A Revision of the Fishes of the Ginus Elops. 37 



VII.— ^ 



Revision of the Fishes of the Getius Elops 

 By C. Tate EegAx\, M.A. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Lower jaw included, the whole of the praemaxillary band of teeth 

 exposed when the mouth is closed. 



A. 78 or 79 vertebrae ; 102 to 118 scales in a longitudinal series. 

 12 to lo giU-rakers on the lower part of the anterior 



3^1'ch 1. saurus. 



18 to 20 gill-rakers on the lower part of the anterior 



arch 2. affinis. 



B. 68 or 69 vertebrae ; 94 to 98 scales in a longitudinal series ; 12 to 



15 gill-rakers on the lower part of the anterior arch. 



1. Pectoral f the length of head, extending a 



little more than ^ of the distance from its 



base to the pelvics 3. senegalemis. 



2. Pectoral ^ or a little more than \ the length 



of head, extending a little less than \ of the 

 distance from its base to the pelvics. 

 Interorbital width 5 to 5^ in the length of head ; length 



of lower jaw nearly | the length of head 4. hawaiensis. 



Interorbital width 4| in the length of head ; length of 



lower jaw a little less than % the length of head . . 5. australis. 



II. Lower jaw projecting, covering the anterior part of the pr£e- 

 maxillary band of teeth when the mouth is closed. 

 63 or 64 vertebrae ; 94 to 98 scales in a longitudinal 

 series ; 28 to 32 branchiostegals ; 14 gill-rakers on 



the lower part of the anterior arch 6. machiita. 



74 vertebrae ; 74 to 83 scales in a longitudinal series ; 

 24 to 26 branchiostegals ; 17 to 19 giU-rakers on 

 the lower part of the anterior arch 7. lacerta. 



1. Elops saurus^ Linn., 1766. 

 Argentina Carolina, Linn., 1766, and Elops i7iertiiis, Mitch., 1815. 



Depth of bodj nearly 6 in the length, length of head 3| to 

 4^. Snout as long as or longer than eye, the diameter of 

 which is 4^- to 6 in the length of head ; interorbital width 4§ 

 to 5^ in the length of head. Maxillary extending beyond 

 the eye ; lower jaw included, the whole of the praemaxillary 

 band of teeth exposed when the mouth is closed; length of 

 gular plate from less than f to § that of the lower jaw, which 

 is 3 or a little more than g of the length of head ; 28 to 36 

 branchiostegals ; 12 to 15 gill-rakers on the lower part of the 

 anterior arch. 102 to 118 scales in a longitudinal series. 

 Dorsal 23-26, with 18 to 20 branched rays; anal 15-16, 



