WESTERN ATLANTIC PERCOPHIDID FISHES — GINSBURG 637 



in standard length, approximately 71-327, mm. long, obtained in 

 60-200 fathoms by the Oregon, the Caroline,, and the Albatross off the 

 following localities: Tampa (USNM 157734), Cape San Bias (USNM 

 44609, 157735, 157738) and Pensacola (USNM 157736-7, 157739-40), 

 Fla.; Chandeleur Islands, La. (USNM 45976); Mississippi Delta 

 (USNM 157733); Puerto Rico (USNM 117867-8). 



Comparison: This species is near gobioides. The chief character 

 that proves the distinctness of the two species and the one that is 

 most useful in separating them refers to the number of dorsal rays, 

 usually 15 or 17, sometimes 14 or 18, in anatirostris and gobioides, 

 respectively (table 1). This difference seems to be absolute, as in 92 

 specimens of both species examined not one had 16 rays. This species 

 also differs from gobioides in having the second dorsal spine of large 

 males filamentous and in the presence of a lateral row of spots. On 

 the average, the snout is longer and the eye smaller in anatirostris. 

 The two species diverge considerably in the numerical value of the 

 ratio of the eye in the snout (table 4) when specimens of approxi- 

 mately like size are compared, but they intergrade in this character. 



Populations : The two specimens from Puerto Rico examined have 

 the gUl raker count near the upper limit of the range of distribution of 

 the rest of the specimens, which were taken on the coast of the United 

 States, while that of the scale count is near the lower limit of the range 

 of the United States specimens, namely, GR5+16, Sc 62, in both 

 specimens from Puerto Rico. The counts of these two specimens are 

 included in tables 2 and 3. 



Bembrops gobioides (Goode) 



Hypsicometes gobioides Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 3, p. 348, 1880 (off Long 

 Island, N. Y.). — Goode and Bean (in part), Oceanic ichthyology, p. 290, pi. 

 74, figs. 263-263a, 1895 (specimens of at least three species included in this 

 account; those from Albatross Sta. 2378 and 2402 included in account of 

 anatirostris (p. 635); specimen from Sta. 2134 designated as holotype of 

 magnisquamis (p. 633); other specimens are included below in account of 

 gobioides; some of the listed specimens not now available for examination). 



Bembrops gobioides Longley, Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ. 535, p. 237, 1941 

 (Tortugas, Fla.). 



Description: D VI; 17-18. A 17-19. P26-28. Sc62-71. GR 

 4-5 + 14-16. Dorsal rays most predominantly 17, rather infrequently 

 18. Anal rays with the mode decidedly at 18, sometimes 17 or 19. 

 Pectoral rays modally 27, varying 26-28. Gill rakers, including 

 tubercles, on upper limb predominantly 5, sometimes 4; on lower limb 

 modally 15, varying 14-16; total on both limbs modally 20, varying 

 18-21. 



