FISHES OF EL SALVADOR 
265 
Many specimens, ranging from 20 to 105 millimeters in length, were preserved. 
This fish was taken only in Lake Guija, its outlet, and in two localities on the Rio 
Lempa. It appeared to be common in the Rio del Desague, the stream forming the 
outlet of Lake Guija. In the other localities where the species was found it appeared 
to be rather rare. 
This fish appears to dift'er from T. guatemalensis (Giinther) , recorded from the 
Pacific slope of Guatemala, according to the very inadequate descriptions of that 
species, in having a more slender body, more numerous scales in a lateral series, and 
a slightly inferior mouth. According to Giinther (Proc, Zool. Soc, London, 1864, 
p. 151) T. guatemalensis has only 36 scales in a lateral series. Regan (Biol. Cent. 
Amer., Pisces, 1907, p. 64) gives 36 to 42. Jordan and Hubbs (Leland Stanf. Jr. 
Univ. Pub., Univ. Ser., 1919, pp. 58 and 60), however, are of the opinion that Regan 
was considering three species under one name, and therefore the range given by 
him may not be correct. 
In the present species the range in the number of scales, based upon the enumer- 
ation of 30 specimens, is 43 to 47. The mouth in guatemalensis is described as 
terminal, while in the species at hand the lower jaw is included and is a little 
shorter than the upper. The depth of the body in the length in guatemalensis is 
given as 5 by Giinther and 4 to 5 by Regan. In the present species the depth is 
contained from 5.5 to 6.65 times in the length. 
Eight small specimens, taken in salt water in the estuary at Triunfo, agree 
fairly well with this species, except that the scales above the median line of the side, 
at least, have broad indentations, and tlie number in the lateral series appears to 
be a little lower, 41 to 43. These fish are referred to the present species, although 
further study and more specimens may show that they belong to a distinct species. 
The contents of 4 stomachs examined consisted of insects and insect larvae, 
entomostracans, and filaments of algse. The sexual organs were in a collapsed state, 
showing that the spawning season was not near at hand when the specimens were 
collected (January and February). 
The specimens are from Lake Guija, Rio del Desague near Lake Guija, and 
from the Rio Lempa at Suchitoto and San Marcos. 
Family VIII. MUGILIDi€ 
The Mullets 
Body elongate, more or less compressed; mouth small, terminal or inferior; 
teeth, if present, small, various in form; premaxillaries protractile; gill openings 
wide, the membranes free from the isthmus; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth; lateral 
line usually absent, never complete; scales large, extending forward on head; dorsal 
fins 2, well separated; first dorsal composed of 4 rather strong spines; second dorsal 
with I, 7 to 10 rays; anal fin with II or III, 7 to 11 rays; caudal fin forked; ventral 
fins abdominal, each with I, 5 rays. Most of the species of this family are marine 
but several are strictly fresh water in their habits. 
