Munroe: Systematics of western Atlantic Symphurus 
83 
Table 25 
Morphometries for holotype (USNM 84491) and 33 addi- 
tional specimens of Symphurus parvus. (Abbreviations 
defined in methods section; SL is expressed in mm; char- 
acters 2 to 14 are expressed in thousandths of SL; 15 to 21 
in thousandths of HL; n = no. of specimens measured.) 
Character 
Holotype 
n 
Range 
Mean 
SD 
1. SL 
64.0 
34 
33.8-87.3 
54.4 
11.68 
2. BD 
300 
34 
248-328 
295.3 
16.73 
3. PDL 
50 
34 
36-69 
53.8 
7.22 
4. PAL 
264 
34 
211-305 
249.4 
21.54 
5. DBL 
950 
34 
931-964 
946.4 
7.24 
6. ABL 
759 
34 
702-795 
758.2 
21.19 
7. PL 
78 
26 
54-86 
70.6 
8.70 
8. PA 
59 
34 
38-71 
55.2 
8.21 
9. CFL 
122 
30 
112-151 
129.2 
9.29 
10. HL 
236 
34 
180-260 
230.0 
16.55 
11. HW 
258 
34 
211-279 
250.5 
14.16 
12. POL 
156 
34 
118-162 
146.5 
10.05 
13. UHL 
166 
33 
107-181 
159.2 
13.60 
14. LHL 
105 
33 
88-139 
110.9 
11.39 
15. POL 
662 
34 
595-688 
637.7 
23.82 
16. SNL 
146 
34 
146-229 
191.9 
19.30 
17. UJL 
185 
34 
185-252 
210.1 
16.87 
18. ED 
152 
34 
105-197 
153.2 
20.71 
19. CD 
159 
34 
123-263 
187.0 
31.45 
20. OPLL 
291 
33 
246-371 
291.6 
30.69 
21. OPUL 
153 
33 
102-246 
176.9 
31.70 
1.39, 3c = 1.1). Lower head lobe width less than post- 
orbital length; considerably narrower than upper 
head lobe. Lower opercular lobe of ocular side con- 
siderably wider than upper opercular lobe. Snout 
moderately short, somewhat pointed; covered with 
small ctenoid scales. Dermal papillae usually well 
developed on blind side of snout; occasionally extend- 
ing onto anterior portion of snout on ocular side. 
Anterior nostril on ocular side long, when depressed 
posteriorly, usually just reaching anterior margin of 
lower eye. Jaws short; maxilla usually extending 
posteriorly to vertical through anterior margin of 
lower eye, or less frequently, reaching vertical 
through midpoint of lower eye. Ocular-side lower jaw 
without fleshy ridge. Teeth well developed on blind- 
side jaws. Teeth on margin of ocular-side jaws very 
small. Margin of ocular-side premaxilla with teeth 
extending over anterior one-half to three-fourths 
(rarely along entire jaw margin); ocular-side dentary 
with teeth extending over entire margin of bone; less 
frequently, teeth along only anterior three-fourths 
of dentary margin. Chin depth nearly equal with 
snout length. Lower eye large; eyes usually equal in 
position. Anterior and medial surfaces of eyes par- 
tially covered with 4-8 small ctenoid scales; 1-4 small 
ctenoid scales in narrow interorbital region. Pupil- 
lary operculum well developed. Dorsal-fin origin usu- 
ally at point equal with verticals through anterior 
margin of upper eye and anterior margin of pupil of 
upper eye; predorsal length long. Scales absent on 
blind sides of dorsal- and anal-fin rays. Basal regions 
of dorsal-fin membrane from about seventh dorsal- 
fin ray and backwards, and anal-fin membrane 
throughout entire length of fin with a series of open- 
ings (membrane ostia) between fin rays. Pelvic fin 
long; longest pelvic-fin ray, when extended posteri- 
orly, usually reaching base of first anal-fin ray. 
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 long. Scales large, ctenoid on 
both sides of body. 
Pigmentation {Fig. 42J Body coloration generally 
similar for both sexes. Ocular surface usually light 
brown or yellowish with conspicuous, prominent, 
dark brown, roughly oblong- or diamond-shaped 
blotch immediately anterior to caudal-fin base, and 
variable number and arrangement of irregular dusky 
markings; occasional specimens with traces of faint, 
darker brown, incomplete crossbands. Caudal blotch 
usually covering 4-6 scales in length and 6-9 scales 
in width (usually crossing entire caudal region of 
body). Caudal blotch separated from caudal-fin base 
by 3-4 lightly pigmented scales. Crossbands, when 
present, diffuse, irregular, incomplete, often widely 
interrupted midlaterally. Ocular-side outer opercle 
with same general background pigment as body. 
Small brown spot of variable intensity usually 
present at dorsal margin of opercular opening. In- 
ner linings of opercles and isthmus on both sides of 
body unpigmented. Usually with a well-developed 
dark brown pigment band on ocular-side upper lip 
extending posteriorly to angle of maxilla; ocular-side 
lower lip infrequently lightly spotted, but without 
definite pigment band. Blind side whitish or yellow- 
ish. Peritoneum unpigmented. 
Fin rays and membranes of dorsal and anal fins 
rather lightly pigmented, irregularly flecked and 
shaded; becoming increasingly darker posteriorly, 
especially in posterior one-third of fins, but without 
conspicuous spots or blotches. Fin rays more or less 
uniformly pigmented along their lengths. Caudal fin 
usually more darkly pigmented than dorsal or anal 
fins. Scaly proximal portion of caudal fin with small, 
more darkly, pigmented area sometimes forming dif- 
fuse spot; distal scaleless portion of caudal fin usu- 
ally completely pigmented to its extremity. Mem- 
brane and fin rays of caudal fin on blind side of body 
with pepper-dot pigmentation, especially well devel- 
oped at base of fin. 
