LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN FI .15 st.l P .2 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY PUBLICATION No. 215 ZOOLOGICAL SERIES VOL. XV THE MARINE FISHES OF PANAMA BY SETH E. MEEK Late Assistant Curator, Department of Zoology AND SAMUEL F. HILDEBRAND Scientific Assistant, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries PART I WILFRED H. OSGOOD Curator, Department of Zoology CHICAGO, U. S. A. December 20, 1923 - FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY PUBLICATION No. 215 ZOOLOGICAL SERIES VOL. XV THE MARINE FISHES OF PANAMA BY SETH E. MEEK Late Assistant Curator, Department of Zoology AND SAMUEL F. HILDEBRAND Scientific Assistant, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries PART I WILFRED H. OSGOOD Curator, Department of Zoology CHICAGO, U. S. A. December 20, 1923 Clo p. •»- CONTENTS OF PART I Contents of Part I List of Plates in Part I List of new Genera and Species in Part I Introduction Ichthyological History of the Isthmus of Panama . The Geographical Features of the Coasts of Panama Where and how Collections were made .... General Remarks on Distribution Table of Distribution Does the Panama Canal provide a Passageway across the Isthmus for Marine Fishes? The Commercial Fishes of Panama The Scope of the Catalogue Explanatory Notes Key to the Families Page V IX XI i 3 4 5 7 ii ii 12 13 14 15 CLASSES, ORDERS, FAMILIES, AND GENERA INCLUDED IN PART I Page Class I. LEPTOCARDII Order I. Amphioxi Family I. Branchiostomidae THE LANCELETS 1. Branchiostoma Costa ... 27 Class II. ELASMOBRANCHII Order II. Asterospondyli Family II. Orectolobidae THE NURSE SHARKS 2. Ginglymostoma Muller & Henle 29 Family III. Galeorhinidae 3. Galeorhinus Blainville ... 31 Family IV. Carcharhinidae 4. Carcharhinus Blainville . . 36 5. Hyppprion Muller & Henle . 50 6. Scoliodon Muller & Henle . 51 7. Galeocerdo Muller & Henle . 56 Page Family V. Cestraciontidae THE HAMMER-HEAD SHARKS 8. Cestracion Klein 57 Family VI. Vulpeculidae THE THRESHER SHARKS 9. Vulpecula Valmont ... 62 Family VII. Isuridae THE MACKEREL SHARKS 10. Carcharodon Smith ... 63 Order III. Cyclospondyli Family VIII. Squalidae THE DOG-FISHES 11. Squalus Linnaeus . , . . 64 Order IV. Batoidei Family IX. Pristidae THE SAWFISHES 12. Pristis Klein . Page Family X. Rhinobatidae THE GUITAR FISHES 13. Rhinobatus Klein .... 67 Family XL Rajidae THE SKATES 14. Raja Linnaeus 71 Family XII. Narcaciontidae THE ELECTRIC RAYS 15. Narcine Henle 72 16. Discopyge Tschudi .... 74 Family XIII. Dasybatidae THE STING RAYS 17. Dasybatus Klein 75 18. Urotrygon Gill 82 19. Urobatis Garman .... 85 20. Pteroplatea Miiller & Henle . 86 Family XIV. Myliobatidae THE EAGLE RAYS 21. Aetobatus Blainville .... 88 22. Myliobatis Cuvier .... 90 23. Pteromylaeus Garman ... 91 Family XV. Mobulidae THE SEA DEVILS 24. Mobula Rafinesque .... 93 25. Manta Bancroft 94 Class III. TELEOSTOMI Order V. Nematognathi Family XVI. Siluridae THE CATFISHES 26. Felichthys Swainson . . 96 27. Selenaspis Bleeker . . . 101 28. Sciadeichthys Bleeker . . 103 29. Galeichthys Cuv. & Valen. 104 30. Netuma Bleeker .... 112 31. Arius Cuv. & Valen. . . 122 32. Cathorops Jordan & Gilbert 129 Order VI. Synbranchia Family XVII. Synbranchidae 33. Synbranchus Bloch . . . .131 Order VII. Carenchelyi Family XVIII. Derichthyidaa 34. Gorgasia gen. nov 133 Page Order VIII. Apodes Family XIX. Anguillidae THE TRUE EELS 35. Anguilla Shaw 134 Family XX. Leptocephalidae THE CONGER EELS 36. Leptocephalus Gronow . 37. Ariosoma Swainson 137 138 Family XXI. Murasnesocidae 38. Muraenesox McClelland . . 141 39. Hoplunnis Kaup 143 40. Neoconger Girard .... 144 Family XXII. Myridse THE WORM EELS 41. Myrophis Liitken . . . 145 Family XXIII. Ophichthyidae 42. Pisodonophis Kaup . . . .147 43. Myrichthys Girard . . . .149 44. Bascanichthys Jord. & Davis 151 45. Ophichthus Ahl 153 Family XXIV. Muraenidae THE MORAYS 46. Rabula Jordan & Davis . . 161 47. Gymnothorax Bloch . . . 161 48. Murasna Linnaeus .... 168 49. Echidna Forster 170 Order IX. Isospondyli Family XXV. Elopidae THE TARPONS 50. Tarpon Jord. & Everm. . . 173 51. Elops Linnaeus 175 Family XXVI. Albulidae THE BONEFISH OR LADYFISH 52. Albula Gronow 177 Family XXVII. Clupeidae THE HERRINGS 53. Clupanodon Lacepede . 54. Sardinella Cuv. & Valen. 55. Opisthonema Gill . . 56. Ilisha Gray 57. Opisthopterus Gill . . 58. Odontognathus Lacepede 180 181 186 189 191 193 VI Page Family XXVIII. Engraulidse THE ANCHOVIES 59. Anchovia Jord. & Everm. . 196 60. Lycengraulis Giinther . . .211 61. Centengraulis Giinther . . 212 Order X. Iniomi Family XXIX. Synodontidae THE LIZARD-FISHES 62. Synodus Scopoli 215 63. Trachinocephalus Gill . . . 222 Order XI. Synentognathi Family XXX. Belonidae - THE NEEDLEFISHES 64. Tylosurus Cocco .... 224 65. Ablennes Jord. & Ford. . . 231 Family XXXI. Hemirhamphidae 66. Hemirhamphus Cuvier . . 233 67. Hyporhamphus Gill .... 236 Family XXXII. Exocoetidse THE FLYING FISHES 68. Fodiator Jordan & Meek 243 69. Parexocoetus Bleeker 70. Exoccetus Linnaeus . . 71. Exonautes Jord. & Everm 72. Cypselurus Swainson 244 244 244 245 Order XII. Hemibranchii Family XXXIII. Fistulariidae THE CORNET-FISHES 73. Fistularia Linnaeus .... 248 Order XIII. Lophobranchii Family XXXIV. Syngnathidae THE PIPE-FISHES 74. Hippocampus Rafinesque . . 255 75. Syngnathus Linnaeus . . . 256 76. Doryrhamphus Kaup . . .261 Page Order XIV. Acanthopteri Family XXXV. Atherinidae THE SILVERSIDES 77. Atherina Linnaeus 263 78. Atherinella Steindachner . . 265 79. Menidia Bonaparte .... 266 80. Kirtlandia Jord. & Everm. . 268 81. Mugilops gen. nov 271 Family XXXVI. Mugilidae THE MULLETS 82. Mugil Linnaeus 273 83. Chasnomugil Gill 281 Family XXXVII. Sphyrsenidae THE BARRACUDAS 84. Sphyraena Klein 283 Family XXXVIII. Polynemidae THE THREADFINS 85. Polynemus Linnaeus .... 289 Family XXXIX. Holocentridse THE SQUIRREL-FISHES 86. Myripristis Cuvier .... 293 87. Holocentrus Gronow . . . 296 88. Plectrypops Gill 301 Family XL. Mullidae THE SURMULLETS 89. Upeneus Cuvier 303 Family XLI. Scombridse THE MACKERELS 90. Scomber Linnaeus .... 308 91. Gymnosarda Gill 310 92. Auxis Cuvier 312 93. Thunnus South 314 94. Germo Jordan 315 95. Sarda Cuvier 317 96. Scomberomprus Lacepede . 321 97. Acanthocybium Gill .... 326 Family XLII. Trichiuridae THE CUTLASS-FISHES 98. Trichiurus Linnaeus .... 328 Family XLIII. Nematistiidae THE PAPAGALLOS 99. Nematistius Gill 329 VII LIST OF PLATES IN PART I Opposite Page I. Fig. i. Carcharhinus natator sp. nov. (a) Ventral surface of head. Fig. 2. Carcharhinus cerdale Gilbert. (a) Ventral surface of head 40 II. Fig. i. Scoliodon longurio (Jordan & Gilbert). (a) Ventral surface of head. Fig. 2. Scoliodon lalandii (Miiller & Henle). (a) Ventral surface of head. Fig. 3. Scoliodon terrae-novae Richardson. (a) Ventral surface of head 52 III. Narcine brasiliensis (Olfers) 73 IV. Urotrygon mundus Gill 82 V. Anus tuyra sp. nov 128 VI. Gorgasia punctata gen. et sp. nov. (a) Lateral view of head, enlarged 133 VII. Bascanichthys panamensis sp. nov. (a) Ventral view of head, enlarged, (b) Lateral view of head. . 