ICHTHYOLOGY OF VENEZUELA — SCHULTZ 159 



Genus CYNOSCION Gill 



Cynoscion Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1861, p. 81. (Genotype, 

 Otolithus toeroe Cuvier and Ya\enciennes= Cheilodipterus acoupa Lacepdde.) 



Undoubtedly additional species of Cynoscion will be reported from 

 Venezuela, such as jamaicensis from the West Indies and acoupa from 

 British Guiana. 



The following key, constructed mostly from the literature, should 

 serve to distinguish those species expected to occur in Venezuelan 

 waters : 



la. Soft dorsal rays 23 to 30. 



2a. Soft dorsal rays 29 or 30; anal rays usually 11,8; scales cycloid, with about 

 120 to 130 vertical rows above lateral line; about 6 gill rakers on lower 

 part of first gill arch; head 3.5 to 3.66; depth 4.8 to 5.2. 



Cynoscion virescens ^i (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



2b. Soft dorsal rays 23 to 25; anal 11,9; scales ctenoid, in about 68 to 79 vertical 



rows above lateral hne; about 4+7 on first gill arch; head 3.2 to 3.4; 



depth 3.5 to 3.8 Cynoscion jamaicensis " (Yaillant and Bocourt) 



16. Soft dorsal rays 18 to 22. 



3a. Scales cycloid in about 100 to 120 rows above lateral line; soft dorsal rays 20 

 to 22, anal 11,10 or 11; gill rakers about 2 + 1 + 6 or 7 on lower part of first 

 gill arch; head 3 to 3.4; depth 3.6 to 4.2. 



Cynoscion leiarchus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



Zb. Scales ctenoid, in from 65 to 90 rows above lateral line; dorsal soft rays 18 to 



21; gill rakers on first gill arch 3 to 5 + 8 to 10; anal rays 11,8 to 10. 



4a. Soft dorsal rays 20 to 21; anal rays 11,8 to 10; scales with pores number 57 



to 64; head 3.8 to 4; depth 4; soft dorsal and anal heavily scaled; 



highest dorsal spine 1.8 in head; pectorals extending about two-thirds 



the way out the pelvics; axil of pectoral dark. 



CsTioscion steindachneri ^i (Jordan and Eigenmann) 



4&. Soft dorsal rays 19 to 21; anal rays 11,8 or 9; scales with pores number 55 



to 65; soft dorsal and anal with basal two-thirds scaled only; pectorals 



not quite reaching tips of pelvics; head 3.4 to 3.8; depth 3.8 to 4; axil 



of pectoral pale Cynoscion acoupa ^i (Lacep^de) 



4c. Soft dorsal rays 18 or 19, usually 18; anal rays 11,8; scales with pores 54 to 

 59; soft dorsal and anal with scales on basal one-third only; head about 

 3.25; depth 4.25; axil of pectoral dark. 



Cynoscion maracaiboensis, new species 



CYNOSCION LEIARCHUS (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



CORVINA 



Otolithus leiarchus Cuvier and Valenciennes, Histoire naturelle des poissons, 

 vol. 5, p. 78, 1830 (Brazil; Cayenne). 



U.S.N. M. No. 128255, 1 specimen 395 mm, in standard length, Amuay Bay. 

 U. S. S. Niagara, May 15, 1925. 



U.S.N.M. No. 128256, 1 specimen 395 mm., Estanques Bay, U. S. S. Niagara, 

 December 8, 1924. 



U.S.N.M. No. 123198, 3 specimens, 23 to 26 mm., south coast of Venezuela, 

 U. S. S. Niagara; these are identified with doubt as this species. They have 

 11,11 anal rays and X-I, 21 to 23 dorsal rays. 



" Not yet reported from Venezuela, 



