==^= ru ^^^ r^ Q— 3- § a -- - " □ NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands VOLUME X NEW YORK : Published by the Academy 1930 CONTENTS OF VOLUME X Page Title-page. Contents ^ Dates of Publication of Parts " List of Illustrations iv Amphibians and Land Reptiles of Porto Rico, with a List of Those Reported from the Virgin Islands. By Karl Patterson Schmidt 1 The Fishes of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands — Branchiostomidae to Sciae- nidae. By J. T. Nichols 161 The Fishes of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands — Pomacentridae to Ogcoce- phaUdae. By. J. T. Nichols 297 The Ascidians of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. By Willard G. Van Name 401 Index 5 ' 3 Dates of Publication of Parts Part 1, November 22, 1928. ^ Part 2, September 10, 1929. ^"^ *7 jL mL. Part 3, March 15, 1930 Part 4, August 1, 1930 (iii) iv SCIENTIFIC SrEVEY OF POETO EICO LI^T OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figures Page Head of toad (left) contrasted with LeptodacUjlus (right) 30 Foot of Leptodadylus (left) contrasted with foot of Eleutherodadylus (right). Compare slender and expanded tips of digits 30 Head of Bufo lemur 32 Habitus of juvenile Bufo lemur (A), with side view of head (B). A. M. N. H. No. 1015L Natural size 33 Bufo marinus. Maj-agiiez 35 Leptodadylus alhilabris, to show variation in color pattern and in form of snout. A. M. N. H. No. 10125 (A and B); A. M. N. H. No. 10143 (C and D). Natural size 39 Leptoiadylus dominicensis. A. M. N. H. No. 20952 for comparison with L. alhilabris. Three-fourths natural size 39 Lateral view of tadpole of Leptodadylus alhilabris 42 Mouth parts of tadpole of Leptodadylus alhilabris 43 Inside of mouth of Eleutherodadylus portoricensis (left) and of E. richmondi (right), showing different arrangement of the vomerine teeth 45 Three common color variants of Eleutherodadylus portoricensis. A, A. M. N. H. No. 10139; B, No. 10243; and C, No. 10249. Natural size 46 Embryo of EleidherodadT/lus portoricensis. A. M. N. H. No. 10302. Six times natural size 48 Peter's figures of the embryo of Eleutherodadylus cortoricensis 49 Eleutherodadylus gryllus. A. M. N. H. No. 10226. Twice natural size 51 Eleutherodadylus locustus. A. M. N. H. No. 10240. Twice natural size 53 Eleutherodadylus cramptoni. A. M. N. H. No. 10305. Twice natural size. ... 55 Eleutherodactylus antillensis. A. M. N. H. No. 10019. Twice natural size 57 Eleutherodactylus brittoni. A. M. N. H. No. 10318. Twice natural size 60 Eleutherodadylus wightinanae. A. M. N. H. No. 10220. Twice natural size . . 61 Eleutherodadylus richmondi. A. M. N. H. No. 10237. Twice natural size. ... 63 Eleutherodadylus monensis. A. M. N. H. No. 24463 65 Eleutherodadylus unicolor. Size of head (left), top of head (center), and inside of mouth (right) of type 66 Eleutherodactylus unicolor. U. S. N. M. No. 26963, type. Twice natural size. 67 Digits of Hemidactylus mahouia (left) and Sphaerodadylus macrolepis (right) contrasted 68 Head of Hemidactylus mabouia 70 Head and shoulders of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis. A. M. N. H. No. 13037 (A) and No. 13697 (B), showing two common types of pattern. Two and a half times natural size 72 Heads of Porto Rican Anolis. Anolis cuvieri (left of top row), Anolis cristatellus (center of top row), Anolis gundlachi (right of top row); Anolis evermanni (left of middle row); Anolis stratulus (center of middle row), Anolis krugi (right of middle row); Anolis pulchellus (left of bottom row), Anolis poncensis (right of bottom row) 76 Caudal crest of Anolis cuvieri (left), of A. gundlachi (center), and A. cristatellus (right) 78 CONTENTS OF VOLUME X v Page Dorsal scales of Porto Rican Anoles related to Anolis pulchellus. Left to right: A. krugi, A. pulchellus, and A. poncensis 94 Head of Cyclura stejnegeri (type) 103 Celestus pleii. A. M. N. H. No. 13133. Natural size 106 Ameiva wetmorei. A. M. N. H. No. 13820. A. Head from above. B. Head from side. C. Head from below. D. Arm from in front. E. Posterior face of leg. F. Foot from above. G. Preanal scales. Three times natural size 109 Ameiva wetmorei. A. M. N. H. No. 13821. Natural size 110 Ameiva alboguttata. A. M. N. H. No. 14003. Mona Island. Natural size. . . 116 Head of AmpMsbaena caeca from above and from side 118 Head of Amphisbaena bakeri from above and from side 120 Head of Mabuya sloanii from above. A. M. N. H. No. 14007 (A) and A. M. N. H. No. 14006 (B). To show variation in pattern. Twice natural size. 122 Head of Mabuya sloanii from side. A. M. N. H. No. 14007. Twice natural size 122 Pattern of tail of Typhlops Plalycephalus (left) contrasted with that of T. rostellatus (right). A. M. N. H. Nos. 13336 and 13179. Natural size.. . 126 Heads of Porto Rican Typhlops. Left to right (upper), T. platyecphalus; T. rostellatus; (lower), T. monensis. (First two species from Stejneger; last from Schmidt.) 127 Head of Epicrates inornatus from above (left), after Stejneger. Head of Epicrates monensis from above (right), after Schmidt 131 Dromicus stahli, head from above and from below 135 Color-pattern of Dromicus stahli 136 Head of Dromicus exiguus from above and from the side 137 Alsophis antillensis, head from above and from side 140 Color-pattern of Alsophis antillensis 140 Head of Alsophis portoricensis from above, showing scale-pits in dorsal scales. . 143 Color-pattern of Alsophis portoricensis. A. M. N. H. No. 8435. Twice natural 144 size ^*^ Color-pattern of Alsophis variegatus. A. M. N. H. No. 13774 145 Carapace and plastron of Pseudemys stejnegeri. One-half natural size 148 Head of Pseudemys stejnegeri from below and from side, to show color-pattern. . 150 Branchiostoma caribaeum 1*0 Asymmetron lucai/anum. Johns Hopkins Univ. Studies. Biol. Lab. V 181 Ginglymostoma cirratum. From Zoologica, IX 181 Galeocerdo tigrinus. From Zoologica, IX 18? Carcharhinus falciformis. From Zoologica, X 183 Carcharhinus limbatus, From Zoologica, X 183 Sph-yrna zygaena. From Zoologica, IX 184 Pristis pectinatus. Breder's Field Book of Marine Fishes (Putnam) 185 Dasyatis americana. Breder's Field Book of Marine Fishes (Putnam) 186 Dasyatis say. Breder's Field Book of Marine Fishes (Putnam) 187 Aetobatus narinari. From Zoologica, X 188 Anguilla rostrata. From Zoologica, IX 189 Leptocephalus conger. From Zoologica, X 190 VI SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Page Mayerina mayeri ^^^ Muraenesox savanna Aphthalmichthys caribbeus ^^1 Myrophis longleii ^^^ Chilorhinus suensonii -^^^ Schagebranchus ophioneus ^^3 Myrichthys oculatus. From Zoologica, X 193 Myrichthijs acuminatus. From Zoologica, X 194 Myrichthys keckii ^94 Ophichthus gomesii 195 Gymnothorax moringa. From Zoologica, X 196 Gijmnothorax funebris. From Zoologica, X 196 Gijmnothorax albimentis 19 ' Gymnothorax jordam Echidna catenqta Tarpon atlanticus. From Zoologica, IX 198 Flops saurus. From Zoologica, IX 199 Albula vulpes. From Zoologica, IX 200 Jenkinsia lamprotaenia. From Zoologica, X 201 Sardinella anchovia. From Zoologica, IX 201 Harengula sardina. From Zoologica, X 202 Harengula macrophthalma. From Zoologica, X 203 Opisthonema oglinum. From Zoologica, IX 203 Anchovia perfasciata. From Zoologica, IX 204 Anchovia brownii. From Zoologica, IX 205 Anchovia choerostoma. From Zoologica, X 205 Anchovia lyolepis. From Zoologica, X 206 Cetengraulis edentulus. From Zoologica, X 2C6 Trachinocephalus myoos. From Zoologica, IX 207 Synodus intermedius. From Zoologica, X 207 Synodus foetens. From Zoologica, IX 208 ■ 20Q Carassius auratus 91 r\ Fundulus fonticola *■ 210 Poedlia vtvipara 211 Tylosurus notatus 919 Tylosurus ardeola " Tylosurus raphidoma. From Zoologica, X 212 Tylosurus acus. From Zoologica, IX 213 Hyporhamphus unifasciatus. From Zoologica, X 214 Hemiramphus brasiliensis. From Zoologica, IX 214 Parexocoetus brachypterus. From Zoologica, IX 215 Cypselurus bahiensis. From Zoologica, X 215 Aulostomus maculatus. From Zoologica, X 216 Fistularia tabacaria. From Zoologica, IX 216 Syngnathus mackayi. From Zoologica, X 217 Syngnathus floridae Syngnathus elucens. From Zoologica, X 218 Hippichthys cayorum COXTEXTS OF VOLUME X vii Page Hippichthys ensenadae 219 Doryrhamphus sierra 219 Hippocampus punctulatus. From Zoologica, X 220 Atherina stipes. From Zoologica, X 220 Atherina araea. From Zoologica, X 221 Mugil brasiliensis 221 Mugil curema. From Zoologica, IX 222 Mugil trichodon 222 Agonostomus moniicola. From Zoologica, X 223 Sphyraena barraaida. From Zoologica, IX 224 Sphyraena guachancho. From Zoologica, X 224 Sphyraena picudilla. From Zoologica, X 225 Polynemus virginicus. From Zoologica, X 225 Myripristis jacobus. From Zoologica, X 226 Holocentrus ascensionis. From Zoologica, X 226 Holocentrus vexillarius. From Zoologica, X 227 Upeneus maculatus. From Zoologica, X 227 Upeneus parvus 228 Upeneus martinicus. From Zoologica, X 228 Auxis thazard. From Zoologica, IX 229 Scomberomorus maculatus. From Zoologica, IX 229 Scomberomorus regalis. From Zoologica, IX 230 Scomberomorous cavalla. From Zoologica, IX 230 Trichiurus lepturus. From Zoologica, IX _. 231 Oligoplites saurus. From Zoologica, IX 232 Seriola falcata 232 Decapterus punctatus. From Zoologica, IX 233 Trachurops crumenophthalmus. From Zoologica, IX 233 Caranx ruber. From Zoologica, X 234 Caranx bartholomaei. From Zoologica, IX 235 Caranx hippos. From Zoologica, IX 235 Caranx crysos. From Zoologica, IX 236 Caranx latus. From Zoologica, X 237 Vo7ner setapinnis. From Zoologica, IX 237 Vomer setapinnis cubensis. From Zoologica, X 238 Selene vomer. From Zoologica, IX 239 Chloroscombrus chrysurus. From Zoologica, IX 239 Trachniotus glaucus. From Zoologica, X 240 Trachinotus falcatus. From Zoologica, IX 241 Trachinotus carolinus. From Zoologica, IX 241 Nomeus gronovii. From Zoologica, IX 242 Peprilus paru. From Zoologica, IX 243 Apogon selUcauda 244 A pogon conklini 244 Apogonichthys alutus 245 Apogonichthys stellatus. From Zoologica, X 245 Centropomus undecimalis. From Zoologica, X 246 Centropomus parallelus 246 viii i : Be-^ides the material collected by the Survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands, all of which is deposited in The American Museum of Natural History, I have had the privilege of examining, thanks to the courtesy of Dr. W. C. F. McClure, the Porto Rican collection preserved at Princeton University. ., Dr. Stuart T. Danforth, of tlie University of Porto Rico, at Maya- giiez, kindly sent me both his personal collections and those of the Uni- versitv for examination in connection with this report. . ,, .. 8CHM1UT, AMPHIliIAX8 OF PORTO. RICO 5 Plan of Work ''The Herpetology of Por;to Rico"' bv Dr. Leonhard Stejneger (1904) is a work of exceptional merit. It remains a model for the exact and complete description of an insular famia, and sets a high standard for systematic zoology in general. It is a pleasure to record here the use- fulness of this volume. A copy accompanied me to Porto Eico in 1919 and proved most serviceable as a field manual, making possible the identification of most of the species and thus facilitating all phases of field study. It was my first plan to prepare merely a supplement to Dr. .Stejneger's report, embodying only the additions to our knowledge of the Porto Rican herpetological fauna since 1904. After a review of the necessary additions, in conference Math Dr. PI. C. Crampton, it was decided, how- ever, to enlarge the scope of the work and present a renewed "complete account" both for the sake of increased usefulness to future students and to bring it into better accord with the similarly complete reports of other contributors to the Survey. The existence of Stejneger's report has greatly simplified the preparation of the present one. In the case of the numerous species whose definition has required no change, I have followed Stejneger's . descriptions closely or quoted them ver- batim, and I have availed myself of a large number of his text figures, especially for the illustration of key characters. The figures drawn for the present paper are designed to present the habitus of a number of species, and thus supplement Stejneger's otherwise complete illustra- tion of the fauna. These figures are the work of Mrs. E. L. Beuten- mliller, whose drawings have embellished so many herpetological papers. The half-tone figure of Eleuiherodaciylus unicolor was supplied through the courtesy of Dr. Stejneger. I have adopted a conservative position on one phase of nomenclature. Excellent arguments might be advanced for treating several of the Porto Rican forms as subspecies rather than as full species. Such a nomen- clature would reflect more information as to the actual relations of the forms concerned than binomial treatment. The species of Tijphlops allied to jamaicensis, the fresh water turtle, and the Mona Island Ameira and Cydura are cases in point. It is very difficult, liowever. to draw a line between insular subspecies and insular species, and our knowledge of many forms is manifestly imperfect. Any attempt at a trinomial arrangement of Eleutherodactylns is obviously impossible. I have accordingly left the matter for future consideration, preferably in connection with a new list of the West Indian fauna as a whole. Q SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO So much work still remains to be done on the herpetological fauna of Porto Eico by some resident naturalist, especially with reference to the discrimination of the small tree frogs and their life histories, that the present account of the fauna is hardly more likely to be "final" than was that of Dr. Stejneger more than twenty years previously. Acknowledgments It is a pleasure to acknowledge the cordial furtherance of the present work by the meml)ers of the Porto Rico Committee of the New York Academy of Sciences, by my various sometime colleagues of The Ameri- can Museum of Natural History who took part in the Survey of Porto Eico and the Virgin Islands, and by nearly everyone with whom we came in contact in the course of the herpetological field-work. We were especially indebted, when in Porto Eico, to Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Wall, of Bayamon ; to Mr. E. M. Bruner, Forester of Porto Eico ; to Mr. Marc Lejeune, of Mayagiiez, to whom I owe the visit to Mona Island ; and to Colonel George A. Shanton, Chief of the Insular Police. In the course of the preparation of the report I have had the most cordial aid from various herpetologists. I ha\e applied for information, for specimens or for advice to Dr. Leonhard Stejneger and Miss Doris Cochran, of the United States National Museum ; to Dr. Thomas Bar- bour and Mr. Arthur Loveridge, of the Museum of Comparative Zool- ogy; to Dr. G. K. Noble and Mr. Clifi:ord H. Pope, of The American Museum of Natural History ; to Dr. Emmett Reid Dunn, of Smith Col- lege; to Dr. Stuart T. Danforth, of the University of Porto Eico; and to Mr. H. W. Parker, of the British Museum (Natural History). The friendly criticism and interest of Mr. Herbert F. Schwarz, now editor of the reports of the Survey of Porto Eico, have improved the pres- ent paper at innumerable points, both in minor details and in more im- portant matters. My thanks (and still more those of the reader) are due to him for great patience with a difficult manuscript. Porto Eican Heepetology since 1904 Stejneger presents an excellent historical review of the growth of our knowledge of the amphibians and reptiles of Porto Eico (1904, pp. 553- 559). The small but interesting collection secured by W. W. Brown, Jr., on Mona Island in February, 1893, has since come to light and was reported on by myself (192G). Subsequent to the collections made for the United States National Museum in 1899-1901, no mention of Porto Eican herpetology appeared SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 7 until 1913, when Stejneger described the unusually interesting and ex- tremely distinct Ameiva wetmorei from Eio Loco, near Guanica. The type was collected by Dr. Alexander Wetmore in the course of his in- vestigations of the Porto Rican bird fauna. The collections made by Mr. Charles F. Silvester, while on the staff of the expedition of the Carnegie Institution to Porto Rico in 1915, were reported upon by Fowler in 1918. Fowler figures Ameiva wetmorei and discusses variation in other species. The discovery of bones referable to an extinct species of Cyclura in a cave near Ciales by Dr. Glover M. Allen and James Lee Peters, in 1917, filled an important gap in the distribution of this typically Greater Antillean genus. The species was described by Barbour (1919), the type being the extremities of a left humerus, with numerous additional limb-bones, jaws and vertebrae. Similar material was collected for the Scientific Survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands by H. E. An- thony in 1916. The herpetological collecting of the various workers who have taken part in the Scientific Survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands has been described above. Dr. E. Greywood Smyth, Entomologist for the Porto Rican Agricul- tural Experiment Station at Rio Piedras, has paid some attention to the amphibians and reptiles and in 1920 published a brief account of the food habits of the Anoles. The food habits of Porto Rican lizards were subsequently analyzed in some detail by George N. Wolcott, in a paper published in 192-1 in the Journal of the Department of Agriculture of Porto Rico. A small collection made in the course of ornithological investigations in 1924-1925 was reported upon by Stuart T. Danforth (1925 and 1926). This material was subsequently purchased by the Field Mu- seum of Natural History. Mr. Danforth has also collected on Desecheo Island, adding Ameiva exsul to the list from that island in 1926. Lists of the Amphibiaxs axd Land Reptiles of Poeto Rico and THE Adjacent Islands I. PORTO RICO 1. Bufo lemur 5. Eleutherodaciylus gryllus 2. Bufo marinus* 6. Eleidh erodactylus locustus 3. Leptodactylus alhlJabri^ 7. Eleutherodactylus cramptoni 4. Eleutherodaciylus portoricensis 8. Eleutherodaciylus antillensis * Introduced. 8 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO 9. Eleutlierodaciylus hrittoni 10. Eleutherodacf i/his wlglitmanae 11. Eleutherodactylux richmondi 12. Eleutherodacf yJ us unicolor 13. Hemidactylus mahouia 14. Sphaerodactylus macrolepis 15. Anolis cuvieri 16. Anolis cristateUus 17. Anolis gundlachi 18. Anolis evermanni 19. Anolis stratulus 20. Anolis krugi 21. Anolis pulchellv^ 22. Anolis poncensis 23. -fCydura portoricensis 24. Celestus pleii 25. Ameiva exsul 2'6. J_?neii/'rt. wetmorei 27. Amphisbaena caeca 28. AmpJiisbaena haJceri 29. Mabuya sloanii 30. Typhlops platycephalus 31. Typhlops rosfellatus 32. Epicrates inornafus 33. Dromicus stahli 34. Also phis portoricensis 35. Alsophis antillensis 36. Pseudemys stejnegeri II. MOXA ISLAND The fauna of Mona Island, which adds six species to the above list, is as follows : 1. Eleutherodact ylus monensis 2. Sphaerodactylus macrolepis 3. Anolis cristateUus 4. Cyclura stejnegeri 5. Ameiva alboguttata 6. Mabuya sloanii 7. Typhlops monensis 8. Epicrates monensis 9. Alsophis variegatus III. DESECHEO ISLAND Desecheo Island is rarely visited. Herpetological specimens were se- cured by Bowdish in 1901. by Lntz in 1914 and by Danforth in 1926. The species known are : 1. Anolis cristateUus 3. Alsophis portoricensis 2. Ameiva exsul IV. VIEQUES ISLAND Ten species, all of them identical with Porto Rican forms, are known from the island of Vieques. These are : 1. Leptodactylus albilahris 2. Eleuth erodactylus antillensis 3. Sphaerodactylus macrolepis 4. Analis cristateUus 5. Anolis stratuilus 6. Anolis pulcheUus 7. Anolis cuvieri 8. Ameiva exsul 9. Mabuya sloanii 10. Alsophis antillensis HVnMIDT. AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 9 V. CULEBRA ISLAND The Culebra fauna lacks Sphaerodactyhis, wliieli has doubtless merely been overlooked. It adds a Virgin Island form, Dromicus exiguus, to the fauna under consideration. Its species are : Leptodactylus albilabris Ameiva exsul Eleutherodacfylus antUlensis Mabuya sloanii Anolis cristateUus Dromicus exiguus Anolis stratulus Also phis anUllensis Anolis pulchelhis VI. CAJA DK ML'ERTOS ISLAND Anthony and Goodwin secured four lizards and a snake from this island during their field-work in 1926. These represent three species: Anolis cristateUus Alsophis portoricensis Ameiva wetmorei Habitat Associations and Faunal Subdivisions Porto Eico includes a wide range of habitat conditions, from the ex- tremely wet mountain rain forest of the Luquillo, where mountain palms and hardwoods are hung with lianas and draped with moss that never dries out, to the opposite extreme of aridity on the southwest corner of the island (near Guanica and Ensenada), where a cactus flora predominates. Some of the types of habitat, wath distinct associations of reptiles and amphibians, appear to be the following: I. Northern Coastal Plain (Collections secured from Santurce, Rio Piedras, Bayamon and Mayagiiez). II. Coffee Belt, 900-2000 ft. (Collections from Aibonito and Maricao). III. Deforested Hilltops, above 2000 ft. (Collections secured at Aibo- nito and Maricao). IV. High Rain Forest, 1200-3485 ft. (Collections secured from El Yunque, Luquillo Forest Reserve). V. Pepino Limestones (Collection from Catano). VI. Arid Limestones, southwestern Porto Rico (Collections from Coamo Springs, Ensenada and Salinas). This list is quite inadequate from an ecological standpoint and in it only II, III and IV approach the definition of Biotopes, with recogniz- able Biocoenoses. Turning first to the distribution of the fauna in Porto Rico itself, a 10 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO number of corrections are necessary in the account of the vertical distribution given by Stejneger. These will be presented in detail be- low, in the systematic discussion of the species. In general, recent observations show that altitude in itself has played a relatively small part in determining the distribution of the fauna. Thus Anolis piil- chellus, which Stejneger believed to be confined to the coastal plain, be- low 500 feet, is present at all altitudes, at least up to 2000 feet, in open fields; and Anolis hrugi, for the most part confined to the coffee belt, is found as far down as Coamo Springs (500 ft. alt.) where the conditions of moisture and shade are suitable. The species which are abundant at the lower altitudes (i. e., on the coastal plain) and extend in varying de- grees into the higher are the following: 1. Bufo lemur* 12. Ameiva exsul'* 2. Leptodactylus alhilahris 13. Ameiva wetmorei* 3. Eleutherodactylus portoricensis 14. Amphisbaena caeca 4. Eleutherodactylus antillensis 15. Mabuya sloanii* 5. Hemidactylus mabouia''' 16. Typhlops platycephalu-r-' 6. Spliaerodactylus macrolepls 17. Typhlops rostellatus 7. Anolis Guvieri 18. Epicrates inornatus 8. Anolis cristatellus 19. Dromicus stahli 9. Anolis stratulus 20. Alsophis portoricensis 10. Anolis pulchellus 21. Alsophis antillensis* 11. Anolis poncensis* 22. Pseudemys stejnegeri* Of these only nine (marked with an asterisk) are, so far as known, confined to the coastal plain, or to altitudes below 500 feet. Bufo marinus may now be added to this list. The species, on the other hand, which do not occur on the coastal plain or at least only as stragglers, are the following : 1. Eleutherodactylus gryllus 7. Eleutherodactylus unicolor 2. Eleutherodactylus locustus 8. Anolis gundlaclii 3. Eleutherodactylus cramptoni 9. Anolis evermanni 5. Eleutherodactijlus hrittoni 10. Anolis l-rugi 5. Eleutherodactylus richmondi 11. Celestus pleii 6. Eleutherodactylus iciglitmanae 12. Amphisbaena bakeri Of these Eleutherodactylus cramptoni, E. unicolor and E. richmondi and E. locustus are confined, so far as known, to the peak of El Yunque ; the others are probably most abundant in the coffee belt. Since nearly two-thirds of the coastal-plain species overlap the coffee belt in dis- SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO H tribution, it seems obvious that the distribution in altitude offers little basis for a faunal division. The changes due to cultivation, it may be assumed, have played an important part in the present distribution. The clearing of lowland forests, for example, has undoubtedly driven species to the coffee belt and to the residual forests, while the clearing of the hills has probably afforded access to the higher altitudes in the case of species originally confined to the more open spaces in the coastal plain. The coastal-plain fauna, however, is not a homogeneous one. AnoUs poncensis and Ameiva ivetmorei and possibly Alsophis antillensis are confined to the arid or semiarid southwestern part of the island, and Ehutherodactylus antillensis, Anolis cuvieri, TypJilops platycephalus and Typlilops rostellatus have not been recorded from that part of the island. Anolis poncensis and Ameiva wetmorei are two of the most peculiar and striking species in the entire fauna, the latter being more closely related to species in Hispaniola and St. Croix than to other Porto Eican forms. I propose, then, to divide Porto Eico faunally into a humid district, comprising the greater part of the island, characterized by the presence of Eleutherodaciylus antillensis, Anolis cuvieri and Typlilops rostellatus (besides the species of Eleutherodactylm confined to El Yunque) ; and an arid district, including the southwestern corner, characterized by the presence of Anolis poncensis and Ameiva wetmorei. Various cacti form the most characteristic element in the flora of the arid district (Plate I), while the humid district was probably originally a forested area (Plates II and III), bordered by open spaces along the coast. The contrast in habitat conditions between the arid area to the south- west and the dripping cloud forest of the Luquillo is extreme. The cloud forest affords ideal conditions for the tree frogs, and these are extraordinarily abundant in the moister belt above 1200 feet altitude. The amphibian chorus in the rain forest on El Yunque is the most extraordinary I have heard. As one stands at the Forester's Cabin, at about 1300 ft. altitude, a roar of sound comes from tlie wooded ravine adjoining, and from the slopes above, making a veritable Babel of frog notes. One by one the individual voices can be dissociated from the general confusion. Those of Leptodactylus alhilahris and Eleutherodac- tylus portoricensis, become separated first, since these are already familiar from the first night in Porto Eico. E. portoricensis here appears to have added several variations to its lowland notes, but in general its voice proves readily distinguishable. N'ext to these, the most insistent ele- ment in the chorus is a rapid click-clicking not unlike that of a tele- graphic instrument, with a very insect-like quality. This proves to be 12 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO the note of the tiny Eleutherodactylus gnjllus, and it was undoubtedly this note which Stejneger ascribed to tbe young of E. [lortoricen.sis. This clicking note comes also from the lower branches of the trees, probably up to a height of twenty feet. A fourth note, carefully run down, proves to be that of a large, green, long-horned grasshopper, and to the sur- prise of the collector another succession of sounds, even more character- istically grasshopper-like, beginning with a shrill prolonged note and ending with a series of clicks, proves to issue from the distended throat of still another Eleutherodactylm. Directing the attention, now, as much as possible away from the known elements of the chorus, one may distinguish a strikinglv different element. A sad little series of wdiis- ties descending in the scale and becoming successively fainter proves to belong to a very distinct species of small Eleutherodactylus (E. wight- inanae), which sits on the ground or on the lower leaves of plants, and is certainly a most difficult species to discern, even when it is singing a foot away from the collector's ear. Another tiny species has a slow clicking note, — the sixth to be distinguished. There is still an undifferentiated chorus awaiting investigation, and three species of tree frogs {E. ricli- mondi, E. unicolor and E. cramptoni) are known from El Yunque, whose notes I did not trace. In the arid southwestern section there is no such wealth of amphib- ians a]ul, while this is obviously due to the lack of moisture and hence is primarily an ecological difference, the differentiation of very distinct species confined to this area bears witness to so long a history of similar relations between topography and moisture that here habitat conditions have dominated the faunal history. The fact that this section of Porto Rico appears to be intimately related to the island of St. Croix, figures in my argument below on the relations of the faunae. Origin and Relations of the Porto Rican Hertetological Fauna I. THE west INDIAN FAUNA The origin of the West Indian fauna, specifically of the Greater An- tillean fauna, has been a controversial topic among zooge.ographers for a generation. Arguing from herpetological evidence, Stejneger (1904) and Barbour (1910, 1914, 1916) have maintained that the fauna is de- rived from the mainland by migration over land connections, and An- thony (1918) supports the same view from the standpoint of mammal- ogy. Matthew (1915, 1919) has been the chief exponent of the alter- native theory that the Antilles have received their fauna through fortui- tous dispersal without such connection. HVHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 13 Anthony (1925), in summarizing the evidence from the mammalian fauna in an earlier volume of the present series, adopts a modified form of the "'land-connection'' hypothesis, and Matthew himself (1919), has agreed that the Greater Antillean islands may at some time have been united. The West Indian amphibians and reptiles appear to me to afford evidence supporting Anthony's conclusions, at least in a general way. Comparison between the distribution of amphibians and re])tiles and the distribution of mammals is made difficult by the much greater age of amphibian and reptile stocks. The arrival of the bulk of the West Indian reptile fauna may be contemporary with that of the earliest of the mammals, the insectivores, whose mammalian contemporaries are ex- tinct. Reptilian distribution frequently affords clues to pre-mammalian faunal history. Thus Madagascar and New Zealand may be allowed to be oceanic islands so far as their mammalian faunae are concerned, while their Pre-Tertiary contacts with continental faunae are reflected in their amphibians and reptiles. From a general review of the distribution of the reptiles I am con- vinced that they support the general theses of Matthew regarding the trend of dispersal from Holarctic centers and the want of evidence for Antarctic connections. I am equally convinced that reptilian dis- tribution fails to support some of his secondary theses, especially with regard to the oceanic nature of the faunae of Madagascar and the West Indies. It is embarrassing to be so thoroughly an eclectic zoogeographer, and one finds oneself exposed to the fire of both schools. My own general conclusions with regard to the West Indian fauna, based primarily on the herpetological evidence, are : 1. That the Greater Antilles received their fauna from Central Amer- ica at a time so early that the continental fauna has subsequently under- gone great changes, probably in Eocene or even in Pre-Tertiary time. 2. That the Greater Antillean fauna gives us a somewhat ol^scure representation of this earlier Central American fauna, most of which, in accordance with Matthew's general hypothesis, has moved on to South America. 