151 VIII. Fig. i. Bascanichthys cylindricus sp. nov. (a) Ventral view of head, (b) Lateral view of head. Fig. 2. Ophichthus chamensis sp. nov 152 IX. Ilisha argentata sp. nov. (a) Scale from Sardinella macrophthalmus (Ranzani). Enlarged 10 x. (b) Scale from Sardinella thrissina (Jordan & Gilbert). Enlarged 10 x 190 X. Fig. i. Ilisha caribbasa sp. nov. Fig. 2. Anchovia parva sp. nov 191 XL Fig. i. Odontognathus panamensis (Steindachner). Fig. 2. Odontognathus compressus sp. nov 194 XII. Fig. i. Anchovia brevirostra sp. nov. Fig. 2. Anchovia elongata sp. nor 198 XIII. Fig. i. Anchovia arenicola sp. nov. Fig. 2. Anchovia ischana (Jordan & Gilbert) 203 IX Opposite Pags XIV. Fig. i. Anchovia brownii (Gmelin). Fig. 2. Anchovia eigenmannia sp. nov 204 XV. Fig. i. Anchovia panamensis (Steindachner). Fig. 2. Anchovia mundeola (Gilbert & Pierson) . . . 207 XVI. Fig. i. Hyporhamphus unifasciatus (Ranzani). Fig. 2. Hyporhamphus roberti (Cuvier & Valenciennes) 237 XVII. Fig. i. Hyporhamphus gilli sp. nov. Fig. 2. Hyporhamphus snyderi sp. nov 240 XVIII. Fig. i. Syngnathus tweedliei sp. nov. Fig. 2. Syngnathus mindii sp. nov 259 XIX. Syngnathus elcapitanense (Meek & Hildebrand). (a) Male, (b) Female 260 XX. Fig. i. Menidia chagresi Meek & Hildebrand. Fig. 2. Menidia starksi sp. nov 266 XXI. Kirtlandia beani sp. no¥ 270 XXII. Fig. i. Mugilops cyanellus gen. et sp. nov. Fig. 2. Mugilops marinus sp. nov 271 XXIII. Plectrypops retrospinis (Guichenot) 301 XXIV. Sarda velox sp. nov 320 X LIST OF NEW GENERA AND SPECIES IN PART I NEW GENERA Page Gorgasia 133 Mugilops 271 NEW SPECIES Carcharhinus natator 40 Arius tuyra 128 Gorgasia punctata 133 Bascanichthys panamensis 151 cylindricus 152 Ophichthus chamensis 155 Ilisha argentata 190 " caribbaea 191 Odontognathus compressus 194 Anchovia brevirostra 198 elongata 198 arenicola 201 parva 202 eigenmannia 205 Hyporhamphus gilli 240 snyderi 240 Syngnathus tweedliei 259 mindii 261 Menidia starksi 267 Kirtlandia beani 270 Mugilops cyanellus 271 marinus 272 Sarda velox 320 XI THE MARINE FISHES OF PANAMA. BY SETH E. MEEK* AND SAMUEL F. HILDEBRAND. INTRODUCTION. The present report is the final paper of a seriesf by the authors, dealing with the fishes of the Isthmus of Panama. It is based primarily upon the salt water fishes collected along the shores and in the shallower waters during the "Smithsonian Biological Survey of the Panama Canal Zone". The ichthyological reconnaissance during this survey, however, was made cooperatively by the Smithsonian Institution, the Field Museum of Natural History and the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. A few specimens discussed in the report were contributed by Messrs. H. Pittier and E. A. Goldman of the U. S. Department of Agriculture and very excellent and rather extensive collections were received from Mr. Robert Tweedlie, Canal Commission employee and engineer on a sand dredge operating off Chame Point, who became very much interested in collecting rare and unusual fishes, and who gave the authors valuable assistance during a week's collecting in the vicinity of the dredge. We were also valuably assisted by Mr. E. D. Christopherson, at that time teacher of biology in the Canal Zone Public Schools. The writers made collections at several points along both coasts of Panama during two seasons, viz., from January to May inclusive, 1911, and from January to March inclusive, 1912. The winter and early spring months were chosen because they represent the dry season in Panama. The work in 1911, however, was well extended into the rainy season. Collecting in fresh water was almost impossible because of the high stage of the streams and collecting marine species became increasingly more inconvenient, as difficulty was experienced in drying nets and in keeping our equipment from deteriorating. The mosquitoes too became very annoying and the work was abandoned on May 22 and resumed the following January. *Deceased July 6, 1914. fThe previous papers dealt with the fresh water fishes of Panama and were published by the Field Museum of Natural History, Zoological Series, Vol. X. 1912, 1913 and 1916, pp. 67 and 68, pp. 77 to 91 and pp. 217 to 374. The first two papers contain descriptions of new species and the last is a general report which contains a systematic catalogue of the fresh water fishes of the Isthmus so far as known at the time of publication. 2 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XV. All the privileges, and many more, enjoyed by the Isthmian Canal Commission employees were extended to us while on the Canal Zone, which made our work much easier, more pleasant, and much more successful than it otherwise would have been. We, therefore, are deeply indebted to General George W. Goethals and many other officers and employees of the Isthmian Canal Commission. We are also greatly indebted to the Panama Rail Road Company for furnishing free transportation from New York and for a free pass on the railroad on the Isthmus. We wish to extend our gratitude to the various officers of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum, the Field Museum of Natural History and the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries who have given us assistance and advice during the preparation of the report. We are particularly grateful to Mr. Barton A. Bean of the Division of Fishes in the National Museum, in whose laboratory the marine collections were studied and where the present report was written. The junior author is also indebted to Mr. William C. Schroe- der, scientific assistant U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, for assistance in the study of the sharks and skates and for help in the final details of completing and arranging the manuscript. The illustrations which are presented were in part prepared by Mrs. E. Bennett Decker and in part by Mrs. Louise Nash. The majority of them, as will be seen upon examination, are photographs which have been retouched and improved by the artist. The senior author, on account of ill health, was obliged to abandon the work before all of the preliminary identifications were completed. His untimely death occurred on July 6, 1914, leaving the completion of the work to the junior author who is solely responsible for final identifications and the report. The withdrawal from the work of the senior author, and the many other duties required of the junior author, greatly delayed the completion of the report, which, it is hoped, will not make the work less useful when it becomes available. We have had access, during the preparation of the present report, to the very large collection of marine fishes in the National Museum. This has provided much material for comparison which has been ot invaluable help in identifying difficult species and in establishing the relationship of many little or imperfectly known