Jordan and Evcrmann. Fishes of North America. 1625 



2036. CRYPTOTOMUS BERYLLINUS, Jordan and Swain. 



Head 3 (3| with caudal) ; depth 3 (4) ; eye 4| in head; snout 2f. D. 

 IX, 10; A. II, 9; scales 2f-24-6. Body more elongate than in related spe- 

 cies, compressed. JaAvs pale, the median suture not evident; central 

 portion of each tooth with a reddish-brown spot. Upper jaw laterally 

 with a continuous cutting edge of coalesced teeth, this edge even along 

 the middle of the jaw and somewhat serrate posteriorly; anteriorly the 

 cutting edge gives place to about 2 series of lanceolate, rather obtuse, com- 

 pressed teeth, which coalesce at base only; no posterior canines in any of 

 the many specimens examined; lower jaw laterally with a series of com- 

 pressed teeth, coalescent for a short distance and close set ; in front are 2 or 

 3 series similar to those in the upper jaw. Jaws subequal, the lower very 

 slightly included; upper lip double for almost its entire length, its inner 

 fold narrow mesially, the lip covering most of the upper jaw. Isthmus 

 moderate, the gill membranes not forming a fold across it. Snout rather 

 acute ; cheek with a single row of about 5 scales ; 4 or 5 scales on the 

 median line before dorsal. Lateral line subcontiuuous, its tubes each 

 with 4 branches, which cover most of the scale. Dorsal spines very slen- 

 der, not pungent; caudal fin slightly rounded, its outer rays \\ in head; 

 pectorals reaching past tips of ventrals, which reach midway between 

 their base and front of anal; origin of ventral spine directly under ante- 

 rior end of pectoral base. Lower pharyngeals formed exactly as in Spari- 

 soma, not quite twice as broad as long, the surface slightly concave. Color 

 in life, olive green or olive gray, mottled above with darker and small 

 whitish blotches; some whitish blotches above lateral line; some along 

 lateral line, a row of 5 or 6, smaller than pupil, in a straight line below 

 lateral line; 5 or 6 faint greenish blotch-like areas along sides; 2 or 3 

 narrow, parallel whitish stripes more or less distinct along lower parts of 

 side bordered with brownish, the upper running from below eye straight 

 to middle of caudal, the lower passing just below pectoral; some whitish 

 bands radiating from eye; usually some dark-green spots before and behind 

 eye ; top of head vermiculated and dotted with black ; a brown band across 

 chin; dorsal pale, mottled with olive: a dusky blotch on front of dorsal; 

 caudal greenish, edged with brown, its outer rays barred with brown and 

 light olive, speckled and barred with brown ; ventrals pale, faintly barred 

 with brown ; pectorals pale ; ventral fins in adult edged with light brown- 

 ish red. The Avhitish lines of sides become fainter with age. In spirits 

 the brown coloration gives place to grayish or greenish, each scale often 

 with a greenish blotch. Length 6 inches. Florida Keys; occasionally 

 north to New Jersey, south to Rio Janeiro; common about Key West on 

 muddy bottoms. A single specimen secured in the market at Havana, 5 

 inches in length, where Poey seems not to have noticed the species. A 

 specimen from Rio Janeiro has the anterior profile steeper and the eye 

 smaller, 54 in head. We have examined the young specimen described 

 and figured by Dr. Bean as " Spansoma sp." from Somers Point, New Jersey. 

 It is identical with young specimens of Cryptotomus beryllinus from Key 

 West. The occurrence of this tropical fish at a point so far to the north- 

 ward is surprising. (lerylUnus, color of beryl or emerald.) 

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