THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 301 



Two specimens, 240 and 265 mm. (190 and 210 mm. to base of caudal) 

 long, taken in the Gulf of Guayaquil, off Puerto Pizarro, are included 

 in the collection furnished by the Mission. Although this species 

 has been reported from Guayaquil, Ecuador, it has not been recorded 

 from Peru. 



The specimens were compared with others from Panama Bay and 

 with two from Guayaquil, Ecuador, with which they seem to agree 

 almost perfectly. 



Range. — ^El Salvador to northern Peru. Previously not recorded 

 from Peru. 



Genus STELLIFER Oken, 1817 



Body elongate, more or less compressed; head generally rather low 

 and broad; skull cavernous, usually spongy to the touch (variable 

 among the species), the septa being reduced (in some species) to the 

 thinness of honeycomb; mouth moderate, nearly horizontal to quite 

 oblique; preopercular margin with 1 to about 7 or 8 spines; gill rakers 

 long and slender, numerous (about 20 to 36 on lower limb of first arch 

 in Peruvian species); first dorsal with about 10 to 15 spines, second 

 dorsal with 1 spine and about 18 to 25 soft rays; anal with 2 spines 

 and about 7 to 11 soft rays. 



Only one species, S. minor, previously was recognized from Peru. 

 The number has now been increased to five. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES 



a. Margin of preopercle with only 2 spines (situated at angle). 



h. Snout projecting far beyond premaxillaries; mouth nearly horizontal; 21 

 gill rakers on lower limb of first arch; lower spine of preopercle directed 



downward and forward fiirthii (p. 302) 



66. Snout projecting little, if at all, beyond premaxiUaries; 26 to 34 gill rakers 

 on lower limb of first arch; lower spine of preopercle directed downward 

 and backward (not downward and forward). 

 c. Skull rather firm; second dorsal with 25 or 26 rays; anal with 8 rays; 26 



or 27 gill rakers on lower limb of firstarch oscitans (p. 303) 



cc. Skull rather cavernous; second dorsal with 20 or 21 rays; anal with 10 

 rays; 31 to 34 gill rakers on lower limb of first arch. 



pizarroensis, new species (p. 304) 



aa. Margin of preopercle with about 6 or 7 spines, those at angle generallj- more 



or less enlarged. 



d. Body rather elongate, only moderately compressed, its depth 3.1 to 3.5 in 



length; second dorsal spine shorter and notably stronger than the third 



one; second dorsal with 22 to 25 rays; anal with 9 rays; no definite dark 



stripes along the rows of scales. 



ericymba peruana, new subspecies (p. 305) 



dd. Body deeper, more strongly compressed, its depth 2.75 in length; second 



dorsal spine not much shorter or stronger than the third one; second 



dorsal with 20 rays; anal with 10 rays; definite dark stripes along the rows 



of scales minor (p. 308) 



