2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 121 



IX, 10, anal 111,9, pectoral ii,ll, rarely ii,12, median predorsal scales 

 4, the single row of scales below eye on cheek total 4, gill rakers 3 

 or 4 + 6 to 10 totalling 9 to 13; the branchiostegal membranes are 

 attached to the isthmus with a narrow free fold across the isthmus; 

 anterior nostril with a short free dermal flap not quite reaching the 

 posterior nasal opening; dorsal and anal spines flexible, nonpungent. 

 The species and subspecies of Nicholsina are distinguished in the 

 following key: 



la. Base of pectoral fin same color as body, not blackish; none of the spiny 



dorsal rays ending distally in a filament; distal edge of caudal fin not 



white edged; least width of preorbital notably very wide, contained about 



.6 to .7 in interorbital space; distance from tip of snout to rictus 1.6 to 



1.7 in length of snout; diameter of eye contained about 2 times in the 



width of the preorbital. 



2a. Total number of gill rakers on first gill arch 9 to 12 (rarely 12), average 



10.53; number of teeth in outer posterior row of dentary 9 to 20, 



increasing in number with increase in length of fish (western Atlantic) . 



ustus ustus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



2b. Total number of gill rakers on first gill arch 11 to 13, average 11.93; 



number of teeth in outer posterior row of dentary 9 to 14, rarely 14, 



and not increasing in number with increase of length (eastern 



Atlantic) ustus collettei, new subspecies 



lb. Pectoral fin base black; spiny dorsal fin rays, at least posteriorly, ending 

 distally in a short filament; distal edge of caudal fin broadly white edged 

 in the young; least width of preorbital narrow, contained about 1.2 to 1.3 

 times in interorbital space; distance from tip of snout to rictus contained 

 1.0 to 1.2 times in length of snout; diameter of eye contained 1.0 to 1.2 

 times in preorbital width (Gulf of California to Peru). 



denticulatus (Evermann and Radcliffe) 



Nicholsina ustus collettei, new subspecies 



Plate 1 



Holotype.— USNM 201582, off Guinea, west Africa, at 9°53'N, 

 15°56'W, collected by Dr. Bruce B. Collette on the vessel La Rafale, 

 Guinean Trawling Survey I, Transect 5, Station 3, depth 40 meters, 

 Dec. 1, 1963, field number BBC-954, standard length 194 mm. 



Paratypes. — All obtained off Guinea, west Africa, by La Rafale in 

 Guinean Trawling Survey I in 1963, collector Dr. Bruce B. Collette, 

 as follows: 



USNM 201446, same data as holotype, 4 spec, 146-181 mm. 

 USNM 201444, Trans. 7, Sta. 2, Nov. 26, 1963, field no. BBC-932, depth 30 m, 



lat. 9°27'N, long. 14°22'W, 2 spec, 133-164 mm. 

 USNM 201450, Trans. 8, Sta. 2, Nov. 24, 1963, field no. BBC-924, depth 30 m, 



lat. 8°52'N, long. 13°52'W, 6 spec, 125-157 mm. 

 USNM 201445, Trans. 8, Sta 1, Nov. 24, 1963, field no. BBC-923, depth 20 m, 



lat. 8°59'N, long. 13°48'W, 2 spec, 103-130 mm. 

 USNM 201447, Trans. 7, Sta. 1, Nov. 25, 1963, field no. BBC-931, depth 20 m, 



lat. 9°36'N, long. 14°13'W, 11 spec, 91-146 mm. 



