THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 389 



according to the Indians at Chincha Islands," Yet, in the report of 

 the Mission (1943, p. 279) a considerable quantity is said to have been 

 marketed in 1940. Landings were made principally at Talara and at 

 Sechura. It, of course, is possible that more than one species of 

 blenny is included in the catch, as those of the genus Labrisomus also 

 grow large. 



Range. — Coasts of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile and northward to 

 Panama, many specimens from Balboa being at hand. Previously 

 not recorded from Ecuador. 



SCARTICHTHYS EQUES (Steindachner) 



Salarias eqves Steindachner, 1898, p. 307, pi. 19, figs. 5, 5a, Iquique, Chile 

 (original description) . 



A specimen 53 mm. (43 mm. to base of caudal) long, taken by the 

 Mission at North Chincha Island, agrees well with Steindachner 's 

 description and figure. Structurally it is so closely related to S. gigas 

 that it does not seem necessary to give a detailed description. The 

 forehead apparently is a little steeper and broader than in specimens 

 of gigas of about the same size; the tentacle on upper part of eye, 

 although identical in structure is shorter, being only a little more than 

 half length of eye, instead of nearly as long as eye; there are only two 

 simple tentacles at nape as in small examples of gigas, though rather 

 shorter; and the pectoral fin is notably shorter than head, instead of 

 being about as long as head. 



Slight differences in proportions and enumerations between eques 

 and gigas are evident from the figures that follow. The proportions 

 and enumerations, given second in each instance, are based on a speci- 

 men of gigas 63 mm. long, which is nearest the size of the one of eques 

 of any now at hand. Head 3.65, 3.9 in length; depth 3.8, 4.1; base of 

 anal 2.25, 2.5; pectoral 5.4, 4.5; caudal 4.3, 3.85. Eye 3.4, 3.9 in 

 head; snout 2.6, 3.0; interorbital 11.8, 16.7; maxillary 3.7, 3.6; caudal 

 peduncle 3.0, 3.6; ventral 2.0, 1.6; pectoral 1.5, 1.15. D. XII, 16, 

 XII, 16; A. II, 19,11, 18;P. 14, 14. 



In color eques differs prominently from gigas, the ground color being 

 pale olivaceous, probably yellowish in life. A prominent dark band 

 is present on the back, beginning on the interorbital and ending some- 

 what in advance of last rays of dorsal. A second prominent dark 

 band extends from the forehead through the eye to base of caudal; 

 rather broader than eye anteriorly, becoming very narrow posteriorly. 

 A black spot within the dark band is evident behind the eye. An 

 indefinite dark horizontal stripe extends from the premaxillary to 

 margin of opercle. The fins are pale, except the outer rays of the 

 caudal and the margin of the anal, which are slightly dusky. 



Range. — Coasts of Peru and Chile. Previously recorded only from 

 Chile. 



624264 — 45 26 