3. That there has been a union of the larger islands during part of their existence, which has produced the uniformities in their faunae. 4. That the Lesser Antillean fauna is derived from South America, that it is a genuinely fortuitous one and that no land-bridge has existed through this chain in Tertiary time. By way of general review of the Greater Antillean herpetological^ fauna, I have drawn up a list of the genera in tabular form. '1 .■;'^ L» i, • ^ ^^ i5i ?l Y; 14 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OP PORTO RICO List of Genera Amphibians 1. Bufo*i 2. Hijla*\ 3. Le-ptodactylus* ] 4. Eleutherodactylus *t 5. Sminthillus f Reptiles 1. Gonatodes *t 2. Sphaerodactylus *t 3. Hemidactylus f 4. Aristelliger * 5. Tarentola 6. Thecadadylus *t 7. Anolis *t 8. Norops *t 9. Deiroptyx 10. Chaniaeleolis 11. Chamaelinorops 12. Xiphocercus 13. Iguana 14. Cydura*] 15. Leiocephalus f 16. Hispaniolus 17. Celestus* 18. Sauresia 19. Wetmorena 20. Cricosaura 21. A-meiva*\ 22. Amphisbaena] 23. Cadea 24. Mabuya*^ 25. Typhlops\ 26. Tropidophis*^ 27. Epicratesf 28. Trelanorhinus* 29. Arrhyton 30. Alsophis\ 31. Drojnicus ?t 32. Uromacer 33. Hypsirynchus 34. laltris 35. Pseudemys* 36. Crocodylus*] Total species Total genera Endemic genera Non - endemic genera not found in other islands . . . Number of species native on the Greater Antillean Islands Cuba 5 1 16 1 1 5 1 1 1 25 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 1 2 1 4 1 2 3 3 2 1 2 91 29 5 Jamaica 4 8 1 6 1 1 6 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 40 18 1 His- paniola 1 4 1 9 1 5 2 1 13 2 3 8 1 3 1 1 8 3 1 2 2 3 3 5 5 1 1 1 1 92 29 7 Porto Rico 1 1 10 1 1 8 1 1 3 2 1 3 2 3 2 1 41 16 Virgin Islands 1 1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 23 15 * Central American. t South American. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 15 The number of species in this table is somewhat unsatisfactory for comparison on account of the inclusion of vicarious forms from out- lying islands — the Cayman Islands with Cuba; Tortuga, Gonaives, ISTavassa and Beata with Hispaniola, and Mona with Porto Rico. The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Greater Antilles represent 41 genera. Two of these, Igiuma and Thecaductylus enter the region only in the Virgin Islands, and are present in the Lesser Antilles, They are consequently an alien element in the fauna, the more so as they are not specifically differentiated; it is extremely likely that Iguana was intro- duced by the Indians in the course of their wanderings, while the gecko is probably fortuitous through non-human agencies, A third genus, Tarentola, is represented only in Cuba and is otherwise African, spe- cifically Mediterranean, in distribution. This still more alien form is well differentiated from its congeners and represents one of the most curious of genuinely discontinuous distributions, I suppose it to be an ancient "flotsam-jetsam" arrival. Of the remaining 37 genera, 14 are endemic; 11 are generally dis- tributed on the four larger islands, and 20 are represented on three or more of the islands. It is a curious fact that the endemic genera, with the exception of Cyclura, are confined to single islands, and thus do not contribute to the hypothesis of a former union. The 20 more widely distributed genera, however, all have vicariating forms from island to island, and a number of sections of genera, such as the giant Anoles, come near to being widely distributed endemic genera, like Cyclura. The endemic forms are chiefly minor end-stages or divergent branches which have arisen by local evolution, such as Chamaeleolis, Deiroptyx, Chamaelinorops, Xiphocercus, Hispaniolu^, Sauresia, Wetmorena and Arrhyton. A few, however, are plainly relict forms, notably the Xan- tusid Cricosaura, the Iguanid Cyclura, the Hispaniolan snakes Uromacer and laltris, the Brachycephalid frog Sminthillus. Five genera, Lepto- dactylus, Sminthillus, Norops, Leiocephalus and Tretanorhinus, are neither endemic nor widely distributed, and this is a very heterogenous list, with no appreciable parallelism in distribution. Eighteen genera occur both in the Greater Antilles and Central America, but 14 of these are likewise represented in South America, and these, with the 7 genera common to South America and the larger West Indian islands but absent in Central America, make the faunal relation with South America appreciably more intimate than with Central America. This very fact seems to me to accord best with the theory of the Central American origin of the fauna, on the supposi- -^Q SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO tion that the South American fauna is mainly of northern origin, as pointed out by Matthew in his general scheme of dispersal. The degree of differentiation ])etween the continental and West Indian representatives varies greatly, and at first glance appears to indicate varying ages of origin. Some of this variation, however, may be due to otheT factors than time of separation. Such an archaic-looking relict as Cricosaura, widely distinct from its continental allies, may perhaps represent about the same amount of evolution as has occurred in Anolis and its derived genera, the difference being the contrast between a de- clining group and an expanding one. The crocodiles, on the other hand, seem to belong to quite different invasions, C. rJiomhifer and moreletu being assignable to an earlier arrival, their ranges now entirely circum- scribed by that of the modern wide-ranging, semi-marine Crocodylus acuius, whose wide distribution evidently has little bearing on the prob- lem of land connections. In a more detailed discussion of the genera I shall try to show that the faunal picture presented accords with a derivation from Central America at an early date, on the hypothesis of a southward trend in the migrations of the world as a whole, and that it is direct faunal relations witli Central America, such as that of the Xantusiidae, which require explanation rather than the discontinuity in range of AmfliisUena or Leiocephalus. Of the genera of Amphibians, Bufo, Hyla, Eleutherodadylus and Leptodactylus have a wide Neotropical distribution. The anomalous nature of the distribution of Leptodactylus will be discussed below. Sminthillus has a single Cuban species, and two others, Peruvian and Brazilian, have since been described. The discovery of additional species in this genus (originally described as monotypic) contributes to the likelihood that it is a natural group. Among the reptiles, geckos are notable for erratic distributions, though when critically examined their rantjes are often found to be closely parallel to those of other groups. The Antillean geckos, however, are really heterogeneous in distribution. Tarentola and Thecadadylus have already been mentioned. Gonatodes is widely distributed in Central and South' America, apparently ranging into the Antilles from the west. Spkaerodactylus has a wide neotropical distribution, but its wealth of Antillean species distinguishes it as an autochthonous genus, and its development is very like the other characteristically West Indian forms, such as Amek)a, Dromicus or Eleutherodactylu-^. E emidactylus , with H. mahouia on all the islands, appears to be a house-gecko, and human SCHMIDT, AMrniBlAyS OF PORTO RICO 17 agency may well have played a part in its distribution. It is somewhat remarkable that the genus Hemidactylus is unknown in Central Amer- ica. I am not at all convinced that the African geckos commonly re- ferred to mahoiiia are con-specific with the Antillean form. The East African and Madagascan species does not seem to me to be identical even with tlie West African one ! Hemidactylas hrookii, on the other hand, in Hispaniola, would appear to l)e an African form introduced by the slave-trade. A rIstelUger is confined to Central America, Jamaica and Hispaniola. It is included in my list as Cuban because it reaches the Cayman Islands, whose faunal affinity is primarily Cuban. On the coast of Yucatan this s|)eeies is characteristic of the fringe of cays, and its occurrence in the West Indies offers no anomaly. The Igiianid genera include the monotypic and endemic Deiroptyx, ChamaeleoUs, Chamnelinorops and Xiphocercus, Iguana, already men- tioned, and AnoJis, Norops, Cyclura, Leiocephaliis and Hispmiiolus. Norops seems to be a more jirimitive form than Anolis, with three con- tinental species, and is a declining group in contrast with the expanding Anolis. The Cuban species is thus plainly a relict. Leiocephalus, with a numl)er of species in Cuba and Hispaniola, is otherwise best developed in western South America, and is absent in Central America. I regard this also as a relict distribution, but of a group that is holding its own. Cyclura. is even more interesting. The curious '"combs'' on its toes, though rather a trivial character, quite definitely ally its species more closely to the Galapagan Conolophus and Amhlyrhynckus (and the other Pacific genus as well, the Fijian Brachijlophus) than to tlie Central American Ctenosawa. Ctenosaura extends southward as a wedge sepa- rating these allied forms, and I have endeavored elsewhere* to show that the Ctenosaura have spread southward from the great Southwestern shield in Xorth America. Leiocephalus lends itself to this interpreta- tion if it be visualized as retreating before more advanced Iguanid genera, such as Sceloporus. Anolis, in the full flower of expansion, ob- scures distributional argument by its wealth of forms and closely-knit ranges. The only species of Anolis that is supposed to be common to Central America and Cuba is A sagrei, an inhabitant, like Aristelliger, of the off-shore cavs in the Bav of Honduras. The endemic genera re- quire no comment except that Xiphocercus is represented in Colombia by a related or parallel form. The Anguidae are represented in all four islands by Celestus. Two additional genera, Sauresia and ^yetlllore^}a, moiiotypie "end-stage" * 1922. Bull. Amer. Mns. X;it. Hist., XLVI. p. cn. j3 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO forms, are confined to Hispaniola. Celestus also occurs in Central America and its close ally, Diploglossus, is found in both Central and South America. Celestus and Diploglossus are plainly primitive genera, and the modern representatives of the family, the plated lizards (Gerr- lionotus), have the same spatial relations with them as exist between Ctenosaura and Gyclura, or Sceloporus and Leiocephalus. The Xantusiidae are a declining group composed of the North Ameri- can genus Xantmia, the Central American Lepidophyma and the Cuban Cricosaura. This distribution is not in accord with the above-cited southward migrations, but this is a recurrent anomaly which requires a modification of the Matthewsian hypothesis of the dispersal of primi- tive forms. It must be recognized that evolution in the direction of habitat restriction may strictly parallel an evolution in which the primi- tive forms become peripheral by retreat in space. This is an obvious phenomenon among the Xaniusids, which inhabit areas adjacent to what I have regarded as the probable center of dispersal of American lizards, but are plainly relicts among more modern and progressive forms. The species of Xantusia are curiously restricted as to habitat — X, vigilis by its association with the Yucca, .Y. henshaivi by its rock-dwelling huhii — while both are doubtless nocturnal, as is Lepidophyma. The mainland Xantusids have retreated owing to habitat restriction, while the Cuban genus represents the other alternative, that of actual retreat, and appears as a true relict, though also rigidly confined to a single habitat. The case is directly comparable to that of the Central African lemurs, which escape their modern competitors by their nocturnal habits, while the Madagascan lemurs have survived through actual migration and the timely separation of their retreat. The Teiidae are represented only by Ameiva, though the West Indian species are divisible into two rather distinct sections. Ameivas are widely distributed on the South and Central American mainland, but the continental species are fewer than the West Indian. I suspect that the genus Cnemidophorus bears the same relation to Ameiva as Sceloporus does to Leiocephalus, namely, that it is a more modern group of species, with Ameiva more or less in retreat. The Amphisbaenidae are well represented in the Antilles, with both Cadea and Amphishaena in Cuba and Amphishaena extending out to the Virgin Islands. Except for Bipes, which is present in west ^Mexico, the family is wanting In Central America, and the Antilleau forms are thus relicts of a former type of dispersal. The evidence for the southward migration of the Amphisbaenians seems to me ample, even SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 19 without the direct evidence of the Oligocene fossil forms, Rhineura, confined to Florida, is quite obviously one of the many curious forms accumulated in the southeastern United States as a result of divergent migration from holarctic dispersal centers. The nearest relative of Cadea seems to be Venezuelan, while Ainphishaena itself is well repre- sented almost throughout South America. The only Scincoid genus is j\lahiii/a, generally distributed in the tropics of the world, but nowhere sj)eeiating in the Americas as its does in the Old World. Its range in both hemispheres is nearly exclusive of that of the more northern and obviously more recent Eumeces. Among snakes the Typhlopidae afford no especial evidence of faunal relation. The Antillean Typhlops hinihricalis was long supposed to be a widespread species occurring also in South America. Cochran (1924) and I (1920) have brought the distribution of the West Indian forms into harmony with that of other groups. The most notably primitive genus, Anoinalepis, is Central and South American (or at least Pana- manian and Peruvian), and not Antillean. The Boidae are represented by two genera. Epicrates has a species on each of the larger islands and has split into three species in Hispaniola, with a separate species on Mona Island and another distinct form in the Bahamas (confined to Turk's Islands). Tropidophis fails to reach Porto Eico, and its principal radiation occurs in Cuba. Epicrates is M'anting in northern Central America, but it reappears in South Amer- ica. Tropidophis is said to have both South and Central American allies, but they are little known. The relationship of the Colubrine genera are vague, but their nearest allies seem to be South American, with the exception of Tretnorhinus, which is found in Cuba and Central America. Pseudemys, the single genus of fresh-water turtles, is quite as easily derivable from the Central American representatives as from the Florid- ian, and the existence of insular differentiation, which I am able to show for the Porto Eican specimens, makes it unnecessary to regard Pseudemys as a strictly recent arrival. The absence of other fresh-water turtles is highly remarkable, in view of the ancient character and great diversity of the American turtle fauna. It is no less anomalous to find in Cuba a fossil Testudo related to the Galapagan species, though its presence adds to the faunal relations between the Antilles and the Galapagos. Crocodylus, finall}^, adds a distinctively Central American form to the West Indian fauna. The broad-snouted Cuban Crocodylus rhonihifer is directly allied to C. moreletii of the adjacent parts of Mexico and the Yucatan peninsula. The wide-ranging, undifferentiated C. acutus 20 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO floods over the ranges of these earlier forms. Crocodiles do not range beyond the Orinoco basin in South America, and evidently are more recent arrivals than the caimans or the alligators. In support of my proposition (2) above, I have contrasted the distri- bution of such a group as Sceloporus, an essentially modern genus, with that of a more ancient Iguanid genus, Leiocephalus. Sceloporus is essentially Sonoran, with a wealth of ISTorth American species, and a broad overflow into Central America. Leiocephalus is West Indian and South American. Allowing for discrepancies and irregularities such as tliose I have discussed for the Xantusiida?, the list of such pairs of genera is impressive : Ancient, West Indian Modern, Sonoran Leiocephnhis Sceloporus Cijclum Ctenosaura Celestus Gerrhonotus A meiva Cnemidophorus Mahuya Eumeces Cnemidophorus, among the genera listed as Sonoran, ranges widely into South America. Otherwise its development is so closely similar to that of the other Sonoran genera that I am disposed to search for an explanation of this anomaly rather than remove it from the Modern, Sonoran list. I am fully convinced that the fauna of the Greater Antilles reached these islands from Central America, and that the majority of the endemic forms represent a nearly contemporary faunal invasion. That an actual landbridge existed over wliich the migration took place, is my somewhat more hesitant l^elief . The existence of mammals and amphibians, even as a depauperate fauna, is evidence in favor of continental connection. The amphibian and reptile fauna exhibits a relatively greater diversity than does the maunnalian. The sixteen families represented are: Amphibians Bufoniilae Hylidae Brachycephalidae Eeptiles Gekkonidae Amphisliaenidae Boigidae Iguanidae Scincidae Emydidae Anguidae Typhlopidae Crocodilidae Xantusiidae Boidae Teiidae Colubridae SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 21 The Central x^merican launa has thirty-two families, iuit several of these are isolated groups which could scarcely be expected in the West Indies, — the Helodermatidae and Xenosauridae, for example. Others are obviously more recent arrivals and for this reason their presence is not to be expected; instances in point are the Ranidae, Plethodontidae and Cro- talidae. The disproportion between the continental and Antillean fauna? in number of families is accordingly much reduced, perhaps about 26:16. It is a striking and important fact that the South American fauna is actually poorer in families of amphibians and reptiles than the Central American 1)y four or five. If the Chelydridse, Crocodilida^ and IMetlio- dontida;>. which are essentially Central American and only enter South America at the northwest, are also excluded, the genuinely South American families number only twenty-five. If the date of the supposed continental connection of tlie W-est -Indies be placed at the close of the Mesozoic. the relative wealth of am])hibians and reptiles and the poverty in mammals are completely ex})lained. T'n- fortunately, a connection so early in geological histdvy does not account for the more recent members of the mammalian fauna, for which a Mio- cene date of arrival is indicated. The two families of insectivores agree with the reptiles as to^'early date of entry, while the remaining mammals appear to represent at least two later immigrations. One is tempted to suppose a very early continental connection for ampliibians and i*e|)tiles, insectivores, etc., and to recognize Mattliew's argument that the remaining mammals are accidental. Geological conclusions based on zoogeographic evidence so fragmentary and contradictory are evidently of little real value. One set of conclusions, however, from a general consideration of the fauna, seems well founded. This is my proposition (3), that the larger islands were connected at an early stage in the development of their fauna : that they have subsequently been separated, more probably by block-faulting than by any great change of level, that Porto Pico and the Virgin Islands were the last to be cut off, and that tlie Virgin Islands were connected with Porto Rico as recently as the Pleistocene.' ' The evidence of long isolation of the three western islands is plainly to be seen in the independent radiation which has taken place in the •elements of their fauna\ Bufo has evolved 5 species in Culja, while Jamaica with no native toad, and Hispaniola with'a single Bufo, have each produced 4 species of Hyla, independently, in tlie opinion of Dunn, who has lately examined the Jamaican species in detail. Dunn's conclu- sions are somewhat hesitatingly accepted by Xoble (1027). W}>ether or 22 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO not the radiation in Hyla has been independent, the fact that both Jamaica and Cuba have only a single species of Ameiva while Hispaniola has 8, and 4 on the main island alone, certainly illustrates an inde- pendent evolution. Long separation is equally evident in the wealth of Cuban Anolis Avith no less than 3 related genera represented, Norops, Chamceholis and Deiroptyx, equalling the number of species on the other three islands together. The Jamaican fauna, poor in some genera, has no less than 6 well-established species of Sphcerodactylus. surely a sharp contrast with the 2 in all Central America ! Among the snake genera, Tropidophis has developed 4 species in Cuba, while Epicrates has 3 in Hispaniola, and an extra species on Mona. The Hispaniolan Dromicus, Alsophis and Uromacer fall in line with the other genera. The total impression of the herpetological fauna is plainly one of a fundamental unity, obscured only by the long evolu- tion during subsequent isolation. The fauna of the Lesser Antilles has been effectively contrasted by Anthony with that of the larger islands. His argument from the mam- mals that the animal population of the Lesser Antilles is fortuitous from South America and of relatively recent origin agrees exactly with my impression based upon the herpetological fauna. The fauna of Trinidad itself is far from rich in comparison with that of the mainland. Its reptiles and amphibians amount to about 80 species — almost all of them specifically identical with those of northern South America. This South Amjerican fauna disappears rather in proportion to distance from the mainland than in relation to size of landmass, for Tobago has 24 species with little endemism, Grenada 17 with about 4 endemic forms, St. Vincent 10 with 6 endemic. In the next four islands the fauna ranges only from 10 to 14 species, with 5 to 10 endemic forms. En- demic forms in the whole chain are very slightly differentiated from their very obvious relatives. The species may be grouped as mainland forms, with a haphazard distribution on the islands, endemic species of main- land genera, slightly differentiated, and endemic species of genera which range throughout the chain with vicariating forms from island to island. There is little or no "radiation," which is so marked a characteristic of the Greater Antilles. Examples of the haphazard distribution are afforded by Leptodactylus and Iguana, probably transported by the Indians as food animals, and by the snakes in general, though the faunae in question may be imperfectly known, Leptotyphlops hilineatus, for example, occurring on Barbados and St. Lucia, Cloelia clelia on Grenada, St. Lucia and Dominica, although not recorded from the intervening SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RIVO ^3 islands, St. Vincent and Martinique. The fer-de-lance skips Tobago, Grenada and St. Vincent, to appear only on St. Lucia and Martinique. The northern group of twelve small islands, from Anguilla to Mont- serrat, has a fauna impoverished in genera, but rich in endemic species. Leptodacttjhts pentadaciylus and Iguana iguana appear to represent Pre- Columbian introduction by natives. Eleutherodactylus martinicensis is recorded from five islands. Its status requires re-investigation. Ty- phlops is known from St. Kitts and Antigua, the species doubtless unde- scribed. LepfotypJilops albifrons is reported only from Antigua. Its wide range and apparently haphazard arrangement seems to indicate a facility for fortuitous dispersal. Thecadactylus rapicaudus, widespread in the Lesser Antilles, is recorded from five of the northern islands. These irregular distributions contrast strongly with 3 endemic species of Sphaerodactylus on three islands, 7 Anolis on nine islands, and 8 Amei- va on ten islands. This portion of the fauna, which perhaps should in- clude Also phis,, appears to represent an older nucleus, and I interpret its relations as representative of the uniformity of a typically oceanic fauna plus endemism induced by a considerable lapse of time. The most obvious differences theoretically to be expected between continental and oceanic insular faunae are (1) heterogeneity and (2) impoverishment in the oceanic islands. The presence of relict forms seems to me to be strong evidence of a land connection remote in time. Impoverishment may obviously occur in a continental fauna by extinc- tion ; and "fortuitous dispersal" may act as a screen allowing only cer- tain forms to pass, so that extreme uniformity of fauna, instead of heterogeneity, may be a result of truly oceanic dispersal, as is to be seen in Polynesia, where island after island is inhabited by the same five species of lizards. Such uniformity is complicated by the age of the islands. It is thus curiously difficult to frame criteria whereby an in- sular fauna derived from land connection may be distinguished from one produced by "fortuitous dispersal." II. THE PORTO RICAN AND VIRGIN ISLAND FAUNA Turning to the more detailed consideration of the Porto Pican fauna, it is interesting to note that important advances have been made in our knowledge of the amphibians and reptiles of this area since Stejneger's discussion of their origin and relations in 1904. The herpetological dis- coveries bearing directly on this problem have been (1) the description of Ameiva wetmorei, (2) the finding of Bufo and Cyclura on the outer Virgin Islands, (3) the discovery of fossil remains of Cyclura on St. 24 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Thomas aud Porto Eico, (4) additions to the fauna of Hispauiola, especially the discovery of Leptodactylus dominicensis, (5) additions to the fauna of Porto Pico, especialh' Alsophis antillensis and Eleutliero- dactylus antillensis. which ally it more intimately to the fauna of the Virgin Islands, and (6) the elucidation of the relations of the Greater Antillean Typlilops. All of this new information has tended to empha- size the essentially Greater Antillean character of the Porto Pican fauna. Stejneger divides the Porto Pican herpetological fauna into South American and Central American elements, including in the former the genera Ameira. Amphishaena, Typlilops, Alsophis and Dromicus. These genera are all represented in Hispaniola, and tlieir immediate presence in Porto Pico is amply accounted for by a union with Hispaniola. I have endeavored to show above that tliis apparent relation of the West Indian fauna with the South American is best explained by a land connection with Central America, when the time relations and larger outlines of faunal migration are considered. Yaughan (1919, Bull. U. S. Xation. Mus., Xo. 103, pp. 547-612) has given an excellent resume of the geological history of the West Indian area as far as known. In advocating the existence of former land con- nections with South and Central America, his paper cuts incisively into the more speculative maze of zoogeographic controversy. The only flaw is the fact that he appears to base his conclusions in ])art on zoogeo- graphical data (p. 610), whereas I should like to accei)t them as a basis for zoogeography. For the present purpose however, — an examination of