""T^j ,' " •■? - 



.#^' 



219 



males (numbering 34 in one specimen). Anterior rays of anal fin thickened, 

 coalesced to form incipient gonopodium in nuptial males. Pectoral spine stout, 

 armed with about 13-15 sharp, retrorse odontodes along entire posterior margin; 

 anterior margin smooth or very weakly crenulate. Posterior cleithral process absent. 

 Tail deeply forked. 



Meristic counts as follow (number of specimens in parentheses, counts of 

 holotype marked with an asterisk): dorsal rays 1+6* (7); pelvic rays i+6* (7); 

 pectoral rays 1+9* (4) or 1+ 10 (1); anal pterygiophores 33* (3), 34 (2), or 35 (1); 

 anal rays 35* (3), 36 (2), or 37 (1); principal caudal rays 8 + 9* (6); upper procurrent 

 caudal rays 17 (2) or 18* (3); lower procurrent caudal rays 14 (1), 15* (2), or 16 (2); 

 pleural ribs 5* (4); preanal vertebrae 15 (3) or 16* (4); total vertebrae 39 (2), 40* 

 (3), or 41(1). '-- - ,. 



Swimbladder large, without posterior caecae, longitudinal septum extending 

 posteriorly onto ventromedial surface as stiffened tunica; anterior chamber flexible, 

 lacking complete transverse septum. Lateral margins of swimbladder contacting 

 skin beneath posterior processes of epioccipital, visible externally in region devoid 

 of musculature behind opercula as a large, translucent "lateral cutaneous area" 

 (^e/isM Alexander 1964:425). 



Color in Alcohol 



Overall background color dusky brown, consisting of minute scattered flecks 

 over dorsum and most of sides (Fig. 40). Paired fins generally hyahne except for 

 scattered spots along outer rays. Dorsal and anal fins with scattered specks along 

 base and anterior rays; adipose with pigment at base only. Base of caudal fin with 

 intense concentration of dense melanophores forming hourglass-shaped band. 



