THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 139 



on the back, more or less halfmoon-shaped, being divided on the 

 median Hne by the dorsal groove, the halves sometimes not quite 

 opposite each other, a half sometimes missing; a row of large spots 

 on upper half of side, alternating with those on the back and extend- 

 ing to or more usually slightly below the lateral line; a third series of 

 dark spots smaller and less distinct on lower part of side extending 

 backward on anterior fourth of tail; posterior half of tail with a median 

 ventral series of dark spots; dorsal fin with a black margin between 

 the dark spots, elsewhere mostly pale; anal brownish; pectoral 

 largely brown. 



The description is based on a single specimen, 370 mm. long 

 (U.S.N. M. No. 77635), secured by R. E. Coker at Lobos de Tierra. 

 This is the eel on which the account by Evermann and Radcliffe 

 (see reference above) was based. This specimen seems to agree well 

 with the type specimens as described, except for cross bands on the 

 back, which are not well marked, though the spots described do 

 suggest bars. The specimen at hand is much smaller than the type 

 specimen described as having cross bands by Giinther (see reference 

 above), which was 600 mm. long. Some variation in color with age 

 may be expected. 



Range. — Coast of Peru. 



OPmCHTHUS AFUERAE, new species 



Figure 32 



Body slender, scarcely deeper than broad; head and tnmk about 

 equal in length to the tail, the length anterior to vent 2.07 in total 

 length; head large, scarcely deeper than broad at posterior angle of 

 mouth, its length anterior to gill opening 8.2 in total length, 3.9 in 

 length anterior to vent; depth 9.8 in length anterior to vent, 2.5 in 

 head; snout rather broad, scarcely extending beyond mandible, 6.6 

 in head; eye lateral, 6.7 in head, 1.5 in snout; mouth large, the gape 

 reaching far beyond eye, 2.2 in head; teeth pointed, directed back- 

 ward; upper jaw with two rows laterally, with a single row of six 

 teeth anteriorly, the row interrupted, but resumed posterior to first 

 nostril, the second (outer row) beginning behind second nostril, both 

 rows extending nearly to angle of mouth; lower jaw with a single row; 

 vomer with a pair of teeth anteriorly followed by a single row of 10 

 teeth becoming progressively smaller posteriorly; anterior nostril 

 with a well-developed tube, the second one without a tube but with 

 a broad fringed membrane on outer side and none on inner side, the 

 membrane being within the mouth; upper lip more or less papillose, 

 with a prominent barbel-like papilla on outside of second nostril, 

 proceded by a prominent pore, and 3 more or less evenly spaced pores 