the immediate origin of the Porto Pican reptile and amphibian fauna, — the outline of tlie geologic history advanced by Vaughan is highly satisfactory, and it is possible to crystalize conclusions on the relations between Porto Pico and the Virgin Islands with each other and with Hispaniola into a more definite statement than has hitherto been possible. According to Vaughan's physiographic history of the area in question, the Greater Antilles were Joined to one another in late Miocene time, the resulting landmass including Porto Pico and the Virgin Islands as its easternmost extension. Tlie scanty zoogeographic ties between the Vir- gin Islands and the Lesser Antilles exclude the presence of a contempo- raneous land bridge to South America, or at least the continuation of any such bridge for a time commensurable with that of the union of the Greater Antilles. During the period of this uplift, the genera of rep- tiles and amphibians which may properly be regarded as "Greater Antillean" (through presence on three or more of the larger islands) acquired their distribution. SCHMIDT. A.UI'HnH.WS OF PORTO RICO 25 In order to connect the A'irgin Islands with Porto IJico, no great degree of emergence is necessary, as they are separated ])y water not ex- ceeding twenty fathoms in depth. St. Croix is included in the same way, with no greater amount of emergence, because its present separation by greater depths of water is believed to l)e due to faulting. The water between Porto Eico and Santo Domingo is much deeper (reaching 318 fathoms), but still shallow in comparison with the depths to the north and south. Even for this connection, however, the amount of emergence necessary is no greater, for there is important evidence of faulting, as I have shown elsewhere (1926). The earthquakes of October, 1918, which caused great damage to the cities of Mayagiiez and Aguadilla. on the west coast of Porto Rico, were probably caused by adjustments in this faulted area. The sharp truncation of the eastern end of Santo Domingo doubtless represents another fault line. Point Jiguero and Desecheo Island appear to represent the older period of mountain-mak- ing of the general Hispaniolan-Porto Eican axis, (i. e., an Eocene or Lower Oligocene connection) while Mona Island, almost exactly half way between the southwest corner of Porto Eico and Saona Island, and topographically almost exactly similar to Saona, may be a remnant of the Upper Miocene (or later?) land bridge itself. The rapid under- cutting of the north and east sides of Mona now in progress indicates a considerable recent reduction of its area. The date of the faulting which separated Porto Eico from Santo Domingo is placed in the Pliocene by Yaughan (p. 611)), and the separation of St. Croix from Porto Eico probably took place during the same period, but perhaps at a later date. It is likely that Porto Eico and the remaining Virgin Islands were separated by a submergence in the Pliocene, but they were reunited in the Pleistocene, perhaps by the withdrawal of the water for the conti- nental ice sheets, to form a "Greater Porto Eico" to which the common fauna of the islands now separated corresponds. The present configura- tion of Porto Eico and the Virgin Islands is (geologically) extremely recent. The very evident peneplanation of the greater part of the mountain area at a height between 1500 and 2000 feet appears to date at least from the early Tertiary, and implies long-continued existence as a land area. The interpretation of the existing faunal relations of Porto Eico, in the light of the geological hypothesis, becomes relatively simple. The fauna of the Virgin Islands stands in the same relation to the Porto Eican as does that of Porto Eico to the Hispaniolan. The degree of dif- ference in each case corresponds to tlie relative length of time since theif 36 tSCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO respective separations, aud the degree of impoverishment to their rela- tive areas. The fauna of the Virgin Islands consists of 22 species, of which 2, Iguana iguana rliinolopha and Thecadactylus rapicaudus, belong to genera foreign to Porto Eico. The iguana was probably introduced by man; the gecko probably is a fortuitous arrival. Of the remaining 20 species, 11 are identical with Porto Eican forms: 1. Leptodactylus alhilabris 7. Anolis stratulus 2. Eleutherodactylus antillensis 8. Anolis pulcheUus 3. Sphaerodactylus macrolepis 9. Ameiva exsul 4. Hemidactylus mabouia 10, Mabuya sloanii 0. Anolis cuvieri 11. Alsophis antillensis 6. Anolis cristatellus The remaining 9 species are directly related to Porto Eican species and are for the most part simply vicariating forms : Virgin Islands Porto Rico 1. Bnfo iua-pis Bufo lemur 2. Eleutherodactylus lentus Eleutherodactylus richmondi 3. Anolis acutus Anolis poncensis ( ?) 4. Cyclura pinguis \Cyclura portoricensis (?) 5. Ameiva polops Ameiva wetmorei 6. Amphishaena fenestrata Amphishaena caeca 7. Typhlops richardii • Typhlops platycephalus 8. Dromicus exiguus Droniicus stahli 9. Alsophis sancti-crucis Alsophis portoricensis Examined more in detail the chief questions which require discussion are: (1) the impoverishment of the Virgin Island fauna, in which many species of Porto Eican Eleutherodactylus and Anolis are unrepresented, while Celestus, Epicrates and Pseudemys are entirely wanting; (2) the apparently haphazard distribution of Bufo, Anolis cuvieri and Cyclura; (3) the position of St. Croix in relation to the other islands and Porto Eico, and (4) the origin of the species common to several of the Virgin Islands but absent in Porto Eico. The absence of forms may be explained as original or secondary. The discovery of the remains of recently extinct Cyclura in both Porto Eico and St. Thomas, coupled with the presence of living Cyclura on Mona and Anegada, obviously indicates that in this genus a process of extinc- tion is taking place. The same factor probably accounts for the isolated SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 27 occurrence of a Bufo on Virgin Gorda and of AnoUs cuvieri on Tortola. The absence of Celestus and of Anolis gundlachi and Anolis hrugi, may indicate, on the other hand, that these forms never reached the Virgin Islands. There is no reason to believe that, if the whole land area were elevated 150 or 200 feet and so reunited, the species which now avoid the coastal plain in Porto Eico would be able to reach the Virgin Islands. The fact that of the entire Virgin Island fauna only Eleutherodactylus lentils is related to "coffee belt" species in Porto Eico indicates that this factor has probably operated as an important one in the past. The mere fluctuation in size of these islands has an important influ- ence on the rain fall and humidity (and evaporation), i. e., the most im- portant climatic factors affecting the fauna. The complete submer- gence of an islet would not be necessary to exterminate the greater part of its fauna, and it is a differential extermination of this nature which I believe to be the chief cause of the impoverishment of the Virgin Island fauna, and possibly of the West Indian fauna in general. St. Croix presents something of a problem. The Amphishaena fenes- trata from that island should be compared again with specimens from St. Thomas, and with A. caeca. Anolis acutus, Ameiva polops and Alsophis sancti-crucis are decidedly less closely allied to Porto Eican species than are the species from St. Thomas and even the outermost of the northern Virgin Islands. On the other hand, Ameiva polops indicates a relation- ship with the arid district of Porto Eico. If the "Greater Porto Eico" at any time included St. Croix, that area must have belonged to the ex- tended arid district, which influenced distribution in the "Greater Porto Eico" exactly as it does in the present. The separation of St. Croix in Pliocene time by faulting (as suggested by Vaughan) doubtless excluded it from union with Porto Eico in the Pleistocene, while a Pleistocene (Glacial period) connection of the other Virgin Islands with Porto Eico seems highly probable. Three species — Eleutherodactylus lentus, Amphishaena fenestrata and Dromicus exiguus — are common to two or more of the Virgin Islands and are absent from Porto Eico. Their development may be explained as due to a differentiation of the fauna of the lower-lying eastern end of the "Greater Porto Eico," or to differentiation during the hypotheti- cal Pliocene separation. The Porto Eican herpetological fauna differs from that of Hispaniola chiefly in the absence of the following genera.* * Oedipus is excluded from the Hispaniolan fauna pending verification of its occur- rence. Dunn regards the Haitian origin of Peter's Oedipus infuseatus as mythical. 28 SCIEM'IFIC .SURVh:y OF /'ONTO RICO 1. Hyla 8. Sauresia 2. Gonatodes 9. Tropidophis 3. Aristelliger 10. Uromacer 4. Leiocephalus 11. Hypsirhynchus 0. Hispaniolus 12. laltris 0. Chamaelinorops 13. Crocodylus Seven of these, Chamaelinorops, Hispaniolus, Wetmorena, Sauresia, Uromacer, Hypsirhynchus and laltris are confined to Hispaniola, while the other six are found in Cuba and Jamaica and for the most part in Central America. An extensive impoverishment of the fauna of Porto Rico is obviously its most conspicuous characteristic. Eecent extinction may well be admitted as a considerable factor in this impoverishment, in view of the discovery of the remains of an extinct Porto Eican Cyclura as well as by analogy with the extinction of the mammalian fauna. This may be due to two factors, the restriction of habitat formations due to increased cultivation, and the changes in climate due to past emergence aud submergence. On the other hand, the much greater altitudes of the mountains of Hispaniola, and the great diversity of habitat conditions of that island, of which perhaps the most remarkable is the stratification of the vegetation on the mountains, makes it highly probable that a number of forms have developed in situ, and had not acquired a suf- ficient range before the separation of Porto Rico to reach it, even if the habitat conditions of the intervening area were not unfavorable. If the late Miocene uplift was not extensive, and if Mona Island is a remnant of the gctual land connection via Saona and southwest Porto Rico, the habitat conditions of the land-bridge must have been such as to prevent the spread of many forms. It is more difficult to explain the differences in the development of such genera as Sphaerodactylus, Celestas, Arneiva and Epicrates, which have several species on Hispaniola and only one on Porto Rico. It is possible that Hispaniola was broken up into several islands dur- ing the Miocene, as is indicated by the Miocene deposits which compose the plain between the Central Sierra and the Monte Cristi Range, and Ijy the "through valley" of the saline lakes to the southwest. Only two species are common to Porto Rico and Hispaniola, one of which, Heniidactylus mahouia, is a house-gecko and plainly fortuitous, while the other, Mahuya sloanii, requires critical study. I have seen no Hispaniolan specimens. The numl)er of species which are closely related on the two islands is large : SCHMIDT, AMl'HWTAKS OF PORTO RICO 29 Porto Kico Hispaniola 1. Biifo lemur Biifo gutturosus 2. Leptodadylus alhUahris Leptodactylus dominicensis 3. Eleutherodactylus portoricensis Eleutherodactylus auriculatoides 4. Eleutherodactylus richmondi Eleutherodactylus iveinlandi 5. Sphaerodactylus 7nacrolepis Sphaerodactylus dijficilis 0, Anolis cuvieri Anolis ricordu 7. Anolis cristatellus Anolis cybotes 8. Anolis pidchellus Anolis semilineatus 9. fCyclura portoricensis Cyclura cornuta 10. Celestu-s pleii Celestus sp. 11. Ameiva exsul Ameiva vittipunctata 12. Ameiva icetmorei Ameiva Uneolata 13. Amphishaena caeca Amphisbaena ireinlandi 14. Typhlops platycephalus Typhlops sp. 15. Epicrates inornatus Epicrates striatus 16. Dromicus stahli Dromicus parvifrons 17. Alsophis portoricensis Alsophi-s melanichnus 18. Pseudemys stejnegeri Pseudemys palustris The Mona Island species, especially Cyclura stejnegeri and Epicrates monensis, add important links to this relation. The remaining- Porto Riean species, mostly Eleutherodactyhix and Anolis, which are clearly more closely related to other forms in the Greater Antilles than to South American or Lesser Antillean species, may be regarded as the individual development of the Greater Antillean fauna on Porto Eico, whose mountains occupied a relatively isolated position during any land connections that may have existed, certainly since the early Tertiary. The general conclusion is that the herpetological fauna of the "Greater Porto liico"' is simply an impoverished Greater Antillean fauna. Its resemblances to the fauna of Hispaniola are due to land connection, the date of which is placed by geologists in the Upper Miocene. The ditfer- ences between the Porto Rican and PTispaniolan faunas are due : ( 1 ) to a process of extinction still continuing: (2) to the isolated position of Porto Rico at the eastern end of the land mass, the habitat conditions of the supposed land-bridge being unsuited to the spread of many forms ; (3) to the differentiation of specifically Porto Rican forms, (a) through- out the Tertiary, the mountains of Porto Rico being a center of differ- entiation for autochthonous forms, as I suppose those of Hispaniola to have been, and (b) during post-Pliocene time, since the separation of Porto Rico from Hispaniola. 30 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT OF THE SPECIES Class AMPHIBIA Order SALIENTIA Family Bufonidae^ Key to the Genera of Porto Ricax Frogs and Toads A. No teeth ; a large parotoid gland on each side of the neck ; skin very rough and warty ^^f^ Fig. 1— Head of toad (left) contrasted with Leptodactiilus (right). (From Stejneger.) KiG. 2. — Foot of Leptodactyhis (left) con- trasted with foot of EleutherodactyliiK (right). Compare slender and expanded lips of digits. (From Stejneger.) A A. Maxillary and vomerine teeth present; no parotoid gland; skin relalively smooth. iThe Bufonidae in the broad sense of Noble's revision of the families of Salientia (Noble, 1922. p. 22) includes the family Leptodactylidae, which, defined in contrast with the Bufonidae in the restricted sense of older authors, will be found in Stejneger. 1904, p. 5G9. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 31 B. Tips of fingers not dilated, tapering Leptodactylus BB. Tips of fingers dilated into adhesive disks Eleutherodactylus Bufo Ijaureuti Key to the Porto Rican Species or True Toads A. Head with prominent bony crests; parotoid gland small and rounded— Bufo lemur AA. Head without long bony crests ; parotoid glands enormous, subtriangular— Bufo marinus * Bufo lemur (Cope) Sapo Concho Text Figs. 3-4. Peltaphnjnc lemur Cope, 1868, Proe. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 311. Bufo lemur Stejneger. 1004, Rept. U. S. Nat. Mus.. 1902, p. 570, Figs. 1-5.— Barbour, 1914. Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 242: 1917, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXX, p. 102.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII. p. 108. Bufo (Peltaphryne) gutturosus Peters, 1876, Mon. Ber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 709. Bufo gutturosus Gundlach, 1881, Anales Soc. Espafi. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 314.— Stahl, 1882, Fauma Puerto-Rico, p. 71, p. 161.— Garman, 1887, Bull. Essex Inst., Vol. XIX, p. 16 (part). The native name, Sapo concho, referring to the ridged head of the adults of this species, is an appropriate one. Unfortunately, due to the rarity of the form, it is practically unkno'WTi to the majority of Porto Ricans and the native boys apply the name indifferently to large speci- mens of the frog-like Leptodactylus or even of the tree frog. Type locality. — Porto Eico. Distribution. — Previous to 1919, this species was known from the north side of Porto Eico, the only exact localities given being Arecibo, Bayamon and Vega Baja. Its occurrence at Coamo Springs, nearly at the opposite side of the island, proves that it is widely distributed. Its rarity is perhaps due to the mongoose. The close relations of Bufo turpis Barbour, from Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Islands), with Bufo lemur constitute important evidence for the close faunal affinity of the Virgin group with Porto Eico. The relations with the Hispaniolan Bufo gutturosus are evidently close, and the three species gutturosus, lenur and turpis are much more closely allied among themselves than any one of them is to Bufo peltacephalus of Cuba, although peltacephalus must be considered their Cuban representative. Specimens collected. — 5 : Coamo Springs. 32 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Diagnosis. — A true toad with rough skin, rounded parotoid glands on the shoulders, and high bony ridges on the liead. Original descnption. — "This is a toad of singular aspect, owing to the extraordinary development of the bony crests of the cranium and the large size of its eyes. "The muzzle is short and very much flattened, projecting much beyond the mouth. The upper lip forms indeed a strongly projecting bony rim all round the mouth. Loreal region very concave, canthus concave and verv close together. The superciliary crests are extraordinarily elevated, having an arched outline, and descending steeply to the loreal region. It is angulate posteriorly, joining the almost equally developed supra- tympanic ridge. The crown of the head is thus a deep basin, widened above the tympana, and obstructed hy a cross-elevation in front. Strong ridffes behind and before the orbit ; nostrils vertical, a short bony longi- tudinal ridge below them. According to the characters of the genus Fig. 3.-^IIead of Bufo hnnir. (From Stejueger.) there is no derm on the head. Tympanum vertically oval. Parotoids broad oval, directed obliquely downwards, covered like the remainder of the upper surfaces of the body and liml)S, with numerous closely 1 su1)round tubercles, with rugose surfaces. Feet rather short, wit .nail tubercles, and only one remarkably weak metatarsal tubercle, the inner. A strong corneus ridge on the inner margin of the tarsus. The heel reaches the middle of the parotoid. The toes are about half weighed, and have a strong dermal margin. Two strong carpal tubercles. Under surfaces studded with small tubercles, with acute points. Tongue ob- ovate, largely free. "The color above is a blackish-brown, the top of the head yellow shaded; two longitudinal brown spots on the frontal region. A light vertebral line disappears on the back and reappears on the coccyx, and another light line passes round the inside of the parotoids and diverges on the scapular region. Limbs yellowish cross-banded, below dirty white, below the vent blackish. "This curious animal was found by George Latimer, the correspondent of the Smithsonian Institution in Porto Pico, W. I." The bony crests of the head of this toad distinguish it from the intro- SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 33 duced marine toad at a glance, and indeed from all of the remaining tail- less amphibians of Porto Eico. Coloration in life* — '"Iris pale brassy, sprinkled with black. General color above dull clay-colored Avith a strong olive wash; blackish brown markings and an ill-defined hourglass-shaped mark between shoulders; also a larger blackish spot on each side of the coccyx, which is marked by a pale streak; indications of blackish cross bands on legs; underside dirty white, becoming tlesh-colored behind and strongly reddish flesh color on underside of femur and nearest portion of belly; tips of toes Fig. 4. — Habitus of juvenile Btifo lemur (A), with side view of head (B). A. M. N. H. No. 10151. Natural size. dark brown ; tips of warts on back black, those between shoulders partic- ularly large. "Another specimen was colored as follows : Upper side olive, strongly suffused with 'gallstone yellow,' which is particularly noticeable over the insertion of the fore limbs : very few traces of dusky markings, but the pustules are.< black, especially anteriorly; an intensely orchraceous- rufous spot on the middle of the back ; on the underside the yellow suf- fusion invades the white ground-color on the portion nearest to the flanks. "The third large specimen was quite similar to the last, though with- out any rufous spot on the back, which seems to be an anomaly. Whole upper surface darker olive, and flanks, including space at base of fore * Quoted from Sejoeger. 1004. p. .">72. 34 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO limb and below the ear, more intensely and more well-defined yellow; underside dirty yellowish white. "A young specimen was colored as follows : General color al)o\ e drab, more Isabella-colored on head ; dark markings blackish, those on shoul- ders pale-edged externally; flanks with a purplish suffusion and indica- tions of a broad longitudinal band, well-defined and pale-edged above, but gradually fading below into the pale Isabella color of the belly; under- side with a network of coarse dark-gray mottlings and marblings." RenwA-s. — The five half-grown specimens (collected by myself) are so nearly uniform and were found in so circumscribed an area that they probably are members of a single brood. They agree in coloration with the juvenile specimen described by Stejneger. All show the dark mark of hour-glass shape on the shoulders. The dimensions of one of these specimens may be compared with those of an adult recorded by Stej- neger. A. M. N. H. U. S. N. M. Parts measured No. 10151 No. 27148 Tip of snout to vent 3''' ^^- ^^ ™™- Tip of snout to posterior edge of tympanum 12 12 Greatest width of head 13 32 Foreleg from axilla 21 51 Hind leg from vent 37 99 These five specimens were found under limestone boulders on the artificial terrace in the moist gorge immediately behind the bath houses of the Coamo Sprijigs Hotel. When exposed, they relied on immobility and their resemblance to the soil for protection, and they were, in fact, extremely difficult to see. ' The first one was discovered accidentally while I was catching a Leptodactylus under the stone beneath which it was secreted. A large boulder sheltered three toads and one Leptodactylus. The stomach contents of these specimens included ant remains, beetle wings, an insect larva and segments of a small millipede. Nothing is knovm of the breeding habits of this species. Bufo nmrinus (Linne) Marine Toad Fig. 5 Rana marina Linne, 1758, Syst, Nat., I, p. 211. Bufo marinus Schneider. 1799, Hi.st. Amphib., Fasc. I. p. 219.— Danforth, 1925, Copeia, No. 147, p. 77. Type locality. — America. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 35 Distribution. — Central America, northern South America. Xative in Trinidad, introduced in several of the Lesser Antillean islands and in Porto Eico and Jamaica. Fig. 5. — Dufo 77tarinus ?. Mayagiiez. (Danforth Collection.) During my stay in Porto Eico in 1919 I heard reports of the introduc- tion of this species, but I did not see any specimens. Danforth's record 36 .WIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO from Mayagiiez seems to be the only reference in herpetological litera- ture to the occurrence of the species on Porto Rico. With certain reservations as to the need for revisionary studies, Bufo marimis has an extremely wide range, extending from southern Mexico to southern Brazil and the northern Argentine. Dmgnosis. — A large toad with unusually large parotoid glands; bony ridges of head well developed but low, not higher than the eyelid ; no horizontal labial ridge. Origmal description. — "A frog with swollen shoulder glands and warty hinder parts ; hands with four digits, completely divided ; feet with five digits, partly divided." r Descripti-on of a Porto Rican specini&n. — (S. T. Danforth collection, $ , Mayagiiez.) Top of head bony, with well developed crests, the height of the supraorbital crest about 2 mm. above the interorbital space, not higher than the eyelid ; orbital crests continued toward the snout by well-defined ridges on the canthi; an anteorbital and postorbital ridge from the supraorbital ridge about half way to the labial border; no true labial ridge; a short supratympanic branch connects the supraorbital ridge with the parotoid gland ; no parietal branches from the orbital crests ; snout prominent, lores well-defined by the pre-orbital and canthal ridges ; eyes prominent ; tympanum large, subcircular ; parotoid large, distinctly outlined, its lower edge in line with the labial border ; a postrictal gland ; first finger longer than second, second as long as the fourth; toes about one-third webbed ; subarticular tubercles single : metatarsal tubercles small, rounded ; a sharp ridge on the tarsus continuous with the outer web of the inner toe ; no tibial gland ; back and sides densely covered with warts of varying size; the warts, the parotoid glands, and even the skin between the warts are densely covered with small black spines ; ven- tral surfaces nearly smooth ; upper sides of first and second fingers cov- ered with nuptial asperities forming a fine rugose pad. Brownish gray above; venter gray with a faint tinge of yellow, with numerous round darker spots ; throat dark gray. A female specimen from the same locality has larger and fewer warts, which are entirely smooth, as are the deeply pitted parotoid glands ; cranial crests somewhat lower ; ventral surfaces finely granular, the granulation finely spinose ; parotoid gland more sharply outlined ; fore- limb much more slender than in the male. SVHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 37 Measurements of Male and Female $ 9 Snout to vent 103 mm. 9o mm. Snout to posterior edge of tympanum 31 29 Greatest width of liead 40 37 Foreleg from axilla ■ 67 55 Hindleg from vent 134 121 Tibia 42 38 These two specimens are the only ones I have seen from Porto Rico. They are widely different from the Biifo marinus of the southern half of the South American continent. Lutz, in describing- Bufo paracnemis, suggests the composite nature of the wide-spread Bufo marinus of aiithors. There can be no doul)t. however, that the toad here described is the one introduced in Porto Pico, and marinus probably applies best to the ma- rine toad of northern South America. The marine toad is stated, by Wolcott (1924, p. 35), to have been introduced about 1920 at Mayagliez, by Dr. D. W. May. By 1924 it had spread over a radius of about four miles and is apparently securely estab- lished. A second introduction was made in 1924 at Rio Piedras, at the suffcrestion of Sr. Menendez Ramos, former director of the Insular Ex- periment Station. Leptodactylus Fitzinger Rana ; Sapo Text Figs. G-9 Leptodaet J lus albilabris (Giinthcr) Cy St iff not h US ulhihihris Giinther, 1859, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.. (3), Vol. IV, p. 217.— Reinhardt and Luetken, 1803, Vid. Me2 mm. Tip of snout to posterior edge of tympanum 18 20 Greatest breadtli of head 19 23 Foreleg from axilla 29 35 Hind leg from vent 69 80 -& The most frequent coloration is a grayish brown of varying shade, sometimes reddish, sometimes nearly black. This may be uniform or Quoted from Stejneger, 1904, p. 585. 48 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO mottled with darker. In the lighter specimens there is nearly always a dark interorbital mark, and in a few the snout is white in front of this either with a broad transverse white band or completely light to the tip of the snout. There is usually also a dark sub-canthal mark, interrupted by the eye, and continued over the ear for a short distance. In a few cases the dorsum is spotted irregularly with vivid white spots. In 18 out of 194 specimens a light line, beginning at the snout and passing over the edge of the eyelid to the ear, continues as a broader light dorso- lateral band to the thigh. In 19 specimens there is a sharp median white stripe (compare Fowler, 1918, Fig. 2). In 5 there is a broad median light band, about four times as broad as the more common narrow line. The hind legs are occasionally distinctly barred, more usually indistinctly barred or uniform. The concealed surfaces of the thighs are often Fig. 12. — Embryo of Eleutherodaciylus portori- censis. A. M. N. H. No. 10302. Six times natural sizp. bright pink or red. The venter is usually light and unspotted, occasion- ally it is spotted with groups of dark-brown punctations. In no specimen were the concealed surfaces of the thighs reticulated with the fine or coarse dark network of E. antillensis. The color variation has also been noted by Stejneger, but I am sure that the juvenile variant described by him from El Yunque must refer to the dwarf species, E. gnjllus. The majority of the specimens collected were taken at night, either singing or merely sitting about on vegetation, sometimes several feet from the ground. Others were found concealed under logs and stones, especially in coffee plantations. The most usual hiding place of this species in the daytime is beneath the sheaths of the outer leaves of the banana. Specimens in this situation are almost without exception uniformly colored and nearly black. About every third banana plant examined was inhabited by one or more of these tree frogs. Persistent search about the banana plants failed to discover the eggs of this species, and it was not until the writer visited the Luquillo .SCHMIDT. AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 49 •Forest that a single egg-mass was discovered in a basal leaf of an air plant, just at the surface of the water in the lower part of the leaf. A large E. aurioitlatus in the same plant, but not on the same leaf as the eggs, escaped. There were thirty-six eggs, with well-advanced embryos, adhering in an oval mass from which individual eggs could easily be detached. The eggs measure 6-8 mm. in greater diameter, being some- what elongated in the axis of the embryo. The young of this species are extraordinarily abundant, and it is difficult to understand why the eggs are so infrequently observed. It is possible that at the time of the writer's visit (August-October) the height of the breeding season was past. The only date of breeding previ- ously recorded is that noted by Gundlach, May 24 (Peters, 1877, Monats- ber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1876, p. 709). Professor Johnson found a mass of eggs, with embryos at about the stage of those observed by the writer, ill the same bunch of moss in which the giant female specimen, men- FiG. 13. — Peter's figures of the embryo of Elctttlivrodartijlus iiortoricenxis. tioned above, was collected, July 8, 1919. Gundlach (loc. cit) also ob- served a female sitting on the egg-mass received by him, while Bello y Espinosa (Martens, 1871, Zool. Garten, Vol. XII, p. 351) records that in the case noted by him the parent frog remained in the neighborhood of the eggs "as if to guard them." From these several observations it appears not unlikely that the female does remain in the neighborhood of the eggs until they are hatched, Ijut further observations on this point are desirable. Euthven (1915, Occ. