THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 59 



posterior border; 2 dorsal fins, separated by a distance a little less 

 than half the base of first dorsal; base of first dorsal 3.3 in snout; 

 second dorsal considerably larger than the first, continuous (without 

 a notch) with the very low, virtually undeveloped caudal, and not 

 extending to end of tail; ventral not deeply notched, the outer lobe 

 greatly thickened, 4.05 in length anterior to axil of pectoral, and 5.8 

 in width of disk. 



Color gray, paler toward margins of disk; a large pale area on end 

 of snout; pectorals largely with rather obscure dark spots; ventrals 

 with very indistinct spots; under parts pale, except posterior parts of 

 disk, which are rather abruptly dusky. 



The description is based on the type and only specimen at hand, a 

 female 480 mm. long (U.S.N.M. No. 127786). This species differs 

 from P. chilcae in the width and shape of the disk, the broader inter- 

 orbital, the smaller eye, the fewer spinules and spines, the relative 

 size of the dorsal fins, in the development of the rudimentary caudal 

 fin, in color, and in several other respects, which in part concern the 

 sex. The only specimen of P. chilcae known is a male. This species, 

 as well as all the others described herein, differs from P. brevicaudatus 

 Cope, according to the description, in having a proportionately broader 

 disk, shorter tail, shorter snout (to mouth), broader interorbital, 

 and in the abundance and position of spinules and spines. 



The presence of many spinules and spines suggested the name 

 asper. 



Range. — The type, and only specimen known, was secured by the 

 Mission at Pachacamac Island with a trammel net set near rocks. 



PSAMMOBATIS MACULATUS, new species 



Rata 



Figure 11 



Disk rather broad, tip of snout slightly projecting, only slightly 

 convex opposite posterior part of snout, and scarcely concave opposite 

 and posterior to spiracles, moderately to strongly convex elsewhere; 

 width of disk 1.3 in total length; its greatest length 1.6; length anterior 

 to axil of pectoral 1.8; length anterior to vent 1.75; length posterior to 

 vent 2.45; tail depressed, its depth 2.0 in its width at axil of ventral, 

 with a cutaneous fold beginning somewhat in advance of extremity 

 of ventral, increasing in width posteriorly; snout moderately long, 4.1 

 in length anterior to axil of pectoral, and 5.75 in width of disk; its 

 preoral length only a little less than its length to eye, 4.3 in length 

 anterior to axil of pectoral, and 6.05 in width of disk; eye moderately 

 large, its longitudinal diameter about equal to width of spiracle, 4.75 

 in snout; interorbital concave, about 2.25 times diameter of eye, 2.15 

 in snout, 9.0 in length anterior to vent; internarial space scarcely 

 narrower than mouth, 1.5 in preoral length; mouth bent forward 



