ICHTHYOLOGY OF VENEZUELA — SCHULTZ 37 



U.S.N. M. No. 128282, 2 specimens, 67.5 and 68 mm., Cape San Romdn, April 2. 

 U.S.N.M. No. 128283, 9 specimens, 38.5 to 93 mm., Point Macolla, April 19. 



Genus CHIROCENTRODON Gunther 



Chirocentrodon Gi^nther, Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum, vol. 7, 

 pp. 382, 463, 1868. (Genotype, Chirocentrodon taeniatus Gunther.) 



CraBOCENTRODON BLEEKERIANA (Poey) 



Pellona bleekeriana Poet, Repertorio fisico-natural de la isla de Cuba, vol. 2- 

 p. 242, 1867 (Cuba). 



U.S.N.M. No. 128275, 1 specimen, 50 mm. in standard length, from 

 Point Macolla, Gulf of Venezuela, U.S.S. Niagara, April 19, 1925, was 

 identified by Dr. Hildebrand. 



Family ENGRAULIDAE: Anchovies; Anchoas 



The recent excellent revision of this family by Dr. S. F. Hildebrand 

 (Bull. Bingham Oceanogr. Coll., vol. 8, art. 2, 1943) was indispensable 

 in this study of the anchovies of Venezuela. During the several years 

 that Dr. Hildebrand was preparing this revision he assembled in the 

 U. S. National Museum one of the most complete collections of Amer- 

 ican anchovies to be found in any museum, including numerous types, 

 cotypes, and paratypes. It gave me considerable pleasure to be 

 able to add several thousand more specimens to this collection, among 

 which were sLx known species and four undescribed ones, all collected 

 by me in Venezuela during 1942. 



I have followed Dr. Hildebrand 's treatment of the Engraulidae to 

 a large extent, deviating, however, in the anal-fin formula. Since 

 the first three anal rays are unbranched I have represented them by 

 lower-case Roman numbers followed by Arabic numerals for the 

 branched rays, thus: iii,24. The first pectoral rays consist of two 

 simple ones, followed by branched rays, the first pectoral ray being 

 of paper thinness and lying close to the second. The dorsal consists 

 of a minute simple ray, then two larger ones, followed by branched 

 rays. 



The following key to the genera of Engraulidae reported from 

 Venezuela is somewhat modified from Dr. Hildebrand's in order to 

 call attention to the greatly coiled condition of the intestine in Ceten- 

 graulis. Engraulis is omitted, since it has not as yet been found in 

 Venezuela. 



lo. Intestine with one main loop, without numerous coils below air bladder; 

 gill membranes never broadly united across the isthmus, at most only a 

 narrow delicate membrane anteriorly. 

 2a. Teeth in the jaws all small or minute, about equal in size. 



3a. Origin of anal fin posterior to origin of dorsal fin, very rarely almost under 

 it; gill rakers long, narrow, and numerous; body compressed, except in 

 young; vertebrae 37 to 46, rarely 46. 



