238 



examined). Ferraris 1988:127 (citation). Burgess 1989:286 (citation; 

 considered possible synonym of A. caucanus). 



Ageneiosus sp. cf. madeirensis: Burgess 1989:629 (photograph [misidentified]). 



Diagnosis 



Distinguished from all other species that mature at sizes greater than about 

 150-200 mm SL by the retention of an enlarged, unencapsulated swimbladder. 

 Externally, a combination of the large body size, deeply forked tail, and prominent 

 dorsal mottling pattern separates A . pardalis from all congeners except A . 

 ucayalensis,A. valenciennesi, and A. vittatus. Further distinguished fromy4. 

 ucayalensis by a shorter anal fin (35-42 rays, versus 41-50), more ribs (modally 9 

 versus 8), and fewer branchiostegals (modally 9 versus 10) and gill rakers. 

 Distinguished from^l. valenciennesi by a combination of the slightly higher mean 

 number of anal rays (37.8 versus 36.6), and modally fewer branchiostegals (9 versus 

 10) and pectoral rays (12 versus 13), but the ranges of counts overlap too much to 

 allow these species to be identified on meristics alone; however, the difference in 

 the swimbladders, and the distantly allopatric ranges oi A. pardalis and^. 

 valenciennesi, easily serves to separate them. Ageneiosus vittatus reaches sexual 

 maturity at a smaller size than A. pardalis, and is further distinguished by fewer total 

 vertebrae (45-48 versus 49-51) and the presence of two high-contrast caudal spots. 



Description 



Ageneiosus pardalis is a large-sized species, reaching a maximum of 440 mm 

 SL in the material examined, with individuals of some populations apparently 

 capable of attaining much greater lengths (see comments). The principal meristic 

 and morphometric characters of the species are summarized in Tables 13-14. 



