THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 



163 



The Mission furnished six specimens, 180 to 470 mm. (145 to 390 

 mm. to base of caudal) long, taken near rocks at Lobos de Afuera, and 

 in Chilca Bay. There is at hand also a specimen (U.S.N.M. No. 

 77604), 220 mm. long, taken by R. E. Coker, at Guafiape North Island. 

 These seven specimens form the basis for the description. 



In the report of the Mission (1943, p. 278) it is stated that examples 

 up to "about 80 cms. m length" were taken, followed by the remark, 

 "While this species is eaten it does not form any considerable part of 

 the commercial fish landings." 



Range. — Coasts of Peru and Chile. 



Figure 35. — Acanthistius picius (Tschudi). From a specimen 220 mm. long, Guafiape North 

 Island, Peru (U.S.N.M. No. 77604). (After Evermann and Radcliffe, 1917.) 



Genus ALPHESTES Bloch and Schneider, 1801 



Body elongate, compresssed; back moderately elevated; maxillary 

 broad, with a supplemental bone; branchiostegals 7; preopercle with a 

 strong antrorse spine at lower posterior angle; dorsal with 11 spines 

 and 17 to 20 soft rays; anal with 3 spmes and 9 soft rays; ventral fins 

 inserted behind base of pectorals; pectoral round, with about 16 or 17 

 rays. 



A single species is represented in collections from Peru. 



ALPHESTES FASCIATUS, new species 

 CoMPAffERO DE MERO; MerO 



Figure 36 



Alphestes multiguttalus Evermann and Radcliffe (not of Giinther), 1917, p. 69, 

 Lobos de Afuera, Peru (synonymy, probably none of it concerning this 

 species; description). 



Head 2.4 to 2.8; depth 2.4 to 2.7; D. XI, 17 to 19; A. Ill, 9; P. 16 

 or 17; scales about 70; vertebrae 22 (one specimen dissected). 



Body deep, compressed, its greatest thickness rather less than half 

 the depth; back elevated; dorsal profile anterior to nape nearly 

 straight; caudal peduncle short, compressed, its depth 3.0 to 3.7 in 

 head; snout pointed, 4.4 to 5.3; eye 4.7 to 5.5; interorbital 7.3 to 8.4; 

 mouth large, oblique; lower jaw projecting, entering dorsal profile; 



