GILBEET AND STARRS — FISHES OF PANAMA BAY 87 



157. Peprilus snyderi sp. nov. 



Plate Xli, Fio. 23. 



Head 3! in length without caudal; depth 2|. Eye 55 in head; snout 3*; maxillary 3f. 

 Scales no. Dorsal III, 45; anal III, 43. Gill-rakers 5+ 16. 



Dorsal and ventral outlines of body similar, the body not greatly compressed, more elongate 

 than in any other American species. Snout blunt. The occipital crest forms a sharp ridge on top of 

 head. Mouth rather small, the maxillary barely reaching to the vertical from anterior edge of eye; 

 jaws subequal. Teeth small and close-set in a single even series, those of lower jaw fitting inside those 

 of upper jaw when mouth is closed. Gill-rakers moderately slender, half as long as the diameter of 

 the eye, their number 4 or 5+ 14 to 16. Top of head with a network of sensory canals ramifying 

 over it, the most conspicuous branch vein-like above anterior part of eye. Branching canals also 

 extend more or less over the scales of back above lateral line, sometimes reaching nearly to dorsal 

 spines. 



Head entirely scaleless except the cheeks and upper part of opercles. Dorsal, anal and 

 caudal with very small, crowded scales, extending nearly to the ends of the rays. Pectoral scaleless. 

 Body completely invested with rather loosely attached scales. 



Dorsal and anal fins with moderate lobes, that of anal slightly longer than that of dorsal, 

 about equal to the length of head without snout. Base of anal a little shorter than that of 

 dorsal. Tip of pectoral nearly reaching to the vertical above notch behind anal lobe, its length 

 greater than that of the head by the diameter of the eye. Pelvic girdle ending as a small sharp 

 spine. Caudal longer than pectoral by nearly half eye. 



Color bluish brown on back, changing to a warm Vandyke brown on naked parts of head. 

 Caudal a rich dark brown similar to that of head. Pectoral brown at base, toward end of rays dusky, 

 with dark points. Other fins dusky. One specimen is more silvery than the others, and may represent 

 more nearly the original coloration. Top of head brown. Caudal, dorsal and anal slightly dusky. 



The type is 255 mm. in entire length. The species came to market on but 

 two days of our visit of six weeks. Seven specimens in all were seen and preserved. 



The species is named for our friend and associate, Professor John O. Snyder, 

 who has helped us materially in the preparation of this report. 



