Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 427 



Color. "Brownish on back and upper surface of head behind, sides and lower re- 

 gions silvery white in alcohol; fins all pale brownish." 



Range. Known only from the holotype, purported to have been taken at Newport, 

 R.I. It is stated in the original account of this species, "it would appear undoubtedly 

 to have been obtained at Newport as a waif of the Gulf Stream, probably from some 

 tropical region in America." This remark dates back to 191 1 and no other example like 

 it has been reported since then. The genus, in fact, is not known from the West Indies 

 (except Trinidad), nor from any other locality north of the Atlantic coast of Panama. 



Figure 107. IHsha narragansetae, about 165 mm TL (caudal damaged). Modified by Ann S. Green after 

 Fowler, t}'pe, ANSP 1 53 14. 



Synonyms and References: 



Ilisha narragansetae Fowler, Proc. Acad. nat. Sci. Philad., 6j, 191 1: 208, fig. i (orig. descr.; type local. New- 

 port, Rhode Island; type ANSP 153 14; cf. Pellonn bleekeriana, Pristigaster flavipinnis, and Pellona 

 castelnaeand)\ Fowler, Proc. Boston Soc. nat. Hist., 55 (4), 1917: 112. 



Neosteus narragansetae Norman, Ann. Mag. nat. Hist., (9) II, 1923 : 20 (descr. after Fowler); Jordan, Manual 

 Vert. Anim. NE U. S., ed. 13, 1929: 42 (diagn.). 



Genus Pristigaster Cuvier 18 17^^ 



Pristigaster Cuvier, Regne Anim., ed. I, 2, 1817: 176; and 4: pi. 10, fig. 3; type species by monotypy, 

 figured but no specific name given; this same figure repeated in ed. 2 of Regne Anim., in which name 

 cayanus is provided ; generic type by monotypy, Pristigaster sp. Cuvier 1 8 1 7 equals P. cayanus Cuvier 

 1829. 



Characters. Body strongly compressed; the dorsal outline straight to slightly con- 

 vex; the chest and abdomen greatly dilated, forming a pronounced arc. Spines on 

 median line between occiput and origin of dorsal, 4 or 5. Teeth small; no canines. 

 Dorsal fin small, with about 13—15 rays, its origin well in advance of origin of anal. 

 Anal fin long, its origin under or just behind base of last dorsal ray, with about 

 46—55 rays. Pelvic fin missing. 



Remarks. The greatly dilated, rounded, half-moon-shaped outline of the chest 



52. Nomenclature and synonymy for both genus and species rewritten by G. S. Myers. 



