WESTERN ATLANTIC PERCOPHIDID FISHES GINSBURG 



631 



Comparison : This species is near (Chrionema) Chriomystax squami- 

 ceps (Gilbert, 1905) from Hawaii, agreeing with it in its structural 

 characters, including the presence of scales between the mandibular 

 rami. The holotype of squamiceps was examined and its counts are 

 as follows: D VI; 16. A 18. P 23. Sc 66. GR 7+20. Therefore, the 

 Atlantic species here described differs in having fewer scales and 

 pectoral rays. Possibly it will also prove to average fewer dorsal rays. 



Etymology: The name squamentum is a contracted form of squami- 

 mentum (scaled chin). 



Genus Bembrops Steindachner 



Bembrops Steindachner, Icthyologische Beitrage, (V) p. 163, 1876 (genotype 



Bembrops caudimacula Steindachner, by monotypy). 

 Hypsicometes Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 3, p. 347, 1880 (genotype Hypsi- 



cometes gobioides Goode, by monotypy). 



Description: Maxillary with a broad tentacle at its end, of mod- 

 erate length, its base nearly as wide as maxillary, tapering. Space 

 between mandibular rami scaleless. The smaller specimens having a 

 spot on the caudal near its base, nearer to upper than lower margin, 

 disappearing with gi'owth (not determined for macromma). The two 

 nostrils rather close together, as compared with C squamentum. 



Table 2. — Frequency distribution of the number of oblique rows of scales over lateral 

 line in five Western Atlantic percophidid species 



Posterior pore of lengthwise mucous channel on snout close to and 

 slightly dorsad of posterior nostril. 



The gill rakers in macromma, anatirostris, and gobioides are as 

 follows. The upper limb of the outer gill arch has two gi'aduated 

 gill rakers at the angle and usually two tuberclelike outgrowths at 

 the attached end. One outgrowth in between varies in its develop- 

 ment. At one extreme it can be classed with the tubercles and at the 

 other it may be taken to represent a short gill raker; and it occurs in 

 all degrees of development in between the extremes. On the lower 

 limb the gill rakers decrease in length from the one on the angle 



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