ones. The types of many of the species discussed have been available for examination, thus often making our identifications much more certain than they would have been, working with literature alone. DEC. 20, 1923. FISHES OF PANAMA — MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 3 ICHTHYOLOGICAL HlSTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. The fishes of the Pacific coast of Panama already have been rather extensively studied from the systematist's standpoint, collections having been made, beginning with 1860, by Captain John M. Dow, reported upon by Dr. Theodore Gill and by Dr. Albert Giinther. Somewhat later came the reports of Dr. Franz Steindachner, based in part upon his own collections and in part upon specimens received from various correspondents. In 1 88 1 a large collection was made at Panama City by Dr. Charles H. Gilbert and a second and still larger one in 1883. Unfortunately the latter was destroyed by fire, together with all field notes and manuscript, before an account was published. The deeper waters of Panama Bay, as far out as the Galapagos Islands, were explored by the U. S. Fisheries steamer "Albatross" in 1888 and 1891. The fishes obtained from the "Albatross" expeditions were reported upon by Jordan and Bollman, Gilbert, and Carman. Panama was again visited by Dr. Gilbert and three associates, in 1896, when 283 marine species were obtained, 43 of which were new. A full account of this collection is contained in "The Fishes of Panama Bay" by Gilbert and Starks, Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences, Vol. IV, 1904, 304 pages, 33 plates with 62 figures, together with a complete bibliography of all papers, up to the date of publica- tion, dealing wholly or in part with the fishes of Panama Bay and adjacent waters. The authors admitted to their list, in addition to the species collected in 1896, all other species previously reliably re- ported from Panama Bay, including also species collected by the "Albatross" within the fifty-fathom line. In 1899 appeared a small paper by Dr. G. A. Boulenger based upon a small collection of fishes made in the Darien region, mostly in fresh water, by Mr. Enrico Feste. A limited number of shore fishes were collected in Panama Bay by the "Albatross" during an expedition in 1904 and 1905, extending from southern California to Peru. These fishes were reported upon by Kendall and Radcliffe, Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Vol. XXXV, 1912, pp. 77 to 171, 8 plates.* The history of collections on the Atlantic coast of Panama is very different, as nothing worthy of mention had been done on that side of the Isthmus. Extensive collections, however, had been made both *Only a small part of this report deals with the fishes taken in Panama Bay, as all the shore fishes taken on the "Albatross" expedition of 1004 and 1005 are discussed in the paper. 4 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XV. north and south of Panama, i.e., on the coasts of Mexico and Brazil, and also in the West Indies and other islands in or bordering the Caribbean Sea. The species occurring on the Atlantic coast of Panama mostly range a considerable distance northward or southward and, therefore, the great majority of the species were already more or less definitely described. THE GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF THE COASTS OF PANAMA. The climate of Panama of course is strictly tropical, but, because of cooling breezes, it is rarely oppressively hot. The rainfall, particu- larly on the Atlantic border, is very heavy, 237.28 inches being recorded for Porto Bello for the year 1909. The dry season occurs during the winter months, viz., from about December to May, the length of the seasons of course varying more or less from year to year. The prevail- ing direction of the wind is northerly, i.e., from the Atlantic toward the Pacific. During the dry season, at least, there are rather brisk and almost constant northerly trade winds blowing across the Caribbean Sea, causing very choppy water along the Atlantic shores which makes fishing difficult, except in protected places of which there are com- paratively few in the vicinity of the Canal Zone. The conditions with respect to winds and sea are apparently more favorable for the fishing industry during the wet season and somewhat better fishing prevails. Panama Bay is rarely choppy, but heavy swells are not uncommon. The conditions for fishing, however, are much more favorable than they are on the Atlantic coast. The least width of the Isthmus is about 50 miles. The crest of the divide on the Canal Zone is at Culebra, only about 15 miles from the Pacific coast. The highest point in the divide at this place is 665 feet above sea level. Coral formations occur on both sides, but these reefs and shallow water are much more extensive on the Atlantic border than on the Pacific. The shores on the Atlantic are usually low and comparatively large swampy areas, covered with salt or brackish water and largely over-grown with mangrove, are present. The shores on the Pacific, on the other hand, generally are higher, and off shore occur several rather high, and mostly rocky islands. The largest and most important of these is Taboga Island, noted for its excellent fresh water springs, fine pineapples and healthful climate where the Anopheles, or malaria mosquitoes, do not thrive. The Isthmian Canal Commission maintained a sanitarium on this island where convalescent patients were sent for recuperation. Good fishing obtains and im- portant collections were made along the shores of this island. DEC. 20, 1923. FISHES OF PANAMA — MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 5 The Pacific coast has excessively high tides-, the stage of mean tide being 12.5 feet and spring tide 16.2 feet. When the tide is high comparatively large tide streams, which are practically dry at low water, are formed. The fresh water creeks and rivers too are greatly affected, the current being reversed in their lower courses for many miles. Marine fishes of course follow the tides inland, and often salt water fishes are taken miles from the sea shore. The effects of the tides on the Atlantic border are negligible, as there is a difference of only about 12 inches in the water level between flood and ebb tide. WHERE AND How COLLECTIONS WERE MADE. Collections of marine fishes were made on the Pacific coast at the following places — Chame Point, Taboga Island, Balboa and Panama City and nearby islands. Collections also were made from the tide streams near Balboa and Corazal, and several marine species were taken incidentally while collecting fresh water fishes in the rivers. On the Atlantic coast collections were made at Toro Point, in Mindi Cut of the Panama Canal, Cristobal and Colon, and Porto Bello. The drag net, or seine, was used much more extensively than any other means for catching fish and much the largest portion of the collection