304 Fretp Museum or Natura History — Zoétoey, Vor. X. 
Hoplias microlepis Starks, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XXX, 1906, 772 
(Guayaquil); Regan, Biol. Cent. Amer., Pisces, 1907, 167 (Rio 
Chagres; western Ecuador); Eigenmann, Repts. Princeton Univ. 
Exp. Patagonia, III, Pt. IV, 1910, 447. 
Head 2.85 to 3.4; depth 4 to 5; D. 14, rarely 13; A. 10, rarely 11; 
scales in lateral line 42 to 44. 
Body elongate, not much compressed, dorsal region not elevated; 
head long and low, slightly convex above; interorbital 3.2 to 5 in head; 
snout 3.45 to 4.6; eye 4.75 to 8.25; mouth large, lower jaw projecting; 
maxillary reaching beyond posterior margin of eye, mostly slipping under 
suborbital; teeth present on both jaws, and on palatines, the latter all 
small; some of the anterior teeth in jaws much enlarged, somewhat 
flattened, with very sharp cutting edges; gill-rakers poorly developed, 
5 below angle on anterior arch; lateral line complete, straight, situated 
on median line of side; scales moderate, regularly placed, cycloid, 15 to 
18 on median line in advance of dorsal; 11, rarely 10, rows of scales across 
caudal peduncle from one lateral line to the other; 5 complete rows 
between the lateral line and anal fin; dorsal fin inserted midway between 
tip of upper jaw and base of caudal, or slightly nearer the former; adipose 
wanting; caudal fin convex; anal fin inserted posteriorly, the longest 
ray reaching nearly to base of lower caudal ray; ventral fins inserted 
under base of pectorals, slightly nearer base of caudal than tip of lower 
jaw; pectoral fins inserted slightly behind margin of preopercle, failing 
to reach base of ventrals by 4 or 5 rows of scales. 
Color of large specimens very dark brown above, lighter below, 
uniform, without band or blotches; young much paler, mottled with 
brown and with a more or less distinct dark lateral band. The dark 
mottlings of the young later appear to become concentrated into dark 
blotches along the side. The dark lateral band is much more persistant 
in some specimens than in others. Fins all with dark spots forming 
more or less distinct wavy bars. 
There are 175 specimens, ranging from 27 to 460 mm. in length, in 
the present collection. It was found in all streams visited on both 
slopes of Panama, except in the Rio Tuyra Basin where it is replaced 
by H. malabaricus. A very abundant fish in lowland streams, usually 
preferring shallow water where there is an abundance of vegetation. 
It is called, ‘‘Perro Pesca”’= dog fish, by the natives because of its 
large sharp teeth and its habit of snapping at objects coming near it. 
Care must be exercised in picking specimens from the net, as it is able 
to inflict painful wounds with its sharp teeth and powerful jaws. This 
fish, although used to some extent as food, is not regarded as of good 
flavor and is of minor importance. 
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