SOUTH AMERICAN NEMATOGNATHI. 465 



CI. CORYDORAS. 



Corydoras Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. v, 145, 1803 



Hoplisoma Swainson, Fishes, Amph. & Reptiles, ii, 

 304, 1839 (punctata). 



Roplosoma Gill, Syn. Fish. Trinidad, 42, 1858 (punc- 

 tata). 



Gasterodermus Cope, Proc. Am. Philos. Soc. 1878, 681 

 (type ?). 



Type: Corydoras geoffroy Lacepede. 



Dr. Cope proposes the name Gasterodermus for those 

 species of the group having the belly covered with skin. 

 As punctatus, the type of Corydoras, has the belly covered 

 with skin the genus Gasterodermus could not be admitted 

 even if the greater or less expansion of the coracoid pro- 

 cess were of generic value. 



ANALYSIS OF THE SPECIES OF CORYDORAS. 



a. Coracoid processes meeting on the median line of the anterior portion 

 of the belly at least. 



b. A dark brown lateral band extending from the occiput backwards on 

 the upper half of the body; ventral surface and a broad vertical band 

 behind the eye light; caudal without bars. eques 456. 



bb. Greenish, fins and top of head brown; a dark-brown band on the cau- 

 dal. D. I, 9; Lat. pi. f. (Castelnau.) splendens 457. 



aa. Coracoid processes nowhere meeting; breast and belly with a median 

 naked area. 



c. Caudal fin plain. 



d. Body with one or more dusky longitudinal bands; dorsal fin usually 



spotted. 



e. Coracoid processes moderately expanded, leaving only a narrow, 

 naked area between them; occipital process triangular, pointed at 

 the tip; a dark band extending from the upper caudal lobe forward, 

 one or more longitudinal series of dark spots along the sides. 



elegans 458. 



ee. Coracoid process scarcely encroaching on the breast or belly; 

 occipital process truncate, about twice as wide at the base as at 

 the tip; a blackish lateral band extending'from the middle caudal 

 rays forward; no spots on the sides. nattereri 459. 



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