Munroe: Systematics of western Atlantic Symphurus 
39 
mal one-third) of caudal fin, but without distinct spots 
or blotches on distal two-thirds of caudal fin. Sym- 
phurus billykrietei is distinguished from S. ginsburgi 
by its smaller eye, longer trunk length, shorter head 
and postorbital lengths, shorter snout, and shorter 
upper jaw. 
Description A medium-size species attaining maxi- 
mum sizes of ca. 119 mm SL. ID pattern usually 1-3-2 
(89/92 specimens), rarely 1-3-3 or 1-4-2 (Table 2). 
Caudal-fin rays usually 12 (84/91), rarely 11 (Table 
3). Dorsal-fin rays 89-95, usually 91-94 (Table 4). 
Anal-fin rays 76-84, usually 77-81 (Table 5). Total 
vertebrae 50-53, usually 51-52 (82/92) (Table 6). 
Hypurals 4 (92/92). Longitudinal scales 80-100, usu- 
ally 85-94 (Table 7). Scale rows on head posterior to 
lower orbit 16-22, usually 18-21 (Table 8). Trans- 
verse scales 38-49 (Table 9). 
Proportions of morphometric features presented in 
Table 14. Body relatively deep, maximum depth in 
anterior one-third of body; body depth tapering rap- 
idly posterior to midpoint. Trunk relatively long. 
Preanal length smaller than body depth. Head mod- 
erately short and relatively wide, narrower than body 
depth. Head length slightly smaller than head width 
Table 14 
Morphometries for holotype (USNM 326637) and 69 addi- 
tional specimens of Symphurus billykrietei. (Abbreviations 
defined in methods section; SL is expressed in mm; char- 
acters 2 to 15 are expressed in thousandths of SL; 16 to 22 
in thousandths of HL; n = no. of specimens measured.) 
Character 
Holotype 
n 
Range 
Mean 
SD 
1. SL 
112.2 
69 
49.6-112.2 
75.3 
17.49 
2. BD 
324 
36 
251-328 
294.2 
18.56 
3. TKL 
812 
69 
774-891 
795.8 
8.61 
4. PDL 
46 
36 
35-58 
48.3 
5.56 
5. PAL 
201 
36 
200-249 
224.7 
13.14 
6. DBL 
954 
36 
942-965 
951.7 
5.56 
7. ABL 
782 
36 
736-815 
767.7 
16.58 
8. PL 
57 
32 
45-84 
64.3 
8.74 
9. PA 
36 
35 
34-88 
54.8 
11.70 
10. CFL 
117 
35 
100-147 
121.2 
8.98 
11. HL 
188 
69 
187-226 
204.3 
8.66 
12. HW 
238 
36 
207-270 
234.3 
16.39 
13. POL 
120 
69 
116-201 
133.9 
10.07 
14. UHL 
152 
36 
113-174 
154.9 
12.49 
15. LHL 
97 
35 
93-128 
107.3 
9.21 
16. POL 
640 
69 
600-728 
651.7 
25.32 
17. SNL 
194 
69 
157-240 
198.1 
18.48 
18. UJL 
213 
69 
179-253 
206.8 
15.70 
19. ED 
123 
69 
98-143 
119.8 
9.94 
20. CD 
251 
36 
166-289 
222.2 
26.60 
21. OPLL 
261 
36 
232-352 
298.4 
31.88 
22. OPUL 
237 
36 
164-315 
219.5 
33.85 
(HW:HL 0.99-1.4, x = 1.1). Postorbital length consid- 
erably smaller than body depth. Lower head lobe 
width slightly smaller than postorbital length; nar- 
rower than upper head lobe. Lower opercular lobe of 
ocular side considerably wider than upper opercular 
lobe. Snout short, somewhat rounded; covered with 
small ctenoid scales. Dermal papillae well developed 
on blind-side snout; frequently also on ocular-side 
snout. Anterior nostril on ocular side usually reaches 
anterior margin of lower eye when depressed poste- 
riorly. Jaws short; maxilla extending posteriorly al- 
most to vertical through anterior margin of lower eye 
pupil. Ocular-side lower jaw without a fleshy ridge. 
Teeth well developed on blind-side jaws. Ocular-side 
dentary with row of teeth along complete margin of 
jaw. Ocular-side premaxilla with single row of slen- 
der teeth, or occasionally with only anterior three- 
fourths of margin of bone bearing teeth. Chin depth 
usually equal to or slightly larger than snout length. 
Lower eye moderately large; eyes usually equal in 
position and with small space between eye balls 
within orbital sac. Anterior and medial surfaces of 
eyes partially covered with 3-5 rows of small ctenoid 
scales; 1-2 scales in narrow interorbital region. Pu- 
pillary operculum absent. Dorsal-fin origin reaching 
vertical through midpoint of upper eye, occasionally 
only reaching vertical through anterior margin of 
pupil of upper eye; predorsal length long. Scales ab- 
sent on blind sides of dorsal- and anal-fin rays. Pel- 
vic fin moderately long; longest pelvic-fin ray reach- 
ing base of first anal-fin ray when depressed. 
Posteriormost pelvic-fin ray connected to body by 
delicate membrane terminating immediately ante- 
rior to anus, or occasionally extending posteriorly 
almost to anal-fin origin (membrane torn in most 
specimens). Caudal fin moderately long. Scales mod- 
erate in size, ctenoid on both sides of body. 
Pigmentation fFig. 16) Coloration similar for both 
sexes. Ocular surface light to dark brown, usually 
with 5-8 irregular, darker brown crossbands on head 
and body. Crossbands on body variable in intensity, 
usually 3-6 scales wide, and not continued onto dor- 
sal and anal fins. Anteriormost crossband on oper- 
cular region of head faintly pigmented. All crossbands 
on body, except second anteriormost, usually incom- 
plete and more intensely shaded on dorsal and ven- 
tral regions of body, rather diffuse in midsection of 
body. Some older, faded specimens with dark blotches 
along body only at bases of dorsal and anal fins (rem- 
nants of bands?). Second crossband, located imme- 
diately posterior to operculum, almost always con- 
tinuous across abdominal region of body and the most 
intensely pigmented. Ocular-side outer opercle usu- 
ally with similar background coloration as body. Some 
