291 



non-breeding males, concealed in rictal groove; barbels of nuptial males reaching to 

 or beyond front margin of eye, with about 6-12 long, recurved odontodes on upper 

 margin, concentrated distally (Fig. 16b), ^ 



Body widest at pectoral origin, tapering sharply to pelvic-fin base, very 

 compressed and elongate posteriorly. Greatest body depth at dorsal fin origin (10- 

 17% SL), least depth at middle of caudal peduncle (6-10% SL). Dorsal profile of 

 body smooth, ventral profile gradually tapering to anal fin insertion. 



Dorsal fin small, constricted at base. Dorsal spine thin, with up to about 30 

 short, sharp serrations along distal half or more of posterior margin. Dorsal spine of 

 nuptial males greatly elongated and thickened, armed with about 25-50 sharp, 

 antrorse odontodes arranged in an alternating serial row along most of anterior 

 margin and with a dense basal cluster oriented laterally; posterior margin smooth, 

 with a thin medial groove toward base. Adipose fin very small, constricted at base, 

 with free posterior margin. Caudal fin deeply forked, with long, symmetrical, 

 acutely pointed lobes; principal caudal rays invariably 8 + 9, with 19-23 upper 

 procurrent rays and 16-21 lower procurrent rays. Hypural plates highly porous in 

 most specimens, more heavily ossified in older individuals. Pectoral fins relatively 

 long, pointed, constricted at base and with 11-15 segmented lepidotrichia; most rays 

 branched except for short, proximal one or two elements. Pectoral-fin spine long, 

 thin, smooth on anterior margin and with 13-31 (x = 21) short, sharp, recurved 

 serrae along distal two-thirds or more of posterior margin. Pelvic fins large, roughly 

 triangular in shape. Anal fin long, extending nearly to base of caudal, and with 41- 

 50 rays, the first few unbranched; margin of fin straight, or sUghtly falcate at anterior 

 margin in nuptial males. Anal pterygiophores 38-47, modally 45. 



Swimbladder relatively large in specimens under about 50 mm SL, forming 

 teardrop-shaped capsule invested by thin fibrous tunica; in larger specimens, the 

 swimbladder becomes greatly reduced in size and eventually is encapsulated in a 



