ICHTHYOLOGY OF VENEZUELA — SCHULTZ 73 



snout to anal origin 13.5 (14.6); snout to anterior edge of groove 

 between dorsal filament and back 63.8 (64.5); length of longest 

 pectoral ray 9.23 (9.28); length of longest anal fin ray 7.69 (6.93); 

 length of longest caudal fin ray 6.70 (6.37). 



The following counts were made: Anal rays 146 (139); pectoral 



rays ii, 12-ii, 11 (ii, 12 ); pores from rear of head to opposite 



end of anal fin 60 (64). 



Body compressed throughout its length, the greatest depth 5.25 

 to 6K in length to end of anal fin and 6.5 to 7.75 in total length; head 

 6 to 7.25 in length to end of anal and 8 to 9 in total length; eye small, 

 about 3 to 3.5 in snout and about equal to distance between anterior 

 and posterior nasal openings, the anterior pair tubular; eye consider- 

 ably in front of middle of length of head; gape of mouth large, rictus 

 under eye; mouth terminal; upper jaw toothless; lower jaw with two 

 rows of short conical teeth at sides, the symphyseal region toothless; 

 lower jaw fitting between the upper but the maxillaries fit into a 

 groove of the lower Hp at sides of lower jaw; lower lip broad, fleshy, 

 and free from lower jaw anteriorly, without a frenum; giU opening 

 extending down in front of middle of pectoral fin base; the third 

 or fourth branched pectoral rays longest; rear of base of dorsal 

 filament or the most anterior extent of groove between filament 

 and back is an equal distance between base of caudal fin and postor- 

 bital length of head; origin of anal fin behind the middle of the opercle; 

 interorbital space greatly convex, 3.5 to 3.75 in the head; dorsal profile 

 convex; pectoral fin about 1?^ in the head; body covered with scales; 

 caudel fin scaled nearly to tips of rays; midline of back naked, with a 

 row of scales up to caudal peduncle; scales largest along midsides 

 and on lateral fine, smaller toward back; posteriorly on caudal 

 region the scales along lateral fine are much longer than high and the 

 pores in lateral fine number from 56 to 64; 3 scales from rear base of 

 dorsal filament to lateral fine; lateral line straight, much closer to 

 back than ventral side of body and on caudal peduncle the lateral 

 line is dorsal in position; caudal fin present, middle rays longest; head 

 with an elongate fontanel along middorsal line; gill rakers short, few, 

 1 or 2 + 3 or 4. 



Color. — In alcohol, ground color dark brown, fins hyaline, except 

 caudal which is dark brown, with its tip white; a prominent white 

 streak extends from tip of snout along middorsal line to base of dorsal 

 filament, thence dorsal filament is pale; chin with white blotch; body 

 and especially head profusely covered with mucus pores, which are 

 white; posterior end of caudal peduncle encircled with white; perito- 

 neum pale along midventral line, but pigmented on sides. 



Remarks. — This new species may be distinguished from all other 

 species referred to the genus Stemarchogiton by its fewer number of 



