﻿REVISION OF GENUS HARENGULA — RIVAS 277 



other American forms. An interesting case of intergradation is shown 

 by the frequency distribution of the number of gill rakers and ventral 

 scutes in H. pensacolae and its subspecies (see table 1). 



Clupeidae related to Harengula. — The genus Harengula belongs to the 

 clupeid fishes possessing a short anal fin (less than 30 ra3'^s), no distinct 

 median notch in the upper jaw, and a bilobcd dermal fold on the 

 vertical anterior edge of the clei thrum (rim of shoulder girdle). The 

 only other American genera that belong to this group are Sardinella 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes (1847, p 261) and Opisthonema Gill (1861, 

 p. 37). 



The following key should enable one to distinguish Harengula from 

 the above-mentioned genera: 



la. Gill rakers always more than 45 or lower limb of first arch; ventral scutes 

 always more than 32. 

 2a. Last ray of dorsal fin not produced into a long filament; body slender, 



length of head greater than greatest depth of body Sardinella 



26. Last ray of dorsal fin produced into a long filament; body deep, length of 



head less than greatest depth of body Opisthonema 



16. Gill rakers always fewer than 45 on lower limb of first arch; ventral scutes 

 never more than 32 Harengula 



Genus HARENGULA Cuvier and Valenciennes 



Harengula Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1847, p. 277 (diagnosis; comparisons; 

 comments; genotype: Harengula laiulus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1847, 

 p. 280, pi. 595). — GuiCHENOT, 1853, p. 229 (diagnosis ; species) . — Gill, 1861, 

 p. 36 (diagnosis). — Poey, 1868, p. 418 (characters; Cuban species). — Jordan 

 and Gilbert, 1882a, p. 268 (characters). — Jordan, 1890, p. 645 (comments; 

 West Indian species); 1918, p. 46 (comments); 1919, p. 231. — Regan, 1917, 

 p. 386 (characters; comparisons; species; range). — Storey, 1938, p. 15 (com- 

 ments; comparisons; characters). — Hildebrand, 1946, p. 88 (description; 

 Peruvian species.) 



Characters distinguishing the West Indian species of Harengula 

 were treated in detail by Storey (1938, pp. 15-23), who recognized 

 four from the Atlantic and one from the Pacific, whereas sLx species 

 and five subspecies are recognized herein from the same general area. 



The most important characters are the number of gill rakers and 

 number of ventral scutes (see table 1) ; they, alone, cannot be used to 

 distinguish the various forms but must be used with certain propor- 

 tions and other characters of qualitative value. The difficulty of 

 identifying these clupeids by previous keys and descriptions was 

 caused primarily by the omission of gill-raker and ventral-scute 

 counts. The number of scales is nearly uniform, except for H. thris- 

 sina, in which they are more numerous. 



The number of fin rays is very uniform, except the anal in H. 

 thrissina and H. peruana, both having fewer rays than the other forms. 



The depth of the head at occiput and the greatest depth of the 

 body, when measured into the length, are useful proportions serving 