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, No. 11), observing the breeding habits of E. cruentus Peters, in Colombia, found no evidence of such a habit. The chorus of this species, or the isolated notes of single males, are among the most familiar and insistent sounds in Porto Eico. The call is a clear, whistled co-qui, co-qui, varied by co-qui-qui-qui-qui-qui. Two males often call alternately from neighboring stations. A favorite situation for the singing male is the base of the leaf of a lilliaceous plant or the center of a whorl of leaves on shrubs, etc., which appears to magnifv the sound and thus increase its ventriloquial character. 50 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO For its relations with other West Indian Eleutherodactylus, and the history of the species, I may quote my remarks when proposing a name for this species : "It is paradoxical to write of the most abundant species of tree-frog of Porto Eico as new to science, for this form is one of the best known in the genus, represented in many museums b}^ large series of specimens. It is really famous, for its eggs and embryos were the basis for the article by Peters, describing the direct development, with suppression of the tadpole stage, which is a general character of the genus Eleutherodac- tylus. Peter's figures have found their way into great numbers of text- books, usually under the original designation, Hylodes martinicensis. "The name now proposed for this well-known and well-characterized species is, nevertheless, the first to be based on Porto Eican specimens. The confusion of this form with other Antillean species has been due to the weight of authority that has identified it first with the Lesser Antillean Eleutherodact ylus martinicensis (Tschudi) — Peters, Gundlach, Garman, and Boettger — and, later, with the Cuban Eleutherodactylus auriculatu-s (Cope) — Boulenger, Stejneger, and Barbour. In dealing with this species in 1920, I accepted the identification witli auriculatiis without question. "Stejneger, in 1902, accepted Boulenger^s record of auriculatus from Santo Domingo, and its occurrence on that island would of course make its presence in Porto Eico much more probable. The Nobles secured an allied species in the Dominican Eepublic, described by Dr. Noble as Eleutherodactylus auriculatoides (1923, Amer. Mus. Novitates, No. 61, p. 3) and it is probable that this species represents auriculatus in Santo Domingo. "The renewed and more intensive study of the Greater Antillean amphibian faunae was, to some extent, initiated by my field work in Porto Eico in 1919, which added six species of Eleutherodactylus to the supposedly well-known herpetolngical fauna of that island. This was followed by the work of Dr. and Mrs. G. K. Noble in the Dominican Eepublic in 1922, which added five new Eleutherodactylus and a new Hyla to the Hispaniolan fauna. The recent additions to the Cuban tree- frogs (eight species) and to the Jamaican fauna (six Eleutherodactylus and a Hyla) by the field work of Dr. Emmett E. Dunn in 1924 and 1925 were, consequently, scarcely surprising, though it may be emphasized that all of these islands were supposed to be well explored herpetologically. The new crop of novel species was due to the application of a simple technique of collecting by voice at night, using an electric flashlight. SCHMIDT. AMl'HIBI \\S OF I'Oh'TO h'ICO 51 ''A l)etter knowledge of the old species has inevitably accompanied the recognition of the new forms, and it is now evident that there are no native species of this genus generally distributed in the Greater Antilles. The Cuban Eleutlierodactylus cmricidaiui^ is now well known through Dr. Dunn's field work. He writes me that tliis species does not breed in bromeliads, and that its cry resembles the syllables "chi-leen." The repeated "coqui" of the Porto Rican species, wdiich gives it its native name, is one of the most characteristic sounds of the nocturnal chorus in Porto Rico. "All of this contributes little by little to the certainty that the common Porto Rican tree-frog is specifically distinct from any other West Indian form.'" Eleutherodaetyius gryllus Schmidt Text Fig. 14 EleuthcnnUntiiluK gruUns .Selimidt. 1!>2(X Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sei., Vol. XXVIII, p. 172, Fig. 3. There is no native name for this species. Tjipe locality. — El Yunque, near the Forester's Cabin, about 1300 feet altitude. Pig. 14. — EleutfieroflactiiUts gryllus. A. M X. H. No. 10226. Twice natural size. Distribution. — Eleiitherodactylus gryllus is confined to Porto Rico, where it is known from the Luquillo Forest and from Maricao. It is probably confined to the more humid higher parts of the island. Specimens collected. — 16: Maricao and EI Yunque. Diagnosis. — Distinguished from Eleutherodaetyius portoricensis by its shorter snout, less granulate venter, and its minute size. Description of type. — "Habitus of Eleutherodaetyius portoricensis, but with a distinctly shorter snout, its length equal to the diameter of the eye (in E. portoricensis the diameter of the eye equals its distance from 52 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO the nostril), and to the interorbital space; canthus rostralis rounded; nostril one-third the distance from tip of snout to eye; tympanum scarcely distinct, one-fourth the diameter of the eye, its distance from the eye equal to its diameter ; toes without vestige of web ; digital disks well- developed ; first toe as long as the second ; an inner and outer metatarsal fold; vomerine teeth in two oblique patches behind and within the choanae: tongue large, slightly nicked behind; skin smooth above, but apparently much more glandular than in E. portoricensis ; venter strongly granulate; a large subgular vocal sac, "Middle of the back, beginning with an interorbital line, dark gray, enclosing a light spot on the occiput ; sides and snout lighter, the darker color everywhere consisting of minute black punctations, especially evi- dent on the limbs and throat; venter light." Measurements Tip of snout to vent 16 mm. Tip of snout to posterior border to tympanum 5.5 (Greatest breadth of head 6 Foreleg from axilla H Hind lee from vent 24 Tibia ^-^ KemaH-s.— The type is a male, taken singing at night, with the usual pale night coloration. Specimens taken in the daytime (concealed under moss) are very dark in color and exhibit considerable variation in pattern, two having a light median dorsal line. In a specimen taken in an air plant (No. 10291) the dorsal dark area is cinnamon brown and the sides bright pale green, the legs with dark bars ; this coloration has been described by Stejneger (1904, Eept. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1902, p. 586) as a variant coloration of juvenile E. auriculatus ( =^ portoricensis) . The darker specimens have narrow light crossbands on the limbs. The granulation of the venter in the female specimens is faint, though still evident. This species was very numerous at Maricao and on El Yunque, sing- ing frequently from trees, at least ten feet from the ground. On El Yunque specimens were collected in air plants, near the peak, and under moss on the rocks of the peak itself. The song is a rapid succession of shrill clicks, very insect-like, the chorus sounding not unlike the rapid clicking of a telegraphic instru- ment. Were it not for the minute size of the singers, and the extremely dis- tinct note, this species might well be considered the young of E. poiiori- SVHMJDT. AMPHIBIANS OF I'OKTO RICO 53 censis; I am unable to agree with Stejneger's supposition that its note is made by juvenile males of the latter species. The oronads, at any rate, appear to be those of an adult in the specimens examined, differing in form and pigmentation from those of young E. poiioricenxls of similar size. Nothing has been added to the knowledge of this species since its de- scription in 1920. ?]leutherodaft.vlus locustus Schiuidt Text Fig. 15 ElcuthtroiUicttilus hxii.sliis .Schmidt, 1020, Ann. N. Y. Acid. 8ci.. Vol XXVIII, p. 174, Fig. 4. No native name is known for this species. Type locality. — El Yunque, near the Foi-ester's cabin, ahoiit I.'IOO feet altitude, Luquillo Forest Reserve, Porto Eico. Bistnbution. — Known only from the type locality. Specimens collected. — 1 : El Yunque. Fig. 15. — Eleutheroihutiilus loeustus. A. M. N. H. No. 10240. Twice natural size. Diagnosi.^. — Size small; snout obtuse; nostril much nearer to the end of the snout than to the eye; tympanum small, indistinct, one-fourth the diameter of the eye, se])arated from the eye by a little more than its diameter; vomerine teeth in two oblique series, behind and within the choanae ; toes free ; digital disks well-developed ; tibiotarsal articulation reaching the posterior border of the eye ; heels overlapping when the legs are placed at right angles to the body; skin rugose above, with scattered round tubercles, especially on the eyelid ; venter smooth ; inner face of thighs finely rugose. Original description. — "Head slightly longer than broad, slightly nar- 54 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO rowei- than the body; snout moderately obtuse, its length anterior to the eye exceeding the interorbital space; nostrils one-fourth the distance l)e- tween eye and tip of snout from the latter; tj'mpanum scarcely distinct, one-fourth the diameter of the eye, se})arated from the eye by a little more than its diameter ; canthus rostralis rounded ; elbow and knee pressed along the side, overlap; heels overlap when the legs are placed vertically to the axis of the body ; tibiotarsal articulation reaching the posterior border of the eye ; disks of fingers and toes well-developed ; toes without vestige of web; inner and outer metatarsal tubercles present; no tarsal fold ; first toe as long as the second ; vomerine teeth in two linear obli()ue patches, converging posteriorly, well-separated on the median line, behind and within the choanal by about the diameter of the choana; tongue large, slightly nicked behind ; skin rugose above, with rounded tubercles ; a well-marked mid-dorsal ridge from snout to vent ; eyelid strongly rugose; venter smooth (faintly rugose under the lens) thighs slightly rugose ; male with a large subgular vocal sac. "Dorsum gray mottled with grayish brown ; a well-defined inter- orbital dark band : sides of canthus with a dark mark, interrupted by the eye, extending over the tympanum; legs not barred, with dusky mark- ings; venter uniform, light." Measurements Tip of sikhU to veut 19 uim. Tip of snout to posterior edge of tympanum 7 Greatest breadth of head 6.5 Foreleg from axilla 12 Hind leg from vent 29 Tibia 9 Remarks. — This species was discovered by accident, singing on a leaf some three feet from the ground. Its song is the most distinctive of any noted in Porto Eico, beginning with a shrill continuous note almost at the limit of audibility, which is followed by a succession of clicks. So closely does this note resemble a familiar type of note produced by long- horned grasshoppers that the writer neglected to search for the author of the sound, and watched the present specimen repeat the song several times before being convinced that it really proceeded from an EleufJiero- clacfyhi.9. Eleutherodactylus locustus is closely related to E. portoricensis, from which it is distinguished by its small size and smooth venter. Even more closely related to the still smaller new species E. gri/llus, it is nevertheless readily distinguished by its smooth venter and moi-e rugose dorsum, as well as by its remarkable voice. f^CHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 55 This species has not been rediscovered since its description in 19 SO. I might entertain a doubt as to its validity, in view of its being based on a single specimen, had not Dr. and Mrs. Xoble since observed an Eleuth erodactylus with a similarly peculiar note in Hispaniola. •Eleutherodac'tjius cramptoni* Schmidt Text Fig. 16 Eleuth rrodactylus crampton i XXVIII, p. 176, Fig. 5. Schmidt. 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.. Vol. No native name is available for this species. Type locality. — Peak of El Yunque, 3485 feet altitude, Luquillo Forest Eeserve, Porto Rico. Distribution. — Known only from the type locality. Specimens collected.— o : El Yunque. Fig. 16. — Eleutherodactylus cramptoni. A. M. N. H. No. 10305. Twice natural size. Diaynosis. — Size small; habitus stout; hind legs short; snout very obtuse, canthus rostralis rounded; dorsum very rugose with rounded tubercles ; vomerine teeth in two oblique linear series, extending laterally as far as the inner border to the choans; digital disks large; uniform dark brown above, light brown beneath. Original description. — "Habitus stout, compact; snout short, obtuse, canthus rostralis rounded; nostril one-third the distance from tip of snout to eye ; heel reaching the anterior border of the orbit ; heels meet but do not overlap when the legs are placed at right angles to the body ; both anterior and posterior limbs notably stout, nearly twice as thick as * Named for Professor Henry E. Crampton, whose active interest and investigation have greatly furthered the zoological work of the Scientific Survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 56 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO those of E. portoricensis of the same bod}' length ; vomerine teeth in two linear, oblique series, extending laterally as far as the choanae; tympanimi small, distinct; dorsum covered with rounded tubercles, extending onto the eyelids and snout; venter finely granular; digital disks large, first toe as long as the second ; no subgular vocal sac. "Color uniform brown above, lighter brown below, slightly variegated with lighter punctation." Measurements Tip of snout to vent 1'^ ^^■ Tip of snout to posterior edge of tympanum 6.5 Greatest breadth of head ' Foreleg from axilla 1- Hiud leg from vent -'^ Tibia ^ Remarks. — The two paratypes are similar in every respect to the type, with the single exception that one of them is slightly more mottled with light, and has the hind legs indistinctly barred. All three specimens were taken under moss in the crevices of the rocks on the peak of El Yunque. The species is a well-differentiated one, characterized by the stoutness of its limbs, the obtuseness of the snout and the extreme rugosity of the dorsum. Like the other novelties in my collection of 1919, this species awaits the verification of further field-study. Eleutherodact J his antillensis (Reinbanlt & Luetken) Coqui Text Fig. 17 Hi/Iodcs antillensis Reinbardt and Luetken, 1863, Vidensk. Med. naturh. For. Kjobenhavn, 1862, p. 209. Eleutherodact plus antillensis Stejneger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1902, p. 591, Figs. 20-24.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 247; 1917, Proe. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXX. p. 102.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. X. Y. Acad. Sci.. Vol. XXVIII, p. 178, Fig. 6. Hylodes martimccnsis Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin. 1876, V\ .1, Fig. 6. This species is not distinguished by the Porto Ricans from the E. ■por- toricensis, and when observed at all is called a "coqui." Type localiti/.- — St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Di^ribuiion. — This species was long known only from the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas and Tortola, and from A'ieques Island. It is SCHMIDT, AMPIIlBlANti OF PORTO RICO ot doubtfully reported from St. John and St. Croix. I collected it on Porto Rico and Culebra in 1919. Specimens collected. — 30 : Aibonito, Bayamon^ Maricao, Santurce and Culebra Island. Diagnosis. — Limbs shorter than in Eleutherodactylus portoricensis, the heels just meeting when the legs are bent at right angles to the body. Posterior surfaces of the thighs with a dark reticulation. Venter more coarsely granulated and digital disks smaller than in portoricensis. Original descrpAion. — "An Hylodes with a verrucose venter, palatine Fig. 17. — Eleutherodactylus antil- Iciisis. A. M. N. H. No. 10019. Twice natural size. teeth moderately separated, each series wedge-shaped, the two forming an angle open forward; [palatine teeth] widel} separated from the border of the lip ; digital disks rather large." Remarks. — Stejneger* gives a detailed description of this species, based on a Vieques Island specimen : "Tongue rather broad, heart-shaped, slightly nicked behind; vomerine teeth in two club-shaped oblique series, some distance behind but not laterally beyond the choanse, converging backward and well separated ; nastril much nearer the tip of snout than the eyes, their distance from the eye less than the diameter of the latter; upper eyelids narrower than the interorbital space; tympanum a little less than one-half the diam- eter of the eye, its distance from the eye less than one-half its diam- * stejneger, 1904, p. .592. y '■."--' •"5;''Sv V'V^- k:Ji L3 \.-r u-^'\ 58 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO eter; fingers with rather small disks, first equalling second; disks of toes not smaller than those of the fingers; tip of first toe reaching disk of second; two metatarsal tubercles, the outer being rather small and obscure; series of plantar tubercles corresponding to metatarsals; no tarsal fold; the bent lim])s being pressed along the side, knee and elbow, fail to meet; hind limb being extended along the side, heel reaches the eye; hind limbs being placed vertically to the axis of the body, the heels barely meet; skin above with scattered granules and a very narrow raised median line from tip of snout to vent; throat and chest smooth, belly and posterior aspect of femur strongly granular; a strong fold across the breast between the axillae." The original description is sufficiently diagnostic as the only other species on St. Thomas is the smooth-skinned E. lentus, which has the vomerine teeth in long transverse series. Color. — In coloration this species is less variable than E. portoricensis but the median white dorsal line may be present or absent. It is de- veloped in twelve of the present specimens. The usual color is grayish brown, with faint dusky markings, and a sharply defined black canthal line which extends over the ear and a short distance beyond it, outlined above in most cases by a very narrow white line on the canthus extending over the eyelid. The concealed surfaces of the legs are reticulated with black, which affords a fairly good character for distinguishing this species in the field from E. portoricensis. One specimen, No. 10001, a male, is violet-red above, has a very heavy black canthal and supra-auricular mark, and the concealed surfaces of the legs black with sharply defined Avhite spots. The measurements of the largest specimens of each sex follow: Parts measured No. 10117 d 10082 ? Tip Of snout to vent 24 mm. 33 mm. Tip of snout to posterior edge of tympanum 10 13 Greatest breadth of head 11 14 Foreleg from axilla 16 19 Hind leg from vent 38 48 Eabiis. — This species prefers slightly lower herbage and- slightly wet- ter situations than E. portoricensis, which is often associated with it. It ranges to an altitude of nearly 2000 feet at iVibonito. Nothing is known of the breeding habits of this species. The song of E. antillensis may be readily distinguished from that of E. portoricensis by its more metallic quality, and the frequent series of uniform notes ki-ki-ki-ki-ki . The males conceal themselves more SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIAXS OF PORTO RICO 59 carefully wheu calling, making it exasperatingly difficult to locate the singer. They often sing from a position in the axils of the leaves of lilliaceous plants. In Sauturce along the railroad and trolley embank- ments north of the Hotel Eureka, I found this species more abundant than E. portoncetisis. The single specimen from Culebra agrees closely with the Porto Eican series. The discovery of this form in Porto Rico proper greatly reduces the differentiation of the Virgin Island fauna. EJeutlierodactylus brittoni* Schmidt Text Fig. 18 EleuthcrodmtuluH brittoni Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. Vol. XXVIII, p. 179, Fig. 7. No native name is available for this species. Type locality. — El Yunque, near the Forester's Cabin, about 1300 feet altitude, Luquillo Forest Reserve, Porto Rico. Distribution. — Known only from El Yunque and Maricao. Specimens collected. — 4 : El Yunque and Maricao. Diagnosis. — Derived from Eleutherodactylus antillensis, from which it is distinguished by its small size, its sharp canthus rostralis, which is continued as a dorso-lateral angle some distance behind the ear, and its more posteriorly placed nostril. Original description.— -^^H'dhiiw?, slender, head narrower than the body, legs rather short, snout sharp-pointed; nostril two-fifths the distance from the end of the snout to the orbit ; canthus rostralis sharp : inter- orbital space broader than the eyelid; heel reaching the anterior border of the or])it ; heels meeting but not overlapping when the legs are at right angles to the l)ody; top of snout fiat, as is the anterior half of the back behind the eyes, the side of the body being vertical anteriorly ; vomerine teeth in two small rounded patches, behind and within the choana^ : tympanum indistinct, separated from the eye by less than its diameter; dorsum smooth, venter coarsely granulate; digital disks small, as long as wide : a well-defined tarsal fold ; a well-developed sitbgular vocal sac. "Dorsum light grayish brown, venter lighter. Two black spots between the eyes, one on the middle of the back, and three posteriorly on the back, above the groin ; legs with a single faint darker bar on the femur ; concealed surfaces of the femur not reticulated; a black subcanthal streak, continued below the dorso-lateral angle behind the eye." * Named for Dr. Nathaniel !>. Britton. Chairman of the Committee for the Scientific Survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands, New York Academy of Sciences. 60 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Measurements Tip of snout to vent 16 nun. Tip of snout to posterior edge of tympanum Greatest breadth of head G Foreleg from axilla Hind leg from vent 23 Tibia S Remarks. — The three paratypes are closely similar in size and struc- tural characters to the type. Two have the black subcanthal and shoulder mark outlined with white above. One lacks the dorsal black spots. The single specimen from Maricao was taken singing in herbage along tlie roadside, together with E. portoricensis and E. antillensis. Two Fig. 18. — Eleuthcrodactylvs brittoni. A. M. N. II. No. 10318. Twice natural size. were taken singing on El Yunque, likewise in low herbage, and the last was found by accident in collecting E. wightmanae. The song of this species is a succession of clicks, less shrill and less rapid than in E. gryllus. This species stands in the same relation to E. antillensis a.- E. gri,li'iis does to E. portoricensis. Eleutherodactylus wightmanae* Schmidt Text Fig. 19 Eleutherodactylus wightmanae Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sei., Vol. XXVIII, p. 181, Fig. 8. No native name exists for this species. Type locality. — El Yunque, near the Forester's Cabin, about 1300 feet altitude, Luquillo Forest Reserve, Porto Rico. * Named for tlie author's wife, Margaret Wightman Schmidt, whose loyal assistance contributed largely to the success of the work in Porto Rico in 1919. SCHMUrr, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 61 Distrihution. — Known from El Yunque and Maricao, at opposite ends of the island. Specimens collected. — 13 : El Yunque and Maricao. Diagnosis. — Size small; snout pointed; nostril much nearer to the tip of the snout than to the eye; tympanum small, distinct, separated from the eye by about its own diameter; vomerine teeth in two straight series, in the same line, extending as far laterally as the choan«, and about the diameter of a choana behind them ; toes free, digital disks well- developed; tibio-tarsal articulation reaching the anterior border of the eye; heels overlapping when the legs are placed at right angles to the body; skin rugose above, with elongate folds and ridges; venter rugose; thighs granular. Original description. — "Head as long as broad, narrower than the body; snout pointed, its length anterior to the eyes once and a half the Fig. 19. — Eleutherodactylus wi(jht- manae. A. M. N. H. No. lO^-JO. Twice natural size. interorbital width ; nostrils one-third the distance between eye and tip of snout from the latter ; tympanum distinct, small, about one-third the diameter of the eye, separated from the eye by a little more than its own diameter; canthus rostralis sharp; elbow and knee pressed along sides overlap : heels overlap when the legs are placed at right angles to the body; tibio-tarsal articulation reaching the anterior border of the eye; disks of fingers and toes well-developed; digits slender, free; first toe distinctly shorter than the second ; no tarsal folds ; vomerine teeth in two straight series, separated in the median line, extending laterally as far as the outer border of the choana?, and about the diameter of a choana behind them; tongue large, slightly nicked behind; skin rugose above, with longitudinal lines or folds, the most distinct of which orig- inate behind tlie orbits and extend backward about two-thirds the length 62 SCnrXTIFfC .PURVEY OF PORTO RICO of the back ; a less distinct mid-dorsal ridge from snout to vent ; venter and onter face of the thighs moderately rugose : a subgular ^'(»cal sac. "Brown above, with a black subcanthal line, extending over the ear half way along the sides ; a black spot on each side of the back over the groin ; venter uniformly light ; a single dark crossband on the radius ; one on the femur, tibia, and tarsus (in line when the legs are folded), and a dark spot on the metatarsus; anterior and posterior faces of the thigh dusky. j> Measurements Tip of snout to vent 20 mm. Tip of snout to posterior edge of tympanum 7.5 Greatest breadth of head 7.5 Foreleg from axilla H Hind leg from vent 30 Tibia 1<^ Remarks. — In structural characters the twelve paratypes agree closely with the type. Two specimens are light gray, instead of brown, with only indications of the black spots; in most specimens the postocular dark streak is broken up into a series of spots; one specimen is light brownish gray on each side, the area between shar]ily darker : the bars on the legs are distinct in all specimens. The plaintive, diminuendo note of this small species is one of the most characteristic sounds in the amphibian chorus of the Luquillo Forest. Its song consists of a series of six or eight whistled notes, each slightly lower in pitch and a little fainter than the previous one. The creature sings habitually on the ground or in the lowest leaves of plants. To lo- cate its position from its song it is particularly difficult, partly because it is usually well concealed, partly on account of the peculiar ventriloquy of its voice. Nothing has been added to our knowledge of this species since its dis- covery. Eleutherodaetylus rirhinoiidi Stejneger Text Figs. 10 and 20 El€uthero(Jacti/lus richmondi Stejneger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 593, Figs. 25-29. — Barbour, 1914. Mem, Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 247.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., A'ol. XXVIII, p. 183, Fig. 9. No native name exists for this species. Type locality. — Catalina Plantation, about 890 feet altitude, eastern slope of El Yunque, Porto Eico, SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 63 Distribution. — Known only from Porto Eico and apparentl}' confined to El Yunque. Specimens collected. — 11 : El Yunque, from 1300 feet to the peak. Diagnosis. — ^"Toes free without a vestige of web; belh^ smooth; tym- panum distinct, less than one-half the diameter of the eye; vomerine teeth in two long angular transverse series, extending beyond the external border of the inner nares and some distance behind them; digital disks small ; nostril much nearer tip of snout than eye ; hind limbs not cross-barred." Fig. 20.