DESCRIPTION OF GOBIOIDES BROTJSSONETI, A FISH NEW 

 TO NORTH AMERICA, FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO. 



By Tarleton H. Bean and Barton A. Bean. 



This species, originally described by Lacepede from Peru, and 

 afterwards obtained by Brevoort from Para, South America, is now for 

 the tirst time recorded from North America. The species can not be 

 referred to the genus Amhlyopuxj wliich has for its type the A. her- 

 manniamis of Lacepede. The latter has rudimentary eyes, a short body, 

 and the dorsal and anal many rayed. 



Diagnosis. — D. vi, 17; A. i, IG. — The total length of the specimen 

 is 14i inches, the caudal tin being 2f inches long. 



The greatest dei)th of the body (see fig. 1) equals one-half the length 

 of the head, and is contained fourteen times in the total length without 

 caudal. The greatest depth of the head equals tlie length of the upper 

 jaw, or about one-half the length of head without snout. The body is 

 compressed. Its greatest thickness is contained one and two-thirds 

 times in its greatest depth. The teeth are in narrow bands in each jaw. 



Fig. 1. 



, GOBIOIDES BKOUSSONETI. 



About two-seveiiths natural sup. 



some of those in the outer row enlarged, canine like, and curved inward. 

 All of the teeth are more or less curved inward and depressible. The 

 vomer and palate are toothless. The mouth is oblique, the lower jaw pro- 

 jecting slightly beyond the upper. The maxilla extends well behind the 

 eye; its length is slightly more than half that of head without the snout. 

 It is not much expanded posteriorly. Eyes very small, their diameter 

 equaling half length of snout, about equal to width of interorbital 

 space. The snout scarcely equals more than a fifth of the head's length. 

 Gill openings wide, the membranes wholly joined to the isthmus. 



Proceedings of the U. S. Kational Museum, Vol. XVII— Ko. 1029. 



631 



