Academy of Natural Sciences

Notes on Fresh Water Fishes from Central America Author(s): Henry W. Fowler Source: Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Vol. 84 (1932), pp. 379-385 Published by: Academy of Natural Sciences Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4064135 . Accessed: 15/08/2013 00:58
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NOTES ON FRESH

WATER

FISHES

FROM CENTRAL

AMERICA

BY HENRY W. FOWLER.

The fishes reported in this paper pertain to Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. All were collected for or presented to the Academy.
GUATEMALA

A small collection of fourteen specimens, represented by four species, was obtained by the Brinton-Biddle Expedition of 1930. All are from the Coyalote River near Quetzaltenango, Pacific slope of Guatemala.
Astyanax albeolus (Eigenmann).

Six, 84 to 95 mm. Four with A. 24, i and iin, 27, i.

Mollienesia sphenops (Valenciennes).

iii, 25, i,

each of others show A. III,

One, 88 mm.
Anableps dowel Gill.

Four, 63 to 173 mm.

Cichlasoma macracauthus (Gunther).

Three, 67 to 74 mm.
HONDURAS

The fishes from this country were obtained by the Academy-EmlenWorth Expedition of 1930 under the leadership of Mr. J. A. G. Rehn, including Messrs. J. T. Emlen, W. A. Vickers, and C. B. Worth, who assisted in collecting. These fishes number 95 specimens, representing 6 species, one of which is new (Cichlasoma cutteri).
Synbranchus marmoratus Bloch.

One 550 mm., eaten by a hawk, Lancetilla River at Lancetilla, September 5.

Xiphophorus helleri Heckel.

Male, 70 mm., Lancetilla, September 9.

Pseudoxiphophorus bimaculatus (Heckel).

Seven males 33 to 50 mm., and 14 females 21 to 62 mm., September 9, also female 79 mm., August 26 or 27, all from Lancetilla. Heckel's crude figure in 1848 does not show the coloration. The dorsals in both sexes are shown with 3 rows of dark spots on the membranes.
( 379 )

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380
XolUenesia sphenops

PROCEEDINGS (Valenciennes).

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Female 122 mm.; also one 63 mm., without anal fin, August 30; 14 males 43 to 61 mm.; 49 females 21 to 90 mm., September 9. Most all females with black caudal blotch. Lancetilla.
Anableps dowel Gill.

Four 125 to 205 mm., from Rio Cholutua at Cantarranas, July 20. Also five 155 to 255 mm., same locality, August 3.
Cichlasoma cutteri, new species.

Depth 2 to 2-flu;head 21 to 3, width 1Q to 2. Snout 2 to 3U in head; eye 22- to 5, greater than snout in young to 23 in snout with age, greater than interorbital in young to 1- in interorbital with age; maxillary reaches i to - to eye, length 4 to 5 in head; rather broad bands of teeth in jaws, outer row compressed, attenuated, simple, little enlarged; interorbital 2* to 4, convex. Gill rakers 3 + 7, short, robust, clavate, 2 gill filaments, which 13 in eye. Tubular scales 18 to 20 in upper section of lateral line which extends far as front of soft dorsal, 10 or 11 in lower section to caudal base; often tubes variously absent from both sections of lateral line and may occasionally extend on caudal base; 7 scales above lateral line to spinous dorsal origin; 7 scales below front of lower section of lateral line and soft anal origin; 13 or 14 predorsal scales forward opposite front eye edge; 6 or 7 rows of scales on cheek. Bases of vertical fins all more or less covered with small scales. Scales with 10 or 11 basal close set radiating striae; 32 to 63 fine uniform close set apical denticles, with 4 to 24 transverse series of basal elements; circuli very fine. D. X:VIII or X:IX, 10, I spinous fin height 2* to 21 in head, third ray 1 to 1I; A. IX, 8, i, spinous fin height 2, third ray 1 to 11; caudal 1 to 1*; least depth of caudal peduncle 2 to 21*;pectoral 1 " to 11; ventral 1* to 1* times head. Generally wood brown to tawny olive, more or less uniform. Iris neutral dusky. Broad dusky band from eye to maxillary. Trunk and tail with 7 dusky to blackish vertical bands greatly contrasted with body color and extending on bases of dorsals and anals. Broad blotch of black on caudal base and annectant caudal peduncle. Fins all more or less dull dusky or dusky olive. Type, No. 53930, ANSP., Lancetilla, Honduras. August 24, 1930. C. B. Worth. Honduras Expedition. Also Nos. 53931 and 53932, ANSP., paratypes, same locality, September 9; No. 53933, ANSP., paratype, same locality, August 26 and 27. Type 112 mm., paratypes 33 to 88 mm. Diagnosis. Related to Ileros octofasciatus Regan and Cichlasoma hedrieki Meek, the latter placed as a synonym of the former by Regan. My species differs in the dark preocular band extending forward from the eye to the mouth and the 8 blackish vertical bands on the body extending on the adjacent dorsals and anals. Moreover, the last band on the caudal base is very broad and contrasted.

