194 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



KEY TO THE SPECIES 



a. A large black caudal spot present, sometimes obscure in large examples; no 

 black bar under base of second dorsal; 11 or 12 (rarely 10) gill rakers, 

 (exclusive of rudiments) on lower and 3 on upper limb of first arch; maxillary 



1,8 to 1.9 in head dovii (p. 194) 



aa. Caudal spot wanting; a black bar present on side under second dorsal; 9 or 

 10 gill rakers, exclusive of rudiments, on lower and 2 (rarely 3) on upper 

 limb of first arch; maxillary 1.95 to 2.05 in head parri (p. 195) 



APOGON DOVn Gunther 



Apogon dovii GiJNTHER, 1861, p. 371, Panama Bay (original description). — Jordan 

 and EvERMANN, 1896, p. 1108 (description; range). — Meek and Hildebrand, 

 1925, p. 417, Panama Bay (synonymy; description; range). 



Head 2.5 to 2.8; depth 2.75 to 3.2; D. VI-I, 9; A. II, 8; P. 11 or 12; 

 scales 23 to 27; vertebrae 23 (one specimen dissected). 



Body rather short, compressed, its greatest thickness fully equal to 

 half the depth; dorsal outline anteriorly rather gently and evenly 

 convex; caudal peduncle long, compressed, its depth 2.2 to 2.5 in head; 

 head robust, compressed, its greatest thickness about equal to its 

 depth at middle of eye; snout blunt, 4.0 to 5.0 in head; eye 2,8 to 3.3; 

 interorbital 4.3 to 5.1; mouth rather large, slightly oblique, nearly 

 terminal; maxillary scarcely reaching posterior margin of eye; 1.8 to 

 1.9 in head; teeth in each jaw in villiform bands, in an irregular series 

 on vomer and^palatines ; opercle with an embedded spine ; free edge of 

 preopercle, above lower posterior angle mostly definitely serrate; gill 

 rakers serrate along inner edge, 11 or 12 (rarely 10) developed on 

 lower and 3 on upper limb of first arch, the rakers preceded on 

 each limb by 2 to 4 thick, spiny tubercles; lateral line extending some- 

 what on base of caudal, following curve of back; scales very strongly 

 ctenoid, extending on base of caudal, two complete rows between 

 lateral line and base of first dorsal; spines of first dorsal moderately 

 strong, the second and third, and sometimes the fourth, of about 

 equal length, the longest 2,0 to 2,5 in head; origin of first dorsal over 

 base of pectoral; second dorsal notably higher than the first, the 

 anterior elevated lobe rather pointed, the longest rays often as long 

 as head without snout; caudal concave, the lobes rounded; anal 

 similar to second dorsal, its first spine very short, the second 2,4 to 3.0 

 in head, origin of fin slightly behind that of second dorsal; ventral 

 inserted under base of pectoral, reaching vent and sometimes origin 

 of anal; pectoral long, rounded, 1,4 to 1.6 in head. 



Color of preserved specimens brownish above, pale underneath; 

 chest silvery (almost whoUy red in life) ; back and sides and sometimes 

 the chest with dark punctulations ; a black caudal spot present at all 

 ages, though less distinct in large individuals; some individuals with a 

 dark longitudinal band extending from eye to about opposite origin of 

 anal, this band sometimes reduced to an obscure opercular spot; first 

 dorsal partly dusky ; produced parts of second dorsal and anal usually 



