72 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.99 



alhifrons, which has the two white bands encircHng the body; it 

 differs in its elongate snout, blunt and rounded in alhifrons, as indi- 

 cated in the key. Apteronotus anas Eigenmann and Allen has the 

 eye far back, considerably behind middle of length of head. 



Named cuchillo, the common name of this type of fish in Venezuela, 

 probably referring to its knifelilve shape. 



Genus STERNARCHOGITON Eigenmann and Ward 



Sternarchogiton Eigenmann and Wakd, Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., vol. 7, 

 p. 164, fig. 5, 1905. (Genotype, Sternarchogiton nattereri (Steindachner) = 

 Sternarchus nattereri Steindachner.) 



STERN AKCHOGITON CUCHIIXEJO, new species 



Pez Cochillejo 

 Plate 3, B 



Holotype.—U.S.^M. No. 121600, 168 mm. in total length, and 

 156 mm. to end of anal base, collected by Leonard P. Schultz in Rio 

 Motatdn, 8 km. below Motatan, March 24, 1942. 



Paratypes. — All the paratypes were collected by Leonard P. Schultz 

 during 1942 in the Maracaibo Basin of Venezuela: 



U.S.N.M. No. 121601, 5 specimens, 148 to 177 mm., taken along with the 

 holotype and bearing same data. 



U.S.N.M. No. 121599, 47 specimens, 92 to 189 mm., Rio Motatdn at bridge, 

 22 km. north of Motatdn, March 17. 



U.S.N.M. No. 121602, 10 examples, 80 to 115 mm,, Rfo San Pedro at bridge, 

 Motatan system, March 20. 



U.S.N.M. No. 121598, 7 specimens, 61 to 148 mm., Eio Negro below mouth 

 of Rfo Yasa, March 2. 



U.S.N.M. No. 121603, 2 specimens, 120 to 156 mm., Rfo Machango, 20 km. 

 above bridge south of Mene Grande, March 21. 



Description.- — The description is based on the holotype and para- 

 types Hsted. Detailed measurements were made on the holotype 

 and one paratype, and these data are recorded below in hundredths 

 of the distance from the tip of the snout to end of anal fin, respect- 

 ively. Total length 168 (112) ; length to base of caudal fin 156 (106) ; 

 and length of snout tip to end of anal fin 130 (89.5). 



Greatest depth 15.0 (16.8); least depth of caudal peduncle 1.38 

 (1.34); length of caudal peduncle from end of anal fin to midcaudal 

 fin base 19.6 (22.3); length of head 14.4 (15.3); snout 4.62 (5.25); 

 interorbital 4.00 (4.69); eye 2.00 (1.79); distance between anterior 

 and posterior nostrils 1.85 (2.13); postorbital length of head 9.39 

 (9.50); least width of preorbital space 2.92 (3.13); tip of upper 

 Up to occiput 11.3 (12.0); length from tip of upper hp to rear edge 

 of maxillaries or rictus 5.15 (6.14); width of gill opening 2.54 (2.13); 

 tip of snout to anus 8.85 (10.6) ; snout to pectoral insertion 15.8 (16.7) ; 