was made in that way. Many rare and interesting specimens were purchased in Panama City and Colon fish markets which were frequently visited. By the use of dynamite many species, taken in no other way, were secured. Good results were obtained on the Pacific side by stretching nets across tide streams at high tide, thus closing the passage back to sea, and leaving the fish on the muddy creek beds when the water receded. Set-net fishing was practiced to a very limited extent, and, while fairly successful in catching fish, it could not be used extensively because of the abundance of sharks and crabs which damaged the nets, causing an undue amount of expense and labor for repairs. A limited amount of hook and line fishing was engaged in and only comparatively small number of fishes were taken in that way, but they very often were representatives of species captured by no other method. A small number of species was taken with traps and a few by spearing. Tide pool collecting by the use of poisons was found very productive, particularly on the coral reef at Panama City where many pools remain at low tide. The poisons used were chloride of lime, which was successful, if dissolved before being placed in a pool, and a "larvacide", extensively employed on the Canal Zone for the destruction of mosquito larvse. The exact ingredients of this 6 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XV. larvacide is not known to us, but it consisted principally of a rather strong alkali with the addition of a small amount of phenol. It is plainly evident from the results obtained that it is advisable to use many different methods of collecting, if a representative series of the fishes occurring in any vicinity is desired. This is particularly true of localities like the ones occurring on the opposite sides of the Isthmus of Panama where many different kinds of bottom and condi- tions are present. Some species were taken by a number of different methods, as for example certain Gerres and Scarus which are extremely abundant on the Atlantic side and occur almost everywhere. Others, however, were taken by only a single method, as for example most of the flounders and soles, the half-beaks and the hound fish or gars which were taken with the seine only. Several species of Holocentrida, Pomancentrida and Labrida were taken only on coral reefs with dynamite, where of course a seine could not be operated. Many of the sharks, catfishes and eels were taken with hook and line. Mullets (Mugil) and snooks or robalos (Centropomus) were taken principally in muddy, shallow, and usually more or less brackish water with the set-net. Tide pool fishing yielded many forms taken also by means of dynamite and the seine, but a number of species of gobies, blennies and a few toad fishes and eels were secured which were not taken elsewhere and by no other method. Mr. Robert Tweedlie, who contributed extensive collections, pursued, for the most part, still different methods of collecting from those employed by the writers, as most of his specimens were either dipped up by the sand dredge which he operated, or taken with the dip-net, often at night under the electric lights, in the vicinity of the dredge. The result was that Mr. Tweedlie obtained 29 species not taken by us, of which n are new. His success in acquiring such a large number of species not obtained by the authors is believed to be attributable to the following factors: first, to the methods of collecting which were available and employed; second, to the position of the dredge which was located at the end of Chame Point, a long and very narrow neck of land projecting a distance of about thirty miles into the sea; and third, to the fact that Mr. Tweedlie collected more or less intermittently for a period of over a year, therefore obtaining migratory species which come and go with the season. The writers, as already stated, made nearly all of their collections during the winter months or the dry season. DEC. 20, 1923. FISHES OF PANAMA — MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 7 GENERAL REMARKS ON DISTRIBUTION. The fishes of the Pacific coast of Panama generally reach a larger size than those from the Atlantic and the present indications are that a larger number of species also is present. Record is made in the present report of 403 species actually taken in Panama Bay either by us or by other collectors or both, while only 238 species are now definitely reported from the Atlantic coast of the Isthmus. Much more work, however, has been done on the Pacific coast than on the Atlantic, which undoubtedly accounts for a part of the large difference in the number of species now listed from the opposite coasts. The writers, while collecting, divided their time about equally between the Pacific and the Atlantic coast and the same methods of collecting, as far as it was possible to do so, were employed. The result was that 290 species were taken by us on the Pacific coast and 236 on the Atlantic. If the number of species collected by the authors on the opposite coasts during the same season of the year, by almost identical methods and during approximately an equal number of days, only is considered, it then appears as if the difference in the number of species inhabiting the opposite coasts were not as great as indicated by a comparison of the total number of species recorded. A large number of species is recorded from the Atlantic both north and south of the Isthmus which to date have not been taken on the Panaman coast, although they quite probably all at times frequent it. A comparatively small number of species, on the other hand, is recorded north and south of the Isthmus on the Pacific side which have not already been taken in Panama Bay. No collections, worthy of note, had been made previously on the Atlantic coast and of course our collection is far from exhaustive ; neither was it supplemented by a subsequent one like the collection from the Pacific, to which Mr. Robert Tweedlie added many new and rare forms. It certainly is not unreason- able to expect all of those species on the Panaman coasts which already have been reported from localities both north and south of the Isthmus. The number of species recorded from the Atlantic coast of Panama, in that event, would be considerably more augmented than the number now known from the Pacific. The writers, in view of the facts just stated, are of the opinion that future collecting will serve greatly to augment the list of species now reported from the Atlantic coast, but to a much lesser degree the number already reported from Panama Bay. It, however, is not believed that the Atlantic coast of Panama possesses the wealth of fauna which is present on the Pacific coast. 