Munroe: Systematics of western Atlantic Symphurus 
1 17 
Table 32 
Morphometries for holotype (USNM 155225) and 54 addi- 
tional specimens of Symphurus urospilus. (Abbreviations 
defined in methods section; SL in mm; characters 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 
123.9 
55 
37.1-166.0 
116.8 
23.50 
2. BD 
338 
55 
285-366 
336.6 
14.97 
3. PDL 
36 
54 
19-52 
33.9 
7.47 
4. PAL 
190 
54 
166-240 
195.1 
14.86 
5. DBL 
964 
55 
941-981 
965.6 
8.13 
6. ABL 
784 
55 
730-874 
801.8 
23.63 
7. PL 
70 
54 
50-87 
67.8 
8.58 
8. PA 
46 
54 
35-73 
52.3 
8.06 
9. CFL 
109 
55 
80-139 
117.5 
10.04 
10. HL 
188 
54 
155-213 
180.6 
10.08 
11. HW 
289 
54 
224-308 
267.2 
16.93 
12. POL 
121 
54 
76-131 
111.2 
11.63 
13. UHL 
206 
55 
131-212 
181.6 
13.63 
14. LHL 
109 
54 
79-115 
100.0 
8.15 
15. POL 
644 
54 
439-773 
617.7 
56.17 
16. SNL 
176 
53 
138-255 
196.0 
20.83 
17. UJL 
215 
54 
188-261 
220.6 
17.37 
18. ED 
116 
53 
102-170 
126.0 
12.93 
19. CD 
330 
53 
158-391 
280.1 
42.60 
20. OPUL 
219 
55 
135-268 
214.9 
26.78 
21. OPLL 
378 
55 
250-427 
331.9 
36.80 
length much shorter than head width (HW:HL 1.1— 
1.7, 3t=1.5). Postorbital length much shorter than 
body depth. Lower head lobe width slightly less than 
postorbital length; considerably narrower than up- 
per head lobe. Lower opercular lobe of ocular side 
considerably wider than upper opercular lobe. Snout 
short and rounded; covered with small ctenoid scales. 
Anterior nostril on ocular side short, when depressed 
posteriorly, usually falling just short of anterior mar- 
gin of lower eye. Dermal papillae well developed on 
snout, chin, and dorsal portion of head near base of 
dorsal fin on blind side; dermal papillae extending 
onto snout region of ocular side in larger specimens. 
Jaws moderately long; maxilla usually extending 
posteriorly to vertical through middle of lower eye. 
Ocular-side lower jaw with distinct, fleshy ridge near 
posterior margin. Teeth well developed on blind-side 
jaws. Ocular-side lower jaw usually with single, 
mostly incomplete, row of slender teeth along mar- 
gin; ocular-side upper jaw usually lacking teeth, oc- 
casional specimens possessing few slender premax- 
illary teeth anterior to vertical through base of ante- 
rior nostril. Chin depth considerably larger than 
snout length. Lower eye relatively large; eyes usu- 
ally equal in position; occasionally upper slightly 
anterior to lower eye. Anterior and medial surfaces 
of eyes without scales; usually 1-2 small, ctenoid 
scales in narrow interorbital region. Pupillary oper- 
culum well developed. Dorsal-fin origin usually equal 
with vertical through anterior margin of upper eye; 
occasionally reaching slightly anterior to vertical 
through anterior margin of upper eye, or less fre- 
quently, only reaching vertical through midpoint of 
upper eye; predorsal length short. Scales usually 
absent on blind sides of dorsal- and anal-fin rays; 
occasionally with 1-2 scales at bases of posteriormost 
fin rays in larger specimens. Pelvic fin moderately 
long; longest pelvic-fin ray, when extended posteri- 
orly, reaching base of first, or occasionally second, 
anal-fin ray. Posteriormost pelvic-fin ray connected 
to body by delicate membrane terminating immedi- 
ately anterior to anus, or occasionally extending pos- 
teriorly almost to anal-fin origin (membrane torn in 
most specimens). Caudal fin moderately long. Scales 
large, strongly ctenoid on both sides of body. 
Pigmentation (Fig. 52J Body coloration similar for 
both sexes. Ocular surface usually dark brown with 
4-11 (usually 6-10) well-developed, complete, 
sharply contrasting, dark brown crossbands on head 
and body. Individuals from light-colored habitats with 
almost whitish background coloration and strong 
pattern of crossbanding. Crossbands not continued 
onto dorsal and anal fins. Occasionally, crossbands 
scarcely evident in specimens with exceptionally dark 
ocular surface background coloration. Anteriormost 
crossband on head immediately posterior to eyes; 
second crossband on head on anterior region of opercle. 
Crossbands on trunk variable in number. Anterior two 
crossbands on body immediately posterior to opercu- 
lar opening, usually darkest. Posteriormost crossband 
immediately anterior to base of caudal fin. Outer sur- 
face of ocular-side opercle with same pigment as that 
on body. Inner linings of opercles and isthmus on both 
sides of body unpigmented. Ocular-side upper lip with 
slight band of pigment; ocular-side lower lip frequently 
spotted, but without definite pigment band. Blind side 
creamy white. Peritoneum unpigmented. 
Fin rays and membranes along dorsal and anal 
fins uniformly dark brown, darkest in regions corre- 
sponding to crossbands on body, but without defined 
pattern of spots or blotches. Distal portions of dor- 
sal- and anal-fin rays unpigmented. Proximal, scaly, 
one-half of caudal fin occasionally with small pig- 
mented blotch of variable intensity. Distal one-half 
of caudal fin with single, well-developed, ocellated, 
dark brown or black, spherical spot surrounded by 
unpigmented, whitish area, clearly evident even in 
smallest specimen (26.2 mm) examined. Portions of 
caudal-fin rays distal to ocellated spot usually unpig- 
mented, occasionally with faint light brown pigment. 
