THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 



309 



rows of scales, most prominent on middle of side; opercle with a dark 

 blotch; vertical fins dusky; margin of spinous dorsal quite dark; 

 paired fins lighter; base of pectoral on inner side dusky. 



The description is based on a single specimen with a somewhat 

 damaged caudal fin, about 150 mm. (130 mm. to base of caudal) long, 

 taken by R. E. Coker at Pacasmayo. Although this species has been 

 reported as common in the vicinity about Callao, and at Pacasmayo, 

 the Mission did not obtain specimens. The deep body, the strong, 

 short dorsal spines, short anal spine, and the hard, firm scales, with 

 rather prominent dark lines marking their course, aid in distinguish- 

 ing this species from other local forms. The specimen described is 

 in excellent agreement with Steindachner's description of agassizii 

 but not in some respect with Tschudi's description of minor. In the 

 absence of specimens for determining individual variations, I follow 

 Jordan and Eigenmann and others in placing agassizii in the syn- 

 onymy of minor. 



Range. — Coasts of Peru and Chile. 



Figure 67. — Stellifer minor (Tschudi). From a specimen 150 mm. long, Pacasmayo, Peru 

 (U.S.N.M. No. 77669). (After Evermann and Radcliffe, 1917.) 



Genus NEBRIS Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830 



Body quite elongate, tapering posteriorly; head broad, little com- 

 pressed, the bones very cavernous (spongy to the touch); eye very 

 small; slits and pores about the mouth little developed; mouth large, 

 oblique; lower jaw projecting; teeth small, subequal, in a few series 

 or in a band in each jaw; preopercle with a membranous border; gill 

 rakers moderately long; scales small, mostly cycloid, extending on 

 all the fins. 



A single species is known from the Pacific coast of America. The 

 genus had not previously been reported from the coast south of 

 Panama Bay. 



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