-r^;»P''3^^^^' 



■>'>. 



V- 



'■' ■-^- ... ., 253 

 Color in Alcohol 



Pigmentation in>l, vittatus is extremely variable and depends, at least in part, 

 on the hydrological characteristics of the water from which specimens were 

 collected. Individuals from turbid waters are much less intensely pigmented than 

 those from clear or tannin-stained waters. The following generalized description is 

 based on the typical condition observed in preserved museum material, 

 supplemented with comments about variation (see section on pigmentation for a 

 detailed discussion). 



Background color of head and body dusky white or yellowish. Top of head 

 brownish to black, ranging from relatively uniform, dense speckling, to a rather 

 mottled appearance consisting of large, irregular spots (Fig. 45). Area above 

 fontanelle and over optic and olfactory tracts often pale yellow, with diffuse brown 

 or black specks scattered on skin. In extreme cases of mottling, there are dark 

 brown stripes along the sides of the fontanelle, a broad band across the tip of the 

 snout, and irregular stripes and spots above the occipital shield, extending laterally 

 and downward on upper half of head. Top of back from dorsal fin insertion to 

 caudal fin invariably with a distinctive, unpigmented, cream-colored stripe extending 

 vf ** down midline of back, subtended on both sides by sharply contrasting brown or 

 black stripes that begin together in front of the dorsal fin and converge toward the 

 tail. The dorsal stripes extend ventrally to about midway between the center of the 

 back and the lateral line, and may be of nearly uniform color throughout, or, more 

 commonly, appear somewhat mottled. In extreme cases, the dorsal stripes are 

 broken into a series of prominent, large blotches or irregular saddles. Sides of body 

 with a pair of very distinctive brown or black lateral stripes, one begiiming above the 

 opercular opening, the other above the pectoral fin base. Midlateral stripe typically 

 longer than the sublateral one, extending along the lateral line to above anal fin 



