Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 345 



of side; pelvic fin with a definitely convex margin, the innermost ray more 

 than 67 "/o of the length of the outermost one, the fin not pointed when 

 folded (Fig. 84 a, b); upper part of opercle with prominent radiating striae; 

 shoulder spot followed by a variable number of smaller dark spots in adults. 

 3 a. Ventral outline of body only moderately convex anteriorly, usually only 

 about half of greatest depth below a straight line extending through 

 lower margin of eye to middle of base of caudal; sheath of scales at base 

 of dorsal fin composed for the most part of a single row of scales covering 

 only the basal third of the longest rays when standing erect; pectoral 

 fin falling far short of base of pelvic fin, 3-7 vertical series of scales 

 between its tip and base of pelvic, the fin with 16-18 (rarely 15) rays. 

 4 a. Maxillary reaching well beyond vertical from posterior margin of 

 pupil, 13-16 "/o of SL; mandible 16-19 "/o of SL; pectoral fin 

 failing to reach base of pelvic fin by less than diameter of eye, 3 or 

 4 vertical rows of scales between tip of pectoral and base of pelvic, 

 its length 17—21 "/o of SL; caudal fin with lower lobe about as 

 long as head, iS~ZS-i "/o of SL. tyrannus (Latrobe) 1802, p. 346. 

 4 b. Maxillary reaching only to a vertical from posterior margin of pupil, 

 12-13 "/o of SL; mandible i 5.5-1 6.5 "/o of SL; pectoral fin failing 

 to reach base of pelvic fin by a distance exceeding diameter of eye, 

 5-7 vertical series of scales between its tip and base of pelvic, its 

 length I 5. 5-16 "/o of SL; caudal fin with lower lobe shorter than 

 head, 22.5—25 "/j of SL. brevkaudata Goode 1879, p. 363. 



3 b. Ventral outline of body strongly convex anteriorly, much more than half 

 of greatest depth below a straight line extending through lower margin 

 of eye to middle of base of caudal ; sheath of scales at base of dorsal fin 

 composed for the most part of two rows of scales covering basal two- 

 thirds of shortest rays when standing erect; pectoral fin often reaching 

 nearly to base of pelvic fin, seldom more than i or 2 vertical series of 

 scales between its tip and base of pelvic, the fin with 14-17 (usually 15 

 or 16) rays. patronus Goode 1879, p. 365. 



2 b. Scales on back and at base of caudal not much smaller than those along middle 

 of side; pelvic fin with a nearly straight oblique margin, the innermost ray 

 not more than 67 "/o of the length of the outermost one, the fin pointed when 

 folded (Fig. 84 c, d); upper part of opercle with feeble radiating striae, if any; 

 shoulder spot not followed by smaller dark spots. 



5 a. Scales in only 35—46 oblique series crossing middle of side; five longitudinal 

 rows on side of caudal peduncle; pectoral fin sometimes reaching base 

 of pelvic fin, occasionally falling short of this point by diameter of pupil, 

 its length 1 7.5-21 "/„ of SL, 0-3 vertical series of scales between its tip 

 and base of pelvic. pectinata Jenyns 1842. 



Rio Grande of Brazil to Bahia 

 Blanca, Argentina. 



