Munroe: Systematics of western Atlantic Symphurus 
135 
possessing 1-5-3 and 1-4-3 ID patterns. Symphurus 
chabanaudi has a much higher frequency of occur- 
rence of the 1-5-3 ID pattern (50% of individuals ex- 
amined) compared with only 30% with a 1-4-3 pat- 
tern. In contrast, 55 of 64 (86%) of the S', oculellus 
examined had a 1-4-3 pattern and only three speci- 
mens possessed a 1-5-3 pattern. Symphurus 
chabanaudi also differs from S. oculellus in that this 
species generally has about nine, wide, dark-brown 
crossbands compared with the more numerous ( 10- 
14, usually 10-12), narrower bands in S. oculellus. 
In addition, in S. oculellus the posterior two-thirds 
of the dorsal and anal fins usually have alternating 
series of blotches and unpigmented areas, whereas 
in S. chabanaudi the posterior third of the dorsal and 
anal fins, and the caudal fin, are usually uniformly 
dark brown or black without alternating blotches and 
unpigmented areas. 
There is almost complete overlap in fin-ray and 
vertebral counts between those of S. oculellus and 
S. elongatus, however, these species are otherwise dis- 
tinct. Symphurus oculellus has prominent crossbands 
on the body and a dark blotch on the ocular-side 
opercle, whereas in S. elongatus the body is uniformly 
pigmented without crossbands and a prominent 
blotch on the ocular-side opercle is wanting. 
