228 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



basis for the foregoing description. A few additional individuals 

 seem to have been taken, but not preserved. It is stated in the 

 report of the Mission (1943, p. 247) that this fish (previously appar- 

 ently not definitely reported from Peru) is "relatively unimportant 

 as a commercial food fish," because it is not obtainable in sufficient 

 quantity. The meat, nevertheless, is said to be "delicious and 

 highly appreciated." It is reported as occurring "offshore in the 

 \^arm oceanic waters, especially where flying fish are to be found," 

 where it may be taken by trolling, and that it feeds almost entirely 

 on flying fish. It is stated also that "a number of females with large 

 swollen ovaries and almost ripe ova were taken off Callao * * * 

 in February." The female at hand, taken on May 8, has collapsed 

 ovaries. 



Range. — On the Pacific coast of America from California (rarely 

 as far north as southern Washington), southward to Peru (at least 

 as far south as Ilo, whence a commercial catch was reported in 1940) ; 

 also reported from Hawaii, Japan, Oceania, and both sides of the 

 Atlantic. 



Family CENTROPOMIDAE: Robalos 



Body elongate, moderately compressed; head somewhat depressed 

 above; mouth large; lower jaw projecting; teeth minute, pointed, 

 in bands on jaws, vomer, and palatines; preopercle and supraclavicle 

 serrate; opercle without spines, produced into a flap; gills 4; lateral line 

 decurved anteriorly, extending to end of caudal rays; dorsal fins 2, 

 well separated, the first with 7 or 8 spines, the first spine small or 

 rudimentary, the third and fourth rather long and strong; second 

 dorsal with a well-developed spine, and about 8 to 11 soft rays; 

 caudal forked; anal with 3 spines, and generally with 6 or 7 soft rays; 

 ventrals inserted a short distance behind pectorals, each with a 

 well-developed spine and 5 soft rays. 



This family is composed of a single genus, which previously was 

 not reported from Peru. 



Genus CENTROPOMUS Lacepede, 1802 



The characters of the genus are those of the family. 

 At least eight species occur on the coasts of tropical America, 

 from Florida and Baja California southward. 



CENTROPOMUS NIGRESCENS Gunther 



Centropomus nigrescens Gunther, 1864b, p. 144, Chiapam, Mexico (original 

 description). — Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, p. 426, pi. 42, Panama Bay 

 (synonymy; description; discussion of relationship; range and habitat). 



Head 3.0; depth 4.1; D. VIII-I, 9; A. Ill, 6; P. 15; scales 76. 

 Body fairly slender, compressed, its greatest thickness a little more 

 than two-thirds its depth; peduncle moderately long and slender, 3.1 



