FISHES OF EL SALVADOR. 
275 
symphysis; teeth in villiform bands in each jaw, the outer ones in each jaw an- 
teriorly somewhat enlarged; gill rakers very short, about 6 on lower limb of first 
arch; scales moderate, 5 or 6 rows between origin of dorsal and lateral line, some- 
what reduced on nape and chest, small scales extending on base of vertical fins, 
those above lateral line with smooth edges, those below lateral line with small 
spinules on posterior margin and on a part of the upper surface of the exposed 
portion; dorsal fin long, the spines graduated, the last one about half the length 
of head, origin of fin over margin of opercle; caudal fin rounded; anal fin with 
strong graduated spines, the last one a little longer and considerably stronger than 
the last dorsal spine, origin of fin about equidistant from base of pectorals and base 
of caudal; ventral fins inserted a little behind base of pectorals, reaching nearly or 
quite to origin of anal; pectoral fins reaching to or a little beyond origin of anal, 
1.1 to 1.2 in head. 
Color of fresh specimen bluish gray with silvery reflections above; lower parts 
pale silvery; sides with 8 dark crossbars, the fifth bar with an intensified black 
blotch on median line of sides; a black spot at base of caudal above lateral line; 
pectoral fins pinkish; all other fins dusky. 
Nine small specimens, ranging in length from 30 to 85 millimeters, were pre- 
served. These specimens agree fairly well with descriptions of 6'. viacracanthus, a 
species first described from the western slope of Guatemala. The specimens at 
hand were taken in Lake Ahuachapan. This lake, although it has no visible outlet, 
is situated within the basin of the Rio ile Paz, a stream forming a portion of the 
boundary between El Salvador and Guatemala. 
This species has previously been recorded from the Pacific slope of Guatemala 
and Tequesixtlan, southern Mexico. The El Salvador specimens are from Lake 
Ahuachapan. 
19. Cichlasoma meeki sp. nov. 
Mojaera; Mojarra negra; Mojarra plateada 
Type No. 87301, U.S.N.M.; length 175 mm.; Lake Guija, El Salvador. 
Head 2.4 to 3; depth 2 to 2.25; D. XIV or XV, 12 to 14; A. V, 9 or 10; scales 
28 to 30. 
Body moderately deep, compressed; dorsal profile rather strongly elevated, 
straight from snout to eye, then gently convex; adults of 200 millimeters and more 
in length with nuchal hump; caudal peduncle short and deep, its depth 1.95 to 2.6 
in head; head moderate; snout rather long and pointed, longer than postorbital 
part of head, except in very young, 2.15 to 3.2 in head; eye small, 3.6 to 4.95; 
interorbital 2.5 to 3.6; preorbital as broad as eye in specimens about 160 millimeters 
long, proportionately broader in larger specimens and narrower in the young; 
mouth small, terminal; maxillary mostly covered by preorbital, failing to reach 
anterior margin of eye, 2.5 to 3.8 in head; lower lip with an uninterrupted free 
margin, the free part being very narrow at symphysis; premaxillary processes 
reaching anterior fourth of eye; teeth in the jaws in bands, mostly pointed, some 
of them in the larger specimens frequently worn and blunt, the outer ones in anterior 
part of jaws somewhat enlarged; gill rakers very short, 8 to 10 on lower limb of 
