286 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM VOL. 95 
In alcohol the color pattern is somewhat variable with sex and age. 
The immature have about nine vertical color bars that end in an 
enlarged round spot along the midaxis of the body; also along the 
midaxis is a black band; humeral spot black and prominent; base of 
caudal fin with a black blotch that continues part way out along the 
middle rays of caudal fin; coming off the black caudal spot at base of 
caudal fin rays are short wings, one dorsally and the other ventrally, 
and these then continue as faint pigment streaks along outer rays 
of caudal fin; a black streak through eye to tip of snout. 
The adults are similar in color pattern, but the bars and black lateral 
band are less distinct; the vertical color bars do not continue below the 
lateral line or below their enlarged ends along midaxis; the dark brown 
color on the basal half of the caudal fin abruptly ends, so that the 
distal half of the caudal fin is pale; behind the base of each of the 
middle caudal fin rays is a small black spot. 
Remarks.—This new species differs from other species referred to 
Characidium in color pattern and in the more numerous dice rays, 
il, 11 or ili, 12 instead of i, 10 or fewer. 
N amed hae after the common name of this species as given to me 
by the Venezuelans of the valley of the Rio Chama. 
CHARACIDIUM CHUPA TORBESENSIS, new subspecies 
FIGURE 34 
Holotype.—U.S.N.M. No. 121415, a specimen 61 mm. in standard 
length, collected by Leonard P. Schulte, March 31, 1942, in the Rfo 
Torbes, 1 km. above Tériba, Orinoco ike) 
Paratypes —U.S.N.M. No. 121416, 7 specimens, 52 to 76 mm., 
collected along with the holotype and bearing same data. These 
types were collected in rapidly flowing water among rubble to large 
boulders. 
Description —Detailed measurements were made on the holotype 
and one paratype, and these data, expressed in hundredths of the 
standard length, are recorded first for the holotype then the paratype 
in parentheses. Standard lengths in mm. 61 (70.5). 
Length of head 25.6 (27.6); greatest depth of body 26.5 (81.2); 
diameter of eye 5.57 (4.96); length of snout 5.90 (6.67); length of 
maxillaries 6.56 (6.88); postorbital length of head 16.4 (17.9); width of 
interorbital space 6.06 (6.52); least preorbital width 1.66 (2.83); least 
depth of caudal peduncle 12.8 (14.0); length of caudal peduncle from 
base of last anal ray to midbase of caudal fin 18.5 (19.1); distance 
from tip of snout to dorsal origin 45.7 (49.8); snout to adipose origin 
82.8 (84.4); snout to anal origin 76.2 (76.6); snout to pectoral insertion 
20.8 (23.1); snout to pelvic insertion 52.0 (56.6); snout to anus 69.0 
(71.5); length of longest ray of dorsal fin 18.8 (19.1); longest ray of 
