Munroe: Systematics of western Atlantic Symphurus 
47 
Figure 23 
Geographic distribution of Symphurus stigmosus based on material examined (discussion of 
geographic distribution appears in species account). 
ing with similar number of unblotched fin rays; two 
posteriormost blotches larger (6— 8 fin rays wide) than 
blotches on anterior regions of fins and separated by 
more unblotched fin rays. Caudal fin uniformly hya- 
line, without pigmented spot on scaly, basal portion. 
Size and sexual maturity (Fig. 8BJ Symphurus 
stigmosus reaches ca. 127 mm. Size-related life his- 
tory information was available only for 1 1 specimens, 
six males (59.6-98.8 mm) and five females (54.4- 
126.2 mm). Of females, three (85.4, 91.6, and 126.2 
mm) were mature, the latter two were gravid. Two 
others (65.5 and 73.1 mm) had elongate ovaries with- 
out evidence of developing ova, and the smallest im- 
mature female had ovaries just undergoing elongation. 
Etymology From the Latin stigmosus, meaning full 
of marks, in reference to the distinctive blotches on 
dorsal and anal fins of this species. 
Geographic distribution (Fig. 23J In deep waters 
of the tropical Atlantic in the Gulf Stream and Straits 
of Florida between southern Florida and the Baha- 
mas; the Straits of Florida off the Tortugas region; 
in the Caribbean Sea off the Yucatan Peninsula, 
Mexico; near Serrana Bank, Colombia (14°14'N, 
80°28.5'W ); and in the Lesser Antilles off Dominica. 
Six of 12 specimens were taken off southern Florida, 
four were collected off Yucatan Peninsula, and a 
single specimen was taken in collections off Serrana 
Bank and Dominica, respectively. A collection con- 
taining five specimens (UMML 15642) from the 
Straits of Florida (24°40-42’N, 80°23-20’W at 258 
m) may be this species (see “Remarks” section be- 
low). Most specimens of S. stigmosus were collected 
in deep waters underlying strong surface currents, 
such as the Yucatan Channel and beneath the Florida 
Current. None of these had accompanying informa- 
tion regarding substrate composition at the collec- 
tion site, so it is uncertain if this species occurs on 
unique substrates underlying strong surface cur- 
rents. Of interest though is a comment in the Silver 
Bay cruise 26 report (prepared by H.R. Bullis Jr., 25 
Nov 1960) noting that off the western edge of the 
Great Bahama Bank, in the area where several S. stig- 
mosus specimens were captured, there were heavy 
deposits of decaying vegetation, apparently washed 
down off the Bahama Bank, which blanketed the 