^Eleuthero(lactylus richmondi. A. M. N. H. Xo. 10237. Twice natural size. Original description. — -"Tongue narrow, somewhat emarginate behind; vomerine teeth in two angular series behind the choanal, their distance from the choanffi greater than the diameter of the latter; inner arm of each vomerine series longer, outer extending laterally beyond the choange ; nostril much nearer the tip of the snout than the eye, the distance from the eye slightly less than the diameter of the latter; upper eyelids somewhat narrower than interorbital space, tympanum slightly less than one-half the diameter of the eye, its distance from the latter slightly less than its diameter; disks of fingers rather small, first finger shorter than second; disks of toes small, first toe short, only reaching ,^,4 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO subarticular tubercle of second; subarticular tubercles well devel- oped; two well developed metatarsal tubercles; no plantar tubercles; no tarsal fold; the bent limbs being pressed along the sides, knee and elbow overlap; hind limb being extended along the side, heel reaches center of eye; hind limbs being placed vertically to the axis of the body, the heels overlap; skin above and on flanks granular, underside smooth; posterior aspect of femur areolate." Remarks. — The coloration in life has been described by Stejneger as follows: — "Back dusky chestnut, lighter on sacrum; from each nostril along canthus rostralis, edge of eyebrow and sides of back a narrow dirty bluish-white stripe somewhat wider on sides of back than on canthus rostralis; sides of face and flanks below this stripe blackish, legs black- ish; fore legs marbled with pale drab, hind legs with dull pale chest- nut ; under side dull greenish gray, with an ill-defined yellow spot in each groin, and marbled with dusky brown on throat and under side of hind legs. Iris blackish, brassy above pupil." Like the larger series examined by Stejneger, the specimens collected on El Yunque by myself are extremely uniform in structural characters and in coloration. The only variation noted is the occasional lightening of the chestnut color of the dorsal area between the light dorso-lateral lines. The proportions are quite different in this species from the other Porto Eican species of the genus : — A.M.N.H. U.S.N.M. Parts moasured No. 19233 No. 26884 Tip of snout to vent 32 mm. 38 mm. Tip of snout to postei-ior edge of tympanum 13 15 Greatest breadth of head 12 15 Foreleg from axilla 21 24 Hind leg from vent 51 62 Two extremely small specimens, measuring 9 and 11 mm., respectively, probably are recently transformed. They are colored like the adults. All of the specimens known were found under stones or palm leaves on the trail or on damp ground, associated with E. portoricensis. The males of this species were not discovered singing and its voice is un- known. The slender digits and small adhesive disks probably indicate that it is more terrestrial in its habits, and the eggs may prove to be laid on the ground, like those of E. luteolus of Jamaica. This species is allied by the form of its vomerine teeth to E. lenius of the Virgin Islands, E. monensis of Mona Island, E. weinlandi of His- paniola and perhaps to E. jamaicensis of Jamaica. This group of species thus composes an interesting series of vicariating forms. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 65 Eleutherodactylus inonensis ( Meerwarth ) Text Fig. 21 Hylodes monensis Meerwarth, 1901, Mitt. Naturli. Mus. Hamburgli, Vol. XVIII, p. 39, PI. 1 (Fig. 11), PI. 2 (Figs. 4-5). Eleuthei-odactylus monensis Stejneger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 595, Figs. 30-34.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 247.— Schmidt, 1926, Puhl. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool., Vol. XII, p. 154. No native name exists for this species other than "coqui." Type locality. — Mona Island, West Indies. Distribution. — Confined to Mona Island. Specimens collected. — 41 : Mona Island. Diagnosis. — Vomerine teeth in long arched transverse series behind the choanae; belly smooth; soles of feet tubercular; hind foot nearly as long Fig. 21. — Eleutherodactijlus mo- nensis. A. M. N. H. Xo. 24463, as fore leg; color of back and sides pale, with brownish markings. Original description. — "This species is closely allied to the previous one [Hylodes lentus Cope] and differs from it in the following features : in H. lentus the femur, measured from the ischio-pubic crest to the edge o| the knee is shorter than the tibia and at most as long as the distance from axilla to groin, while in H. monensis it is as long as the tibia and longer than the distance from axilla to groin; the tongue is wedge- shaped; the vomerine teeth are also in two rows behind the choana?, but G6 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO the angle in each row is more obtuse, and the outer portion (beyond the ankle) is about half as long as the inner, instead of subequal, as in H. lentils. "The color of the belly is uniform whitish yellow, that of the upper side a grayish flesh-color with small brown spots sparsely distributed on the back, sides, and limbs, and a more or less well-defined star-shaped figure formed from larger brown spots between the shoulders. A brown line extends from the nostril to the eye." Remarks. — This species is well characterized in the original descrip- tion and figures. The series of specimens secured by Anthony in 1936 agrees with the Hamburg originals and the single specimen in the National Museum described in detail by Stejneger. Eleutherodactylus unicolor Stejneger Text Figs. 22 and 2.3 Eleutherodacti/lus unicolor Stejueger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 11)02, p. 597, Figs. 35-39. No native name. Tijpe locality.— Cam]) on El Yunque at 29 T8 feet altitude, Luquillo Forest Eeserve, Porto Rico. Distribution. — Known only from the type locality. Duignosis. — "Toes free without a vestige of Aveb ; belly granular; tympanum distinct, one-third the diameter of eye; vomerine teeth in .iii(i. (From Stejneger. ) Dr. E. Graywood Smyth of the Agricultural Experiment Station at Rio Piedras to frequent the vicinity of the arc-lights in Rio Piedras at night to prey upon the insects. Beyond this meagre information nothing is known of its distribution on the island. In the West Indies as a whole it is widespread— from Trinidad and Parbadoes to Cuba and Jamaica. It is curious that it has not been recorded from the northern grouj) of smaller islands in the Lesser Antilles. I have little doubt of its identity as a species through- out this range. A West African species, Heinidactylm hrookii, occurs in Hispaniola (Port-au-Prince), where it was doubtless introduced by the slave-ships. The ]\lediterranean Hemidacfi/lus iiircirus. it is said, has become establislied at Key West. Sphaerodaetyhis Wagler Spha erodactj lus niaerolepis Giinther Text Figs. 24 and 26 Salaniandni. SalaiiiJindrita ; Salaraanqua, Salamanquita ; Lucia (?); Ranita ; I^agartija cabeza de muerte SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 71 SpJiacrodactt/lus inacrolcpis Giinther, 1<859, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.. (3), Vol. IV, p. 21.3, PI. 4, Fig. B. — Barbour, 1914, Mem. Miis. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 270; 1915, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wasli., Vol. XXVII, p. 72: 1917, Vol. XXX, p. 08.— Schmidt. 192(K Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 1^.— Bar- bour. 1!)21, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLVII, p. 253, PI. 6, Figs. 2-3, I'l. v.). Figs. 5-8. — Wolcott, 1924, Journ. Dept. Agric. Pto. Rico, Vol. VII, p. 13. Spluierodactiilus nutcrohpix moncnsis Meerwarth, 1901, Mitt. Naturh. Mus. Hamimrg. Vol. XVIII. p. 20. SpharrrMlartiiliis monensh Stejueger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1902, p. 007.— Barbour, 3!»14. Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool.. Vol. XLIV, p. 270. Sphdcrodartylus grandinquamis Stejueger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1902, p. 002. Figs. 40-52.- Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 270.— Fowler, 1918, Publ. Carnegie Inst. Wash., No. 252, p. 7. The species of this genus are usually known as Salamandritas (or Salamanquitas) to the Spanish-speaking West Indians. The wriggling mode of progression of these tiny geckos is quite salamander-like and the name is to that extent appropriate. Stejneger found that the name "Lucia"' or "Santa Lucia'' was applied to this species by the children in Luquillo. This, however, must have been an unfortunate localism, as these names are used everywhere in Porto Eico for the Mahuya, a totally different creature. The equally local use of the name "Eanita" at Aibo- nito illustrates the tendency to apply a name which exists in the language to any unidentified species. Type locality. — St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Distrihidion. — ^Yidespread on Porto Eico, M'here it is recorded from Aibonito, Bayamon, Cantaiio, Coamo Springs, Ensenada, Luquillo, Maricao, Ponce and El Yunque. It is evidently not confined to the coastal plain as supposed by Stejneger. On the outlying islands it is known from Mona and Vieques and occurs on most of the Virgin Islands. Specimens collected. — 45, from Aibonito, Bayamon, Cataho, Coamo Springs, Ensenada, Maricao, El Yunque and Mona Island. Diagnosis. — A small geckoid lizard with unexpanded digits which are provided with an enlarged flat circular scale beneath the tip; dorsal scales keeled, imbricate, somewhat variable in size ; no vertebral series of small scales. Original description. — "Body surrounded by about forty longitudinal Series of scales of rather large size; no vertebral streak of smaller ones, those of the back keeled, of the belly smooth. Trunk and tail uniform blackish ])rown, in younger individuals some scales with blackish tips; head greyish brown, marbled with black ; jaws and throat striolated with blackish. 72 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO "The snout is of moderate extent, and slightly pointed; all the upper surface of the head and the sides are covered with scales of moderate size; there is an exceedingly small horn-like spine above the middle of the orbit. The rostral shield is low, and bent backwards on the upper surface of the snout; the sides of the jaw are margined with three elon- gate labials; the nostril is situated above the posterior extremity of the rostral shield and first labial, and exceedingly small. The anterior lower labial is single; a series of three other shields covers the lateral margin of the lower jaw. The scales of the throat are small, those of the breast and of the extremities keeled. The ear-opening is very small, one-third only of the width of the eye. The fingers and toes have an en- FiG. 26. — Head and shoulders of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis. A. M. N. H. No. 13037 (A) and No. 13697 (B). showing two common types of pattern. Two and a half times natural size. tire and unarmed disk. The tail is covered with smooth scales, rather smaller than those of the trunk; there is a series of larger ones, plate- like, along the lower medial line. No femoral or anal pores. "I add to the statement of the coloration given above that the belly is uniform dirty white, and the tail minutely dotted with blackish. Two specimens were in the collection." Remarks. — Barbour (1917, p. 98), after examining a considerable series of Spaerodactylus macrolepis from the Virgin Islands, expressed a measure of doubt as to the distinctness of 8. grandisquamis. Both Bar- bour and I have subsequently reached the conclusion that it is untenable. Stejneger separated S. grandisquamis and S. monensis from *S'. macrolepis solely on the size of the scales, which he gives as 34-38 about the body in S. grandisquamis, 46-48 in S. monensis. In the series from Porto Eico collected by myself the variation is as follows : SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 73 Scales about the body 32 3G 40 44 48 52 5G Number of specimens 2 8 3 4 5 6 2 In five specimens from Mona Island the numbei- of scales varies from 44 to 52 ; as S. macrolepis is intermediate between ^S*. grandisquamis and S. monensis, it is evident that the variation in the present series includes all three supposed forms. There is probably a somewhat different range of variation on the several islands but the extremes are certainly in- cluded in that of the Porto Rican series. Reproduced tails have a much widened series of median ventral scales. Measurement of A. M. N. H. No. 1.3324 Total length 06 mm. Tail 34 Tip of snout to posterior edge of ear 8 Breadth of head 5.5 Foreleg from axilla 7.5 Hind leg from groin 10 The smallest specimen measures 12 mm. from snout to vent. This species is highly variable in coloration. The absence of the elab- orate head pattern appears to be due to the general darkening of the coloration, as all of the lighter specimens have it in some form or other. Only two specimens are without a trace af the black shoulder band with its two white spots. In the remaining specimens its development is very irregular, the white spots persisting even when the black band is indis- tinguishable. The darker dorsal spots are usually in rows, and in some specimens form longitudinal lines. The throat is miiform or heavily dotted with dark spots. Juvenile specimens are usually dark in color, with the white spots of the scapular band distinct. One specimen (N"o. 13811) is light brown in ground color with five light gray longitudinal stripes; one, median from between the eyes to the base of the tail; two, dorso-lateral from the upper posterior corner of the eye to the base of the tail, and two, lateral from the eye through the ear to the groin, the latter only narrowly separated from the light venter. In specimens from Mona Island, the scapular black band is larger, outlined with light color, the brilliant white spots transverse, forming a continuous line in one specimen. Habits. — The usual habitat of this species is the ground cover of dead leaves in coffee plantations and forest. Elsewhere it is found under stones and logs. Along the base of the limestone cliffs on the hills back of Catano, Sphaerodactyliis were numerous, scurrying for the crevices at the base of the cliff when alarmed. One specimen was found under a leaf 74 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO sheath, and others on the trunks, of banana plants. The specimens from Bayamon were found in picking up rubbish on freshly cleared land. These reptiles frequently venture forth in broad daylight, but are prob- ably essentially crepuscular or nocturnal. Four of the specimens collected on Mona Island were taken among the limestone boulders on the west side of the island, and of these three were secured at night wdth the hand lamp. Two were taken beneath pieces of coral on the flat terrace on the south side. Their extreme agility makes them difficult to catch, and the tail is often broken or the skin torn. When caught, they frequently turn a uniform light gray, becoming brown again in the collecting bag. An egg, probably of this species, was found under a log at Aibonito, August 21, 1919. It is white, discolored by stains, with a hard and smooth shell, 6 x 4.5 mm. Iguanid.ae Anolis Daudin The lizards of the genus AnoliSj characterized by expanded digits that liave a raised terminal claw-like portion, and by the presence of a throat- fan, usually brightly colored, which may be distended vertically, are the most ubiquitous of West Indian lizards. The multitude of species in the West Indies is paralleled in Central America and in northwestern South America. Wherever lizards of the genus Anolis occur, a few species are usually extremely abundant — thus Anolis crisiatellus on Porto Eico, A. cyhotes on Hispaniola, .4. sagrei on Cuba and at Belize. The power of color change is highly developed in the Anoles, and they are frequently miscalled ''chamaeleons" or "cameleones." As Stejneger remarks, "Anolis"' might well be adopted as a vernacular name. In spite of their color-change, the species are almost invariably distinguishable by some feature of their coloration, and I have drawn up a key to the males of the species on this basis to supplement tlie synopsis based on structural characters devised by Stejneger, which must be referred to when the color characters fail. Key to the Species of Anolis Recorded from Porto Rico A. Dorsal scales entirely separated from each other by several circles of granules ; size large ; male with tail crest A. cuvieri AA. Dorsal scales juxtaposed or imbricated ; size moderate or small. B. Dorsal scales (all, or with the exception of two rows on the median line) granular or tubercular, differing liut little, if at all, from laterals, but very much from the much larger ventrals, which are smooth or feebly keeled. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIAN^; OF PORTO RICO 75 C. Two, or more, shields or scales between the superciliaries and the supraocular semicircle boi-dering the supraocular granules anteriorly. Tail of male crested. I). Supraocular semicircles separated by at least two scale rows; occipital shield separated frr)m supraocular semicircles by at least five scale rows (Fig. — ) A. gundlacM I>r>. Supraocular semicircles in contact or with at most a single series of scales between; occipital shield separated from » supraocular semicircles by at most four scale rows A. cristatellus CC. One shield between the superciliaries and the supraocular semi- circle bordering the supraocular granules anteriorly. D. Width of head as great, or greater than distance from tip oi snout to center of eye ; anterior femoral scales keeled, gradually diminishing ; color greenish A. evermanni DD. Width of head less than distance from tip of snout to center of eye; anterior femoral scales smooth, abruptly larger than the others ; color brownish or grayish 1. stratulus BB. Dorsal scales large, flat, keeled, imbricate, very much like the ventrals, which are very strongly keeled, the keels forming continuous ridges. C. Lateral scales granular. D. Width of head much more than half the distance from tip of snout to ear-opening ; four to six median dorsal scale rows more or less abruptly larger than the others ; skin of dewlap in male. orange 1. krufri DD. Width of head about one-half the distance from tip of snout to ear-opening ; dorsal scales gradually increasing in size from the laterals toward the median rows ; skin or dewlap in male, crimson A pidchcUus CC. Lateral scales imbricated, keeled 1. poncensis Color Key to Porto Rican Angles A. No longitudinal stripes. B. Color brown or gray, never bright green. C. No short transverse saddle-shaped vertebral spots. D. Iris dark brown ; skin of dewlap greenish yellow, its edge brown- ish orange A. rristd tell us DD. Iris metallic blue; skin of dewlap orange olive, with distant yellow scales A. guudlaehi CC. Short black saddle-shaped spots on the mid-line of the back ; dew- lap bright orange 4. stratulus BB. C(dor bright green (if not green, no transverse bands or spots). C. Size large, front of head flat, bony .1 cuvieri CC. Size moderate, front of head concave A evermanni AA. Light longitudinal stripes present. B. Throat-fan white A. poncensis BB. Throat-fan crimson A. pulchellus BBB. Throat-fan orange A. Irugi SCIEXTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 27. — Heads of Porto Rican Anolis. Anolis cuvieri (left of top row). AiioHs crista- tellus (center of top row), AnoMs gumllachi (right of top row) ; Anolis evermanni (left of middle row), Anolis stratulus (center of middle row), Anolis krugi (right of middle row) ; Anolis pulchellus (left of bottom row), Anolis poncensis (right of bot- tom row). (From Stejneger.) SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 77 Anolis cuvieri Menem Lagarto, Chipojo Text Figs. 27 and 28 Anolis cuvieri Merrem, 1820, Syst. Amphib., p. 45. — ISoulenger, 1885, Cat. Lizards, Brit. Mus., Vol. II, p. 23.— Garman, 1887, Bull. Essex Inst., Vol. XIX, p. 27.— Stejneger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus. 1902. p. 627, Figs. 81-84, 87.— Barbour. 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 273.— Fowler, 1918, Papers Dept. Marine Biol., Carnegie Inst., A'ol. XII, p. 7. — Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 185.— Smyth, 1920, Rev. Agric. Pto. Rico, Vol. IV, p. 19.— Wolcott, 1924, Journ. Dept. Agric. Pto. Rico, Vol. VII, p. 14. Anolius velifer Cuvier, 1829, Regne Anim., 2nd Ed., Vol. II, p. 29, PI. 5, Fig. 1.— Guerin, 1830, Icon. Regne Anim., Rept., PI. 12, Fig. 1. Anolis velifer Dumeril and Bibron, 1837, Erpet. Gen., Vol. IV, p. 164. — Dumeril, 1851, Cat. Method. Rept. Mus. Paris, Vol. I, p. 59.— Reinhardt and Luetken, 1863, Vid. Meddel. Naturh. Foren., Copenhagen, 1862, p. 260.— Cope, 1868, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 312.— Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 705. — Gundlach, 1881, Anales Soc. Espan. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 308.— Stahl, 1882, Fauna Puerto-Rico, p. 69, p. 159. Xiphosurus velifer Cope, 1861, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 208. Type locality. — Jamaica (erroneously). Distribution. — Anolis cuvieri has been taken at Aibonito, Catalina Plantation (El Yunqiie), Ciales, Hmnacao, Luquillo, Mayagiiez and Utuado. It is probably not found in the arid southwestern corner of the island, but ranges quite generally over the remaining part of Porto Eico. It is recorded from Vieques and Tortola of the Virgin Islands. Its absence from the other Virgin Islands is perhaps due to difEerence in the habitat conditions or perhaps to extinction. It is nearly allied to Anolis ricordii of Hispaniola. Specimens collected. — 11. Aibonito. Original description. — "The rayed fin extending from the base to the middle of the tail, with twelve to fifteen rays. Throat fan extending to the breast." Remarks. — Stejneger's discussion of the historical aspect of the taxonomy of this species, and of its relations with the Hispaniolan Anolis ricordii is a model of completeness and clarity. His description of a male specimen follows : "Top of head flat, with only shallow depressions on prefrontal and occipital region, the scales being rather small and roughly keeled and tuberculated, even those on top of the snout, but especially those of the supraorbital semicircle and frontal ridges; about nine enlarged supra- oculars, flat, keeled, and in contact with the semicirculars ; supraorbital 78 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO semicircles separated by about three scale rows from each other and ivhm the occipital, which is barely noticeable ; scales surrounding the occipital depression on the sides and behind rather large, fiat, polygonous, each with a strong keel; six loreal rows, the scales composing the lower row next to the supralabials largest; one row of large keeled suboculars; 7-8 supralabials to under the center of the eye; temporals flat, with a low tubercle, all the scales of the sides of the head being more or less rugose or wrinkled; ear-opening rather small, upright, oval; back and Fig. 28. — Caudal crest of Anolis cuvierl (left), of A. gundlachi (center), and A. cristatellus (right). sides covered with uniform scales tuberculated or keeled, separated from each other by one or more rings of minute granules ; on the median line of the neck and back a series of about fifty triangular spines forming a saw-tooth ridge scarcely connected with the caudal crest; ventral scales about same size as dorsals, though more closely set, but not keeled or distinctly tuberculated except on the flanks; scales on chin and throat more elongate, distinctly keeled or tuberculated; scales on upper side of fore limbs larger than dorsals, juxtaposed or imbricate, keeled, be- coming larger and multicarinate toward the hand; scales on upper side of hind limb similar, though less sharply keeled ; scales on rmder side of femur slightly larger than ventrals, indistinctly tuberculate; digital expansion well developed, about thirty-three lamellae under second and third phalanges of the fourth toe; tail strongly compressed, basal half with a high fin-like crest supported by about fourteen bony *'rays," the HiCHMlDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 79 elongations of the neural spines of the caudal vertebrge; scales covering sides of tail flat, keeled, those on the fin between the "rays" elongate, three to four rows between rays, about fourteen longitudinal rows on side of tail at the level of the fiftli ray from the base; gular appendage very large, with distant rows of small tuberculate scales on the naked skin, the edge being rounded, thickened, and scaly; large postanal plates."' Female specimens lack the caudal "fin" and have a smaller dewlap with the scales set more closely. Stejneger's description of the colora- tion in life is as follows : "Iris hazel, with a bright brassy ring bordering the pupil; general color above greenish gray; back clouded with brownish and sides with blackish dots, the dusky of the back and the black spots on the sides ar- ranged in four perceptible, though indistinct, cross-bands; eyelids black- ish, with a citron-yellowish spot above and behind the eye and a smaller one in front ; under the eye a long semilunar white spot barely invading the posterior supralabials; several whitish spots on temples and sides of neck; underside white with dark-gray mottlings and spots; dewlap delicately IsTaples-yellow, scales on the edge white; legs indistinctly erossbarred with dusky bands more or less spotted with blackish. Tongue pale cadmium orange, whole interior of mouth of same color, but duller." Stejneger records only a single specimen as being emerald gi-een, while ten of the eleven collected by me were a uniform green. The eleventh was gray mottled with brown and black as described above. It lay closely pressed to a small branch of which it seemed an integral part until the continued pointing of my small boy assistant enabled me to distinguish it. As a protective coloration this pattern is an extraor- dinary success. Color-change is evidently very complete in this species. There is little variation in the Porto Rico Survey series. In A. M. N. H. No. 13234 the tail crest is unusually high, fully as high as in A. ricordii of Hispaniola, but the scale characters which distinguish cuvieri from ricordii are perfectly constant. The measurements of the largest and smallest specimens are as follows : Parts measured t^\f-.?- ^■^'■^■^■ No. 13236 No. 13138 Total length 418 mm. 304 mm. ^oI. N. II. riuts uieasmed No. 132:21 No. 12908 Total length 43 mm. 18(i mm. B(xl.y IG 65 Tail 27 121 Length of head G 20 Breadth of head 4 14 Arm 8 32 Leg 14 56 Eecently hatched specimens have a crossbanded coloration. In No. 13221. hatched in captivity, the dorsal ground color is gray, crossed by a sharp transverse chocolate-colored band, with a wavy margin over the eyes ; a horseshoe-shaped band from the upper posterior corner of the eye over the occiput behind the occipital ; a diagonal streak of the same color from the lower posterior corner of the eye to the shoulder ; eyelid with seven radial bands (including those above mentioned) ; five dark cross- bands on the back to the base of the tail, widest at the sides; tail with about eight crossbands. This pattern is evidently the foundation of the crossbanded phase of the adult. Females nearly always have a broad light mid-dorsal band. Stejneger describes the coloration in life as follows : "Iris dark brown ; edge of eyelids light yellowish ; general color above bronzy greenish gray; head and several faint longitudinal irregular spots on the sides of the back more brownish; on each side of the median dorsal line between the insertion of the hind legs a better de- fined and larger spot of irregular outline, pale brownish edged with brownish black and a light line outside the dark margin; on the middle line of the tail a series of dusky spots located at the base of' the largest spines ; throat whitish ; rest of underside suffused with greenish yellow, most intensely in the preanal region; dewlap greenish yellow verging into brownish orange toward the edge." Habits. — It is evident that the differences in distribution between this species and A. gundlaclii are not due to altitude preference, as supposed by Stejneger, but to habitat conditions, of which light seems to be one of the determining factors, A. cristatellus being the species of open fields and roadsides, A. gundlaclii of the thickly planted coffee plantations and of the forests. This species is the one most frequently seen on fence SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 85 posts, where it rests head down on tlie shady side, usually a single speci- men to a post. We have it from the deforested hills above Maricao, taken at an altitude of 2500 feet. . .- The examination of 100 stomachs yields the following information a.s to food habits: empty, 23; imidentified insect remains, 15; beetle re-- mains, 20 (larvae and adults; a species of weevil, Diaprepcs, very abun- dant) ; Orthoptera, 1(3 (cockroaches, grasshoppers, a single cricket and a mantis); ants, 10; caterpillars, 9; bugs, 5 (mostly Heteroptera ; one large cicada); flies, 3; spiders, 3; vegetable matter, 9 (mostly bright- colored seeds) ; vertebrates, 2 (AnoKs sp.). Wolcott, 1924, p. 27, giv^srJi more detailed account of the food of this lizard. ■•3?:-. The eggs are two or three in number, about 10 x 6 mm., uniforflify oval, the surface white and striate. They are frequently found und^r th(i' edo-es of logs or stones, or in debris about the base of banana plants. ''' •: Anolis guiidlachi Peters '>'•■' Text Figs. 27 and 28 Anolis gundlachi Teters, 1876, Mouatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 705.