Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 415 



beyond tip of last ray if deflexed, its origin slightly nearer to margin of snout than 

 to base of caudal, its distance from margin of snout i. 95-2.1 in SL, its base nearly 

 as long as that of the anal; a narrow sheath of scales on anterior part of base. Caudal 

 fin long, rather deeply forked, the upper lobe exceeding greatest depth of body by 

 more than diameter ot eye. Anal fin small, its origin about half of length of head 

 behind base of dorsal and a little nearer to base of caudal than to insertion of pelvic, 

 its base notably shorter than head, 6.9—7.8 in SL; a narrow sheath of scales at base. 

 Pelvic fin long, pointed, inserted about half of eye's diameter in advance of dorsal 

 fin and about equidistant between base of pectoral and vent, 1.2 — 1.5 in head. Pec- 

 toral failing to reach base of pelvic by diameter of eye, scarcely as long as head, 

 4.9—5.0 in SL. 



Color. Brownish in alcohol, with metallic reflections. Sides of head silvery. Back, 

 upper surface of head, snout, and mandible with dusky dots; dusky dots also on the 

 fins, exclusive of pelvics. 



Size. The largest specimens reported to date are only 85 mm (3.4 in.) TL. 



Relationship. This species was synonymized with R. amazonica by Regan in his 

 revision of this and related genera (106: 394). A careful rereading of the original de- 

 scription of amazonica, with syntypes of serrata in hand, reveals some differences that 

 seem too important to dismiss. Accordingly, the species herein are recognized as distinct. 

 For a definite determination of the relationship of the two species, a more accurate de- 

 scription of specimens from the type locality of amazonica is needed. 



Range. Known trom Venezuela and from Dutch and British Guiana. 



Synonyms and References: 



Heringia amazonica Fowler (probably not of Steindachner, but serrata Eigenmann), Proc. Acad. nat. Sci. Philad., 

 63, 191 1 : 207 (14 specimens from "Surinam"; made type of a new genus, Heringia; preoccupied in 

 Diptera); Regan (not of Steindachner), Ann. Mag. nat. Hist., (8) ig, 1917: 394 {Rhinosardinia serrata 

 Eigenmann apparently incorrectly synon.; descr. based on cotv'pes of ^. serrata). 



Rhinosardinia serrata Eigenmann, Mem. Carneg. Mus., 5, 1912: 445, text fig. 39, pi. 62, figs. 3 and 4 (orig. 

 descr., type local. Morawhanna and Mora Passage, British Guiana; type CM 2443). 



Rhinosardinia amazonica Myers (in part not of Steindachner), Copeia, 1929: i {R. serrata thought to be synon., 

 following Regan, which seems to be incorrect); Fowler (probably not of Steindachner, but serrata 

 Eigenmann), Proc. Acad. nat. Sci. Philad., 82, 193 1 : 406 (name and locals, only; Caiio Guanoco and 

 Punta Tigre at mouth of San Juan R., Venezuela). 



Genus Ilisha Gray 1846 



Ilisha Gray in Richardson, IchthyoL Seas of China, Japan, Rep. Brit. Ass. Adv. Sci. (1845), 1846: 306; type 

 species by monotypy, Ilisha abnormalis Gray equals Alosa elongata Bennett; Myers, Copeia, 1950: 63; 

 notes on identity with Neosteus and Pseudochirocentrodon. 



Generic Synonyms: 



Platygaster Swainson, Nat. Hist. Fish. Amphib. Rept., 2, 1839: 294; type species Clupea africana Bloch, first 



designated by Jordan, Genera Fishes, 1919: 203; name preoccupied in bees. 

 Pellona Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., 20, 1847: 300; type species Petlona orbignyana Cuvier 



and V'alenciennes, first designated by Gill, Proc. .Acad. nat. Sci. Philad., 1861: 37; but P.orbignyana 