8 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XV. The following table shows that the number of species (157) reported from the Pacific coast, ranging both north and south of the Isthmus of Panama, is much smaller than the number (288)* ranging north and south of Panama on the Atlantic coast. A much larger number (134 species), on the other hand, is known from Panama Bay and northward than the number of species (49)* which is known from the Atlantic coast of Panama and northward. A comparatively small number of species is recorded from the Isthmus which range south- ward, only 27 species, occurring in Panama Bay and southward, having come to our notice. Eight of these occur in Panama Bay and the Galapagos Islands only, leaving 19 species which are reported from the mainland south of Panama and not north of the Isthmus. We have included 15 species which occur on the Atlantic coast of Panama and range southward. The present report also lists 132 species (in- cluding new ones) which appear to have been recorded from Panama Bay only. This number includes approximately 30 species dredged off shore by the "Albatross", within a depth of 50 fathoms, but which have not been taken in the shallow shore waters. The report, on the other hand, lists only 28 species, 26 of which appear to be new, that are known only from the Atlantic coast of Panama. The data given in the foregoing paragraph, and in the table which follows, indicate that the fishes of the Pacific coast of Panama belong to the North American fauna rather than to the South American. Due allowance, however, must be made for the fact that only compara- tively meager collections have been made on the South American coast. The fishes of Ecuador are known to us principally from the brief accounts based upon small collections from Guayaquil by Boulenger (Boll. Mus. Zool. Anat. Comp. Torino, Vol. XIII, 1898, pp. 1-3 and Vol. XIV, 1899, pp. 1-8) and by Starks (Proc. U. S. Nat Mus., 1906, pp. 761-800). The fishes of the Peruvian coast, so far as known, recently have been listed by Evermann and Radcliffe (Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., XCV, 1917) in a paper based in part upon previous records but mainly upon a collection of fishes made by Dr. R. E. Coker, formerly of the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. While a number of species previously not known from Peru was added, the list nevertheless must be far from exhaustive, as only 187 species, including several fresh water forms, are recorded. Nearly all the species recorded from Ecuador also occur in Panama Bay, but the Peruvian species are mostly different. The comparatively few species which occur both in Panama and Peru are *The species which are known from the West Indies, approximately 26, but not definitely recorded from the mainland north of Panama are included. DEC. 20, 1923. FISHES OF PANAMA — MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 9 fishes of wide distribution. Northward the Panaman fish fauna clearly extends to the Gulf of California, as shown by the various papers of Jordan, Gilbert, Evermann, Jenkins, and others, a fact which already has been pointed out by Gilbert and Starks (Memoirs Cal. Ac. Sci., Vol. IV, 1904, p. 205). The table shows also that a large majority of the species listed from the Atlantic coast of Panama also occurs both north and south of the Isthmus. The species recorded from Brazil in the various lists, based principally upon collections made at Natal, Bahia, and in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro, are principally Panaman and West Indian species. Berg's "Peces de las Coastas Argentina Y Uruguay (Ann. Mus. Nac. Buenas Aires, Vol. IV, 1895, pp. 1-20), however, contains few species known from the Panaman coast, and those that are common to the coasts of Uruguay and Panama are nearly all species of wide distri- bution. Northward the Atlantic fauna of Panama plainly ranges to the West Indies, and to southern Florida. Smith's "Fishes of North Carolina" (N. C. Geological and Economic Surv., Vol. II, 1907) con- tains comparatively few forms listed from Panama. Those species that are common to North Carolina and Panama again are mostly of wide distribution and a few others are stragglers which appear to have drifted northward in the Gulf Stream. The ichthyological fauna of the Pacific coast of Panama, therefore, appears to range from the Gulf of California to Ecuador and that of the Atlantic from Florida to Brazil. The close parallelism between the fish faunas of the opposite sides of the Isthmus of Panama and the bearing of this upon the question of a water-way, which formerly existed between the two oceans, has been a subject of discussion by many writers. Gilbert and Starks* say: "From the biological side, the subject is treated in a most satisfactory way by Flaxon (i895)f, with whose views we find ourselves wholly in accord. The ichthyological evidence is overwhelm- ingly in favor of the existence of a former open communication between the two oceans, which must have become closed at a period sufficiently remote from the present to have permitted the specific differentation of a very large majority of the forms involved. That this differentation progressed at widely varying rates in different instances became at once apparent. A small minority of the species remain wholly unchanged, so far as we have been able to determine that point. A larger number have become distinguished from their *Memoirs Cal. Acad. Sci., Vol. IV, 1904, p. 205. tMemoirs Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XVIII, 1895, pp. 1-292. io FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XV. representatives of the opposite coast by minute (but not "trivial") differences, which are wholly constant. From such 'representative forms' we pass by imperceptible gradation to species much more widely separated, whose immediate relation in the past we cannot confidently affirm." We fully agree with these views, as expressed by Gilbert and Starks, and we have but little to add. However, it has become evident from our studies that fewer species than previously were so considered are common to both coasts of Central America. We have listed 72 species which appear to occur on both coasts, but 48 of these are more or less cosmopolitan in their distribution, i.e., they not only occur on both coasts of Central Amerca but in the eastern hemisphere also. Many of them are not confined to shore waters or even to the trop- ical seas. Such species, therefore, may migrate from ocean to ocean and they cast no light upon the question of an interoceanic waterway across what is now the Isthmus of Panama. This, then, leaves 24 species which, according to our identifications, are common to both coasts of Central America and can not be distinguished. A direct comparison of specimens from the opposite coasts in many instances was made for the first time and it was found that a comparatively large number of forms, previously considered identical, could be separated by minute but constant differences. On the other hand, a few forms which had been considered separate and distinct could not be so maintained. Numerous