SOUTH AMERICAN NEMATOGNATHI, 239 



177. Doras weddellii. 



Doras weddellii Casteluau, Auim. Ami^r Sud. 48, pi. xvii, fig. 1, 

 185.5 (Chiqnitos); Giiuther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. v, 203, 1864 

 (Sautarem); Vaillaut, Bull. Soc. Philom, Ser. 7, iv, 154, 1880 (Cal- 

 deron); Eigeum. & Eigenm. Proc. Cal. Acad. 2d Ser. i, 163, 1888 

 (Fonteboa Teffe; Serpa; Porto do Moz; Silva, L. Saraca). 



Doras grypus Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1872, 270, pi. xv, 

 fig. 1-la (Ambyiacu Eiver). 



Habitat: Amazon aud its tributaries, most abundant westward. 



The original figure and description of imddellii are very 

 poor. Our specimens are lighter colored than the figure 

 by Prof. Cope; the whitish blotches below the lateral 

 line being continued up and meeting on the back. 



Depth below the dorsal spine less than the width, ta- 

 pering backward. Head short, its width equal to its 

 length, its depth 1.^ in its length. Bones of the head 

 rather finely granular, with large, depressed smooth 

 areas. Dorsal plate with a downward projecting branch. 

 Fontanel elliptical, as long as the eye, its posterior mar- 

 gin extending farther back than the eye, becoming sur- 

 rounded with granular bones in older specimens. Nasal 

 and suborbital bones covered with skin, the former be- 

 coming exposed and granular in the old. 



Interorbital area flat. Eye small, If-l^ in the snout, 

 about 7 in the head; 2| in the interorbital. 



Maxillary barbels extending beyond base of pectorals, 

 postmentals about as long as the maxillaries, mental 

 barbels somewhat shorter. Snout broad, its width at 

 the rictus about 2 in the head: in the young its upper 

 surface is covered with skin, two series of conspicuous 

 pores; in the old soine of the bones become more or less 

 granular and exposed, the pores less distinct. Mouth 

 terminal; Jaws equal; teeth in very shallow bands. 



Gill-opening continued forward below to a point mid- 

 way between posterior margin of eye and the upper angle 

 of the preopercle. 



First three lateral scutes higher than the rest, touch- 



