VAR. ? 

 SHORT-TAILED CARAPO. 



Gymnotus fasciatus. G. nudus fasciatus, dorso apterygio, pinna 

 aid longitudine caudct attenuate, maxilla inferiore longiore. 



Naked-backed pale-brown Gymnotus, with darker transverse 

 fasciae, short tail, and lower jaw longer than the upper. 



Gymnotus carapo. G. brachyurus maxilla inferiore longiore. 

 Block. 



Gymnotus fasciatus. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. \3J. 



In general appearance this fish so much resem- 

 bles the preceding that it has been considered both 

 by Artedi and Linnaeus as no other than a variety* 

 differing principally in the shortness of the tail, and 

 in the inferior size of the body. By Seba, however, 

 it was regarded as a distinct species, and Dr. Bloch 

 in his Ichthyology observes, that it not only differs 

 from the former in the part above mentioned, but 

 also in the contrary outline of the mouth ; the lower 

 jaw advancing beyond the upper : he also adds, that 

 the number of rays in the vent-fin is different, and 

 that the back is marked by a furrow, extending 

 from the neck to the middle of the trunk. This 

 fish inhabits the same seas with the preceding. 



