REVIEW OF HIPPOCAMPUS — GINSBURG 579 



offshore in 50}^ to 123 fathoms.** While this fact is suggestive, it is 

 not conclusive. It may have been taken at the surface either off- 

 shore or inshore. The vertical as well as the geographical distri- 

 bution of this species remains to be determined. 



HIPPOCAMPUS HILDEBRANDI Ginsburg 



Figures 68, 69 



Hippocampus ingens Meek and Hildebrand (in part), Publ. Field Mus. Nat. 

 Hist., zool. ser., vol. 15, pt. 1, p. 256, 1923 (three specimens from Chame 

 Point, Pacific coast of Panama, referred to the present species) . 



Hippocampus hildebrandi Ginsburg, Journ. Washington Acad. Sci., vol. 23, 

 p. 562, 1933 (Chame Point, Panama, based on specimen of preceding record). 



Diagnosis. — First caudal segment hexangular; last trunk segment 

 octangular; penultimate trunk segment septangular, sometimes 

 novemangular (in one specimen out of three penultimate trunk seg- 

 ment incompletely novemangular). In other words, extra plate for 

 support of the dorsal usually present on first caudal and last trunk 

 segment only, sometimes also on penultimate trunk segments; or, 

 upper ridges of tail and trunk usually overlapping only on two seg- 

 ments. Trunk segments 11, caudal segments 39 (same count in aU 

 three specimens examined). Dorsal rays 20 (in two) or 21 (in one). 

 Pectoral rays 16 (in one) or 17 (in two). Tubercles on upper ridge 

 not at all pointed, every third or fourth strildngly stout but low, 

 forming characteristic stout, blunt, knoblike stumps (very similar in 

 appearance to those of ohtusus). Coronet well developed, of medium 

 height. Trunk slender; snout rather long. No slender filamxents, 

 but fleshy, short appendages present on some tubercles; profusely 

 covered with pimpleUke projections. The three available specimens 

 nearly uniformly dark, without any well-marked color pattern; 

 sometimes with small brown spots irregularly scattered on opercle, 

 trunk and tail. Kays of dorsal dark brown at bases gradually 

 becoming Hghter distally; a narrow, longitudinal hyaline streak, a 

 httle below middle, interrupting the conspicuous brown color on the 

 rays; interradial membrane hyaline. 



Measurements. — Two, without a brood pouch, 46 and 68 mm long; 

 depth 12 and 13.5, snout 10 (m both), postorbital 11.5 and 10.5, head 

 25 and 24.5, trunk 31.5 and 30, tail 63.5 and 65.5 and orbit 6 and 4.5 

 percent of length, respectively; one with a rudimentary brood pouch 

 49 mm, depth 9, snout 10, postorbital 11, head 25.5, trunk 32, tail 

 61.5, and orbit 6 percent of length. 



Distinctive characters and relationships. — The three specimens 

 forming the basis of the foregoing account unquestionably represent a 

 distinct species. There is only one other species, ingens, now known 

 from the Pacific coast of Panama, and hildebrandi should be compared 



" Rep. U. S. Comm. Fish, for 1885, p. 80, 1887. 