species have close parallels on the opposite coast. The present collection contains many such forms which were not known or previously improperly defined. In many families nearly every species has a close relative, or parallel, on the opposite side, and future collecting and further study no doubt will reveal many more. Of the 89 families discussed in the present report, 81 have repre- sentatives on both coasts. Four small families from the Pacific and four from the Atlantic to date have no representative from ithe opposite coasts of Panama. Certain families have many more rep- resentatives on the one coast than on the other, the Siluridce and the Sci&nda, for example, are much more numerous on the Pacific than on the Atlantic, and the species, therefore, cannot in most cases have a parallel on the Atlantic coast. The families, Sparida, Scaridg and Monacanthida, have many more species on the Atlantic than on the Pacific. The reason for such divergence from the more general rule of parallel species is difficult to explain, and several possibilities are open for debate. We advance a single possible explanation which DEC. 20, 1923. FISHES OF PANAMA — MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. n to us, at least, appears to be the most plausible, viz., that before the last passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was closed to marine fishes, the representatives of certain families already had found that one side of the "divide" was better suited to their peculiar needs than the other. The result, with respect to such families, was that when at last the passageway was completely closed that most of the species of some of them were on one side of the Isthmus, while those of another were on the opposite coast. TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION. PACIFIC SPECIES Total number of species listed from the Pacific 450 Total number of species actually recorded from Panama Bay. . 403 Total number of species reported both north and south of Panama Bay 157 Total number of species from Panama Bay and northward only 134 Total number of species from Panama Bay and southward only 27 Total number of species from Panama Bay only 132 ATLANTIC SPECIES Total number of species listed from the Atlantic 380 Total number of species actually recorded from the coast of Panama 237 Total number of species reported from the Atlantic both north and south of Panama 288 Total number of species from Panama and northward only. . . 49 Total number of species from Panama and southward only... 15 Total number of species from Panama only 28 IDENTICAL SPECIES Total number of species listed which are common to both coasts 72 Total number of identical species actually collected on the coasts of Panama 22 Total number of species more or less cosmopolitan in their distribution 4§ DOES THE PANAMA CANAL PROVIDE A PASSAGEWAY ACROSS THE ISTHMUS FOR MARINE FISHES? The fresh water species of the opposite slopes of Panama, since the opening of the Panama Canal, can freely intermingle, but the situation, with respect to the marine fishes, is different, for the Panama Canal is not a sea-level canal. At Gatun, about 8 miles from the 12 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XV. Atlantic coast, the canal is provided with locks, consisting of three flights of 15 feet each. Beyond the locks lies Lake Gatun, a large, artificial body of fresh water, made by the construction of a very large dam across the Rio Chagres and part of its valley. This lake is approximately 45 feet above sea level and it extends partly as a broadly expanded body of water and partly confined to the channel of the canal from Gatun to Pedro Miguel, a distance of about 30 miles. Locks with a single flight of 15 feet occur at Pedro Miguel, and below these locks lies another fresh water lake which contains about 3 or 4 miles of the channel of the canal. Then at Miraflores are locks containing two flights of 15 feet each, which bring a ship passing through the canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific back to sea level. It is, therefore, evident that the Panama Canal provides no passageway from ocean to ocean for strictly marine fishes. However, it does not appear impossible for some of the marine forms which frequent brackish, or even fresh water, such as some of the Centropomida, Gerridce and Gobiida, to endure the fresh water and to find their way from ocean to ocean. THE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF PANAMA. Nearly all fishing on the coasts of Panama is done at night for two reasons; first, because it is quite generally believed that fish can see the nets during the day and that, therefore, larger catches can be made at night; and second, because the fish must be placed on the markets, which usually are open only in the forenoon, early and dis- posed of the same day in order to prevent decomposition, as recourse to icing is rarely taken. Both drag nets and set nets are used, and it is feared that altogether too frequently for the welfare of the fishery dynamite is employed; at least it was during the periods of our visits to Panama. Bamboo traps, such as are also used in the West Indies, are in general use, particularly on the Atlantic coast. The cast net is very common and at times quite successful. Hook and line fishing also is engaged in to a limited extent. Very few power boats are used, the sail or oar and paddle being depended upon. Most of the boats are of the "dugout" type, which are rather heavy and which capsize easily and must be quite carefully manipulated. The fishes of the Pacific coast are much more important than those of the Atlantic, as they are much more abundant and generally reach a larger size. The supply at Colon is often insufficient to meet the DEC. 20, 1923. FISHES OF PANAMA — MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 13 local demand and frequently fish are shipped to Colon from the Pacific side. The Pacific fish are at once recognizable in the Colon market, not because the species are very different, for as a rule they are not, but because of their larger average size. It must be said to the credit of the natives of Panama that they are much less wasteful of their fishes than we are in America. One does not find the shores, where nets are hauled, lined with dead and decaying fish as is the case on the shores of some of our principal hauling grounds. No such waste came to our notice, for practically every species of fish taken is saved and is salable. Sharks, skates, saltwater catfishes, half-beaks, houndfish, or gars, parrot fish, saltwater eels and many others, which are seldom seen in American markets, are sold daily both in the Colon and Panama City markets. Not only small sharks are sold for food, but large ones also, and it is not unusual to see fishermen carry to market on their backs the carcass of a large shark, from which the skin and the internal organs have been removed and which