THE FISHES OF PORTO RICO. 
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Genus 85. BRACHYDEUTERUS Gill. The Burritos. 
Body oblong; scales large, those above in series parallel with lateral line; mouth small, outer 
teeth in jaws somewhat enlarged; inside of jaws not red. Anal spines small or moderate, second 
little, if any, longer or stronger than third, and lower than soft rays; soft dorsal and anal largely 
covered with small scales; dorsal spines 12; soft dorsal comparatively long, of 15 or 16 rays; otherwise 
essentially as in Pomcidasis, fins smaller and more scaly. Only one of the four American species is known 
from Porto Rico. 
149. Brachydeuterus corvinseformis (Steindaehner). 
Head 3 to 3.25; depth 3.25; eye 3.75 to 4 in head; snout 2.2 to 3; D. xn, 15; A. hi, 7; scales 
6-51-10. Upper profile regularly arched from snout to tail, highest point at origin of dorsal; lower 
profile nearly straight to base of anal; preorbital slightly less than eye; maxillary not reaching eye, 
3.33 to 3.4 in head; anterior nostril oval, twice size of posterior; preopercle finely toothed, about 20 
teeth on upper limb, increasing slightly in size toward angle; dorsal notched almost to base, fourth 
spine longest, 2.12 to 2.5 in head; longest soft ray (second) equal to or slightly less than longest spine; 
pectoral pointed, 1.25 to 1.4 in head; ventral broad, margin nearly straight, inner ray 1.25 in second, 
which is 2 in head; the first ray branched once, slightly filamentous, the other rays much branched; 
second and third anal spines about, equal, 3 to 3.75 in head, relatively larger in smaller specimens, second 
stouter; first soft ray 2.5 in head; margin of anal slightly concave, last ray shorter than second spine; 
upper lobe of caudal longer, the difference more noticeable in smaller specimens, 1.33 to 1.5 in head, 
middle rays 1.75 in upper; pectoral scaly at base only, other fins, except spinous dorsal, more or less 
completely scaled, a narrow sheath of scales on sides of dorsal and anal, supplementary scales slightly 
developed in axil of ventrals; least depth of caudal peduncle 1.5 to 1.6 in length from below end of 
dorsal, its length being equal to middle caudal rays; lateral line and rows of scales above it concentric 
with back, scales below lateral line in horizontal rows. 
Color in alcohol: Dark olive above, lower sides more or less silvery, larger specimens much the 
lighter, a dark line along each row of scales below lateral line, these rather indistinct in larger specimens; 
scales above lateral line with dark centers, these not forming distinct lines; a diffuse dark blotch on 
scapular region, very faint in the larger specimens; pectoral colorless, other fins punctate, margins 
very dark. There is considerable variation in the ground-color, larger specimens being distinctly 
silvery, some of the smaller heavily washed with olive and having scapular blotch more developed. 
Our specimens differ from Steindaehner’ s description in having a rather shorter maxillary, not 
reaching eye, narrower preorbital, and a blotch on scapular region. They are, however, probably not 
specifically distinct. 
The range of this species is from the West Indies to Brazil; apparently common about Porto Rico, 
specimens being in the collection from Palo Seeo, Aguadilla, Mayaguez, Arroyo, Hueares, and Isabel 
Segunda. It reaches a length of about a foot, and is a good pan-fish. 
llxmulon corvinseforme Steindaehner, Ichth. Notizen, VII, 16, 1868, Santos, Brazil. 
Brachydeuterus corvinseformis, Jordan & Evermann, 1. c., 1326, 1898. 
Genus 86. POMADASIS Lacepede. The Burros. 
Body oblong, somewhat compressed, back not much elevated; mouth rather small, terminal, low, 
lips thin; maxillary usually not extending to opposite eye, its tip not reaching posterior edge of broad 
preorbital; premaxillary protractile; teeth on jaws only, in villiform bands, subequal, or outer series 
in upper jaw more or less enlarged; no red on jaws; a central groove behind symphysis of lower jaw; 
cheek and opercles scaly; the preopercle rather distinctly serrate, seme below not turned forward; 
suprascapular serrate; scales large, those above lateral line in series parallel with it: no small scales 
at base of the others; soft dorsal and anal fins naked, or with very few scales at the base; dorsal tin 
emarginate, spines strong, 12 or 13 in number, soft rays 11 to 14; anal fin of 7 or 8 soft rays, short, 
with second spine always very strong; gillrakers feeble, few in number; caudal lunate, forked. 
This genus is composed of small shore fishes, some of its representatives being found in most 
tropical seas; several enter fresh waters, and perhaps belong to the brackish-water fauna. Numerous 
species are found on the west coast of Africa and about the Cape Verde Islands, but so far as known 
none enters European waters. Only three of the eight American species are known from Porto Rico. 
