ICHTHYOLOGY OF VENEZUELA — SCHTJLTZ 95 



280 specimens, 10.5 to 27.2 mm., lagoon 3 km. northwest of Barcelona, March 22, 

 1939. 



453 specimens, 10.2 to 28 mm., bajo seco east side of Puerto Cabello, January 

 26, 1938. 



HUBBSICHTHYS, new genus 



Genotype: Hubbsichthys laurae, new species. 



This new genus of Fundulinae is characterized by the free orbital 

 margin; eye diameter a little greater than the snout; interorbital 

 space flat, much wider than eye diameter; premaxillaries protractile; 

 lower jaw oblique; maxillary and anterior edge of the preorbital 

 oblique, not quite vertical, no angular pocket formed along front of 

 preorbital; fine conical teeth in upper jaw in two rows anteriorly, but 

 laterally forming a patch that ends in a sharp angular point poste- 

 riorly; teeth in lower jaw in two rows; dorsal origin in advance of 

 that of anal fin; dorsal origin equidistant between midcaudal fin base 

 and front margin of eye; anal origin very slightly closer to rear margin 

 of eye than midcaudal fin base; caudal fin rounded; gill rakers about 

 10 on lower part of first gill arch, short; gill membranes extending 

 forward to under pupil where they join forming a free fold; the row 

 of scales along middle of side much larger than those above and 

 below; base of caudal fin scaled. 



Remarks. — The genus may be recognized from the American 

 genera related to Rivulus as discussed by Myers (1927) by having a 

 free orbital margin and from other genera by a combination of char- 

 acters, as dorsal origin in advance of anal origin; an enlarged row of 

 scales along midsides, with smaller scales in the rows above and below; 

 cleft of mouth evenly curved and oblique; preorbital edge oblique 

 without angular pocket at upper edge; flat interorbital space, and 

 small conical teeth in two rows in both jaws. From Chriopeoides 

 Fowler (Notulae Naturae No. 35, p. 4, 1939, Jamaica) with which 

 this new genus is related it differs by having the upper edges of the 

 preorbital a little farther forward than the lower corner, so that the 

 preorbital edge slants forward, while in Chriopeoides the slant is in 

 the opposite direction; scales on breast in front of pelvic bases smaller 

 than on sides, the middle row irregular, with about 12 scales, while in 

 Chriopeoides the midventral row is very regular on breast, as large as 

 scales on sides, and number 8 scales. There are 12 scales in a zigzag 

 row around caudal peduncle instead of 14 as in Hubbsichthys. Inter- 

 orbital space very slightly convex in Chriopeoides but flat and on 

 level of upper rim of orbit in Hubbsichthys. 



One of the paratypes of Chriopeoides pengelleyi Fowler, A.N.S.P. 

 No. 68633, was kindly lent for examination by Henry W. Fowler, of 

 the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 



