124 PROCEEDENGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.99 



ridges set at slightly different angles; dorsal rays IV or V-I, 18 to 21; 



anal II-I, 18 to 21 Oligoplites Gill 



96. Anal fin much shorter than second dorsa', its base shorter than abdomen. 

 12a. Dorsal and anal each with a single detached finlet, composed of 2 rays; 

 dorsal rays V or VI-I, 24 to 26-2; anal I or II-I, 16 to 18-2. 



Elagatis " Bennett 

 125. Dorsal and anal without finlets. 



13a. First dorsal with 6 to 8 slender spines, connected by membrane at all 

 ages; lateral line with a long, low arch, forming a slight keel on 

 caudal peduncle in adult; dorsal rays VI to VIII-I, 28 to 36; anal 



rays I or II-I, 19 to 22 Seriola Cuvier 



136. First dorsal with 3 or 4 low, stiff spines, separate in adult, or con- 

 nected by a membrane in very young; lateral line scarcely arched, 

 forming a prominent dermal keel on caudal peduncle; dorsal rays 

 III or IV-I, 26 to 28; anal rays II-I, 15 or 16. 



Naucrates Rafinesque 

 Genus TRACHUROPS Gill 



Trachurops Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 14, pp. 238, 261, 431, 

 1862. (Genotype, Scomber crumenophihalmus Bloch.) 



TRACHUROPS CRUMENOPHTHALMA (Bloch) 



Big-eyed Scad; Chicharro 



Scomber crumenophihalmus Bloch, Naturgeschichte auslandischen Fische, vol. 

 7, p. 77, 1793 (Acara in Guinea) (ref. copied.) 



Caranx {Trachurops) crumenophihalmus Metzelaar, Report on the fishes col- 

 lected by Dr. J. Boeke in the Dutch West Indies, 1904-1905, p. 119, 1919 (La 

 Guaira, Venezuela), 



Genus CARANX Lacepede 



Caranx Lacepede, Histoire naturelle des poissons, vol. 3, p. 57, 1802. (Geno- 

 type, Scomber carangus 'B\och.= Caranx hippos Linnaeus.) 



The three species of Caranx so far recorded from Venezuelan waters 

 may be separated by means of the following key : 



la. Arch of lateral line usually shorter than straight portion, or about of same 



length; gill rakers about 13 to 18, omitting rudiments, on lower part of first 



gill arch. 



2a. Breast naked, except for a small triangular patch of scales just in front of 



pelvics; a large opercular dark spot present; gill rakers 13 to 15, omitting 



rudiments, on lower part of first gill arch; lateral line scutes 25 to 40; 



second dorsal and anal fins with none or with a few scales in addition 



to the basal sheath; dorsal rays VII or VIII-I, 18 to 21; anal II-I, 



16 or 17 Caranx hippos (Linnaeus) 



26. Breast covered with small scales; a small dark opercular spot; gill rakers 13 

 or 14, omitting rudiments, on lower part of first arch; dorsal and anal with 

 sheath of scales only at base; lateral line scutes 35 to 38; dorsal raj's 



VIII-I, 20 to 22; anal II-I, 17 or 18 Caranx latus Agassiz 



16. Gill rakers about 24 or 25, omitting rudiments, on lower part of first gill 

 arch; depth of body 2.8 to 3.0; mouth 2.3 to 2.5 in head; second dorsal and 

 anal completely covered with minute scales; dorsal rays VIII-I, 23 to 25; 

 anal II-I, 19 or 20; lateral scutes 40 to 50; breast scaly. 



Caranx crysos (Mitchill) 



" Not yet reported from Venezuelan waters. 