has been cut into halves or quarters after the manner in which beef animals are butchered. The meat of the large sharks is usually sold in slices like steaks. The catfishes appear to find ready sale and at a price which compares favorably with the cost of the better grade of fishes. The groupers, which do not sell well on many Amer- ican markets, bring the highest prices on the Panama markets. The Spanish mackerels on the other hand are among the cheapest fish. THE SCOPE OF THE CATALOGUE. The catalogue offered in the following pages not only includes the species taken by us on the coasts of Panama, but also the species recorded from there but not seen by us. Species occurring both north and south of the Isthmus and a few recorded from near Panama, either north or south, and which may be expected on the Panaman coasts have also been included. Similarly, we have admitted a number of species more or less cosmopolitan in their distribution, although not yet taken on the Isthmus. We follow Gilbert and Starks "Fishes of Panama Bay" (Memoirs Cal. Ac. Sci., IV, 1904) in admitting to our list the species dredged in Panama Bay by the "Albatross" within the 5o-fathom line. Several of the species taken off shore by the "Albatross," however, do not appear to frequent the shallow shore waters and perhaps do not properly belong to the shore fishes. Comparatively few species (5) of the family Gerridce known from American waters have not been taken on the coasts of Panama. It was found necessary to study all the American species of this family 14 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XV. in order to understand their true relationships and in this instance all the species studied have been included. Two species of eels, Synbranchus marmoratus Bloch and Anguilla rostrata (Le Sueur), both belonging more properly to the fresh water fauna, but which were overlooked when the report on the fresh water fishes of Panama was prepared, have been included in the present work. Descriptions are offered (with a few exceptions) of the species listed which, as far as possible, are based on specimens. It seemed advisable to draw up new descriptions, as many of those in our current works are very imperfect and unreliable. Many of them of course were based upon a single or very few specimens, which sometimes were in a bad state of preservation and all of one size and no allowance for variation with age, therefore, was made. Many closely related or identical species of the opposite coasts of Panama have now been compared for the first time and special effort has been made to show the relationship of those species. The proportions given in the various descriptions are based upon measurements accurately made with calipers and slide rule. Not fewer than six specimens, if that many were available, and more usually a larger number, especially if the relationships were close or doubtful, was measured. As wide a range as possible in size of the specimens selected for measuring was usually chosen in order to get the variations in proportions occurring with age. The counts of fin rays, scales, gill-rakers, etc., were based upon similar series. EXPLANATORY NOTES. It has been the general plan to give for each species, in a brief synonymy, the name exactly as offered by the discoverer, also the type locality, and all other names that have become synonyms, together with references to literature of local interest and usually one or more references to a more or less general work on the classification of fishes. Thereafter follows a description — which has been drawn up with the view of giving the characters of the species briefly, yet complete enough to show its relationship to other species. An attempt is made throughout the work to mention characters in the same sequence in each description. Certain abbreviations adopted by other writers have been followed. For example, the expression "Head 2 to 3.5 ; depth 3 to 3.8" signifies that the length of the head measured from tip of the upper jaw to the bony margin of the opercle (unless otherwise specified) is contained 2 to 3.5 times in the "standard length," i.e., in the distance DEC. 20, 1923. FISHES OF PANAMA — MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. i5 from the end of the snout to the base of the caudal fin, and the greatest depth of the body is contained 3 to 3.8 times in the standard length. Roman numerals have been adopted for the spines and Arabic numerals for the soft rays in giving fin formulae. For example, D. IV-I, 16; A. II-8 signifies that in this instance the dorsal fins are separate, the first consisting of four spines and the second of one spine and sixteen soft rays and the anal fin is preceded by two separate spines and the remainder of the fin consists of eight soft rays. When the spines and soft rays are all connected and form single fins the formulae are written thus, D. V, 16; A. II, 8. The number of scales given, unless otherwise stated, is the number of oblique rows occurring just above the lateral line, from the upper angle of the gill opening to the last series of large scales on the base of the caudal. After each description mention is made of the size of the specimens at hand, if any, upon which the description was based, in order that the reader may know whether the characters as described are applicable to old or young individuals or both. In the final paragraph, after the description, we have endeavored to give the distribution and the Panama field stations at which specimens were taken. In the arrangement of the families* we follow Jordan and Evermann's "The fishes of North and Middle America" (Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., XLVII, 1896-1900). In order to render the catalogue useful for ready identification, keys to the families, genera and species have been introduced. The keys are simply intended to facilitate identification and no attempt is made to indicate the natural characters or relationships of the various groups and only the families, genera and species coming within the scope of the present work have been taken into consideration. In using the keys, first determine to which of the major groups the species in hand belongs, then take up the regular order of letters under that group. If the characters of the specimen do not agree with those under the single letter, look under the double letter, ignoring all intervening matter. KEY TO THE FAMILIES. No attempt has been made to group the large divisions, viz., the classes and orders, but each is given with a short definition and in the sequence in which the species occurring under these divisions are reviewed in the text. The key, therefore, really consists of a series of keys for the families occurring under the various orders represented. *Jordan's "A Classification of Fishes" (Leland Stanford Jr. Univ. Pub., Univ. Ser., Ill, 1923) became available too late to admit of its use in the present work. 16 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XV. I. LEPTOCARDII (the lancelets) : Animals with a cartilaginous skeleton and without brain or skull ; body elongate, compressed ; mouth a mere slit; heart a tubular vessel, without separate chambers; blood colorless. Branchiostomida , p. 27. II. ELASMOBRANCHII (sharks, skates and rays) : Animals with cartilaginous skeleton, with an imperfectly developed skull, and with a brain; gilMopenings numerous (5 to 7) and slit-like, the gills attached to the skin ; skin naked or covered with small rough scales, spines or tubercles; air bladder absent; the jaws separable from the skull. 