100 
Fishery Bulletin 96(1 ), 1998 
viously reported as S. meridionalis synonymized 
with S. jenynsi). 
Simphurus [sic] jenynsi. Wakabara et al., 1982:67 
(feeding habits; continental shelf off southern Bra- 
zil and Uruguay). 
Diagnosis Symphurus jenynsi is one of the most 
distinctive species in the genus, easily distinguished 
from other congeners by the combination of: predomi- 
nant 1-4-3 ID pattern; 10 caudal-fin rays; 4 hypurals; 
107-115 dorsal-fin rays; 91-99 anal-fin rays; 57-60 
total vertebrae; 102-119 scales in longitudinal se- 
ries; unpigmented peritoneum; absence of pupillary 
operculum; absence of scales on blind sides of dor- 
sal- and anal-fin rays; absence of fleshy ridge on ocu- 
lar-side lower jaw; teeth absent on ocular-side lower 
jaw; ocular-side premaxilla with small number of 
teeth on anterior marginal region only; absence of 
membrane ostia in dorsal and anal fins; ocular sur- 
face pigmentation uniformly light to dark brown with 
crossbands, but without caudal blotch; faint, dusky 
blotch on outer surface of ocular-side opercle; blind 
side without pepper-dot pigmentation; and dorsal, 
anal, and caudal fins without spots or blotches. 
Description The largest species in the genus attain- 
ing maximum sizes of at least 319 mm SL. ID pat- 
tern usually 1-4-3 (62/86 specimens), less frequently 
1-5-3 or 1-3-4 (Table 2). Caudal-fin rays usually 10(78/ 
81), rarely 9 (Table 3). Dorsal -fin rays 107-115 (Table 
4). Anal-fin rays 91-99 (Table 5). Total vertebrae 57- 
60, usually 58-59 (73/88) (Table 6). Hypurals 4 (88/88). 
Longitudinal scale rows 102-119, usually 104-115 
(Table 7; Menezes and Benvegnu ( 1976) reported 106— 
124 longitudinal scale rows). Scale rows on head poste- 
rior to lower orbit 21-25, usually 22-24 (Table 8). Trans- 
verse scales 41-51, usually 44-48 (Table 9). 
Proportions of morphometric features are pre- 
sented in Table 29. Body relatively elongate, maxi- 
mum depth usually at body midpoint; body depth 
tapering gradually posterior to midpoint. Preanal 
length considerably shorter than body depth. Head 
short and rather narrow, less than body depth. Head 
length less than head width (HW:HL 1.02-1.48, 
3c =1.2). Lower head lobe width usually slightly less 
than postorbital length; narrower than upper head 
lobe. Lower opercular lobe of ocular side slightly 
wider than upper opercular lobe. Snout short and 
rounded; covered with small ctenoid scales. Anterior 
nostril on ocular side short when depressed posteri- 
orly, usually falling just short of anterior margin of 
lower eye. Dermal papillae well developed on snout, 
chin, and, in some individuals, dorsal portion of head 
near base of dorsal fin on blind side. Jaws moder- 
ately long; maxilla usually extending posteriorly to 
vertical through posterior margin of pupil of lower 
eye; occasionally extending only to vertical through 
midpoint of lower eye. Ocular-side lower jaw with- 
out fleshy ridge. Teeth well developed on blind-side 
jaws. Ocular-side lower jaw without teeth; ocular- 
side premaxilla with small number of slender teeth 
on margin of bone in region anterior to vertical 
through base of anterior nostril. Chin depth nearly 
equal with snout length. Lower eye small; eyes usu- 
ally equal in position, or occasionally with upper 
slightly anterior to lower eye. Anterior and medial 
surfaces of eyes without scales; narrow interorbital 
region with 3-8 rows of small ctenoid scales. Pupil- 
lary operculum absent. Dorsal-fin origin far forward, 
usually with first dorsal-fin ray slightly anterior to 
vertical through anterior margin of upper eye, occa- 
sionally first dorsal-fin ray reaching only to vertical 
through anterior margin of upper eye; predorsal 
length short. Scales absent on blind sides of dorsal- 
and anal-fin rays. Pelvic fin short; 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 anal-fin origin (membrane 
torn in most specimens). Caudal fin short. Scales 
large, strongly ctenoid on both sides of body. 
Pigmentation (Fig. 48) Body coloration similar for 
both sexes. Ocular surface uniformly light to dark 
brown, with 7-20 (typically 7—10), complete and in- 
complete, darker brown crossbands. Crossbands be- 
gin at posterior margin of operculum and continue 
at irregular intervals to base of caudal fin. Cross- 
bands do not continue onto dorsal and anal fins. 
Specimens lacking definite crossbands usually with 
irregular diffuse dark brown markings on ocular sur- 
face. Outer surface of ocular-side opercle with small, 
sometimes rounded, dusky blotch, usually only 
slightly obvious against general background colora- 
tion. Inner linings of opercles and isthmus on both 
sides of body pigmented. Both lips on ocular side 
usually lightly spotted; occasionally with light band 
of pigment on upper lip. Blind side off-white with 
yellowish pigment on body near bases of dorsal- and 
anal-fin rays. Peritoneum unpigmented. 
Fin rays in dorsal and anal fins usually dark brown 
or black, except for whitish distalmost tips. Fins with- 
out distinctive spots or blotches. Anterior sections of 
dorsal and anal fins with fin rays and connecting 
membranes pale or only lightly pigmented, fin rays 
and membranes becoming progressively darker pos- 
teriorly; posterior two-thirds of fins almost com- 
pletely dark brown or black. Some specimens with 
series of two to four lightly pigmented fin rays alter- 
