ICHTHYOLOGY OF VENEZUELA — SCHULTZ 115 



The following counts were made: Anal rays 111,8 in 9 specimens; 

 scales 29 in 1, 30 in 3, 31 in 3, and 32 in 3 specimens. 



Suborder Polynemoidea 

 Family POLYNEMIDAE: Threadfins; Barbudos 



Genus POLYDACTYLUS Lacepede 



Polydactylus Lacepede, Histoire naturelle des poissons, vol. 5, p. 419, 1803. 

 (Genotype, Polydactylus plumierii 'La,cep^de= Polynemus virginicus Linnaeus.) 



POLYDACTYLUS VIRGINICUS (Linnaeus) 



Barbudo 

 Polynemus virginicus Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10, p. 317, 1758 (America). 

 The following collections were made by the U. S. S. Niagara in the 

 Gulf of Venezuela in 1925: 



U.S.N. M. No. 123180, 1 specimen, 44 mm. in standard length, from Jacuque 

 Point, January 26. 



U.S.N. M. No. 123178, 3 specimens, 45.5 to 47 mm., Piedras Bay, March 14. 

 U.S.N. M. No. 123179, 7 specimens, 48 to 52 mm., Cape San Romdn, April 2. 

 U.S.N.M. No. 123181, 4 specimens, 47 to 49 mm., Gulf of Venezuela, April 4. 

 U.S.N. M. No. 123182, 12 specimens, 42 to 54 mm., Estanques Bay, February 20. 



Suborder Percoidea 

 Family CENTROPOMIDAE: Robalos 



Only two species of Centropomus have been collected in Venezuelan 

 waters, although additional forms are to be expected, such as the 

 widely ranging C. pectinatus and C. parallelus. 



Genus CENTROPOMUS Lacepede 



Centropomus Lacepede, Histoire naturelle des poissons, vol. 4, p. 248, 1802. 

 (Genotj'pe, Sciaena undecimalis Bloch.) 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CENTROPOMUS FROM VENEZUELA 



la. Scales 66 to 72 from supraclavicle serrae to base of caudal fin above lateral 

 line; gill rakers on first gUl arch, not counting rudiments, about 3+1 + 7 or 

 8 and by counting all rudiments about 6+1 + 13 or 14; preorbital edge 

 smooth or nearly so; eye 5 to 6.5 in head; second anal spine not quite reach- 

 ing to opposite base of caudal fin; depth about 4 to 4.8 in standard length; 

 dorsal rays VIII-I, 10; anal III, 6; pectorals ii, 13 or ii, 14; lateral line with 

 a black streak; interspinal membranes of dorsal fin blackish from base to 

 tips, sometimes intensely black distally. 



Centropomus xondecimalis (Bloch) 



16. Scales about 54 to 56 from supraclavicle serrae to base of caudal fin above 

 lateral line; gill rakers on first gill arch, not counting rudiments, about 

 6+l + llorl2 and by counting all rudiments 9+1 + 16 or 17; preorbital edge 

 serrate; eye 4 to 5.5 in head; anal spine very long, usually reaching a little 

 beyond caudal fin base and much longer than length of caudal peduncle; depth 

 about 3.5 in standard length; dorsal rays VIII-I, 10; anal III, 6; pectorals 

 ii, 13 or 14; lateral line without black streak; interspinal membranes of 

 dorsal fin blackish from base to tips Centropomus ensiferus Poey 