1. ASTEROSPONDYLI (the typical sharks) : Body typically fish-like ; pectoral fins not attached to the head. a. Nictitating membrane present; spiracles absent or present. b. Teeth more or less compressed, triangular, one or two series functioning. c. Head normally shaped, not expanded across orbital region, not hammer-shaped. Carcharhinidoe , p. 35. cc. Head greatly expanded across orbital region, more or less hammer-shaped. Cestrationtidoz, p. 57. bb. Teeth depressed, paved, several series functioning. Galeorhinidce , p. 31. aa. Nictitating membrane absent; spiracles present. d. First dorsal inserted over ventrals; nostrils with a nasoral groove and with a prominent cirrus or barbel. Orectolobidce, p. 29. dd. First dorsal inserted in advance of ventrals; nostrils without nasoral groove or cirrus. e. Caudal fin very long, longer than body ; sides of caudal peduncle not keeled ; last gill-slit above base of pectoral. Vulpeculidce, p. 62. ee. Caudal fin not excessively long, more or less lunate, with a keel on each side; last gill-slit entirely in front of base of pectoral. Isurida, p. 63. 2. CYCLOSPONDYLI (the dog-fishes) : Anal fin absent ; two dorsals, each with a spine. a. Spiracles present ; mouth with labial folds ; no nictitating mem- brane. Squalidce, p. 64. 3. BATOIDEI (the skates and rays) : Head and body much de- pressed; pectoral fins greatly expanded and confluent with the head, forming with the head and body a more or less definite disk; gill-openings all inferior. DEC. 20, 1923. FISHES OF PANAMA — MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 17 a. Tail comparatively thick, bearing 2 dorsals and a caudal fin; no serrated caudal spine. b. Nasoral groove absent; disk narrow and elongate; tail strong. c. Snout saw-like, much produced, flat, armed with strong lateral teeth set at right angles to its axis ; disk small. Pristidce, p. 65. cc. Snout more or less produced, not saw-like, toothless; disk of moderate size ; pectorals continued to sides of head, not reach- ing end of snout. Rhinobatidce, p. 67. bb. Nasoral groove present; disk broad, rounded or angular; tail moderate or short. d. Disk subcircular; skin smooth; an electric organ on each side of median line of head. Narcaciontida, p. 72. dd. Disk rhomboidal ; skin usually rough, with spines or tubercles ; no electric organs. Rajidce, p. 70. aa. Tail slender, with one or no dorsal fin and usually with one or more serrated spines. e. Pectoral fins uninterrupted, confluent around the snout; teeth small ; disk subcircular to rhomboidal. Dasybatidce, p. 75. ee. Head bearing one or a pair of rostral processes or cephalic fins, representing a partly or entirely separated section of the pectoral fins ; disk very broad and angular. f. Head bearing one or a pair of rostral processes; teeth large, flat, hexangular, the middle ones usually broader than the outer ones. Myliobatida, p. 88. f f . Head bearing 2 long, horn-like appendages ; teeth small, numer- ous, arranged in pavement. Mobulida, p. 92. III. TELEOSTOMI (the bony fishes) : Animals with bony skele- ton, with a well developed skull with sutures and membranous bones ; gill-opening a single slit on each side, the gills attached to bony arches; skin usually with numerous flat scales; air bladder present or absent ; the jaws not distinct from the skull. i. NEMATOGNATHI (the catfishes) : Parietals and supraoccipital confluent; 4 anterior vertebrae co-ossified; no true scales, body naked or with bony plates; anterior part of head with 2 or more whiskers or barbels. a. Body wholly naked (in Panama species) ; adipose fin present; mouth terminal, with 4 to 8 barbies; dorsal and pectoral fins each with a strong spine. Silnrida,p. 95. 1 8 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XV. 2. SYNBRANCHIA* (the synbranchoid eels): Body eel-shaped; premaxillaries well developed; scale minute or wanting; no paired fins; vertical fins reduced to folds of skin; vent at a great distance from head. a. Shoulder girdle connected to the skull by a bony posttemporal ; tail longer than rest of body; palatine teeth in a band; gill- openings small, confluent, inferior; gills 4; scales wanting. Synbranchidce, p. 131. 3. CARENCHELYI (the long-necked eels). Body very elongate, snake-like; maxillaries and premaxillaries developed; branchial apparatus as in Apodes. a. Mouth rather large, oblique; jaws well developed; tongue largely free anteriorly; eyes lateral in anterior half of head; anterior pair of nostrils entirely above upper lip, not tubular; scales wanting. Derichthyidce, p. 132. 4. APODES (the eels) : Body very elongate, more or less snake- like; premaxillaries rudimentary or wanting; vertebrae in large number ; ventral fins wanting ; no spines in the fins ; gill-openings comparatively small. a. Skin covered with rudimentary, embedded scales, placed at right angles to each other ; mouth terminal or nearly so ; teeth in bands on jaws and vomer; dorsal fin continuous with the anal around the tails. Anguillida^ p. 134. aa. Scales wholly wanting. b. Gill-openings well developed ; tongue present ; pectoral fins more or less developed; scapular arch present. c. Tip of tail with a more or less distinct fin, the dorsal and anal confluent around it. d. Posterior nostril not labial, situated entirely above the upper lip; body moderately slender, but not worm-like. e. Tongue broad, largely free in front ; vomerine teeth moderate. Leptocephalida, p. 135. ee. Tongue rather narrow, largely adnate to the floor of the mouth ; vomerine teeth well developed, sometimes enlarged. Muranesocidce, p. 141. *This order should have been included in our report on the fresh water fishes of Panama (Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Pub., Zool. Ser., Vol. X, 1916, pp. 217 to 374) but it was overlooked when the report was prepared. fThis family more properly should have been included in our report on the fresh water fishes of Panama (Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Pub., Zool. Ser., Vol. X, 1916, pp. 217 to 374), since the species spend most of their lives in fresh water, but it was inadvertently overlooked when that report was prepared. DEC. 20, 1923. FISHES OF PANAMA — MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 19 dd. Posterior nostril situated either in the upper lip or very near it; body more or less worm-like. Myrid