252 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Huacho-Carquin, Pisco, and Callao. According to R. E. Coker, as 

 reported by Evermann and Radcliffe (see reference above), the meat 

 of this fish is of excellent quality. 



Range. — Coast of Peru. Also recorded from the Galdpagos Islands, 

 and from Cocos Island. 



Genus BRACHYDEUTERUS Gill, 1862 



Body elongate, compressed ; mouth moderately large, with maxillary 

 extending about under anterior margin of eye; teeth viUiform, in a 

 band in each jaw, none on vomer or palatines; preopercle serrate; no 

 spines on opercle; lateral line complete; scales moderately large, firm, 

 ctenoid, forming a very low sheath on base of dorsal and anal, and 

 small scales extending on the interradial membranes of these fins; 

 vertebrae about 26; dorsal with 12 spines and about 13 to 15 soft rays; 

 caudal with a shallow fork; anal with 3 spines, the second little if at 

 all enlarged, generally equal to or shorter than the third, the fin with 

 about 6 to 8 soft rays; ventrals inserted behind base of pectorals in 

 Peruvian species (not checked for other species). 



KEY TO THE SPECIES 



a. Anal spines graduated, the second notably shorter and not stronger than the 

 third; scales on cheek and opercle large, 6 or 7 horizontal rows below pos- 

 terior part of eye, and 4 vertical series behind upper part of preopercular 

 margin; preorbital not excessively broad in large specimens, rarely less 



than 5.5 in head nitidus (p. 252) 



aa. Anal spines generally not graduated, the second usually fully as long as the 

 third, and stronger; scales on cheek and opercle smaller, about 8 or 9 hori- 

 zontal rows (not always in definite series) below posterior part of eye, and 

 5 vertical series behind upper part of preopercular margin; preorbital very 

 broad in large specimens, only about 3.0 in head leuciscus (p. 2541 



BRACHYDEUTERUS NITIDUS (Steindachner) 



Gallinazo 



Pristipoma (Haemulopsis) nitidum Steindachner, 1869a, p. 5, pi. 3, Mazatldn, 



Mexico (original description). 

 Brachydeuterus nitidus Jordan and Evermann, 1898, p. 1326 (description; 



range; synonymy). — Evermann and Radcliffe, 1917, p. 83, Capon, Peru 



(description; range). 



Head 3.0; depth 2.8; D. XII, 14; A. Ill, 8; scales 52. 



Body compressed, its greatest thickness scarcely more than half its 

 depth; back moderately elevated; profile over head slightly convex; 

 ventral outline gently convex; caudal peduncle moderately long, com- 

 pressed, 3.0 in head; snout moderate, 3.5; eye 3.5; interorbital 3.5; pre- 

 orbital 6.25; mouth little oblique, terminal; maxillary extending under 

 anterior margin of eye, 3.5 in head ; teeth in a band in each jaw, the outer 

 ones scarcely enlarged ; margin of preopercle rather coarsely denticulate, 

 the spines at angle little enlarged; gill rakers slender, scarcely half 