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1932]

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Named for Mr. Victor M. Cutter, President of the United Fruit Company, in slight recognition of his deep interest in neotropical zoology, and his cordial assistance to the Academy on numerousoccasions.

3=T-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5

I->f.w. H.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~nW. F.

Cichlasomacutteri new species tristani new species Pam4nmichthys Rhamdia alfaroi new species

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382

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COSTA RICA

Two lots of fishes were received by the Academy in July, 1928, and September, 1928, from our valued correspondent, Prof. Anastasio Alfaro. They total 237 specimens, representing 16 species, of which Rhamdia alfaroi and Panamichthys tristani are described as new. We are especially indebted to Prof. Alfaro for this interesting gift to the museum.
Astyanax aeneus costaricensis Meek.

One 138 mm., Turrialba at 625 meters, June 17; one 108 mm., Escobal at 400 meters, July 15.
Astyanax albeolus Eigenmann.

Four, 82 to 117 mm., Barranca at 50 meters. One from Costa Rica 102 mm. Four, 56 to 66 mm., Lagunilla at 900 meters, February 15, showing A. iII, 23, I to III 25, I.
Carassius auratus (Linnaeus).

One 51 mm., Costa Rica, introduced.

Tachysurus fuerthii (Steindachner).

One 193 mm., obtained at Tobago in 1913. Eye 43 in head.

Rhamdia rogerst (Regan).

A. iv, 14.

One 225 mm., Pacific side of Costa Rica, in 1920.

Rhamdia alfarol, new species.

Depth 5t; head 42, width 11. Snout 24 in head; eye 6, 24 in snout, in interorbital; mouth width 24 in head, lower jaw little shorter; maxillary barbel reaches opposite middle of dorsal base, outer mental barbel reaches pectoral origin and inner mental slightly over half so far; broad bands of villiform teeth in each jaw, though lower bands narrower and more pointed at mouth corners; interorbital 3, very slightly convex; occipital projection yery short, broad, only about 4 to dorsal origin. Gill rakers 4+ 10, lanceolate, equal gill filaments or I of eye. Skin smooth. Head and humeral spine covered with thin skin. Lateral line complete, axial along side of body. D. I, 6, I, spine 31 in head, slender, entire, flexible end nearly equally long as spine, second ray 14 in head; A. III, 10, I, second branched ray 14; caudal 14, well forked, lobes distinct; least depth of caudal peduncle 24; pectoral 1X, spine with front edge entire and inner edge with 11 large antrorse denticles concealed in membrane; ventral inserted below hind edge of dorsal- base, fin 14; adipose fin length 21 in combined head and body without caudal; vent midway in depressed ventral length. Back and upper surfaces hair brown to drab, under surfaces whitish. Iris neutral gray. Vertical fins all with more or less dusky to dark neutral gray terminally, fins otherwise tinged like back. Paired fins pale, grayish terminally or above. Maxillary barbel brown, other barbels whitish. Type, No. 53934, ANSP. Escobal, 400 meters elevation, Costa Rica. July 15, 1928. Prof. Anastasio Alfaro. Length 150 mm.
15

