272 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Order CHROMIDES 
Family X. CICHLID^ 
The Mojarras 
Body elongate, compressed; mouth large or small, terminal or subinferior; 
teeth conical, incisorlike orlobate; vomer and palatines without teeth; premaxUlaries 
freely protractile; nostrils single on each side; lateral line interrupted under soft 
dorsal, reappearing lower dort^n on side; scales usually ctenoid; dorsal fin single, 
the spinous portion usually longer than the soft part; anal fin with 3 or more spines; 
ventral fins thoracic, with I, 5 rays; pseudobranchije wanting; branchiostegals 
5 or 6; air bladder present. A single genus of this large family of tropical fresh- 
water fishes is represented in the collection from El Salvador. 
14. Genus CICHLASOMA Swainson 
Cichlasoma Swainson, Nat. Hist. Class., Fish., II, is:j9, 230 (type Lnhriis paiututus). 
Heros Heckel, Ann., Mus. Wien, 11, 1840, 362 (type Ileros seoerus Ueckel). 
Hoplarchus Kaup. Arch. Naturg. XXVI, 1860, 128 (type Hoplarchus pentacanthiis). 
Body deep or elongate, compressed; mouth small or m.oderate; teeth on jaws 
in bands, the outer ones more or less enlarged, sometimes forming canines; maxil- 
lary exposed or not; premaxillary processes shorter than head; opercle entire; gill 
rakers short and few (6 to 15 on lower limb of first arch); lateral line interrupted; 
scales moderate or large, usually ctenoid, extending forward on head to the eyes 
or beyond, also present on cheeks and opercles; dorsal fin single, not notched, with 
XIV to XIX, 7 to 12 rays; anal IV to XII, 6 to 14; caudal round, truncate or emar- 
ginate; A'entrals inserted below or a little behind base of pectorals; pectoral fins 
asymmetrical, with 12 to 18 rays. 
This is a large genus with many representatives in Mexico, Central and South 
America. Five species are represented in the collections from El Salvador. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES 
a. The outer teeth anteriorly in each jaw more or less regularly enlarged; premaxillary processes 
not reaching middle of eye; mouth small, the maxillary failing to reach anterior margin of eye. 
b. Dorsal XVII to XIX, 8 or 9; anal VIII to X, 5 to 8; body with black crossbars, the two 
bands anterior to dorsal arched forward nigrofasciatum, p. 273. 
bb. Dorsal XIV to XVI, 12 to 14; anal V, 9 or 10; body with dark crossbars (at least in young), 
none of them arched. 
c. Body deep, the depth 1.8 to 1.95 in length (specimens 30 to 85 mm. long); profile 
steep; eye large, 2.5 to 2.8 in head (specimens 30 to 85 mm. long); general color 
bluish gray above, pale silvery below; sides with 8 moderately distinct cross- 
bars macracanthus, p. 274. 
cc. Body more slender, the depth 2 to 2.25; profile less strongly elevated; eye smaller, 
3.6 to 4.95 in head; general color darker; the crossbars (in young) more 
distinct meeki, sp. nov., p. 275. 
