida.l, flattened above, tapering from the occiput to the 

 pointed snout. Moutli very large, the cleft about 3 in head. A single 

 series of irregular teeth in the mandible, those forward larger; two 

 small canines behind this series in front. ^Nlaxillaries with two distinct 

 series of smaller teeth ; premaxillaries with a single series of teeth. 

 Vomer with about 15 teeth, the first two side by side, the others in a 

 single series; the third (first in single series) largest. Eye elongate, 

 rather large, 1^ in snout, equal to the interorbital width. Gill-opening 

 5 in head. Pectorals well developed (measured from the upper margin 

 of their base to the tip of the longest ray), 2J in the distance from the 

 snout to their base. Dorsal inserted 1^ length of pectorals behind the 

 tips of the pectorals ; the distance from its insertion to the gill-opening 

 slightly more than length of head. Head 9 in length. 



Color faded in spirits, apparently light olivaceous, with about 20 ob- 

 long dark blotches along the median line of the body and tail ; the in- 

 terspaces between these, each a round pale spot about as large as eye ; 

 the dark spots about twice as long ; a dark bar behind cheek ; a black 

 point below middle of eye ; three points in a vertical series behind eye 

 and three on top of the head ; one a little behind the vertical series of 

 spots and one above the posterior part of each eye. 



A single specimen taken from the stomach of some other fish was 

 sent by Mr. Silas Stearns to the museum of the Indiana University and 

 has now been deposited in the U. S. National Museum. (No. 3805i.) 



Length, 20§ (9j| + 11^) inches ; distance from snout to dorsal, 5J inches. 



Indiana University, February 12, 1887. 



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