— Gund- lach, 1881, Anales Soc. Espafi. Hist. Nat., A^ol., X, p. .308.— Stahl, 1882. Fauua Puerto-Rico, p. 69, p. 159.— Stejiieger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 633, Figs. 89-91.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 273.— Fowler, 1918, Papers Dept. Marine Biol., Carnegie Inst., Vol. XII, p. 9.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 188.— Wolcott, 1924, Journ. Dept. Agric. Pto. Rico, Vol. VII, p. 33. Anolis gundlacUi Bonlenger, 1885, Cat. Lizards, Brit. Mus., Vol. II, p. 25.— Garman, 1887, Bull, Essex Inst., Vol. XIX, p. 27. Type lomlity. — Utuado, Porto Eico. Dts^ri&ufw/i.— Recorded from Adjuntas, Aibonito, 18 km. south of Ciales, between Lares and Eio Blanco, Maricao, Santa Catalina, Utuado and El Yunque. The parallel with A. Tcrugi is emphasized by the fact that both species are strictly confined to Porto Eico, Avhile both pulchellus and cristatellus range widely through, ihe Virgin Islands. Specimens collected..— AS : Adjuntas, Aibonito, Maricao and El Yunque. Duignosis.—BoYsal scales granular, like laterals; ventrals larger, im- bricate and keeled; supraocular semicircles separated by two rows of scales, widely separated from the occipital; tail of male with a high fin-like crest. Original description. — ^^'Ventral scales convex or weakly keeled, lateral and dorsal scales small, granular, those of the two median dorsal and 8(j SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO nuchal rows enlarged and forming a low double keel ; a high fin on the basal half of the tail, supported by the dorsal vertebral processes, con- tinuous with a fold of skin beginning on the neck. The supraorbital semicircles separated by two or three scale rows. Supraocular area com- posed of fifteen to seventeen keeled scales. The supraocular semicircles are continued to the middle of the snout as sharply diverging supra- rostral keels. Scales of the upper surface of the snout polygonal, mostly keeled. Nostrils lateral. Distance of the ear-opening from the eye little less than the length of the snout. Occipital large, somewhat smaller than the ear-opening, separated from the semicircles by four or five rows of small flat scales. Length of head to ear-opening as long as the tibia. Throat-fan moderately large, covered with widely separated, rather large keeled scales. Lower and posterior faces of upper arm and thigh finely granular. Tail with larger scales arranged in rings, and the tail-fin covered with similar scales. "Grayish green, with small black spots forming three or four irregu- lar cross-bands on the body; a few rounded dark-edged, white spots on the sides of the body and the base of the tail. Snout and tail-fin black- ish-green, each scale with a yellowish green spot. Scales of the throat- fan lemon-yellow, its skin blackish; belly and under surface of head greenish yellow." Remarks. — Stejneger remarks on the discrepancies between Peters' description and his own, but these are due in part to variation and in part to a different method of description. The ventrals are normally sharply keeled. The occipital may be separated from the supraocular semicircles by as many as nine small scales. The keeled scales of the supraorbital disk are normally somewhat fewer than in Peters' specimens, ten in Stejneger's description. The coloration in life is described by Stejneger as follows : "General color dark olive above, with five wide lateral nearly black cross bands, which barely meet on the median line, while on the .sides they are very close together, being only separated by an oblique series of small yellowish spots ; a wide postocular blackish-brown band passes above the ear and joins its fellow of the other side on the back of the neck ; top of head densely marbled with indistinct spots of brown edged with dusky ; edge of eyelids, semicircular line formed by the keels of the suboculars, as well as alternating spots on the supralabial sutures lemon- ^'ellow; underside dull olive-yellow, chin bright lemon-yellow, the entire under surface densely marbled with blackish; underside of limbs similar, but paler ; liml)S-iibove cross-barred olive and blackish, like back ; SCHMIDT, AMI'HIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 87 tail similarly crossbarred, but slightly browner in the basal half or a little beyond the compressed elevated portion, followed by a median uni- form blackish portion and a terminal part which is uniform pale brown- ish olive; feet nearly uniform dusky; dewlap very large, wath thickened edge, the color of the skin being a dull orange-olive, the distant scales straw yellow; iris blackish brown; tongue plumbeous." This species is very distinct from A. cristateUus, but obviously directly related to that species. Its range and habitat are much more restricted, and the amount of variation is accordingly smaller. In the Survey of Porto Rico Series, the height of the tail crest (at its highest point) reaches a maximum of three times the diameter of the tail at the same point. The measurements of an adult male and female and of the type are as follows : A. M. N. H. A. M. X. H. Parts measured No. 131-_'6 d No. 13029 ? Type cT Total length 161 mm. 121 mm. 165 mm. Body 13.5 16.5 Breadth of head 11.5 8.5 — Arm 30 21 30 Leg 51 36 50 Habits. — Beyond the interesting facts concerning its habitat prefer- ence, nothing is known of the habits of this species. It is most abundant in the coffee-belt and in the higher forested areas, but reaches the coastal plain at Utuado (Stejneger, 1904, p. 537) and Arecibo (Fowler, 1918, p. 9). It replaces Anolis crlstatellus m the more shaded situations, and these two species thus form a dovetailing pair exactly like Anolis pulchel- lus ami Anolis hnigi. Stejneger records an egg-measurement as 11 by 5 mm. Anolis stratulus Cope Lagarti.ia manchada Text Fig. 27 Anolis striatulus (misprint) Cope, 1861, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 209.— Garman, 1887, Bull. Essex Inst., Vol. XIX, p. 29. Anolis stratulus Reinhardt and Luetken, 1863, Vid. Meddel. Naturh. Foren., Copenhagen, 1862, p. 255.— Bocourt, 1873, Miss. Sci. Mex., Zool. Kept., Livr. 2, PI. 14, Fig. 11. — Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1876, p. 706.— Gundlach, 1881.— Anales Soc. Espafi. Hist. Nat.. Vol. X, p. 310.— Stahl, 1882. Fauna Puerto-Rico, p. 69, p. 159.— Boulenger, 1885, Cat. Lizards Brit. Mus., Vol. II, p. 27.— Meerwarth, 1901, Mitt. Naturh. 88 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Mus. Hamburg, Vol. XVIII, p. 22.— Stejneger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. G51, Figs. 105-107.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 274; 1917, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXX, p. 99.— Fowler, 1918, Papers Dept. Marine Biol., Carnegie Inst., Vol. XII, p. 11.^ Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII. p. 188.— Smyth, 1920, Rev. Agric. Pto. Rico, Vol. IV, p. 18.— Danforth, 1925, Copeia, No. 147, p. 77.— Wolcott, 1924, Journ. Dept. Agric. Pto. Rico, Vol. VII, p. 24. Anolis dorsomaculatus Reinhardt and Luetken, 1863, Vid. Meddel. Naturh. Foren., Copenhagen, 1862, p. 255. Type locality. — St. Thomas, Virgin Island. Distribution.- — On Porto Rico proper this species is recorded from Adjuntas, Aibonito, Arroyo, Caguas, Catalina Plantation, Cayey, Coamo Springs, Condado, Enseuada, Humacao, Maricao/ Manati, Ponce, Rio Piedras, San Juan, Utuado and El Yunque. It is absent on Mona Island, but otherwise its range closely parallels that of Anolis cristatellus. It is recorded from Culebra and Vieques, St. Thomas, Tortola and Jost Van Dyke. Specimens collected. — 58 : Aibonito, Coamo Springs, Ensenada, Mari- cao. El Yunque, Vieques and Culebra islands. Diagnosis. — Dorsal scales juxtaposed, granular, like the laterals; one shield bordering the supraocular granules anteriorly between the super- ciliaries and the supraocular semicircle; width of head less than dis- tance from tip of snout to center of eye ; anterior femoral scales smooth, abruptly larger than the others; color brownish <' • Original description.- — ''^Size small; form elongate." ' -Head rather elongate, depres^eid, inuch as in .4. alligator Dura.''Bibr. 'Tail once and two-thirds the length of the body, moderately compressed, weakly verti- cillate, irregularly serrate. No dorsal dermal fold; an imperfect fold upon the nape, where two or three rows of scales appear to be a little larger than those upon the dorsal and lateral regions of the body. Anterior femoral and anti-brachial scales large, smooth, similar to those of the belly. Superior humeral, antibrachial, femoral and tibial similar to those of the back. Occipital shield separated from the superciliaries by small scales; the latter usually in contact medially, four or five in number on each side. .Palpebral disc rather round in outline, composed of nine smooth scales. - Facial rugae weak, soon obsolete, covered by three scales anterior to the last superciliary. The space between these as far as the end of the muzzle, covered with small smooth scales. Rostral plate bordered by five scales, the median one fitting into an emargination be- tween two mucronatious.. , Nostrils lateral. Canthus rostralis slightly SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 89 concave, very obtuse anteriorly. Superior labials eight. Loreal rows five. Anterior half of inferior labials in contact with an infedor series of plates, which are longer than broad, the anterior smaller than the first inferior labial. Goitre rather large. Two or three small plates be- hind the vent; scales at the base of the tail smooth. Extended posterior extremity not reaching beyond the posterior border of orbit. Total length 4 in. 7 lin.; tail 2 in. 11 lin. ; head from shoulder 8 lin. "From alcoholic specimens it appears that the color is greenish gray above, with very numerous darker marblings. The head and chin are darker. The medial dorsal line is crossed by four deep brown spots bor- dered with white. The anterior of these, on the interscapular region, is narrow and more transverse. There is a fifth spot at the base of the tail. The latter is clouded with brown superiorly, and the extremities are cross-barred with the same. Thighs dark, varied posteriorly. Goitre red-orange, abdomen greenish, femora and vent golden." Remarks. — Stejneger found that about half of this specimens had the supraocular semicircles in contact, and half separated by a single scale- row. In our series of twenty-six specimens the majority have the semi- circles in contact. One (A. M. N. H. No. 13282) has only a single row of scales between the occipital and the semicircles. In recently hatched specimens the dorsal markings are invariably very distinct. Stejneger describes the color of a male specimen in life as follows : "Iris dark brown; general color above light yellowish gray, much lighter below ; the saddle-shaped spots on back very pronounced blackish brown bordered by whitish ; on sides an irregular series of burnt-umber brown spots, also with white margins; throat and adjacent portions of underside of neck of a delicate pale bluish green; skin of the dewlap deep orange, the distant scales canary yellow, those on anterior edge more whitish." Habits. — Anolis stratulus, while frequently found in the same sitaa- tions as Anolis cristatellus, is noticeably more frequent on trees. .In Vieques and Culebra it was found only in trees, and at Coamo Springs and Ensenada it was much more common on the Ceiba or Almacigo trees than on the fence posts which are the chief resort of A. cristatellus. An examination of twenty-five stomachs indicates that ants form a much larger proportion of the food than in A. cristatellus. The contents are classified as folloM^s : empty, 3 ; unidentifiable insect remains. 4 ; ant remains, 12 ; beetle remains, 5 ; spiders, 2 ; cockroach, 1 ; earwig, 1 ; flies, 1; lizard skin (doubtless its own), 1. Wolcott (1924, p. 24) gives a more detailed analvsis of the stomach contents of this species. 90 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Anolis evennanni Stejneger Lagartija vei-de. Green Anolis Text Fig. 27 Anolis evennanni Stejneger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1902, p. 647, Figs. 102-104.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp, Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 284.— Schmidt, 1920. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 188.— Smyth, 1920, Rev. Agric. Pto. Ric. Vol. IV. p. 18.— Wolcott, 1924, Journ. Dept. Agric. Pto. Rico, Vol. VII, p. 34. Type locality. — Catalina Plantation, east slope of El Yunque, Porto Rico, 890 feet altitude. Distribution. — Confined to northeastern Porto Eico, and usually to the more humid higher altitudes. Occasional on the northern coastal plain. Recorded from Adjuntas, Aibonito, Jajome Alto, Maricao, Utuado and on El Yunque from 890 feet to 2978 feet. Specimens collected. — 37 : Adjuntas, Aibonito, Maricao and El Yunque. Diagnosis. — Dorsal scales granular or tuberculated, juxtaposed, slightly larger than the laterals, all much smaller than the ventrals; superciliary ridge not defined on the posterior half of the eyelid ; a single shield between the superciliaries and the supraorbital semicircle border- ing the supraocular granules anteriorly; width of head as great or greater than distance from tip of snout to center of eye ; anterior femoral scales keeled, gradually diminishing; usual color in life vivid green. Original description.'^' — "Top of head with two diverging frontal ridges, disappearing before reaching the nostrils, and inclosing a frontal hollow ; head scales keeled or wrinkled ; rostral low, much narrower than the mentals ; seven narrow scales in a row between the nostrils ; one shield of each supraocular semicircle in contact, the others separated by one scale; occipital somewhat smaller than ear-opening, separated from the supraocular semicircles by three or four rows of scales ; supraocular disk consisting of ten or twelve polygonal keeled shields, separated from the semicircle by one row of granules ; one large shield in front of the supra- ocular granules between the superciliaries and the supraocular semi- circle; canthus rostralis sharp, consisting of five elongated shields in- creasing gradually in size posteriorly, superciliary ridge consisting of one narrow elongated shield and one similar l)ut very small one, but not followed by a differentiated series of small scales, the granules of the supraocular disk continuing uninterruptedly into the granules surround- * U. S. N. M. No. 26855 ; Catalina plantation, about 890 feet altitude ; February 21, 1900. aVHXJIDT, AMJ'HJBIANS OF PORTO RICO 91 ing the eye ; loreal rows five or six ; subocular semicircle keeled, broadly in contact with the supralabials ; supralabials nine, the suture between seventh and eighth being under the center of the eye; temporal gran- ules about the size of dorsals, a well-marked double series of small scales forming the supratemporal line; dorsals coarse, keeled granules, with- out any median enlarged series, laterals smaller but similar; ventral scales rather small, slightly imbricate, rounded behind, flat, those on the throat granular; fore legs above with small keeled scales, about three series on the anterior face of the lower arm being greatly enlarged, more than twice as large as the ventrals ; anterior scales of femur enlarged, keeled, gradually diminishing posteriorly and below; scales covering hands and feet above multicarinate ; digital expansion wide, about twenty-eight lamellje under phalanges ii and iii of fourth toe; tail moderate, slightly compressed, with fairly well-marked verticils, every eighth or ninth vertical row being somewhat enlarged and sur- mounted by a strongly serrated edge of enlarged triangular spines, the fourth or fifth corresponding to the enlarged vertical scale row being larger than the others; dewlap naked, with distant series of scales, edge not thickened; postanal scales slightly developed. "The dermal folds on upper neck and back are very low, especially the latter, but there is a distinct depression between them on the shoulder region/' Remarks. — This species is so adequately characterized in Stejneger's description that little remains to be added from an examination of the 37 specimens in the collection made by the Survey of Porto Eico. As in A. stratidus, the scale between the supraciliaries and supra- orbital semicircles, anterior to the supraorbital granules, is remarkably constant. It is double on one side in only 1 specimen out of 31 ex- amined. The semicircles may be broadly in contact (3 specimens), nar- rowly in contact (9), or separated by a single row of scales (19). The scales between the semicircles and the occipital vary from two to four, as in Stejneger's series. The coloration in life has been described by Stejneger as follows : "Iris, dark brown ; eyelids, abruptly flesh-colored ; general color, bright emerald green without markings ; abdomen, underside of hind legs, and thick basal portion of tail below, pale glaucous green; ter- minal third of tail, black, tip, pale; dewlap, gamboge yellow; scales, pale yellow, no thickened edge. "When handled the animal changed from green to Avax-yellow with numerous dusky spots and marblings on body and crossbars on tail, 92 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO as well as longitudinal dusky stripes on throat; when reassuming its normal color the dusky markings disappeared before it turned green." The measurements of a representative of each sex are as follows : A. M. N. U. A. M. N. H. Parts measured ^^ 132i8 ^ No. 13388 ? Total length 175 mm. 114 mm. Body 70 45 Tail 105 60 Length of head 21 1.3 Breadth of head 13 7.5 Arm 32 20 Leg 51 33 Habits. — Beyond the fact that it is more or less restricted to the more humid higher parts of Porto Rico by habitat preference, almost nothing is known of the habits of this species. Specimens of this species were extremely abundant on the slopes of El Yunque, and specimens were taken from within the Forester's Cabin. Elsewhere, this species was one of the less common forms, found more often on larger trees, and at a considerable height from the ground. The results of the examination of the contents of twenty stomachs are as follows: empty, 3; beetle remains, 11; wasps, 2; ants, 1; caterpillars, 1; spiders, 1; skin of Anolis, 2 (doubtless their own) ; juvenile Anolis evermanni, 1. Anolis piilrhelliis Dumeril and Bibron Lagartija Rayon Text Figs. 27 and 29 Anolis pulchellus Dumeril and Bibron, 1837, Erpet. Gen., Vol. IV, p. 97. — Dumeril, 1851, Cat. Method. Kept. Mus. Paris, Vol. I, p. 56.— Reinhardt and Luetken, 1863, Vid. Meddel. Naturh. Foren., Copenhagen, 1862, p. 257.— Bocourt, 1874, Miss. Sci. Mex., Zool. Rept., Livr. 3, PI. 16, Fig. 28.— Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1876, p. 706.— Gundlach, 1881, Anales Soc. Espaii. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 310.— Stahl, 1882, Fauna Puerto-Rico, p. 69, p. 159. — Boulenger, 1885, Cat. Lizards Brit. Mus., Vol. II, p. 67.— Carman, 1887, Bull. Essex Inst., Vol. XIX, p. 48.— Meer- warth, 1901, Mitt. Naturh. Mus. Hamburg, Vol. XVIII. p. 25.— Stejneger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 660, Figs. 112-116.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 295; 1917, Proc. Biol. Soc, Wash., Vol. XXX, p. 99.— Fowler, 1918, Papers Dept. Marine Biol., Car- negie Inst., Vol. XII, p. 12.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 189.— Smyth, 1920, Rev. Agric. Pto. Rico, Vol. IV, p. 17.— Danforth, 1925, Copeia, No. 147, p. 78.— Wolcott, 1924, Journ. Dept. Agric. Pto. Rico, Vol. VH, p. 15. BCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 93 Type locality.— MsLvtiniqwe (erroneously) . Distribution. — If the localities of Stejneger's list be combined with those of the Porto Eico Survey, and those given by Wolcott, this species is known from Aibonito, Aiiasco, Boqueron, Caguas, Camuy, Catano, Cataxo, Coamo Springs, Ensenada, Hucares, Juncos, Mameyes, Manati, Maricao, Mayagliez, Ponce, San Antonio, San German, San Juan, San- turce, Toa Baja and Utuado. Anolis p'ldchellus is recorded from nearly all of the Virgin Islands, including Anegada and St. Croix. Except for its absence from Mona Island, it has therefore the same distribution as A7iolis cnstatellus. Specimens collected.— 'i^ '. Aibonito, Cataiio, Coamo Springs, Ensen- ada, Maricao, Mayagiiez, Santurce, Culebra and Vieques Islands. Diagnosis. — Dorsal scales large, flat, keeled and imbricate, like the ventrals; the lateral scales granular; width of head about half the dis- tance from snout to ear-opening; dorsal scales gradually increasing in size from the laterals ; skin of throat-fan crimson. Original description. — "The length of the head is double its width behind, which is little more than the height of the occiput; the head, viewed from above, has the form of an isosceles triangle; the upper surface of the head slopes forward, but is not a plane ; a swelling between the nostrils borders a hollow which extends to the tip of the snout; this hollow is bordered on either side by a rounded ridge representing the continuation of the supraorbital ridge, outside of which is a longitudinal groove; the nostrils, suboval, and directed obliquely backward, are situ- ated at each side of the tip of the muzzle ; each nostril is bordered above by an oblong arched scale in contact with the rostral, with a similar scale below, and three or four small granules behind it. The canthus rostralis is well-marked, continuous with the superciliary border ; all the upper head scales are slightly keeled ; six or eight equal, irregularly poly- gonal scales on the tip of the snout, disposed in pairs ; behind these are four to six without any symmetrical arrangement; of these the middle one is perhaps the largest; a double row of several-sided small plates paves the frontal hollow ; a single scale separates the supraorbital ridges ; the polygonal scales which form these two ridges are twice as large as the other head shields; each supraocular area exhibits a disk of eight or nine small polygonal scales, the rest of it being covered with small granular scales; the triangular loreal region is slightly depressed; its scales are quadrilateral, disposed in three longitudinal rows; the rostral is wider than high, its lower border straight, its upper border arched; the two mental scales are equilateral, three sided : one counts six oblong 94 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO scales on each lip; the posterior part of the head is covered with small swollen and keeled scales in the midst of which is the enlarged circular occipital scale; the temples are granular, as are the eyelids, which have a double row of small tubercles on their edges ; the tympanic membrane Ventrals. Yentrals. Ventrals. Laterals. Laterals. Laterals. Middle of back. Middle of back. Middle of back. I -aterals. Ventrals. Laterals. Ventrals. Laterals. Ventrals. Fig. 29.— Dorsal scales of Porto Rican Anoles related to Anolis pulchellus. Left to right: A. krugi, A. pulcheUus, and A. poncensis. tiVHMWT, AMI'HIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 95 is set a little within the auricular hollow, which is sub-oval and entirely without denticulation ; the skin forms a large throat-fan, which extends as far as the middle of the breast ; the body is compressed, the back some- what roof-shaped ; laid along the body the fore-limbs reach almost to the groin, the hind-limbs to the back of the eye ; the tail is compressed enough to have a sharp upper edge ; it is a third longer than head and body, with a low denticulated crest its entire length; the upper and lateral sides of the tail are covered with small granular scales ; the scales of the upper part of the back are imbricate and appear circular, though actually polygonal; they are in about twenty-four longitudinal rows; they are not positively keeled, but one might say they have their sides depressed and center raised ; the sides of the body are covered with small, smooth, imbricate suboval or subcircular scales, smaller than those of back and l)elly ; the under side of the head is covered with rounded, thickened scales, subimbricate, and smooth or feebly keeled; scales of the throat fan rather large, keeled, and rhomboidal ; the ventral scales are imbricate, slightly keeled, and lozenge-shaped, with rounded angles; the limbs are covered with sub-hexagonal keeled scales ; the thighs are granular : rhomboidal scales, strongly keeled, and arranged in longi- tudinal rows extend the whole length of the tail." Remarks. — Stejneger comments on the vagueness of this original description, but there can be little doubt that it is correctly assigned to this most slenderly-built of the Porto Eican Anoles. The number of loreal scales in a vertical row is usually four (five or six in A. krugi) ; in 85 specimens, 69 have four loreal rows, 15 have five, 1 has six. The scales separating the occipital from the supraorbital semicircles number one in 1 specimen, two in 29 specimens, three in 51 specimens, four in 4 specimens. The semicircles are in contact in 17 specimens, separated by one scale row in 66 specimens, by two scale rows in 2 specimens. I find no important variation fn my series of 17 specimens from Culebra Island and 8 from Vieques. The measurements of a specimen of each sex are as follows : A. M. N. H. A. M. N. H. No. 13988 d No. 13186 § Length 182 mm. 136 mm. Body ... 47 36 Length of heart 15.5 11.5 Breadth of head 8 6 Foreleg 1» 14 Hind leg 33 27 Color. — Stejneger describes the variation in coloration of this species. 96 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO An adult male in life was colored as follows: "Iris dark brown; upper surface dull clay-colored, more dusky along the median line; head darker; more brownish; from eye to half way down the side of neck a broad black line, and another on the edge of the lower lip; a third blackish line, but considerably fainter, on lower edge of mandible, being more distinct between ear and shoulder; flanks and underside Naples- yellow, a stripe on upper labials over ear to shoulder more primrose-yel- low; on flanks a series of oblique, elongated spots of brightest gamboge- yellow narrowly margined with black; skin of dewlap bright crimson anteriorly verging into dark rose-pink, posteriorly into orange, the dis- tant scales arranged in rows and colored gamboge-yellow." Habits.- — Little is known of the habits of this species. I have seen juvenile specimens perched at the extreme ends of dry branches, where they were perhaps waiting for small insects to alight. Stejneger supposed that Anolis pulchellus was confined to the coastal- plain area, rarely going above 500 feet in altitude. In the course of the present survey, it was found to be everywhere abundant, up to an altitude of at least 2,000 feet, but strictly confined to open fields. It is usually associated with Anolis cristatellus, but probably does not as a rule range so high. Wolcott gives a detailed analysis of the food of this species. In two series ants formed, respectively, 11.2 per cent and 20 per cent of the total. Only Anolis stratulus eats a larger proportion of ants. Anolis krugi Peters Text Fig. 29 Anolis krugi Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1876, p. 707. — Gundlaeh, 1881, Anales Soc. Espau. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 310.— Stahl, 1882, Fauna Puerto-Rico, p. 69, p. 159.— Boulenger, 188.5, Cat. Lizards Brit. Mus., Vol. II, p. .37.— Stejneger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 655, Figs. 108-111.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool.. Vol. XLIV, p. 284.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 190.— Danforth, 1925, Copeia, No. 147, p. 78.— Wolcott, 1924, Journ. Dept. Agric. Pto. Rico, Vol. VII, p. 22. Anolis hrugii [misprint] Smyth, 1920, Rev. Agric. Pto. Rico, Vol. IV, p. 18. Type locality. — Porto Kico. Distribution.— This species is confined to Porto Rico. It has been recorded from Ad juntas, Aibonito, Catalina Plantation, Cayey, Ciales, Coamo Springs, Lares, Mameyes, Maricao, Utuado and El Yunque. I have examined the specimens from Ensenada referred to Jcrugi by Fowler and find them to be pulchellus. