148 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM ^'°^- "^ 



hucina, the foramen between the coracoid and cleithrum is well de- 

 veloped. The rest of the pectoral skeleton in these two genera is 

 like that of the Characinae. 



The pectoral girdle of the Erythrininae is unique among characids. 

 The lower limb of the cleithrum is long and slender. The lateral 

 inferior lamella is much reduced in extent. The median coracoid 

 lamella is extremely reduced in size, being a very narrow crest or 

 actually absent. In all other characids that I have examined, the 

 coracoid extends anteriorly to, or almost to, the anterior edge of the 

 cleithrum. In the Erythrininae, the coracoid extends anteriorly for 

 only about one-half the length of the lower limb of the cleithi'um, and 

 the foramen between the cleithrum and coracoid is absent. The 

 cleithrum and post-temporal of the Erythrininae contain segments of 

 the laterosensory canals. 



Classification of the Characid Subfamilies 

 Lebiasininae and Erythrininae 



The following classification is based primarily on the evidence 

 presented in the foregoing section. 



SUBFAMILY LEBIASININAE EIGENMANN, 1910 



Definition: (1) Large fenestra between quadrate and metaptery- 

 goid absent. (2) Two diverging lamellae on ventral surface of 

 ethmoid very poorly developed. (3) Lateral posterior edge of frontal 

 not articulated with spinous process of sphenotic. (4) Six infraorbital 

 bones present; antorbital and first infraorbital separate ossifications. 

 (5) Accessory ectopterygoid (or dermopalatine?) absent. (6) Lower 

 limb of cleithrum moderately stout, not long and slender, its lateral 

 inferior lamella large. (7) Coracoid lamella a large flat plate, reach- 

 ing to near anterior border of cleithrum. (8) Anastomosis between 

 supraorbital and dermopterotic canal present. (9) Parietal and 

 epiphyseal branches of supraorbital canal reduced in length, parietal 

 branch never reaching parietal bone. (10) Perforated lateral line 

 scales, when present, confined to region anterior to dorsal fin. (11) 

 Frontal fontanel always absent in adults. (12) Teeth well developed 

 in both jaws, unicuspid or multicuspid. (13) Premaxillary with one 

 tooth row. (14) Dentary usually with two rows of teeth. (15) Gape 

 short, not reaching orbit, or, at most, only reaching posteriorly little 

 beyond verticle with anterior margin of orbit. (16) Branchiostegal 

 rays three or four. (17) Gill membranes partially united but free 

 from isthmus. (18) Body elongate, often fusiform or with fairly 

 blunt head; body rounded in cross section in region of dorsal fin and 

 head, compressed in region of caudal peduncle. (19) Adipose fin 



