THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 249 



first arch; scales firm, rather strongly ctenoid, in oblique rows above 

 lateral line, horizontal below it, 10 rows between lateral line and base 

 of first dorsal spine, and 8 between lateral line and base of first soft 

 ray of dorsal, forming a sheath on base of dorsal and anal, but not 

 extending on these fins; dorsal not deeply indented, the fourth spine 

 longest, 2.4 in head; caudal with a shallow fork, the upper lobe the 

 longer; second anal spine a little stronger, but not longer than the third, 

 4.25 in head; ventral inserted behind base of pectoral, its spine very 

 slender, 2.3 in head; pectoral long, pointed, reaching tip of ventral, the 

 fifth ray (counting downward) the longest, 1.15 in head, 3.7 in length. 



"Color shortly after death, dusky silvery with irregular gold stripes, 

 oblique above the lateral line, horizontal below; under side of opercle 

 reddish orange. In alcohol the golden lines along the rows of scales 

 are scarcely discernible; opercular margin dark; general color dusky 

 grayish olive; dorsal and anal dark." (Evermann and Radcliffe.) 



The description is based on the same specimen (U.S.N.M. No. 

 77737), 345 mm. (275 mm. to base of caudal) long, reported by Ever- 

 mann and Radcliffe (1917, p. 87) from Lobos de Afuera, Peru. This 

 species was not secured by the Mission. 



The specimen was compared with several from Panama Bay, all of 

 which are smaller. The Peruvian specimen difiers somewhat in hav- 

 ing smoother scales, proportionately shorter dorsal and anal spines, 

 and a rather shorter pectoral. These differences probably all may be 

 ascribed to the differences in age and size. It also has only 11 dorsal 

 spines, whereas the Panama specimens have 12. If the differences 

 are of specific value, it cannot be determined from the single specimen 

 now at hand from Peru. 



Range. — Gulf of California to northern Peru, and the Galdpagos 

 Islands. 



Genus ANISOTREMUS Gill, 1861 



Body deep, compressed; back rather high; head rather short, blunt; 

 mouth small, low, nearly horizontal; lips thick; maxillary rarely 

 reaching beyond front of eye; teeth in jaws in bands, the outer ones 

 generally somewhat enlarged, conical or pointed; scales moderate to 

 large, ctenoid; dorsal continuous, but deeply notched, the fourth 

 spine generally longest; caudal usually with a shallow fork; anal with 

 3 strong spines, the second one usually much enlarged, and with about 

 9 to 13 soft rays. 



A single species definitely belongs to the Peruvian fauna.** 



i« Evermann and Radclifle (1917, p. 81) included AvisiHremus pacifici in their catalog of the fishes of Peru, 

 stating that it occurs on the Pacific coast from Central America to Peru. However, they had no specimens, 

 and I failed to find it recorded from Peru elsevchere. The southernmost place for which I have found records 

 is Guayaquil, Ecuador, from whence it is reported by Steindachner (1902, p. 115) and by Starks (1906, p. 

 788). Therefore, it may be expected in northern Peru. If taken it may be distinguished from A. scapularia 

 by the notably larger scales (about 45 to 50 vertical series above lateral line) and by having only 11 spines in 

 the dorsal and only 9 or 10 soft rays in the anal. A. pacifici, also, generally has several dark cross bars. 



