THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 109 



rows of teeth and the width of the bands apparently rather variable 

 with age); scales cycloid, missing on upper surface of head, but 

 present on cheeks and opercles; lateral line straight, posteriorly with 

 or without a keel; 12 to 16 branchiostegal rays; gill rakers virtually 

 undeveloped; dorsal about over middle of body, with 10 to 15 rays; 

 anal placed posteriorly, with 8 to 15 rays: adipose small, over the anal 

 base; ventral not far behind pectoral, with 8 rays, the inner ones 

 longer than the outer ones; pectoral rather short; caudal forked. 



Four species are included in the Peruvian fauna, two of which appear 

 to be new. The genus heretofore was not reported from Peru. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES 



a. Anal with 10 to 14 rays; head large, 3.4 to 4.8 in length. 



b. Anal with 13 or 14 rays; scales 63 to 66 in lateral series, 24 or 25 rows 

 crossing back in advance of dorsal fin; snout long, sharply pointed, 2.95 



to 3.4 in head; eye small, 6.3 to 7.6 in head scituliceps (p. 109) 



66. Anal with 10 to 12 rays; scales fewer; snout shorter, less sharply pointed, 

 3.5 to 4.5 in head; eye larger, 4.3 to 5.8 in head. 

 c. Scales moderately small, 56 to 59 in lateral series, 20 to 22 crossing back 

 in advance of dorsal fin; pectoral with 13 or 14 rays; mandible not 

 sharply pointed, without a definite fleshy knob at tip, but with vertical 

 fleshy folds of skin along its margins near tip. 



sechurae, new species (p. Ill) 

 cc. Scales large 45 to 50 in a lateral series, 15 or 16 rows crossing back in 

 advance of dorsal fin; mandible more sharply pointed, with a definite 

 fleshy knob at tip, and no folds of skin along margins. 



evermanni (p. 113) 



aa. Anal with 8 or 9 rays; head small, 5.0 to 5.4 in length; pectoral with 11 rays; 



dorsal with 12 rays marchenae, new species (p. 114) 



SYNODUS SCITUUCEPS Jordan and GUbert 



Synodus scituliceps Jordan and Gilbert, 1882b, p. 344, Mazatldn, Mexico (original 

 description; compared with S. foetens (Linnaeus). — Meek and Hildebrand, 

 1923, p. 221, Panama Bay (synonymy; description; close relationship with 

 S. foetens (Linnaeus) discussed; range. However, the specimens identified 

 as this species in part are S. sechurae, herein described as new). — Norman, 

 1935, p. 119 (synonymy; description; range; relationship with S. foetens 

 (Linnaeus) discussed). 



iSt/nodus jenfcmst Jordan and BoLLMAN, 1890, p. 153, Panama Bay; Guaymas, 

 Mexico (original description; compared with S. scituliceps. At least one of 

 the paratypes is <S. sechurae, herein described as new) . 



Head 3.9 to 4.3; depth about 7.7 to 8.8; D. 10 or 11; A. 13 or 14; 

 P. 13; scales 63 to 66, 4 complete rows between base of dorsal and 

 lateral line, 24 or 25 crossing back in advance of dorsal fin. 



Body rather slender, somewhat compressed; caudal peduncle mod- 

 erately compressed, its depth 3.9 to 4.8 in head; head depressed, its 

 width exceeding its depth by about half diameter of eye at margin 

 of preopercle; interorbital 2.0 to 2.9 in snout; upper anterior rim of 

 orbit with small serrae, its upper posterior rim slightly rough, without 

 definite serrae; snout narrow, pointed, projecting prominently beyond 



