CHARACINIDAE FROM VENEZUELA—SCHULTZ 249 
specimens from the Orinoco may reveal that only one species occurs 
at Ciudad Bolivar. 
la. Seales 82, 5% above lateral line and 5 to 5% below it to pelvic bases; caudal 
base with a large blackish-brown spot. 
Curimatella bolivarensis (Steindachner) 
1b. Seales 35 to 38, 5 or 534 above and 5 scales below lateral line; no dark caudal 
SH ONO Gel cece LE eS EPA a Curimatella alburna (Miller and Troschel) 
CURIMATELLA BOLIVARENSIS (Steindachner) 
Curimatus bolivarensis STEINDACHNER, Anz. Akad, Wiss. Wien, vol. 47, p. 265, 
1910 (Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela). 
CURIMATELLA ALBURNA (Miiller and Troschel) 
Anodus alburnus MUuuErR and TroscnHen, Horae ichthyologicae, pts. 1, 2, p. 26, 
pl. 4, fig. 3, 3a, 1845 (Guiana, Lake Amucu). 
Curimatus alburnus STEINDACHNER, Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, vol. 41, p. 153, 
1879 (Ciudad Bolivar).—PrE.LLEGRIN, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, vol. 5, 
p. 157, 1899 (Apure River, Venezuela). 
Genus CURIMATA Walbaum 
Curitmaia Wa.Bpaum, Artedi’s Bibliotheca ichthyologica, vol. 3, ed. 2, p. 80, 
1792. (Type, Salmo marcgravit Walbaum = Salmo cyprinotdes Linnaeus.) 
(Ref. copied.) 
KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CURIMATA REPORTED FROM VENEZUELA 
la. Seale rows from anterior edge of gill opening to midbase of caudal fin 51 to 
63; second and third rays of dorsal produced, reaching in extreme cases to 
caudal; roof of mouth with numerous folds of skin; upper gill arches with 
papillae and with valvelike folds at anterior ends; lower gill arches with 
backward- and forward-directed rakerlike filaments on anterior halves, 
forming a grill on floor of mouth and with a few large papillae on posterior 
Tat hy Seana ecea nua MENGE UUW UY Ee SRAM Curimata schomburgkii Ginther 
1b. Seale rows fewer than 50. 
2a. Midbase of caudal fin or rear of caudal peduncle with a black spot; anal 
rays iii, 7 and dorsal ii, 9; scales about 35 or 36, 5% to 6 above and 4% to 
5¥% below lateral line. 
3a. A roundish black blotch or spot at midbase of caudal fin and extending a 
little on caudal peduncle; base of dorsal rays without a black blotch; 
insertion of pelvics equal distance from tip of snout and midcaudal 
base; depth of body 3; scales below lateral line to pelvic base 4%. 
Curimata spilura Ginther 
3b. An oblong blackish blotch or spot on midposterior end of caudal peduncle 
barely extending on base of rays; an elongate black streak basally on 
middle dorsal rays; insertion of pelvies closer to tip of snout than to 
midcaudal base by a distance equal tu diameter of eye; depth of body 
2%; scales below lateral line to pelvic base 5 to 5%. ; 
Curimata argentea Gill 
2b. No black blotch at base of caudal fin, scales numbering 39 to 43 from gill 
opening to midcaudal base, with 6 above and 5 or 6 below lateral line; 
dorsal rays ii, 9, anal ili, 7, pectoral i, 13 or i, 14; roof of mouth with 5 
lengthwise fleshy folds, one along midline enlarged anteriorly, the pair 
next to midline enlarged posteriorly, and outer pair enlarged anteriorly; 
rear of mouth at sides below orbit with a patch of dermal papillae; inside 
of gill cover finely papillate; gill rakers short, pointed, about 19 or 20+ 30; 
