468 DR. GUNTHER ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA, 
above the root of the ventral, and is not scaly. The spines are of moderate length and 
strength, the length of the fifteenth being two-sevenths, or in old examples one-third of 
that of the head. The soft portion does not extend to the caudal, if laid backwards. The 
free portion of the tail much longer than high. Caudal rounded. Pectoral shorter than 
the head. The ventral does not extend on to the vent. Reddish olive, marbled with 
blackish; the latter colour forming seven rather irregular transverse bands, some of 
which extend on the dorsal fin. Belly silvery, marbled with blackish; opercles and 
some scales on the body with blue dots. The inner half of the soft vertical fins blackish 
violet, the outer yellow; spinous dorsal with yellow margin. Lower side of head 
blackish violet. 
I have now before me numerous examples of this species from the Rivers Chisoy, 
San Geronimo, and Santa Isabel; and finding that the anal spines are normally five in 
number, the number four of the typical specimen being merely accidental, I do not 
hesitate to reunite the genus Zheraps with Heros. The largest example in the collection 
is 8 inches long. 
187. Heros intermMepius. (Plate LXXVIII. fig. 1.) 
Giinth. Fish. iv. p. 298. 
1, oe Age Slats B2t ela teamays S/R: 
The fold of the lower lip is interrupted in the middle; five or six series of scales on 
the cheek. The height of the body is contained twice and three-fifths in the total 
length (without caudal), the length of the head thrice and a fourth. The eye is not 
very remote from the profile of the nape, which is curved. Head as high as long; 
preorbital rather wider than the orbit. Cleft of the mouth rather narrow, horizontal, 
with the jaws equal anteriorly. Base of the soft dorsal and anal with scarcely any 
scales; dorsal spines of moderate length and strength, the length of the twelfth being 
one-third or nearly one-third of that of the head’. The soft dorsal and anal extend 
slightly beyond the root of the caudal. The free portion of the tail is not quite so long 
as high. Caudal subtruncated, its length being one-fifth of the total. Pectoral shorter 
than the head, but rather longer than the ventral, which extends nearly to the vent. 
Brownish, lower parts red in adult specimens; a broad angular brown band on the 
trunk, its horizontal branch extending from the gill-opening to the vertical from the 
first anal spine, whilst its vertical branch ascends to the hinder dorsal spines. Each 
scale within this band with a black vertical streak. A rather narrow brown band runs 
from the angular band to a blackish spot at the root of the caudal. Vertical fins with 
whitish ocelli, enclosed by reddish streaks. 
This species is closely allied to H. nebulifer and H. angulifer, from which it may be 
distinguished by its colours, and by the size of its scales. It inhabits Lake Peten, where 
specimens 5 and 6 inches long were collected by Mr. Salvin. 
* These spines are represented a little too short in the figure. 
