58. SYNGNATniDJE — SIPHOSTOMA. '6H3 



minute, close beliiud vent; pectorals develo])ed, short and rather broad. 

 Male fishes with an egg-pouch along the under side of the tail, formed 

 by two cutaneous folds, and splitting lengthwise to extrude the young 

 fishes. Species nuuicroas, inhabiting all warm seas; abounding in bays 

 among the sea- weeds, and entering the rivers. The species of this 

 genus are subject to many variations, and their proper discrimination 

 is very difficult, (fr.'^ov, tube; (7-^5 //a, mouth.) 



a. Breast shields not covered by skiu; lower ja\\'*I)rojecting. (Siphostoma.) 

 b. Atlantic coast species. 



614. S. fuscuni (Storer) J. & G. — Common Fipc-fish. 



Olivaceous; sides mottled and blotched, as in other species; base of 

 dorsal with darker spots. JMuzzle shorter than the rest of the head. 

 Occiput usually more or less keeled. Dorsal fin longer than the head, 

 covering 4 + 5 rings. Distance from snout to dorsal 3 in total length. 

 Belly in females scarcely carinate. Tail one-third longer than rest of 

 body. Lateral line and upper caudal edge not continuous. Head 0. 

 D. 35-40. Eiugs 18+37. L. 10. Atlantic coast, common northward; 

 described from specimens from Wood's Holl, Mass. 



{Syugnathus fuscus Storer, Rept. Fish. Mass. 1838, 162: Sq)lwnosfoma fuficum Jor. & 

 Gillj. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1880, 22: S^/ngnafhiis peckianus Storer, 1. c. 10:5: Si/ngnathus 

 peckianus Giiuther, viii, 157: Syngiialhns fasciatus and viridesccns DeKay, New York 

 Fauna, Fish. 319-321: ^ Sijngnathiis ajjinis* Giiuther, viii, 164; from Louisiana.) 



615. S. louisianae (Giiuther) J. &. G. 



Color of other species; base of dorsal spotted. IMuzzle longest in 

 females, much longer than the rest of the head. Occii)ut somewhat 

 keeled. Dorsal fin shorter than the head, on 3+5 rings. Distance 

 from snout to dorsal 2J in total length. Belly in females scarcely 



*S. affinis (Gunther) J. & G. 



"The length of the snout is a little less than that of the remaining part of the head. 

 Head nearly one-ninth of the total length. A distinct ridge runs along the median 

 line of the snout and nuchal shields. Supraorbital ridge continued over the temples. 

 Anterior part of the operculum with a faint ridge. Shields without spines. Tail 

 longer than body. Caudal pouch half as long as the body. Lateral line interrupted. 

 Vent below the posterior third of the dorsal, which occupies 'J rings, 5 of which are 

 body-rings. Caudal liu well developed; anal fin rudimentary in the male. Back 

 with indistinct brown cross-bars; a brown band from the eye along the snout." 

 Total length 6 inches. Head 10 lines. Trunk 1 J inch. Length to origin of dorsal 

 fin 2 inches. Louisiana. {Gunilier.) 



Another form or species has the body stouter and the color darker, the dorsal in the 

 females very high, and blackish, with paler spots. Muz/le al>out equal to the rest of 

 the head. Occiput somewhat carinated. Dorsal fin shorter than the head, on 3 + 5 

 rings. Distance from suont to dorsal 2^ in length. Belly in the femal(\s with a sharp 

 black carina. Head 7. D. 30-31. Kings 15 + 33. Saint John's Kiver, Florida. 



{Sijjhonostoma sp. Jordau, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1880, 22.) 



