THE FISHES OF PORTO RICO. 
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streak from snout below eye to upper edge of gill-opening; a narrow blue streak from eye to nostrils; 
iris fiery red; pectoral, caudal, anal, and ventrals brick-red, caudal narrowly margined with black and 
little bronzed above; dorsal reddish along the rays and tips of membranes, otherwise yellowish; 
distinct lateral blotch just above lateral line and below first soft ray on dorsal, about as large as pupil, 
smaller than in other species similarly marked and seldom disappearing with age; axil and bar across 
base of pectoral above pale or dusky olive. In spirits the markings become fainter, the lateral blotch 
and bluish streaks on head usually persisting. 
The above description of color from a specimen 11 inches long taken at Key West; Porto Rican 
examples appear to be somewhat more brightly colored. A fine specimen, 14 inches long, taken at 
Arroyo February 14, was, in life, pale-rosy, richest on sides, pale below; back olive-green with rosy 
wash; bases of scales brownish, edge with a pale-blue crescent; cheek and opercle rosy; an irregular 
blue line under eye; some blue in front and behind eye; top of head dark-reddish; chin and belly 
nearly white; fins all rosy, dorsal edged with lemon; upper caudal lobe yellowish. A specimen 8 
inches long from San Antonio Bridge had side with narrow blue stripes and broader yellowish ones; 
cheek with 2 or 3 pale-blue stripes; belly rosy; ventrals and anal rosy; caudal greenish with slight 
rosy wash and dark edge; small dark spot under anterior dorsal rays; mouth pale inside. 
This species ranges from Pensacola and Key West southward among the West Indies to Brazil, 
straying northward in the Gulf Stream to Woods Hole. Apparently one of the most abundant and 
important food-fishes of Porto Rico. Our collections contain specimens from San Juan, Mayaguez, 
Puerto Real, Ensenada del Boqueron, Ponce, Arroyo, Hucares, Fajardo, Yieques, and Oulebra. 
At Key West this species is called mutton-fish or pargo, and is one of the most important fishes 
brought to that market. It is said to reach a'maximum weight of 25 pounds, though examples weigh- 
ing more than 15 or 18 pounds are not common. The average weight of those seen at Key West or 
in Porto Rico prr bably did not exceed 5 pounds. It is said to be the most important food-fish of 
Havana, being always abundant. Its flesh is fairly flavored, though not very delicate, but always 
healthful. About Key West it is found on rock bottom in 3 to 9 fathoms, and is caught with hook 
and line. They are quite gamy, taking the hook promptly and fighting well. They are found 
throughout the year, but are scarcest in July and August, which is their spawning time. They are 
said to school at spawning time; the eggs are nonadhesive and the size of a rice grain. 
In Porto Rico this species is highly esteemed. It is called “sama” or “pargo criollo.” It is 
usually taken in the fish-traps set in 5 to 20 fathoms, though considerable numbers of the smaller 
individuals are caught with the haul seines in shallow water along the shore. 
Mesoprion analis Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., II, 452, 1828, Santo Domingo. 
Mesoprion sobra Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., II, 453, 1828, Martinique. 
Mesoprion isodon Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., IX, 443, 1833, Santo Domingo. 
Mesoprion rosaeeus Poey,.Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. N. Y., IX, 1870, 317, Cuba. 
Imtjanus analis, Poey, Fauna Puerto-Riquena, 330, 1881; Stahl, 1. c., 76 and 162, 1883. 
Neomoenis analis, Jordan & Evermann, 1. c., 1265, 1898. 
130. Neomaenis megalophthalmus Evermann & Marsh, new species. 
Head 2.67; depth 2.9; eye 4.75; snout 2.85; maxillary 2.6; mandible 2.1; interorbital 6.25; 
preorbital 4.8; D. x, 12; A. iii, 8; scales 7-64—16, about 57 pores. Body oblong, compressed, back 
greatly elevated, anterior profile very steep and nearly straight or slightly concave from tip of snout to 
occiput, thence regularly convex to origin of dorsal fin; snout rather long and pointed; mouth large, 
maxillary reaching anterior third of pupil; lower jaw somewhat projecting; eye large; edge of 
preopercle nearly vertical, notch long and shallow, serrations obscure; teeth on vomer, palatines, and 
tongue, those on vomer in an /t\-shaped patch ; patch on tongue long and narrow, truncate in front, 
narrowing behind; a narrow band of villiform teeth on upper jaw and 6 canines in front, one of these 
on each side much smaller than others; a row of moderately strong conic teeth in lower jaw; 10 gill- 
rakers on lower arm of first arch, longest about 2 in eye; scales moderate, those above lateral line 
in very oblique series; 6 rows each on cheek and opercle; temporal region with a broad band of scales 
arranged in several series; bases of soft dorsal and anal scaly; caudal well scaled; dorsal spines rather 
slender and weak, fourth to seventh longest, about 3.25 in head; second and third anal spines equal in 
length, second stronger, about equal to eye; caudal moderately forked, lobes equal, 1.6 in head; pectoral 
long, 1.25 in head, reaching origin of anal; ventrals about 2 in head. 
F. C. B. 1900—12 