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Diagnosis. Very suggestive of Rhamdia microptera (Gunther) but differing in the greatly shorter occipital point not extending over i of space to dorsal origin. In many other respects as its long adipose fin, well-forked caudal, long maxillary barbel, humeral spine and anal fin it agrees. It is also close to Rharmdia nasuta Meek which differs in the maxillary barbel nearly reaching the adipose fin, pectoral spine margins retrorse dentate and no obscure dark lateral band. Named for Prof. Anastasio Alfaro, who collected the type.
Rivauls isthmensis Garman.

Three, 48 to 51 mm., Taras at 1480 meters, May 27. Smallest with 2 black caudal ocelli above. Five, 30 to 52 mm., Miravalles at 825 meters, July 23.
Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora (Regan).

From Escobal at 400 meters, on July 5, seven males 27 to 42 mm., and 14 females 25 to 65 mm.; on July 15 four males 32 to 38 mm., and 5 females 30 to 49 mm. From Esparta at 200 meters, on July 24, twelve males 23 to 39 mm., and twenty-nine females 29 to 52 mm. My materials show this species closely related to Brachyrhaphis olomina, differing chiefly in its more robust or deeper body, the depth 3 to 3* (compared with 31 to 3* for B. olomina) and the caudal always with a dark subbasal transverse band (never evident in B. olomina) on caudal, usually formed of dusky pigment on the fin rays. The dark transverse bands on the sides are usually fewer and often well contrasted, though variable in B. rhabdophora.
Brachyrhaphis olomina (Meek).

Female 50 mm. from Quebrada de las Cafnas,January 24; on February 21 three males 25 to 31 mm., and eight females 32 to 52 mm. Female 54 mm., from Quebrada del Tigre, February 9; female 44 mm. from Opode Agua at 950 meters, May 20; two males 26 to 32 mm., and five females 36 to 51 mm., from Ojo de Agua, May 20.
Priapichthys annectans (Regan).

Six males 29 to 33 mm., and five females 27 to 35 mm., from Taras at 1480 meters May 27; three males 30 to 39 mm., and five females 37 to 59 mm., from the Tiribi River July 2; eleven males 26 to 40 mm., and thirtynine females 27 to 70 mm. from Miravalles July 23. Although my examples pertain to the Pacific slope, Hubbs having named Priapichthys annectans hesperis for the Rio Grande de Tarcoles headwaters, I do not feel able to distinguish them as sueh.

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384

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PANAMICHTHYS PLECTROPHALLUS,

Type, Panamichthys tristani new species. Diagnosis. From the genotype of Panamichthys (Priapichthys panamensis Meek and Hildebrand) the present subgenus differs chiefly in its anal fin, which is inserted a little nearer the caudal base than the snout tip, though before the dorsal origin. The gonopodium extends only half way to the caudal base, its length 4 in combined head and body to caudal base. Pectorals not reaching middle of depressed ventrals. Coloration as in Brachyrhaphis. I have separated this species as a subgenus chiefly on the structure of its gonopodium, which is more strongly recurved than in subgenus Panamichthys. (7rX7K'rPOV, spur; 4AXXos, gonopodium.)
Panamichthys tristani, new species.

