62 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 99 



bital space; a narrow black streak along lateral line; black pigment on 

 each bony support along base of anal fin, 



Eigenmannia virescens (Valenciennes) 



16. Anal rays 255 and 263; rear margin of eye at middle of length of head; dorsal 



profile straight or a trifle concave; snout much longer than interorbital 



space; no black streak along lateral line; no black pigment along base of 



anal fin Eigenmannia goajira, new species 



EIGENMANNIA VIRESCENS (Valenciennes) 



Sternarchus virescens Valenciennes, in d'Orbigny, Voyage dans I'Amlrique 

 M^ridionale, Poissons, vol. 2, pi. 13, fig. 2, 1847 (ref. copied). — Eigenmann and 

 Ward, Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., vol. 7, p. 172, fig. 14, 1905 (Rfo Magda- 

 lena to Rio de La Plata, east of Andes). — Hildebrand, Field Mus. Nat. 

 Hist., zool. ser., vol. 22, No. 4, p. 292, 1938 (Rio Mamoni near Chepo, Rio 

 Tuyra to Rfo Magdalena to Buenos Aires). 



Eigenmannia virescens humboldlii Iherino, Rev. Mus. Paulista, vol. 7, p. 283, 

 1907 (Venezuela, Amazona, Maraj6). 



Sternopygus virescens Sachs, Aus den Llanos, 1879, p. 279 (Apure). — Eigenmann 

 AND Eigenmann, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 14, p. 16, 1891 (Orinoco). 



U.S.N. M. No. 121581, 8 specimens, 120 to 165 mm., Rfo Ap6n, about 35 km. 

 south of Rosario, February 26, 1942. 



U.S.N. M. No. 121579, 4 examples, 88 to 128 mm., Rfo San Pedro at bridge, 

 south of Mene Grande, March 20, 1942. 



U.S.N.M. No. 121578, 11 specimens, 80 to 136 mm., Rfo Negro below mouth 

 of Rfo Yasa, March 2, 1942. 



U.S.N.M. No. 121583, 10 specimens, 73 to 165 mm. Rfo Socuy, 3 km. above 

 mouth, February 24, 1942. 



U.S.N.M. No. 121582, 4 specimens, 97 to 160 mm., Rfo San Juan near the 

 bridge south of Mene Grande, March 17 to 20, 1942. 



U.S.N.M. No. 121580, 10 specimens, 145 to 210 mm., Rfo Motatdn at bridge, 

 22 km. north of Motatdn, March 17, 1942. 



The follow^ing number of anal rays were counted on the specimens 

 hsted above: 179; 180; 182; 184; 185; 187; 187; 190; 194; 198; 199; 201 

 and 205. 



This species, when taken from the water, was silvery in coloration 

 and more or less translucent. 



As a result of my examination of various specimens of Eigenmannia 

 centering around the species currently recognized as virescens, I am 

 forced to conclude that this species should be broken up into one or 

 more subspecies. One should especially note that in British Guiana 

 two species are undoubtedly passing under E. virescens. Specimens 

 from the Botanic Garden (U.S.N.M. No. 66296) and others have 185 

 to 198 anal rays. Those from Wismar (U.S.N.M. No. 66298) have 

 208 to 224 anal rays and the anal fin has a dark band distally more 

 ntense anteriorly on these alcoholic specimens. I have not yet been 

 able to work out the valid names for these two species. Undoubtedly 

 the Panamanian form of virescens should be described as a new sub- 

 species on the basis of fewer anal rays (165), a larger eye, and longer 

 pectoral fin, but I hesitate to take this step as our only specimen is 

 without a tail. 



