Munroe: Systematics of western Atlantic Symphurus 
35 
Table 13 
Morphometries for holotype ( ANSP 93812)and seven other 
specimens of Symphurus rhytisrna. Data for Caribbean 
specimens {n =6) listed above those for Brazilian specimens 
(n= 2). (Abbreviations defined in methods section; SL is 
expressed in mm; characters 2 to 14 are expressed in thou- 
sandths of SL; 15 to 21 in thousandths of HL; n = no. of 
specimens measured.) 
Character 
Holotype 
n 
Range 
Mean 
SD 
1. SL 
25.6 
6 
21.7-45.1 
31.5 
8.71 
2 
26.7-27.0 
26.8 
— 
2. BD 
297 
6 
295-333 
302.4 
17.46 
2 
243-266 
254.5 
— 
3. PDL 
78 
6 
69-78 
72.0 
3.44 
2 
64-67 
65.5 
— 
4. PAL 
262 
6 
262-295 
274.1 
13.25 
2 
262-307 
284.5 
— 
5. DBL 
938 
6 
929-960 
937.2 
11.66 
2 
933-936 
934.5 
— 
6. ABL 
738 
6 
719-767 
737.0 
17.70 
2 
730-772 
751.0 
— 
7. PL 
78 
6 
70-83 
78.2 
4.60 
1 
82 
— 
— 
8. PA 
66 
6 
35-66 
54.2 
12.19 
2 
Not available 
9. CFL 
113 
6 
104-143 
119.4 
13.32 
1 
139 
— 
— 
10. HL 
262 
6 
203-262 
235.1 
21.75 
2 
243-262 
252.5 
— 
11. HW 
262 
6 
241-264 
256.3 
11.00 
2 
236-277 
256.5 
— 
12. POL 
160 
6 
126-160 
148.0 
11.92 
2 
150-157 
153.5 
— 
13. UHL 
152 
6 
134-166 
154.0 
11.04 
2 
161-176 
168.5 
— 
14. LHL 
125 
6 
108-131 
117.2 
8.78 
2 
112-120 
116.0 
— 
15. POL 
612 
6 
588-773 
633.2 
69.29 
2 
600-615 
607.5 
— 
16. SNL 
224 
6 
206-250 
228.0 
15.92 
2 
200-231 
215.5 
— 
17. UJL 
224 
6 
175-250 
214.8 
27.30 
2 
231-243 
237.0 
— 
18. ED 
119 
6 
108-165 
136.2 
22.47 
2 
123-157 
140.0 
— 
19. CD 
239 
6 
213-277 
238.3 
22.82 
2 
171-200 
185.5 
— 
20. OPLL 
269 
6 
238-325 
280.0 
34.76 
2 
229-262 
245.5 
— 
21. OPUL 
194 
6 
159-268 
209.2 
38.35 
2 
154-171 
162.5 
— 
upper opercular lobe. Snout moderately long and 
pointed; mostly naked. Scales, when present on 
snout, deciduous and only in areas where dermal 
papillae absent. Dermal papillae dense, large and 
obvious on snout regions of both sides of body; ex- 
tending onto chin region of blind side. Anterior nos- 
tril on ocular side long, usually reaching anterior 
margin of lower eye when depressed posteriorly. Jaws 
moderately long; maxilla usually extending posteri- 
orly to vertical through anterior margin of pupil of 
lower eye; occasionally reaching vertical through 
midpoint of lower eye. Ocular-side lower jaw with- 
out fleshy ridge. Teeth well developed on all jaws. 
Blind-side jaws with small band of teeth on both 
upper and lower jaws. Ocular-side jaws usually with 
single row of teeth along complete margin of jaw; 
occasionally with teeth present only on anterior 
three-fourths of ocular-side premaxilla and dentary. 
Chin depth slightly shorter than snout length. Lower 
eye moderate in size; eyes usually equal in position, 
or with upper eye slightly in advance of lower eye. 
Anterior and medial surfaces of eyes usually not cov- 
ered with scales; 0-4 small ctenoid scales in narrow 
interorbital region. Pupillary operculum absent. 
Dorsal-fin origin usually equal with vertical through 
midpoint of upper eye; predorsal length long. Scales 
absent on blind sides of dorsal- and anal-fin rays. 
Pelvic fin moderately long; longest pelvic-fin ray, 
when extended posteriorly, usually reaching base of 
first anal-fin ray. Posteriormost pelvic-fin ray con- 
nected to body by delicate membrane terminating 
immediately anterior to anus, or occasionally extend- 
ing posteriorly almost to origin of anal fin (membrane 
torn in some specimens). Caudal fin moderately long. 
Scales ctenoid, relatively small. 
Pigmentation (Fig. 14) Coloration similar for both 
sexes. Ocular surface generally pallid, usually with 
traces of 2-8 (usually 8) incomplete, narrow, brown 
crossbands on head and body. Smaller individuals 
with conspicuous dark blotch on caudal region of 
body. Larger individuals with more diffuse and less 
well-defined caudal blotch; therefore this pigmenta- 
tion feature may be better developed and more char- 
acteristic of juveniles. Crossbands usually beginning 
on head about at level equal with fifth dorsal-fin ray, 
and continuing at irregular intervals to base of cau- 
dal fin. Two anteriormost crossbands often incom- 
plete and faintly pigmented, barely perceptible with- 
out magnification. Third crossband at, or slightly 
posterior to, anal-fin origin, most often across entire 
body and usually darkest of anteriormost crossbands. 
Posteriormost two crossbands on trunk usually con- 
joined, forming caudal blotch. Only crossbands in 
middle of body (usually fifth, sixth, and eighth), if 
any, extending onto fin rays of dorsal and anal fins. 
Head usually with two faintly pigmented crossbands 
about 3-4 scale rows wide; anteriormost crossband 
immediately posterior to eyes; posterior pigment 
band crossing distal margin of operculum. Ocular- 
side outer opercle usually with same background 
coloration as body. Inner linings of opercles and isth- 