Depth 34'; head 31, width 1A. Snout 41 in head measured from snout tip; eye 3, greater than snout, 14 in interorbital; maxillary little inclined from vertical, reaches front of eye, length 31 in head from snout tip; mandible well protruded in front of upper jaw; lips thick and fleshy; teeth minute, uniform, simple, conic, in rather narrow bands in jaws; interorbital 24 in head from upper jaw tip, broad, but slightly convex. Gill rakers 1 + 11, rather robust, lanceolate, about 1 of gill filaments, which 2;4 in eye. Scales 26 in median lateral series from upper edge of gill opening to middle of caudal base and 5 more over latter so basal half of caudal scaly; 8 scales transversely between dorsal and anal origins; 13 predorsal forward to middle of eyes in interorbital. Single row of large scales cover cheek. Scales small and crowded along middle of belly and on breast. Scales with 9 short parallel basal marginal striae; eirculi rather fine or about 15 basally and fewer obsolete ones apically. D. i, 8, i, second branched ray 14 in head; A. 10, third to fifth rays modified as gonopodium, bent down and forward, third ray giving off small subterminal spur and its edge with some small retrorse denticles likewise edges of some of other rays; caudal 13 in head, slightly convex behind as expanded; least depth of caudal peduncle 13; pectoral 14; ventral 14. Body pale brown generally, slightly paler on under surfaces. On back and sides each scale with narrow blackish brown margin, all forming sharply contrasted reticulate appearance. Sides of head and all of mandible anteriorly or muzzle soiled or dull dusky. Short blackish bar on preorbital at lower front eye edge, also small blackish blotch at shoulder behind upper angle of gill opening. On body 10 vertical brown narrow bars or bands of which 4 before vent and all with underlaid appearance, due to dark reticulations. Last of brown vertical bars at caudal base broadest. Iris neutral dusky. Fins transparent to whitish. Dorsal with narrow dusky submarginal line and on middle of each membrane vertical blackish bar which narrows below and crosses ray following basally. Cau-

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dal with 3 transverse dusky bands, first or basal narrow like subterminal, subbasal widest and hind fin edge whitish. Anal with gonopodium largely dusky, followed by dark parallel streak becoming blackish basally on fin which tint also extends posteriorly on fin. Dark median predorsal line and brown one behind dorsal, also narrow dark line from anal to caudal. Rather large dull brown blotch on breast. Type, No. 53935 ANSP., Escobal at 400 meters, Costa Rica. July 15, 1928. Prof. Anastasio Alfaro. Length 38 mm. Diagnosis. Only known from the type, whose characters are given under the subgenus to which it belongs. In coloration it greatly resembles Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora (Regan) and B. otomi,na (Meek). Named in memory of Prof. J. Fidel Tristan, late Director of the National Museum at San Jose, one of the distinguished naturalists of Central America.
Phallichth-ys pittierl (Meek).

One male 46 mm., and two females 49 to 56 mm., from Descamparados at 1200 meters, June 30.
Mollienesia sphenops (Valenciennes).

Male 42 mm., Alajuela at 900 meters, February 16; five males 32 to 42 mm., and four females 37 to 59 mm., Lagunillas at 900 meters, February 16; female 49 mm., Siguiares at 800 meters, March 4, with right side of caudal basally with 2 black spots, upper very small and lower nearly large as eye; two males 39 to 42 mm., and two females 45 to 59 mm., Desampara Island at 1200 meters, April 3, smaller female with black basal blotch on dorsal fin; female 50 mm., Descamparados, April 7; male 56 mm., San Rafael at 1200 meters, May 8, the largest male I have seen; six males 35 to 44 mm., and 10 females 33 to 60 mm., Turrialba at 625 meters, June 17; female 58 mm., Oratina at 260 meters, July 25. Also female 59 mm., Ciruelas at 900 meters in May, 1913.
Pomadasys crocro (Cuvier).

One 122 mm., Turrubares, March 1. Scales 51 in lateral line to caudal base.
Cichlasoma spilurus (Gunther).

Five 59 to 88 mm., Esparta at 200 meters, July 24. spines, others with 8.
Cichlasoma alfari Meek.

One with 7 anal

Seven, 88 to 145 mm., Turrialba, June 17.

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