THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 483 



Balistes) ; first dorsal with three spines, the first much enlarged ; second 

 dorsal and anal long, without spines, similar, and placed more or less 

 opposite each other. 



A single species has been recorded from Peru, 



CANXmDERMIS ADSPERSUS (Tschudi) 



Batistes adspersus Tschudi, 1845, p. 31, Huacho, Peru (original description). — 

 Abbott, 1899, p. 360 (original description quoted, without additional infor- 

 mation). 



Canthidermis adspersus Evermann and Radcliffe, 1917, p. 131 (synonymy; 

 discussion of relationship). 



Canthidermis rotundatus Meek and Hildebrand, 1928, p. 794, Panama Bay 

 (synonymy, based on the assumption that the Panama specimens are identical 

 with Hawaiian and Japanese specimens, which may be correct; description, 

 based on small specimens; range). 



Head (to upper angle of gill slit) 2.33 to 2.7; depth (at vertical from 

 second dorsal spine) 1.5 to 1.8; D. III-22 to 24; A. 20 to 22; P. 14; 

 scales (series running upward and backward between gill slit and base 

 of caudal) 41 to 46. 



Body deep, compressed, its greatest thickness rather more than a 

 third its depth; ventral profile anteriorly notably more strongly convex 

 than the dorsal; caudal peduncle short, 2.7 to 3.1 in head; snout long, 

 moderately blunt, 1.8 to 2.2; eye small 2.8 to 4.8; preorbital groove 

 short, little developed; interorbital expanded, transversely flat or 

 concave, 2.2 to 2.6; mouth very small, terminal; lips fairly thin, with 

 folds; teeth broad, with a more or less distinct lateral cusp; lateral 

 line not evident; scales very rough, many on side with an enlarged 

 spine, extending forward to lips, forming a shield of three or four 

 longitudinal rows on bases of second dorsal and anal; first dorsal 

 spine strong, with four rows of strong spines on its anterior surface, 

 inserted nearly an eye's diameter beliind vertical from posterior 

 margin of orbit, 1.9 to 2.4 in head, the other spines short and slender; 

 second dorsal with convex margin, the longest rays of about the same 

 length as the first spine; caudal rounded; anal similar to second 

 dorsal, its origin well posterior to that of second dorsal; pectoral 

 short, rounded, upper rays longest, 2.75 to 3.0 in head; ventral spine 

 short, very spinous, followed by prominent spinules on median line 

 of abdomen. 



Color dark brown to grayish; usually everywhere with pale spots 

 (probably juvenile markings); pectoral plain translucent, the other 

 fins rather darker than body and without fight spots in the larger 

 specimens, paler and spotted to colorless in the juveniles. 



Although this species originally was described from Peru, it has not 

 been secured there by recent coUectors. The description is based on 

 17 small specimens, 16 to 72 mm. (12 to 60 mm. to base of caudal) 

 long, from Panama Bay, the same ones, at least in part, on which the 