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 97 Speci»i€ns collected. — 62 : Adjuntas, Aiboiiito, Coamo Springs, Maricao and El Yunque. Diagnosis. — Dorsal scales imbricate, keeled, like ventrals; lateral scales granular; width of head much more than half the distance from tip of snout to ear-opening; loreal scales in five to seven rows; skin of throat-fan in male orange. Original description. — "Ventral scales strongly keeled, lateral and dorsal scales granular, with the exception of four median distinctly keeled rows which appear on a longitudinal dermal fold. A row of large, hexagonal keeled scales on the upper side of the tail. ''The supraorbital semicircles almost completely separated by a row of intermediate scales. The supraorbital ridges extend on the snout as two keels placed twice as far apart as their distance from the canthus rostralis. Supraocular area composed of four to six larger keeled scales and a few smaller ones. The distinct occipital is larger than the trans- verse ear-opening and separated from the semicircles by two or three rows of scales. The loreal area has five rows of scales at its middle. Length of head to ear-opening a little longer than the tibia. "Olive green; punctate and vermiculate with black on the back and on the sides below a lateral yellow longitudinal line ; white dots on the neck ; ventral surface greenish yellow." Remarks. — Peter's description requires modification principally with reference to the rows of keeled scales on the middle of the back, which are six rather than four, with two or three rows of small keeled scales adjoining them, so that the transition to the granular laterals is not quite so sharp as would seem to be indicated. Among sixty specimens the number of loreal scales in a vertical row is as follows : four in 1 specimen, five in 34, six in 23, seven in 2. The number of scales between the occipital and the supraorbital semicircles varies from one to six, one in 1 specimen, two in 18, three in 25, four in 13, five in 2, six in 1. The supraorbital semicircles are in contact in 2 specimens, separated by a single scale row in 34, by two scale rows in 19, by three in 5. ' Color.— The coloration of an adult male in life is described by Stej- neger as follows : "General color bright yellowish olive-green, sides of back and flanks with minute black spots, larger on back, but none along the median area occupied by the enlarged scales ; from under eye through ear to groin a broad and very distinct line of canary yellow ; brightest, nearly lemon vellow, on middle of flanks ; a black spot immediately behind eye, but 98 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO no postocular band ; underside paler, more buffy ; immediately belo^v the lateral yellow band the color is more olive, with minute black specks; hind legs posteriorly suffused with ferruginous; tail crossbarred with dusky ; dewlap yellowish, gradually deepening to orange toward the edge ; eye dark brown, nearly black, with a faint silvery edge to the iris; eye- lids edged with whitish." This species is often difficult to distinguish from A. jmlchellus without direct comparison ; the color of the dewlap, which in life is orange in- stead of crimson, is distinctive. In alcoholic specimens of A. Tcrugi the narrower band of enlarged dorsal scales is the most satisfactory char- acter for separating it from A. pidchellus. Other characters are at best comparative, useful only for a series of specimens. The measurements of a representative specimen of each sex of .4. l-rugi and of the type are as follows : A. M. N. H. A. M. N. H. Parts measured No. 13360 d No. 13207 ? Type Length 203 mm. 134 mm. 170 mm. Body 51 36 46 Length of head 16 11 18 Breadth of head 10.5 6 — Foreleg 21 15 20 Hind leg 39 29 38 Habits. — Little is known of the habits of this species. Stejneger had the impression that Anolis krugi is characteristic of the intermediate altitudes, from 500 to 1500 feet. The specimens in the present series from Coamo Springs are from an altitude of less than 300 feet, while specimens from Aibonito reach an altitude of at least 2000 feet. The specimens from Coamo Springs supply the clue as to the determining factor in the distribution of the species, for at that locality A. hrugi was abundant among the ferns and vines of the moist dark gorge back of the bath houses, but was seen nowhere else. At Aibonito ^.nd Maricao Anolis pulchellus was noted on the bare hilltops or in open fields, while a few steps within the borders of the coffee plantations only .4. Tcrugi was to be found. Moisture and shade, therefore, are the habitat requirements of Anolis Tcrugi. Anolis cristatellus and Anolis gundlacTii have an ex- actly parallel distribution. The males of this species are inveterate fighters, and it is not un- common to find specimens with injured dewlaps and often with injured mouths, probably due to their habit of locking jaws. When the lizards are fighting, the dermal folds of the neck and back are raised to the highest degree. A pair so engaged on a tree at Maricao was quite ob- SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 99 livious of the approaching collector. They manoeuvered especially to gain the superior position and finally fell to the ground with jaws locked. Anolis poncensis Stejneger Lagartija Text Fig. 29 AnoUs poncensis Stejneger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 6.55, Figs. 117-121.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., A'ol. XLIV, p. 284.— Fowler, 1918, Papers Dept. Marine Biol., Carnegie lust.. Vol. XII, p. 12. AnoJis pensensis Schmidt. 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 191 (misprint). Type locality. — Hills three miles east of Ponce. Distribution. Confined to Porto Eico, and on Porto Rico confined to the southwestern arid section. It is known from Coamo Springs, En- senada, Guanica and Ponce. Specimens collected. — 38: Coamo Springs and Ensenada. Diagnosis. — Dorsal scales imhricate, large, flat, keeled, much like the ventrals, which are very strongly keeled, the keels forming continuous ridges; laterals smaller than dorsals and ventrals, but imbricate and keeled, much larger than the laterals of Icrngi or pulchellus; dewlap small, white, covered with large keeled scales. Original descripiion. — "Top of head with two slightly curved and low frontal ridges; frontal hollow very shallow; head scales more or less wrinkled or keeled; four scales in a row between the nostrils; supra- ocular semicircles broadly in contact; occipital slightly larger than the ear-opening, separated from the supraocular semicircles by one row of flat scales; supraocular disk consisting of five or six polygonal keeled shields conspicuously larger than the surrounding scales, which are also keeled, and of which one row separates the disk from the semicircle ; two scales in front of the supraocular scales between the superciliaries and the supraocular semicircle; canthus rostralis consisting of four elongate narrow shi.elds, the first one very small, the third longest; the super- ciliary ridge consisting of an anterior long and narrow shield and a series of scales contrasting in size with the granules surroimding the eye, but not with the small scales of the supraorbital region; loreal rows three or four; subocular semicircle keeled, broadly in contact with the supralabials, not bending upward behind the orbit; supralabials seven, the suture between fifth and sixth being under the center of the eye; central temporals large granules; a well-developed double row of scales forming a supratemporal line ; dorsal scales rhomboidal, imbricate, 100 SCIENTIFIC .SURVEY OF PORTO RICO sharply keeled, the keels forming continuous parallel ridges, large, much larger than the laterals and nearly as large as the ventrals ; laterals simi- lar to the dorsals, but much smaller and less sharply keeled ; ventrals like the dorsals, only more pointed and slightly larger; scales on throat and chin similar, keeled, only considerably smaller, though larger than the laterals: arms and legs covered with similar imbricated, keeled scales nearly as large as the ventrals; hands and feet above with pluricarinate scales; digits long and slender, expansion moderate; 18 lamellge under phalanges ii and iii of fourth toe; tail very long, more than twice head and body, moderately compressed, covered with large keeled scales forming continuous ridges, with scarcely any indications of verticilla- tion, the upper edge being but faintly serrated ; dewlap entirely covered with imbricated, pointed, and keeled scales nearly as large as the ventrals, edge not thickened ; postanal plates very small." RemarJcs. — Anolis poncensis is a highly unique species, not only in its lepidosis, but in the extremely small size of its throat-fan, which is scarcely one-third as large as that of A. pulchellus or A. krugi when fully extended. There is little variation in the series of 38 specimens collected by myself. The loreal rows in a vertical line are three in 18 specimens, four in 20. The scales between the occipital and the supraorbital semi- circles are none in 2 specimens, one in 21 and two in 14. . The supra- orbital semicircles meet in 32 specimens and are separated by a single scale in 6. Thus the type comes much closer to being a fully normal specimen than was supposed by Stejneger from the variation in the 6 specimens before him. The females invariably have a broad mid-dorsal light band. Color of living specimens — "Ground color above drab verging on tawny-olive on the tail and strongly washed with cinnamon on the sides, middle portion of back about five scales wide, uniform without spots, but on the sides of back and on flanks there are three longitudinal series of dusky spots on each side, about seven spots in each series from axilla to groin; these spots are not permanent, but appear and disappear at intervals ; a pale supratemporal line, washed with pale rufous, from pos- terior edge of supraocular disk ; below this an elongate blackish spot in- volving the eye and part of loreal triangle strongly tinged with tawny on the latter and on temples; edge of eyelids deep rufous; below the dark spot a pure white line on the lower row of scales of loreal triangle, suboculars and lower temporals to above the ear; several oblique whitish lines, which proceeding from the throat join on side of neck under the * stejneger. 1904. p. 608. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 101 ear, and a short line behind the shoukler form a lateral whitish stripe which disappears at the anterior thircl of the distance between shoulder and groin; a dusky line below the white one, involving the upper and lower labials and continued to a little beyond the lower edge of the ear ; a faint dusky stripe across upper arm and on side behind the axilla bor- dering the pale lateral neck stripe below; underside whitish, washed faintly with tawny, the throat with several longitudinal series of narrow, disconnected, dusky stripes; a faint dusky stripe along the median line of the belly; tail underneath whitish, strongly washed with tawny-olive, the pale color anteriorly extending upward on the sides of the tail so as to form a series of numerous pale crossbands which do not reach the median line above ; the posterior half of tail regularly barred with wide dark and pale rings: limbs above like the back, the hind limbs with indistinct dusky markings washed with rufous ; a small dewlap perfectly covered with large white scales, so as to entirely hide the skin imderneath, even when highly distended, the color of which, however, appears to be whitish; iris blackish brown." The measurements of a specimen of each sex are as folloAvs : A. M. X. H. A. M. N. H. rarts measured No. 13784 d" No. 13845 ? Lt'iigth 160 mm. 112 mm. Bodv ...V.V 44 40 Tail 116 72 Length of head 13.5 11 Breadth of head 8.0 6.5 Foreleg l'*^ 1"* Hind leg 31 27 Hahits. — This species was found associated with Anolis cristatellus and with an occasional A. pulchellus at both Coamo Springs and Ensenada. Broadly speaking, it replaces A. pulchellus in the southwest- ern part of the Porto Rico, inhabiting fences and grazing land much as .4. jiuchellus does in the remaining portion of the island. A few speci- mens were noted on the arid cactus-covered hilltops about Ensenada. Near Coamo Springs this species occurred in colonies, sometimes a mile or more apart. Nothing more is known of its habits. Cyclura Harlan The "Rock Iguanas'" of the West Indies are one of the most con- spicuous elements in their endemic fauna. They appear to me to be a very archaic group of lizards, veritable relics from the "Age of Reptiles." The genus is extinct on Porto Rico proper, but the bones of a fossil 102 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO species are abundant in cave deposits. The fossil form {Cyclura portori- censis Barbour) will not be described here. Another extinct form {Cyclura mattea Miller) is known from St. Thomas, and the living C. pinguis from Anegada shows that the existence of these fossil species might have been predicted. Cyclura stejnegeri Barbour and Noble Rock Iguana Text Fig. 30 Metopoceros coniutus Meerwarth, 1901, Mitt. Naturh. Mus. Hamburg, Vol. XVIII, p 2G (part). Cijclum coniuta Stejneger. l!Kt4. Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 670, Figs 122-126.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 299 (part). Cyclura stejnegeri Barbour and Noble, 1916, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Vol. LX. p. 163. PI. 12.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 191 ; 1926, Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool., Vol. XII, p. 155. Type locality. — Mona Island. Distribution. — Confined to Mona Island. Specimens collected. — 2 : Mona Island. Diagnosis. — A large lizard with a dorsal crest of spine-like scales; an enlarged conical scale or low horn on the frontal region; other head scales variously enlarged; second and third toes with a curious comb- like scale. Original description. — "Very similar to C. cornuta from which it may be distinguished by the following characters : nasals in contact with the rostral ; two, and in part three rows of scales between the nasals. Pre- frontals separated from the enlarged median frontal scale by two rows of scales. A single large elongate canthal scale preceded by three small precanthals. Dorsal crest much reduced between the shoulders, abso- lutely interrupted on the rump, fifty-one scales in the crest from shoulder to rump. Limiting row of each verticil not much wider than the other rows of the verticils. Color somewhat faded, uniform dark olive-green." BemarJcs. — The original description is comparative, and for the present paper may be supplemented by Stejneger's earlier description, which refers to the same specimen later made the type by Barbour and Noble : — "Eostral wide, as wide as mental, broadly in contact wdth nasals; nasal large, ovoid, perforated by a large nostril of the same shape; on each side of the top of the snout, immediately behind and adjoining the nasal, a series of three large shields, strongly convex, the posterior pair particularly so, and almost keeled ; the series are separated by numerous SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 103 small scales anteriorly about three in a row, posteriorly four ; the anterior pairs subequal, the posterior one nearly as long as the two others together, those of each series broadly in contact without any intervening scales; separated from these prefrontal series by two rows of scales there is a large rounded, median, frontal shield, its center on a line with the an- terior edge of the orbit, convex and wrinkled radially from the center; supraocular semicircles evident, though the component keeled scales hardly exceed the similar scales which form the supraorbital disk ; semi- circles separated by about four rows of smaller keeled scales; occipital located well forward between the semicircles, from which it is separated fi'iG. 30. — Head of Cyclura stejnegeri (type). (From Stejneger.) by three rows of scales, on a line between the posterior borders of the orbits, smaller than the nasals ; one large keeled canthal scale nearest the orbit, the anterior ones biit slightly developed ; a well-developed series of strongly keeled suboculars continued backward as a supratympanic series to above the ear; ten supralabials, the suture between the last two under the center of tlie eye; a series of small scales separating the suboculars and the supralabials; above the angle of 'the mouth and in front of the lower edge of the ear a large tubercular shield and above it about the middle of the front edge of the ear another shield, convex and almost as large; tympanum elliptical, erect, large; eleven lower labials to the center of the eye; a series of enlarged malar scales, the posterior ones 104 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO strongly keeled and separated from the lower labials bj' several rows of small scales; dorsal and ventral scales small, about eleven contained in the vertical diameter of the tympanum, rhomboidal, obliquely keeled, the keels pointing toward the median line; from the occiput along the median line of the neck and back a series of enlarged strongly keeled scales forming a low serrated crest, which is much reduced between the shoulders, absolutely interrupted on the rump, and consequently not continuous with the caudal crest ; length of the crest scales on the middle of the back three to the vertical diameter of the tympanum, 51 in the dorsal crest from shoulder to rump; throat covered with scales similar to the ventrals but smaller; sides and underside of neck with numerous folds, a large median one almost large enough to be called a dewlap, joining posteriorly a strong transverse fold; upper surface of limbs with slightly imbricated, keeled, posteriorly pointed scales, somewhat larger than the dorsals, on the lower arm about seven, on the tibia about four to the vertical diameter of the tympanum; a single series of about eighteen femoral pores; inner side of second toe with one 'comb,' of third toe with two 'combs' (see fig. 125) ; tail compressed, covered with obliquely keeled scales in vertical rows forming faintly indicated verticils, about four rows of the larger scales to a verticil ; tail surmounted by a crest of enlarged, pointed triangular scales forming a strongly serrated edge." The single very old male specimen collected by myself has the irregu- lar development of the large tubercular scales of the head characteristic of old individuals of this group. The nasal is separated from the rostal on one side by a space filled with very small scales, on the other by a large tubercular shield. The smaller head shields are widely separated by very small intervening scales. There are 3 prefrontals on one side, 4 on the other; 3 large tubercular shields in front of the tympanum on one side, 1 on the other. There is a large fleshy fold on the neck, sur- mounted by a low crest, which passes into the higher dorsal crest. There is an additional fleshy lobe on one side behind the ear and others grow out of the irregular subgular folds. The cheeks are enormously swollen below the angle of the jaws. The 21 low spines on the nuchal fold are followed by 51 higher dorsal spines, the highest 20 mm., and after an interspace on the rump there are 50 spines on the base of the tail gradually becoming smaller to a point where the height of the spine equals its length. The highest spines on the tail measure 21 mm. The frontal tubercle measures 14 mm. in width and 9 mm. in height. There are 3 rows of femoral pores, 18 in the anterior row on each side. A SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 105 third ''comb" is plainly distinguishable on the third toe. The scales of the reproduced tip of the tail are not arranged in verticils. The measurements of this old male are as follows : Parts measured A. M. N. H. No. 13775 Length 910 mm. (tail repi-oduced ) Body 470 Length of head 127 Breadth of head 79 Foreleg 173 Hind leg 260 In spite of the separation of the nasal shield from the rostral in this old individual, I have retained the name stejnegeri, as it may well be that, although the young of the three related species, cornuta, nigerrima and stejnegeri, are clearly distinguishable, in the adults the characters are obscured. In other respects this individual accords well with the previously described specimens from Mona. Additional material of cornuta, however, is required to establish satisfactorily the status of the forms on Mona and ISTavassa. Habits. — The Eock Iguana is confined to the table land on Mona Island, descending occasionally to the tillable area to feed on the young corn and cotton. The extreme rockiness of the habitat of this species is scarcely conceivable unless one has visited the region or the similar areas in Porto Eico, Santo Domingo and Cuba. The limestone is weathered into cup-like hollows bounded by knife edges and spear points ; the handfuls of soil in the hollows are largely occupied by cactus, and a single day's tramp demolishes a pair of shoes. The natives of the island who engage in hunting the wild goats, pigs and cattle, wear several pieces of pigskin strapped to the soles of their feet, and even so, their ability to thread their way through the cactus is little short of marvelous. The specimen taken was the only one seen by our party of seven men in an eleven hours' tramp, and was caught and wounded by the dogs. The native hunters report that the rock iguanas take refuge in the cracks and holes in the rocks, and that they are somewhat more abundant than would be inferred from our experience. Celestiis Gray Celestus pleii Dumeril and Bibron Culebra de cuatro patas Text Fig. 31 Diploglossus pleii Dumeril and Bibron, 1839, Erpetol. Gen., Vol. V, p. 605. — Dumeril, 1851, Cat. Method. Kept. Mus. Paris. Vol. I, p. 154. — Boulenger, 1885, Cat. Lizards Brit. Mus., Vol. IL p. 294 (part). - '- -. '., ..- '■V Li LI 106 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO i^r^ OS to CO o o Celestus pleii Cope, 1868, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 124.— Stejneger. 1904. Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902. p. 622, Figs. 74-79.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 304; 1919, Proc. New England Zool. Club, Vol. VII, p. 13.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 192. DiplOfflos.su s (Celestas) pleil Bocourt, 1879, Miss. Sci. Mex., Zool., Livr. 6, p. 381, PI. 22, Fig. 4. Celestas deffener Cope, 1868, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1868, p. 124. Diplofflossiis plei Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1876, p. 708— Gundlach, 1881, Anales Soc. Espan. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 811.— Stahl, 1882, Fauna Puerto-Rico, p. 69. Type locality. — Martinique (erroneously). Distribution. — Confined to Porto Rico, where it has been recorded only from Ad- juntas, Aibonito, Catalina Plantation and Lares. The seven specimens secured at Aibonito all came from a single hilltop in a coffee plantation. Specimens collected. — 7 : Aibonito. Diagnosis. — An elongate lizard with short weak limbs, smooth skinklike scales, and with four median shields on the head, a very large frontal, broad prefrontal, narrow in- terparietal and small occipital. Original description. — "Nasal plates very small, entirely lateral; two pairs of. supra- nasals in contact; an octagonal inter-nasal, transversely widened; no f ronto-nasals ; six supra-oculars on each side; frontal large, subquadrangular, oblong; two very small f ronto-parietals, not in contact ; an inter- parietal in the form of an isosceles triangle; two oblong parietals; a triangular occipital with rounded posterior border; a very small freno-nasl (^postnasal) ; two loreals, the first higher tlian long; two freno-orbitals SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIAXS OP PORTO RICO 107 (^ preorbitals) ; a triangular suborbital; ear rather large, sub-circular, exposed, with entire border; body anguiform; limbs short, stout; tail C3^clo-tetragonal ; lower eyelid scaly; scales with six to eight striae; back with wavy brown markings on a fawn-colored ground, with a brown band on each side. ''This species is most closely allied to Diploglossus sagrae, but differs in having a much larger ear opening, by the more strongly marked and fewer striae of the dorsal scales, which do not exceed ten, while there are fifteen in that species." Remarhs. — There is no possibility of confusing this species with any other Porto Eican lizard. Stejneger gives a more exact description and effectively clears up the identity of the species, which was described from the Plee collection as coming from ]\Iartinique. He describes the color as follows : "Color above (living and in alcohol) walnut l)ruwii. with numerous more or less interrupted and anastomosing dusky cross bands which do not reach the lateral longitudinal band. The latter is of a dark brownish gray with a sharply defined crenelated upper edge, gradually fading into the pale color of the underside which is clay colored washed with orange ; lower lips and throat spotted with dark brownish gray." The series of seven specimens in the Porto Rico Survey Collection is so uniform in scale characters as to suggest that the individuals are members of a single family. The proportion of the length of the fore- limb to that of the body varies from .12 to .15. The scales ahout the body are 34 in one, 35 in one, 36 in four, 38 in one. The measurements of the largest specimen are as follows : A. M. N. H. Parts measured • ^O- ISl'^^ Length 210 mm. Body ^^ Length of head ^'^ Breadth of head ^^ Foreleg Hind leg 1*^ All of the specimens found by me were under logs in a coffee planta- tion. When they were uncovered, their attempt to escape consisted of burrowing in the loose leaf mold. When grasped, they squirm violently, and because of their very muscular and smooth body it is difficult to hold them. The two female specimens contain respectively one and three well- advanced embryos. The egg measures 18 by 11 mm. The completely 108 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO formed embryo rests on a very large yolk mass. The head and legs of the embryo are proportionately larger than in the adult, while the tail is shorter, Teidae Ameiva Meyer The Ameivas are typical representatives of the family Teidae, readily distinguishable from all other Porto Rican forms in having the rectangu- lar plates of the belly arranged in both longitudinal and transverse rows, while the dorsal scales are minute and granular. Although this genus is well represented on the mainland (by Ameiva ameiva, A. hifrontata, A. undulata, A. f estiva and their allies), the West Indies have the maxi- mum number of species and also exhibit the greatest amount of differ- entiation. Hispaniola alone, including Navassa and Beata islands, has eight species. The Ameivas are apparently especially adapted to insular conditions, for on a number of the smaller islets they occur alone or almost alone (Sombrero, Eedonda). Synopsis of the Porto Rican Ameivas A. Ventral plates in eight rows; caudal scales oblique, smooth; fronto- parietals united a. wetmorel AA. Ventral plates in ten or twelve rows; caudal scales straight, keeled; fronto-parietals distinct. B. Generally white-spotted only on the posterior half of the back. .A. ecesul BB. Back with white spots to the neck A. albnguttata Ameiva wetmorei Stejneger Text Figs. 32 and 33 Ameiva wetmorel Stejneger, 1913, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXVI, p. 69.— Barbour, 1914, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 311.— Fowler. 1918. Papers Dept. Marine Biol., Carnegie Inst., Vol. XII, p. 12. Fig. 6, PI. 1.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 193.— Danforth, 1925, Copeia, No. 147, p. 78. Type locality. — Above Rio Loco, Guanica, Porto Rico. Distribution. — Ameiva wetmorei appears to be confined to the region near Ensenada and to Caja de Muertos Island. It probably ranges westward toward Cabo Rojo and eastward toward Ponce on the lime- stone hills. It was secured on Caja de Muertos by H. E. Anthony in 1926. Ameiva lineolata, its relative in Hispaniola, appears to be simi- larly confined to the more arid parts of that island, and arid or semi- arid conditions prevail also on Great Inagua and St. Croix, each of SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 109 which is inhabited by a related species. These four species form a highly interesting group of Ameiva, characterized by the oblique scales of the tail, a distinctive habitus and a lineolate type of coloration. Specimens collected. — 30: Ensenada and Caja de Muertos Island. Fig. 32. — Ameiia tcetmorei. A. M. N. H. No. 13820. A. Head from above. B. Head from side. C. Head from below. D. Arm from in front. E. Posterior face of leg. F. Foot from above. G. Preanal scales. Tbree times natural size. Diagnosis. — An Ameiva with eight rows of ventral ])lates; caudal scales oblique, smooth ; fronto-parietals united ; seven distinct longitudi- nal light lines, the median beginning on the snout. Original description.* — "Nostril between the two nasals; anterior * Type from Oiianica, above Rio Loco. U. S. N. M. No. 49731. 110 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Mi Fig. 33.