ICHTHYOLOGY OF VENEZUELA — SCHULTZ 149 



U.S.N. M. No. 121715, 10 specimens, 33 to 50 mm., from Lago de Maracaibo 

 at Yacht Club, Maracaibo, February 27, 1942. 



U.S.N. M. No. 121718, 6 specimens, 45 to 100 mm., Lago de Maracaibo at 

 Yacht Club, Maracaibo, March 5, 1942. 



There are four specimens measuring 37.5 to 51 mm,, from Lago de 

 Maracaibo at Yacht Club, A/faracaibo, that I have separated from the 

 February 27 collection (U.S.N.M. No. 121715) and I have placed 

 them in a separate jar that bears U.S.N.M. No. 121725. They are 

 referred to this species but vary from it in having II, i, 7 (in one 

 specimen) and II, i, 8 (in three specimens) instead of the usual three 

 anal spines. The third anal ray is usually a small slender spine but 

 in the four specimens under consideration here the third ray is simple 

 with a few cross-striations near its tip. I cannot otherwise distinguish 

 these four specimens from typical specimens of D. plumieri. 



Should a larger series become available to someone and should these 

 prove to represent an undescribed species, I have carefully measured 

 two specimens and recorded the data in table 18. In addition, the 

 following description was drawn up. 



Dorsal rays VIII, 11 (in one) and IX, 10 (in three); pectoral rays 

 IV, 12 in two counts, V, 11 in three, V, 12 in one; gill rakers on lower 

 part of first gill arch 14 or 15 in all four specimens. 



Greatest depth of body 2.5 or 2.6, head 2.7 or 2.8 in standard length; 

 snout 3.2 to 3.5, eye 3.6 to 3.8, and postorbital length of head 2.3 

 or 2.4, all in length of head; maxillary reaches not quite to below 

 anterior margin of pupil; area above premaxillary groove naked; 

 preorbital edge smooth or slightly rough; rear margin of preopercle 

 serrate; gill rakers strong and short; second dorsal spine long, reaching 

 past third dorsal spine and longer than head, contained 2.5 or 2.6 in 

 standard length and equal to or a little longer than greatest depth of 

 body; second anal spine long and strong, a trifle shorter than head, 

 about three times in standard length; distal margins of dorsal and of 

 anal fins concave; pectoral fins long, pointed, the first or second 

 branched rays longest and reaching to opposite origin of anal fin; 

 second dorsal spine when depressed reaches to opposite bases of 

 seventh or eighth soft dorsal rays; second anal spine when depressed 

 reaches to caudal fin base or nearly to it; profile of head barely concave 

 over orbits; first soft pelvic ray with a filament, the pelvic spine shorter 

 but reaching a little past anus; third row of scales below lateral line 

 continuous to caudal, rarely the second row; greatest depth of body 

 at origin of dorsal fin. 



Color. — Each row of scales has a darkly pigmented area giving the 

 appearance of streaks of small spots along each row of scales along 

 upper sides; distal margin of dorsal fin blackish, and rest of fin dusky, 

 except the basal sheath of scales, which are white; caudal fin dusky; 

 anal dusky forward; pectorals pale; snout dusky and dorsal tip of 



