12 Carl L. Hubbs 



III. The; Species oe Profuxdulus, a new Genus from 

 Central America 



Profundulus, new genus 



Orthotype, Pundulus punctatus Giinther 



Several closely related species from Central America, hitherto referred 

 to Fundulus, Adinia, or Zoogoneticus, comprise a natural group, differing 

 from Fundulus as here restricted in several important respects. 



The lateral rims of the genital aperture of the adult female are scarcely 

 produced, surrounding not more than the first anal ray : thus not forming the 

 genital pouch diagnostic of Fundulus. The anal fin in the adult male is 

 lower, instead of higher, than in either the young or the adult female. 



The dorsal and anal fins are relatively long and low, the anal especially 

 being composed of more rays (13-17) than usual in Fundulus. The two 

 fins are inserted far posteriorly, and near the same vertical, somewhat as in 

 a pike. 



The interorbital is more convex, the head being formed more like that 

 of an Umbra than that of a Fundulus. 



In the absence of a genital pouch, at least, the species of Profundulus 

 resemble those^ comprising the African group Nothobranchius- (zvalkeri, 

 orthonotus, inelanospilns, neumanii, guentheri, taeniopygus, and possibly 

 others, such as sjoestcdti and microlcpis). All of these African types, how- 

 ever, have a much narrower preorbital. 



Another African species, commonly referred to Fundulus, namely, capen- 

 sis, has the dorsal fin more advanced in position than in Profundulus, while 

 the remainder^ have higher and sharper vertical fins, and mouths of different 

 structure. 



II 



As the more generalized members of Fundulus, Cynolebias and some 

 other American genera of the Cyprinodontidae, as well as the less specialized 

 Goodeidae, resemble the species of Profundulus in habitus, it seems not 

 improbable that Profundulus, of all American genera, diverges least from a 

 general ancestral cyprinodont type. The geographical distribution of the 

 groups in question harmonizes with such a view. 



1 For descriptions, figures and references, see Boulenger, Cat. Fresh-water Fishes 

 of Africa, 3, 191 5, pp. 23-29. 



-Recognized by Regan (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 7, 1911, p. 324) as distinct from 

 Fundulus. 



3 Fundulus nisorius Cope, described as from West Africa, is excluded from present 

 consideration, as it was probably based on American material erroneously labelled. 



