Jordati and Evermann. — Fishes of North America, 807 



Allieriidchthy.<! cali/orniensis, Gunther, Cat., iir, 406, 1801; Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis, 409, 



1883. 

 Alherina .•i/orf-ii (Ayres) Girard, I'roc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., ISoti, 1.3fi, San Francisco. 



363. ATHERINOPS, Steiudacbuer. 



(PkSCADILLOS DEL ReY.) 



Atherinops, Steindachner, Ichtli. Beitrage, 111, til, 1875, (((//i)((.«). 



Teeth iucieor-like, bifid or branched, arranged in a single row in each 

 jaw. Otherwise as in Atherinopsis. Three species known, from California 

 and Mexico. These dift'er from the other Atherinidw in being chiefly herbivo- 

 rous as the dentition would indicate. {Atherina; cjijj, appearance.) 



.a. Teeth Y-shaped, the inner fork little if any shorter than the outer. 



b. Scales 62 to 68. Dorsal V-I, 11; anal I, 22; spinous dorsal much in front of anal. 



INSL'LARIM. 1179. 



6t. Scales 52 to 56. Dorsal VI-I, 11; anal I, 22. Spinous dorsal over vent, affinis, 1180. 



aa. Teeth scarcely Y-shaped, the inner prong forming a short lateral branch on the main stem. 



Scales 46. Dorsal VII-I, 10; anal I, 22; spinous dorsal in front of vent. Pectorals longer than 



head. regis, 1181. 



1179. ATHERINOPS INSULARUM, Gilbert. 



Closely allied to Atherinops affinis, differing in the darker color, the 

 slenderer form, the much smaller scales, and the shorter spinous dorsal, 

 which is inserted farther forward. Scales 62 to 68 (52 to 56 in affinis); 

 5 scales between upper edge of silvery baud and front of spinous dorsal 

 (4 in affinis). Front of dorsal much nearer tip of snout than is front of 

 anal, the distance between base of last dorsal spine and front of soft dorsal 

 greater than length of base of soft dorsal (much less than length of dorsal 

 in affinis). Spinous dorsal constantly with 5 spines (6 or 7 in affinis). 

 Otherwise, in fins, dentition, and general proportions as in affinis. As in 

 affinis, the inner fork of teeth is occasionally shorter than the outer, 

 approaching the case of AHierinops regis, where this is the rule. Very 

 abundant at San Clemente and San Nicolas Islands of the Santa Barbara 

 Group, and farther south at Guadalupe Island : not yet found on the 

 shores of the mainland. A. affmis is not known from these islands. 

 {insularuin, of the islands.) 



Alherina insularuin, Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1891, 549, San Clemente: San Nicolas; 

 Guadalupe Island. (Coll. Gilbert.) 



1180. ATHERINOPS AFFINIS (Ayres). 

 (Little " Smelt;" Pescadillo del Key.) 



Head 5; depth U. D. VI-I, 11; A. 1,22; scales 52 to 56. Maxillary 

 not reaching pupil. Lower jaw slightly shorter than upper. Teeth* 

 close-set, incisor-like, Y-shaped, the forks divergent, the inner fork often 

 a little shorter than the other ; teeth in lower jaw largest and most mov- 

 able. Eye large, not longer than snout. Spinous dorsal moderate, inserted 



* First superior pharyngeal with teeth; second, third-, and fourth coossified, with teeth.— 



E. C. Starks. 



