120 MEMOIRS OF THE CAENEGIE MUSEUM. 



Head 7.25 (old individuals) to 11 (young specimens), depth 8.5 to 14 in the 

 length to the end of the anal; anal rays 200 to 260.- 



Snout 2.5 to 3; interorbital 2.25 to 3 in the head; eye 4 (young) to 7 in the 

 snout, 4.25 to 6 in the interorbital, 10 to 6 in the head. 



Body cylindrical; head depressed; width of the head 1.25 to 1.6, depth of the 

 head at the base of the occipital process 1.3 to 1.8 in the greatest depth; anus near 

 the vertical from a point the length of the snout behind the eye; dorsal profile 

 almost straight; ventral profile slightly convex. 



Snout very shghtly pointed in young specimens, blunt in adults; mouth rather 

 large; gape straight, reaching about two-thirds of the distance to almost below the 

 eye; upper jaw included; caudal peduncle one-half the length of the snout or less; 

 pectorals 2.25 to 3 in the head; origin of the anal behind pectorals on the vertical 

 from a point about 1.5 times the snout behind the head. 



Ground-color of alcoholic specimens varies from a light slate-gray in young 

 specimens to a light orange in adults; a series of transverse white stripes crossing 

 the body in young individuals, which widen and become yellow with age so that 

 the adults are yellow, barred with black; dorsal parts washed with a dark chocolate- 

 brown containing numerous black spots; fins translucent, mottled with black or 

 brown. 



In life the body is a translucent flesh-color or pale yellow, varying to a distinct 

 pink in the parts rich in blood. The stripes and markings are blue or green, 

 giving the fish a purplish or olive-green cast. This color may be deepened or 

 lightened slightly by the expansion and contraction of the chromatophores. 



The general marking of the species varies considerably, specimens from clear 

 water being darker and more striped than those from muddy water. Some speci- 

 mens from Guatemala and from the Upper Paraguay are almost without markings. 



This fish is eaten throughout South and Central America, but is only prized 

 as a food-fish in Guatemala, where it is rather rare. The Guiana Indians, who 

 know it as the "Warradeela" or "Warraderra," — Tiger-fish, consider it very good 

 and take it often when poisoning fishes in the dry season, though it is rarely used 

 for food by the whites of Guiana. It is also frequently .used for food in Paraguay. 



Through Brazil it is variously known as "Fehs onca," "Ardea cocoi," " Jacana 

 jacana" and "Carapo." It sometimes reaches the length of three feet. 



Habitat: Small, shaded creeks, in slow water. 



Distribution: Guatemala, south to the Rio de La Plata, and west to the Andes. 



= Barima 208 217 218 224 256 



Kumaka 212 224 228 240 254 



Amataima 200 215 216 230 260 



Nickaparoo 211 217 225 240 260 



Holmia 207 220 225 235 245 



