382 Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 



Body elongate, rather strongly compressed, its greatest thickness often only a 

 third of the depth, its depth variable, generally greatest at origin of dorsal, 2.5-3.33 

 in SL; ventral outline strongly convex, the dorsal outline typically only gently convex, 

 making the body when viewed from the side rather definitely boat-shaped. Caudal 

 PEDUNCLE depth 2.3—2.8 in head. 



Scales only moderately adherent, thin, notably deeper than long, with somewhat 

 irregular membranous edges; 3 or 4 vertical rows of scales exposed between tip of 

 pectoral and base of pelvic. Ventral scutes moderately developed, 18 or 19, occa- 

 sionally 17, in front of pelvic fins, and 14-16, occasionally 13 or 17, behind them. 



Head small, 3.5-4.5. Snout blunt, without a definite median notch, 3.4-4.5. 

 Eye moderately large, slightly longer than snout, 3.0—4.0. Interorbital 3.8—5.7. 

 Cheek much longer than deep. Maxillary broadly rounded, reaching about to ver- 

 tical from anterior margin of pupil, 2.15-2.75. Mandible slightly projecting, its tip 

 definitely lower than dorsal outline of head, its upper margin (within mouth) ascending 

 abruptly, forming an obtuse angle. Gill rakers very numerous, close-set, those on 

 upper limb not extending down and over those on the lower limb, the longest about 

 0.33 of diameter of eye; increasing in number with age and growth: about 40—50 on 

 lower limb in specimens 40—60 mm TL and up to 100 or more in adults about 235 

 mm TL. Teeth not discernible. 



Dorsal fin elevated anteriorly, the longest among the anterior rays generally ex- 

 ceeding length of snout and eye, the last ray filamentous, rather variable in length, most 

 frequently reaching vertical from base of last ray of anal; origin of fin about half as 

 far from posterior margin of eye as from base of caudal, the distance from margin of 

 snout approximately 33 "/o of TL, or 2.3 in SL; a low sheath of scales on base of fin. 

 Caudal deeply forked, its middle rays about as long as eye, its lobes long, the lower 

 one 3.0—3.5 in SL. Anal fin scarcely elevated anteriorly, its margin nearly straight, 

 its last ray slightly enlarged, Its origin only about a third as far behind vertical from 

 last dorsal ray as from base of caudal, its base i.i— 1.6 in head; a low sheath of scales 

 at base. Pelvic fin small, pointed when folded, with a nearly straight oblique margin 

 when spread, Its length 2.1—2.8 In head, its innermost ray about 66 "/o of length of 

 the outermost one, the fin inserted a little in advance of vertical from middle of base of 

 dorsal, its distance from origin of anal equal to distance from origin of anal to base of 

 caudal. Pectoral fin moderately long, its margin nearly straight, pointed, lying In a 

 slight depression. Its length from base of upper ray to tip of fin, 4.75—5.8 in SL, or 

 I.I— 1.6 in head, Its shortest rays only about half as long as the longest ones. Axil- 

 lary process absent. 



Color. Back bluish-green in life, the rest of body silvery. A dark shoulder spot 

 usually present. Rows of scales on back with more or less definite dark lines. Fins 

 chiefly translucent, the dorsal and caudal lobes generally with dark tips. 



Size. A length of 300 mm (12 in.) has been reported. The size generally Is much 

 smaller, however, the usual length being only about 200-250 mm (8—10 In.). 



Development and Growth. The eggs and larvae have not been described. The 



