150 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 99 



upper lip dusky, rest of upper and lower lips white; these young 

 specimens have 4 to 7, usually about 5, narrow vertical dusky bars on 

 sides. 



In addition, I refer to this species a small specimen, 17 mm. in 

 standard length, collected April 6, 1938, by Dr. F. F. Bond in a 

 coastal lagoon 15 Ion. north of Maracaibo. 



Family SCIAENIDAE: Croakers; Corvinas 



During my study of this family I carefully dissected the skin and 

 scales from the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head for the purpose 

 of determining which genera have "cavernous skulls" and found that 

 all of the genera listed herein have the narrow bony bridges and sunken 

 spaces, otherwise called cavernous skulls. In those genera and 

 species with broad interorbital spaces similar to Stellifer and with 

 thinner skin or scales the caverns are more easily felt by touch than 

 in certain other genera such as Equetus. 



The counting of the number of scale rows above the lateral line is 

 subject to error since certain rows run together as they approach the 

 lateral hne. To avoid this error and keep my counts consistent, I 

 counted the rows directly above the lateral line. 



KEY TO THE SCIAENIDAE REPORTED FROM VENEZUELA 



la. Tip of chin with a short stubby barbel, or each side of lower jaw anteriorly 

 with a row of minute barbels; width of preorbital wider than eye diameter; 

 scales along lateral line not enlarged; lower jaw included, teeth in villiform 

 band; teeth in upper jaw in a villiform band, outer row a Uttle enlarged. 

 2a. Tip of chin with a short, stout, blunt barbel; gill rakers on first arch very 

 short or almost rudimentary. 

 3a. Anal with one weak or nonpungent spine; preopercular edge not serrate 

 but its edge rather firm; first soft ray of pelvic fin not ending in a 

 filamentous tip; dorsal rays X-I,23 to 25; anal rays 1,7; pectoral rays 

 22 or 23; scale rows 74 to 82. 



Menticirrhus martinicensis Cuvier and Valenciennes 

 36. The two anal spines pungent; preopercular edge finely serrate; tip of 

 first soft pelvic ray more or less ending in a short filament. 

 4a. Vertical scale rows above lateral Une 57 and 58 (in two counts); 

 dorsal rays X-I,26 to 28; barbel blunt. 



Umbrina coroides Cuvier and Valenciennes 

 46. Vertical scale rows 48; dorsal rays X-I, 22; barbel tapering to a point. 



Umbrina gracilicirrhus Metzelaar 

 26. Each side of middle of lower jaw anteriorly with a short row of fine barbels; 

 gill rakers of moderate length, well developed on first arch; two pungent 

 anal spines; first soft pelvic ray with a short filamentous tip; dorsal rays 

 X-I, 26 or 27; anal rays 11,8; pectoral rays 18 or 19; gill rakers 7 or 8 + 

 13 to 15; scale rows about 68 to 70--Micropogon fumieri (Desmarest) 

 16. No barbels at tip of chin or on lower jaw. 



5a. Scales along the lateral line enlarged, partly overlapped by adjoining 

 smaller scales; mouth terminal, sometimes obUque in position; two 

 pungent anal spines; scale rows below lateral line slanting obliquely 



