274 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
black; all other fins dusky. Some individuals are much darker than others, but 
the pattern is identical. The specimen described is one of the dark-colored ones. 
These color varieties are recognized by the natives who, on Lake Chalchuapa, at 
least, referred to the light variety as "plateada" and the dark ones as "negra." 
Many specimens of this common species, ranging in length from 25 to 120 
millimeters, were preserved. This fish is the most common one of the family in the 
fresh waters of El Salvador. However, it was not found in four localities visited, 
viz, Rio Molino at Ahuachapan, Lake Ahuachapan, Rio Lempa at San Marcos, 
and Lake Olomega. It is especially abundant in Lakes Coatepeque and Chanmico. 
This species reaches a small size, probably rarely exceeding a length of 120 
millimeters. It is used for food and also for crab bait. Its habitat does not appear 
to be limited to any definite type of bottom, depth, or vegetation. In Lake Coate- 
peque it was especially abundant among the rocks where, because of the very clear 
water, it could be seen at a depth upward of 6 meters. In other localities it was 
found in shallow water among vegetation and often in comparatively muddy places. 
The species, according to the contents of 9 stomachs examined, feeds on smdll 
animal and plant life of suitable size. Meek (Pub., Field Col. Mus., Zool. Ser., VII, 
1908, p. 189) states that this fish dei)osits its eggs in April, May, and June in Lakes 
Amatitlan and Atitlan, Guatemala. The sexual organs in the specimens examined 
(taken in January and Februarj^) were mostly in the early stages of development, 
containing very minute ova that were not visible with the naked eye. A few 
specimens, however, contained eggs u])ward of 3 millimeters in diameter and 
probably nearing maturity. 
This fish heretofore has been recorded only from Lakes Amatitlan and Atitlan, 
Guatemala, and it apparently had not been taken in streams. The specimens from 
El Salvador were collected in the following localities: Lake Guija, Lake Metapan, 
Lake Chalchuapa, Rio Pampe near Chalchuapa, Lake Coatepeque, Lake Chanmico, 
Lake Zapotitan, Rio Sucio at Sitio del Nino, ponds at El Angel, Lake Ilopango, Rio 
Lempa at Suchitoto, and Rio San Miguel at San Miguel. 
18. Cichlasoma macracanthus (Giinther) 
MOJARRA 
Heros macracanthus Gunther, Proc, Zool. Soc, London, 18(j4, 153, and Trans., Zool. Soc, London, 1868, 451 (Chlapam; 
Huarauchal). 
Cichlasoma macracanihum Jordan and Evermann, Bull., U. S. Nat. Mus., XLVII, 1898, 1518; Regan (part), Ann. and Mag. Nat. 
Uist., 7 ser., XVI, 1905, 241; Biol. Cent. Amer., Pisces, 1906, 24, PI. V, fig. 1. 
Head, 2.5 to 2.8; d'epth, 1.8 to 1.95; D. XV or XVI, 12 or 13; A. V, 9 or 10; 
scales, 30. 
Body very deep, compressed; the dorsal profile strongly elevated, straight from 
snout to intcrorbital, then gently convex; caudal peduncle deep, its depth 2.2 to 
2.55 in head; head moderate, deep; snout tapering, 2.7 to 2.8 in head; eye large, 
2.5 to 2.8; interorbital 2.9 to 3.7; preorbital from two-thirds to three-fourths the 
length of eye; mouth small, terminal; maxillary covered by the preorbital, not 
reaching anterior margin of eye, its length 3.4 to 4.6 in head; premaxillary processes 
reaching anterior fourth of eye; lower lip without a definitely free margin at the 
