CHARACINIDAE FROM VENEZUELA—SCHULTZ 353 
this genus. Many of these species are very similar to those already 
described and the genus is in need of a critical revision. 
The new species here described and named Hyphessobrycon sovichthys 
is close to H. poecilioides in coloration but differs in lacking a humeral 
spot and in having more numerous anal rays, usually 1, 16 to ii, 21 
instead of i, 14 or i, 15 in poecilioides. These two species are alike 
in having the black lateral streak continuous from behind head to tips 
of middle caudal fin rays. H. sovichthys has 30 or 31 scales and H. 
poecilioides has about 35 or 36 scales. 
Since H. sovichthys has but one tooth on the maxillary, it differs 
from the following species: H. coelestinus Myers, in Kigenmann and 
Myers, 1929, which has 4 to 6 teeth; H. cheringi Fowler, 1941, H. latus 
Fowler, 1941, H. innest Myers, 1936, which have 2 or 3 maxillary 
teeth. H. sovichthys in lacking a humeral spot or bar and also a black 
caudal spot differs from the following species: H. balbus Myers, 1927; 
H. flammeus Myers, 1924; H. theringi Fowler, 1941; H. mazillaris 
Fowler, 1932; H. schauenseei Fowler, 1926; H. innesi Myers, 1936; 
H. scholzer Ahl, 1937; H. peruvianus Ladiges, 1938; H. loretoensis 
Ladiges, 1938; H. maculicauda Ahl, 1936; and H. nigrifrons Ahl, 1936. 
H. ornatus Ahl, 1934, has a large ornate black spot in the dorsal fin 
lacking in H. sovichthys. H. iheringi Fowler, 1941, has a black lateral 
band that ends in a large caudal spot. H. piabinhas Fowler, 1941, 
completely lacks a black lateral band as found in H. sovichthys. There 
are more numerous anal rays 22 to 24 in H. peruvianus, H. loretoensis, 
than. in sovichthys and H. maculicauda, and H. nigrifrons have 32 or 
33 scales instead of fewer. 
Other species may be distinguished from H. sovichthys, except H. 
poecilioides, by tracing the new species through the key to this genus 
on pp. 172-176 of EKigenmann’s revision (Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., 
vol. 43, pt. 2, 1918). 
Named somchthys in honor of the Standard Oil Co. of Venezuela, 
which aided me in the collection of fishes during 1942 while I was in 
Venezuela. 
Genus ASTYANAX Baird and Girard 
Astyanax Batrp and Girarp, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 7, p. 26, 
1854. (Type, Astyanax argentatus Baird and Girard.) 
KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ASTYANAX REPORTED FROM VENEZUELA (See table 26 for counts) 
la. Anal rays 18 or 19 (probably iii, 17 or iii, 18); scales 5-31-4; premaxillary 
with 2 or 3 teeth on each side in outer series and 5 in inner series; a small 
tooth at upper limit of maxillary; dorsal origin midway between snout tip 
and midcaudal fin base; sides silvery, with a darkish wide lateral band but 
no humeral or caudal spots are discernible; fins all clear. 
Astyanax scintillans Myers 
1b. Anal rays in greater number than iii, 21. 
2a. The number of scales from upper edge of gill opening to midcaudal fin base 47 
to 50, with 9 or 10 above lateral line and 7 or 8 below it to base of pelvics; 
anal rays ili, 26 to ili, 31; humeral spot vertically elongate with pale 
