THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 187 



A second specimen (U.S.N.M. No. 77698) 275 mm. (223 mm. to 

 base of caudal) long, taken by R. E. Coker at Lobos de Tierra, appar- 

 ently also is of this species. This is the fish described and illustrated 

 by Evermann and Radcliffe (see reference above). As its mouth is 

 thrown wide open it is impossible to determine the exact shape of the 

 snout or the proportionate length of the lower jaw. Furthermore, 

 the preopercular spines are in part broken. Sufficient spines are left, 

 however, to show that none of them diverge strongly. There are 12 

 gill rakers on the lower limb of the first arch, 9 oblique rows of scales 

 on the cheek, and 7 in an oblique series between base of opercular 

 spine and margin of preopercle. In all these characters the specimen 

 essentially agrees with the type, as it does in the shape of the pectoral 

 and caudal. However, there are fewer (65) oblique series of scales 

 above the lateral line, wherein it agrees with D. conceptione. The 

 color, as far as determinable from the old preserved specimens, agrees 

 fairly weU with the type. 



In the development and arrangement of the preopercular spines 

 D. maxima is in virtual agreement with D. pacificum Meek and Hilde- 

 brand known from Panama Bay and northward. It differs from that 

 species, however, in the same way and to the same degree as it does 

 from D. conceptione in the longer and more pointed snout; more 

 strongly projecting lower jaw; in the proportionately longer and 

 stronger second anal spine ; in the notably less deeply concave caudal ; 

 and in the shape of the pectoral fin. It differs, further, from D. 

 pacificum in the smaller scales on the opercle, which also are rather 

 smaller on the cheek. Named maximum because it is among the 

 largest of the genus. 



Range. — Northern Peru; known only from Paita and Lobos de 

 Tierra. 



DIPLECTRUM CONCEPTIONE (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



Camotillo; Camote 



Serranus concepHonis Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828, p. 246, Concepci6n, 



Chile (original description; compared with D. radialis). 

 Pledropoma paytensis Lesson, 1830, p. 233, Paita, Peru (original description), 

 Dipledrum conceptione Abbott, 1899, p. 349, Callao, Peru (description, based on 

 5 specimens). — Evermann and Radcliffe (in part not of Cuvier and Valen- 

 ciennes) 1917, p. 75, pi. 7, fig. 2, Lobos de Tierra and Paita, Peru (synonymy; 

 description, based mostly on a specimen which apparently is not of this 

 species) . 



Head 2.7 to 3.0; depth 3.6 to 3.8; D. X, 12; A. Ill, 7; P. 17 or 18; 

 scales 6-64 to 68. 



Body low, compressed, its greatest thickness about two-thirds its 

 depth; dorsal profile anteriorly nearly straight; caudal peduncle com- 

 pressed, 2.9 to 3.3 in head; snout somewhat pointed, 4.1 to 4.5; eye 

 4.2 to 4.5; interorbital 7.1 to 8.2; mouth large, oblique; lower jaw 

 slightly projecting, not entering dorsal outline; maxillary extending 



