Dia gnosLs 



• Ageneiosus valendermesi can be distinguished from all other large ( > 200 mm 

 SL) species, except A . pardalis and A . vittatus, by its deeply forked tail and 

 characteristic coloration pattern. Meristic counts are of limited use in separatingy4. 

 valendermesi tomA. n. sp., A. pardalis, and^. vittatus. Ageneiosus valendennesi 

 usually has a prominent mottled or grizzled pattern on the head and body, unlike 

 the distinctive striped appearance of ^4. n. sp., and also reaches a larger size and has 

 a less spatulate head. The reticulated pattern of blotches on the back in^l. 

 valendennesi is somewhat irregular and generally confined to the top third of the 

 dorsum, and includes rather discrete stripes and spots on top of the head; similar 

 blotches in A. vittatus, when present, are more closely spaced, less sharply 

 contrasted, and often extend over most of the sides of the body. Ageneiosus 

 valendennesi also reaches a larger size (to at least 300 mm SL) than A. vittatus (to 

 about 200 mm SL), and the two are physiographically isolated. In terms of the 

 mottled coloration pattern, .4. valendennesi is most similar Xo A. pardalis, but it does 

 not attain nearly the size of pardalis ( > 450 mm SL), and the ranges of these two 

 species are the most widely disjunct of any in the genus. ■ . : 



Description 



Ageneiosus valendennesi is a moderately large species, reaching a maximum 

 size of at least 300 mm SL. Proportional measurements and the principal meristic 

 characters are summarized in Tables 19-20. >; 



Head greatly flattened, body very compressed posterior to pectoral fins. 

 Head relatively large, 26-30% SL in length, 15-20% SL in breadth. Dorsal profile of 

 head smooth, gradually ascending from snout to dorsal fin origin. Dorsal contour of 

 body gently convex from dorsal fin to caudal peduncle. Ventral contour of body 



