Jordan and Evcrmann. — Fishes of North America. 



1251 



00. Pectoral long, more than two-thirds length of head; 



color chiefly red ; a large black lateral blotch; lower 



jaw slightly projecting. 



p. Vomerine teeth in an anchor-shaped patch, with a 



distinct back ward prolongation on median line. 



Color red ; back and sides with rows of dark 



bluish-gray spots following tlie series of scales ; 



similar spots on sides of head; fins reddish. 



Head 2J; depth 2|; D. X, 12; A. in, 8; scales 



7-53-15. GUTTATUS, 1644. 



j)p. Vomerine teeth in a A- or /K-sbaped patch, the 



prolongation on median line very short or 



wanting. Color rosy greenish above, sides of 



head and body with numerous longitudinal 



stripes of golden yellow; soft dorsal and 



caudal red; lower fins yellow. Head 2J; 



depth 2|; D. X, 12; A.ni, 8; scales 8-60-15. 



SYNAQEIS, 1645. 



nn. Candal deeply forked; the gill rakers rather numerous, 

 about 10 on lower part of the anterior arch ; teeth on 

 vomer in an anchor-shaped patch ; body rather elongate, 

 compressed; lower jaw projecting or not; eyes smijjl; 

 scales small; the lateral line with about 50 pores ; anal 

 spines graduated. Color reddish, with horizontal yellow 

 streaks ; no black lateral blotch. Head 3 ; depth 3 ; D. 

 X, 13; A. Ill, 9; scales 9-53-15. (Hybrid, synagris^ 

 ehrysurus ?) ambiguus, 1646. 



mm. ilouth large; maxillary 2i in head; teeth on vomer in an anchor- 

 shaped patch; lower jaw strongly projecting; body rather 

 elongate, strongly compressed : eye very large, red ; scales 

 rather small, the lateral line with about 50 pores ; caudal 

 little forked ; second and third anal spines subequal. Color 

 dark brown ; pale below, flushed with red ; fins mostly red ; 

 a large black lateral blotch. Head2|; depth 2|: D.X, 12; 

 A. Ill, 8; scales 9-62-14. mahogoni, 1647. 



RaIZERO:* . 



II. Dorsal spines 11; scales large, those above lateral line in 4 or 5 series, fully paraUel 



with lateral line. 

 q Soft dorsal and anal low ; vomerine teeth in a A-shaped patch; teeth on tongue; gill 

 rakers few. Color dark, olive-reddish below; distinct silvery streaks along 

 rows of scales; young with silvery bars; lower fins dusky. Head 3; depth 3i; 

 D. XI, 12; A. in, 7 ; scales 4i-45-12. ab.a.tus, 1648. 



Subgenus NE0M.«;NIS. 

 1630. NEOM.EXIS JORD.VXI, Gilbert. 

 Head 2| to 3 in length ; depth 2^ to 2f ; eye U in head. D. X, 14 ; A. Ill, 

 9: scales 5A above lateral line, 43 to 47 oblique series running downward 

 and backward. Body deep, with regular curves, the two profiles nearly 

 • equal. Snout short, with rapidly rising upper profile, 3i to 3+ in head. 

 Eye large, innch greater than the width of the preorbital at the middle of 

 its leng'th, where it is \ length of head. Maxillary reaching slightly 

 beyond front of pupil, its length equaling that of snout and half eye, 2i 



* Spanish name of Neo7ncenis aratus, from raiz, root; "place of roots," the species 

 living among the roots of the mangroves. 