— A. M. Natural - Ameiva wetmorei. N. H. No. 13821. size. nasals broadly in contact behind rostral ; fronto-nasal broader than long, in contact with nasals, loreal, and prefrontals; pre- frontals pentagonal, broadly in contact; frontal pentagonal, in contact with first and second supraoculars, not touching the third; a single hexagonal fronto-parietal broadly in contact with the third and very narrowly with second supraocular; three occipitals, the outer two very large, squarish, the median one long and narrow, almost rectangular; five super- ciliaries; three supraoculars, the first in con- tact with the first superciliary, the others separated from the sunperciliaries by a single row of fine granules; loreal undivided; seven supralabials, first in contact with posterior nasal only, second with posterior nasal and loreal, third largest, fifth and sixth in con- tact with a long subocular ; temples with small flat irregular scales; mental followed by a large, unpaired postmental; six large in- fralabials, third largest; four pairs of chin- shields, first pair in contact, second pair half separated by granules of chin; between in- fralabials and chin-shields posteriorly a single line of flat scales, the two posterior ones large, the anterior small, not reaching first pair of chin-shields; chin and throat covered with small scales or granules diminishing in size posteriorly ; mesoptychium with a 'median patch of enlarged scales, the larger ones about four times the size of the chin granules ; back, sides, and upper surface of limbs covered with granules which are slightly enlarged into small hexagonal scales on the median line of the back ; underside of body with eight longi- tudinal and thirty-five transverse rows of rec- tangular plates; the outer row less than one half the size of the next one; one large preanal plate, preceded by one much smaller, and this by two still smaller placed trans- SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO m versely ; on the lower arm two rows of large antebracials, separated from the much smaller single row of brachials by small scales, on the lower edge of the upper arm a single series of enlarged plates; under- side of thigh covered with two series of large scales or plates and three smaller ones; thirteen or fourteen femoral pores; under- side of tibia covered entirely across by three plates, of which the upper is the largest and larger than the other two together; upper side of wrist with three series of enlarged plates; fifth (outer) toe extending far beyond the first (inner), almost to the claw of the second; tail cov- ered with smooth scales in rings, the scales being oblique with parallel sides except the median row, which is wedge-shaped; about tv/enty-two scales in the fifteenth ring from the base. Coloration (in alcohol) above dark brownish olive with seven distinct greenish white longitudinal lines, the median one somewhat wider than the others and starting from the tip of the snout while the others originate in front of the eye, and continuing some distance on the tail, except the outer row, which terminates in the groin ; upper sides of limbs also dark olive brown with very distinct round greenish-white spots ; underside greenish-white dark- ening on tail." Remarks. — Little need be added to Stejneger's description. Fowler describes and figures the second specimen known. His color plate rep- resents the alcoholic coloration rather than that of the living reptile. In the series of 37 specimens in the Porto Rican Survey collection the prefrontals are broadly in contact in 21 specimens, meet at a point in 1 and are separated by a suture between the frontal and frontonasal in 3. The number of supraciliaries varies from five to seven, normally six. The interparietal is horizontally divided in 1 specimen. There are usually two or three transversely enlarged postoccipitals. On the whole, there is a remarkably small degree of variation. The measurements of a male and female specimen : A. M. N. U. A. M. N. H. Parts measured No. 13821 d No. 13828 $ Length 169 mm. (tail reproduced at tip) 147 mm. Body 52 45 Length of head 12.5 11 Breadth of head 8.5 6.5 Foreleg 16 14 Hind leg 30 26 Habits. — Almost nothing is known of the habits of this species. It was found only on or near the tops of the limestone hills back of Ensenada, associated with a few Ameiva exsul. 113 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO The extreme fragility of the tail (25 out of 27 specimens having broken or regenerated tails) seems to be correlated with its brilliant color and the capacity for violent contortion of the separate member. It has frequently been suggested that the fragile tails of lizards might serve as a protective device, the broken and active tail occupying the pursuer while the owner escapes. In this case the assumption is made more than usually plausible by the combination of color, motion and noise — the tail making a noticeable rattling in the dead leaves of the ground cover. Mdiile the lizard moves quite silently. Ameiva exsul Cope Iguana Ameiva plei var. exsul Cope, 1862, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 66. Ameiva extil Stejneger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1902, p. 612, Figs. 59-66.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 310; 1917, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXX, p. 99.— Fowler, 1918, Papers Dept. Marine Biol., Carnegie Inst., Vol. XII, p. 12.— Danforth, 1925, Copeia, No. 147, p. 78. Ameiva exsul Barbour and Noble, 1915, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. LIX, p. 439.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 192.— Woleott, 1924, Journ. Dept. Agric. Porto Rico, Vol. VII, p. 10. Ameiva plei Cope, 1862, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 65 (not of Dumeril and Bibron). — Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1876, p. 708. — Gundlach, 1881, Anales Soc. Espan. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 311.— Stahl, 1882, Fauna Puerto-Rico, p. 69, p. 158. Ameiva riisei Reinhardt and Luetken, 1863, Vid. Meddel. Foren., Copenhagen. 1862, p. 2.32.— Bocourt, 1874, Miss. Sci. Mex., Zool. Rept., livr. 4, PI. 20 B. Fig. 3. Ameiva riisi Boulenger, 1885, Cat. Lizards Brit. Mus., Vol. II, p. 354 — Gar- man, 1887, Bull. Essex Inst., Vol. XIX, p. 11.— Meerwarth, 1901, Mitt. Naturh. Mus. Hamburg, Vol. XVIII, p. 30, PI. 2, Figs. 7-9. Ameiva vittipunctata Baettger, 1893, Kat. Rept. Mus. Senck., Vol. I, p. 74 (not of Cope). The transfer of the common name "iguana'' to this species illustrates the usual fate of vernacular names when they become incorporated into tlie language — they are transferred to any convenient animal without reference to zoological relationship. Type lomlity. — Water Island, near St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Distribution. — Recorded from Arecibo, Arroyo, Caguas, Cataiio, Can- grejos Pt., Caya Santiago, Coamo Springs, Ensenada, off Humacao, Luquillo, Palo Seco Point, Ponce, Rio Piedras, San Juan, Santurce and TJtuado, Neither Stejneger nor I secured this species in Vieques. My record iiVHMIDT, AMPHIBIAN,"^ OF PORTO RICO HP, from Culebra appears to be the first from that island. In the A^irgin Islands it is recorded from St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 57 : Coamo Springs, Ensenada, Palo Seco Point, Santurce and Culebra Island. Diagnosis. — An Ameiva of moderate size, with ventral plates in ten longitudinal rows; generally white-spotted only on the posterior half of the back; femoral pores averaging 15.5 on each side; number of scales in fifteenth tail segment averaging 45; median gulars formmg a group of slightly enlarged scales; plates on upper arm much wider than long. Original description. — "This form differs in possessing a narrow bright yellow band on each side, extending from the superciliary ridge to a point on the anterior part of the tail. The anterior extremity extended backward exceeds the extremity of the appressed femur. Total length 7 in. 6 lin.; exclusive of tail, 3 in. 1 lin. (Probably young)." Remarks.— CoTpe's inadequate description accompanies remarks on the Virgin Island and Porto Rican Ameivas, which he refers to A. plei Dumeril and Bibron. A number of points in the description of A. pleii seem to exclude the possibility that it is based on Porto Rican specimens, as were so many of the other species collected by Plee, and Cope's varietal name has priority over the name riisei proposed by Reinhardt and Luetken. Stejneger gives a very detailed description of the species. His descrip- tion of the coloration in life is as follows : "Ground color above of old skin (the specimen was shedding) 'pea green,' of new skin more olive green, the difference being slight, how- ever; underside pale 'pearl gray' with a decided wash of 'turquoise blue' on the groin and tail; dark markings blackish; eyelids edged with whitish; iris very dark brown. "A somewhat larger specimen had the ground color above tawny olive becoming olive gray on the tail; head not colored differently from back; lower back with a broken network of black meshes; flanks with a series of vertical black spots on a slightly browner ground alternating with a double or triple series of pale dots, which continue indistinctly on hind legs and sides of tail ; tip of snout and of lower jaw pink flesh color; sides of head pale drab; underside whitish with a bluish cast, which is strongest on the sides and under hind legs and tail. "A young specimen had head and neck uniform tawny olive ; ground color of back similar, but becoming duller toward the tail, which is drab above ; ground color of flanks similar, though more russet near the light lateral line, especially anteriorly ; sides of head and neck nearly uniform 114 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO pale ciimanioii ; a narrow pale cream-buif line from superciliaries slightly broadening on the back and fading out at about the posterior third of the back, margined with blackish on both sides; on back and flanks a series of narrow blackish crossbars becoming obsolete on the lower back, the interspaces filled with roundish Isabella-colored spots; lower back similarly spotted, as are also the upper side of the legs; tail above with these spots more faintly indicated; underside whitish with a turquoise- blue suffusion on both sides of abdomen and under the tail; underside of thighs pale gray dappled with white round spots like those on the back:" This species attains a large size, apparently much exceeding lialf a meter, but the larger individuals are exceptionally wary and I was unable to secure them. The largest seen were on Culebra Island. In nearly all the specimens examined an additional row of ventral plates on each side is enlarged to a varying degree, in some cases to such an extent that there are distinctly twelve longitudinal rows of ventrals. Habits.— Ameiva exsul distinctly prefers a sandy soil, and is every- where more abundant on sand. The reptiles frequently make shallow burrows under stones or other loose objects. Near Santurce they were especially abundant along a disused tramway, burrowing under the ties. At Ensenada they occasionally made burrows under the concrete side- walks. This species is almost entirely confined to the coastal plain, but it follows the river bottoms into the interior of the island. It is found on the tops of the limestone hills of southwestern Porto Rico, but not on those of the northern side of the island. It was very abundant on Culebra, where the mongoose has not been introduced, while on Vieques the inhabitants informed me that the "aldea" had exterminated the 'iguana" as well as the "lucia" and the snakes. The common report in Porto Rico that the "iguana" eats the shoots of young corn appears to be supported to a degree by an examination of stomach contents. Of 20 stomachs examined, one was empty; 11 con- tained vegetable matter, chiefly large numbers of red-coated seeds ; 5 had unidentifiable insect remains; 2 had crickets; 3 had small crabs; 3 had eggs of a lizard; 1 had the tail of a large Anolis cristateUus; 6 had parasitic worms. Wolcott, in a much more detailed examination of stomach contents, finds only 6.7% of vegetable matter, consisting of mushrooms. Wolcott found two batches of eggs, numbering 4 and 7 respectively, buried four or five inches deep in a pile of humus in the garden of the Experiment Station at Rio Piedras. The eggs were faint pink to bright SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 115 pink in color, measuring 20 to 22 mm. in length and 13 to 15.5 mm. in siiort diameter. Anieiva albogiittata Boulenger • Text Figs. 34 and 35 Ainciia dlhui/uftutu Houleuger, 1890, Jahresber. Naturw. Ver. Maj^deburt;. 1S94-1S06, p. 112.— Meerwarth, 3901, Mitt. Naturli. Mus. Hamburg, Vol. XVIII, p. 32, PI. 2, Figs. 6-8.— Stejneger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1JK)2, p. 618, Figs. 67-72.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV. p. 311.— Barbour and Noble, 1915, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. I.IX, p. 440.— Schmidt. 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.. Vol. XXVIII, p. 193; 1926. Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool., Vol. XII, p. 156. 2^i//)e loculUy. — Mona Island. Distribution. — Confined to Mona Island. Specimens collected. — 46 : Mona Island. Diagnosis. — Closely allied to the Porto Eican Anieiva exsul, but back with white spots to the neck; femoral pores averaging 13.2 on each side; number of scales in fifteenth tail segment 34 ; median gular group of scales less differentiated, often confluent with the adjoining scales; plates on upper arm slightly wider than long. Original description. — "N"ostril between two shields; five or six oc- ci})ital shields in a transverse row, bordered behind by small, irregular scales; three or four supraoculars, the fourth, when present, very small; seven or eight supraciliaries ; loreal imdivided; six supralabials ; five infralabials ; an unpaired and four or five paired chin-shields ; a broad middle zone of slightly enlarged gulars ; mesoptychial scales larger ; body scales finely granular, smooth ; ventrals in ten longitudinal rows, the outer very small, and in thirty-two or thirty-three transverse rows ; three large anals ; brachial plates in a single row, completely separated irom the antebracliials ; four or five rows of femoral scales ; a row of very large tibial shields with two smaller rows on the inner side ; twelve to fifteen femoral pores on each side; scales of the tail straight, the u])per ones keeled. Dorsal side light grayish-brown, with a dark brown lateral i)an(l extending from the shoulder to the base of the tail, outlined above by a light line and spotted with black; the back and sides with the excep- tion of the head and neck are thickly spotted with white ; underparts white, throat of male red." Remarl-s. — Ameiva alhoguttata is extremely close to Amclra e.rsul, but may be distinguished by the more spotted dorsum. The femoral pores in forty specimens average 13.2, in forty A. exsul the average is 15.3, almost exactly as in the smaller series examined by Stejneger. The Mona 116 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 34. — Ameiva alhogut- tata. A. M. N. H. No. 14003. Mona Island. Natu- ral size. Fio. 35. — Ameiva alhoguttata. A. M. N. H. No. 14003, Mona Island. Natu- ral size. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 117 Island form does not exhibit the tendency to enlargement of an additional row of ventral plates, one specimen having only eight longitudinal rows of ventrals (No. 13739). Habits. — Like the Porto Eican species, the Mona Island Ameiva is found chiefly on the sandy land of the terraces on the west and south sides of the island. An occasional specimen, however, may be seen on the rocky table land. The results of the examination of 20 stomachs are as follows : empty, 4; vegetable matter (chiefly red coated seeds), 8; unidentifiable insect remains, 3; beetles, 3; crickets, 2; land snails, 2; Anolis cristatellus (juv.), 1. This species is preyed upon by Alsophis variegatus. Amphisbaenidae Ainphisbaena Linnaeus The limbless lizards of this genus are immediately distinguishable by their soft skin, which is marked off into rectangular scale-like areas. The two species in Porto Eico may be distinguished as follows : A. Body rings 220-2.30; suture between nasal shields very short, one-fifth or less of the prefrontal suture ; one temporal A. caeca. AA. Body rings about 250; nasal suture long, more than one-third of the prefrontal suture ; no temporal A. hakeri. Ainphisbaena caeca Cuvier Culebra ciega; vibora Text Fig. 36 AmvhiHhaena caeca Cuvier, 1829, Regne Anim., 2nd Ed., Vol. II. p. 73. — Dumeril and Bibron, 1839. Erpet. Gen., Vol. V, p. 492.— Dumeril, 1851, Cat. Method. Kept. Mus. Paris, Vol. I, p. 148.— Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 708.— Gundlach, 1881, Anales Soc. Espan. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 312.— Stahl, 1882, Fauna Puerto-Rico, p. 70, p. 160.— Strauch, 1883, M61. Biol. Acad. Sci. St. Petersburg, Vol. XI, p. 405.— Boulenger, 1890, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 79.— Stejneger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 676, Figs. 129-132.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 319.— Fowler, 1918, Papers Dept. Marine Biol.. Carnegie Inst., Vol. XII, p. 14.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.. Vol. XXVIII, p. 194.— Camp, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLVIII, p. 317, Fig. F. Amphishaena hakeri Danforth, 1925, Copeia, No. 147, p. 78 (not of Stejneger). Type locality. — Martinique (erroneously). Distrihution.— Confined to Porto Eico, where it has been found at 118 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Aibonito, Bayamon, Catalina Plantation, Lares, Luquillo, Mayagiiez, Eio Piedras and Utuado. Specimens collected. — 18 : Aibonito, Bayamon and Eio Piedras. Diagnosis. — An Amphishaena with 220 to 230 body rings; one temporal scute; suture between the nasals very short, 16-19 rings on tail. Original description. — "There is one in Martinique, entirely blind {Amphisbaena caeca, Cuv.), May not this be A. verniiciilaris Spix, XXV, 2 ? He says eyes conspicuous, while I do not find any at all. He uses the same expression for his A. o.ryura." Remarks. — The original description is evidently quite useless, and this species might more justly be cited as described by Dumeril and Bibron, who redescribed the typical material. However, I follow them and Stejneger in ascribing the species to Cuvier. Stejneger's description is much the most useful and may be quoted in full : "Eostral small, triangular, the portion visible from above short, about Fig. 36. — Head of Amphishaena caeca from above and from side. (After Stejneger.) equaling the suture between the nasals ; prefrontals very long, the suture between them longer than the one between the frontals and five times as long as the nasal suture; ocular moderate, quadrangular, smaller than the postocular and the third supralabial; in the angle shields a well- developed temporal, between and behind the latter two only slightly smaller than the ocular; eye plainly visible through ocular; a pair of occipitals, broader than long, in contact behind the frontals ; three supra- labials, the second as long as the other two together ; three lower labials, the second longer than the other two together; mental followed by a large median postmental, twice as long as broad ; behind the second lower labial a large malar shield; just behind the postmental and between the nialars three scales in a transverse row (postgeneials) ; 226 rings on the body and 17 on the tail; the segments of each ring longer than broad on the back, broader than long on the imder side, 16 above and 18 below the lateral line; anal shields, 6; preanal pores, 4. Color, flesh color, with a squarish brown spot, darkest on the back, occupying the middle of each segment, these spots being absent on many of the ventral SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 119 segments of the posterior half of the body ; top of head uniform brownish, except rostral and. nasals, which are colorless." Stejneger's discussion of the history and relations of this species is a model of exact taxonomy. Tlie variation in the series of eighteen specimens in the Porto Kico Survey collection falls well within the limits established by Stejneger, who examined nineteen. One specimen has a small supraocular plate on each side. It is consequently extremely surprising to find that the specimens listed l:)y Danforth from Mayagliez as A. lakeri are intermediate between lal-eri and caeca. One of these specimens (now F. M. N. H. N"o. 12473) has the nasal suture about one-fourth that of the prefrontals, temporal present, and 238 body-rings. The two other specimens have 234 body rings, nasal suture about one-half that of the prefrontals, and one of them lacks the temporal on one side. Tl!e three specimens are thus some- what closer to A. caeca than to hakeri, but it is very evident that examina- tion of adequate series from Mayagiiez and Lares and the intervening area may alter our conception of the Porto Eican AmpMsbaena radi- cally. It is curious that no Ampliisbaena is known from southwestern Porto Rico. The largest specimen measures 233 mm., tail 18 mm. Habits.— M\. of the specimens were found burrowing in the ground, most of them uncovered by cultivation. One was located about three inches beneath an ant's nest under a log, in the course of digging up the eggs of Leim ado phis. When the creature is killed in formalin, the head is bent abruptly to one side, indicating apparently a special development of the muscles of the neck, which doubtless is of advantage to the Am- phishaena in burrowing. Three eggs were obtained, — one beneath a termite nest, the other two under the log where the above-mentioned adiilt was dug up. The largest egg measured 42 mm. by 11 mm, Ampliisbaena bakeri Stejneger Text Fig. 37 Ampliisbaena hakeri Stejneger, 1904, Ann. Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus.. 1902, p. 681, Figs. 13.3-137. Type locality. — Lares, Porto Rico. Distrihui ion. —Confined to Porto Rico, where it is known only from Lares. 120 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Diagnosis. — An Ampliishaena with about 250 body rings; nasal suture long^ more than one-third the prefrontal suture; no temporal. Original description. — "Eostral small, triangular, the portion visible from above short, nearly one-third the suture between the nasals; pre- frontals long, the suture between them slightly longer than the one be- tween the frontals and but slightly more than twice the nasal suture; ocular moderate, quadrangular, the anterior angle very long and pointed ; eye not visible; a pair of occipitals, longer than broad (the one on the left side abnormally divided), broadly in contact behind the frontals; three supralabials, the second longer than the other two together; three lower labials, the second longer than the other two together; mental followed by a large median postmental, much longer than broad; behind Fig. 37. — Head of Ampliishaena iaJieri from above and from side. (After Stejneger.) the second lower labial a large triangular malar shield ; behind the post- mental and between the malars 3 scales in a transverse row (post- geneials) ; 249 rings on the body and 16 on the tail; the segments square, slightly longer than broad on the back, the 6 median rows on the ab- domen broader than long, especially the middle pair; 16 above and 16 below the lateral line; anal shields or segments, 6; preanal pores, 4. Color light flesh, with a brownish spot in the center of each segment, rather indistinct, especially on the lower surface. Dimensions Tip of snout to vent ■ 260 mm. Tail 18 Diameter of bodj' 9 "Apart from a slight oscillation in the relative length of the sutures on the head the variability is insignitieant. As in 4. cceca, the occipitals appear most subject to variation, but they seem to be longer than broad, as a rule, even in the clearly abnormal specimen (No. 25537) as shown in Fig. 134. The number of rings varies only between 249 and 251 in the three specimens at hand." SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 121 Remarks. — I have discussed above imder cceca the unexpected vari- ations of A. cceca in the direction of hakeri. I am fully convinced of the specific validity of hakeri. Habits. — Nothing is known of the habits of this species. SCINCIDAE Mabuya Fitzinger Mabuya sloanii (Daudin) Text Figs. 38 and 39 Lucia ; Santa Lucia Scincus sloanii Daudin. 1903, Hist. Nat. Kept., Vol. IV, p. 287, PI. 55, Fig. 2. Eumeces sloanii Dumeril and Bibron, 1839, Erpet Gen., Vol. V, p. 639.— Dumeril, 1851, Cat. Method. Rept. Mus. Paris, Vol. I, p. 156. Mahmja sloanii Bocourt, 1879, Miss. Sci. Mex., Rept., p. 401, PL 22 B, Fig. 3.— Stejneger, 1904, Ann. Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 608, Figs. 56-58.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 320; 1916, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIX, p. 219.— Fowler, 1918, Papers Dept. Marine Biol., Carnegie Inst., Vol. XII, p. 7.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. • Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 194.— Wolcott, 1924, Journ. Dept. Agric. Pto. Rico., Vol. VII, p. 13.— Schmidt, 1926, Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool., Vol. XII, p. 156. Mabuia sloanii Boulenger, 1887,, Cat. Lizards Brit. Mus., Vol. Ill, p. 193 (part) ; 1896, Jahresber. Naturw. Ver. Magdeburg, 1894-1896, p. 113.— Meerwarth, 1901, Mitt. Naturh. Mus. Hamburg, Vol. Ill, p. 135. Euprepes semitaeniatus Wiegmann, 1937, Arch. Naturg., Vol. Ill, p. 135. Tiliqua richardi Gray, 1838, Ann. Nat. Hist., Vol. II, p. 292. Mahouya sloanei Gray, 1845, Cat. Lizards. Brit. Mus., p. 94. Mabouia aenea Giinther, 1859, Am. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3), Vol. IV, p. 212 (not of Gray). Mabuia cuprescens Cope, 1862, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 186. Gonfjylus (Eumeces) agilis Reinhardt and Luetken, 1863, Vid. Middel. Naturh. Foren., Copenhagen, 1862, p. 229 (not M. agilis). Mabuya fulgida Cope, 1868, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 311 (not M. fulgida Cope, 1862). Euprepes (Mabuia) spilonotus Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1876, p. 708 (not of Wiegmann, 1837).— Stahl, 1882, Fauna Puerto-Rico, p. 159. Euprepes spilonotus Gundlach, 1881, Anales Soc. Espaii. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 311. Mabuia nitida Garman, 1887, Bull. Essex Inst., Vol. XIX, p. 51. Type locality. — St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Distribution.— The Porto Rico Survey secured this species from Baya- mon and Ensenada, on Porto 'Rico, and from Mona and Culebra islands. 123 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO No other definite localities have been recorded for Porto Eico. On Mona Island the species occurs on the low terrace as well as on the rocky plateau. In the Virgin Islands this form is recorded from St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Jost van Dyke. I am not at all convinced that the Hispaniolan skink is identical with this species. To avoid possible con- fusion I hereby restrict Garman's Mabui-a nitida to the Porto Eican form. Specimens collected. — 7: Bayamon, Ensenada, Mona Island and Cule- bra Island. Diagnosis. — A typical lizard in body-form, with weU-developed limbs, large plates on the top of the head, no occipital shield, ventral scales like the dorsals and laterals, all very smooth and shiny. Fig. 38. — Heud of Mahuya sloanii from above. A. M. N. H. No. 14007 (A) and A. M. N. H. No. 14006 (B). To show variatiou in pattern. Twice natural size. A. B. Fig. 39. — Head of Mabuya sloanii from side. A. M. N. H. No. 14007. Twice natural size. Original description. — "Sloan's skink is a slender and slini-waisted form, resembling the five-lined skink of North America but differing from it in certain notable characters. The elongate head is covered with plates ; the body is a little narrowed, and is covered, like the limbs *and the anterior third of the tail, with small imbricate rounded scales ; the rest of the tail is covered with rings or veritable verticils of scales. I have noticed under each thigh a row of small pores, but am unable to count them as some of the scales have been lost. The feet each have five slender clawed digits. "This skink is brown above and whitish beneath and is easily recognized by means of the four black longitudinal lines which begin on the end of SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 123 the snout, namely a broader one passing above each arm and prolonged to the thigh, and two others,- a little narrower, extending to the sides of the back." Remarls. — Daudin's mention of "petits grains poreux" beneath the thighs may be explainable as referring to the tubular canals of the scales, which are frequently conspicuous, for no skink known has femoral pores. In other respects his description is vague, but the identity of the species is satisfactorily fixed by the fact that the origin of the type, collected by Eichard on St. Thomas, is made known by Dumeril and Bibron. Stejneger has satisfactorily cleared up the synonymy, and I am able to add Wiegmann's Euprepes semitaematus. With seven specimens before me— three from Culebra, three from Porto Eico, and one from Mona — I am unable to find differences corres- ponding to the separate localities, other than the difference in color de- scribed below. In all specimens there are two pairs of chin-shields in contact behind the unpaired postmental. The supranasals form a suture in four specimens. The prefrontals are narrowly or widely separated by a suture between the frontal and the fronto-nasal. The supraoculars are three on one side in one specimen. Another specimen has three large occipitals on one side. The scales about the body are 33 in the specimens from Culebra and Mona, and in one from Porto Eico, 30 in the remain- ing two. The coloration is highly interesting. The three specimens from Porto Eico agree with the description of Stejneger (1904, p. 611) in hav- ing a narrow black border above the dorso-lateral light line. In the specimens from Culebra, this is increased anteriorly to include the whole of the head, neck and shoulders, leaving, however, a sharply de- fined median light line from the frontal to the shoulders, where it merges into the dorsal color. This pattern is approximated also in the specimen from Mona Island. It is evident that the type of Euprepes semitaeniatus AViegmann, described by Stejneger (1901, p. 610), corresponds accurately with the Culebra specimens. It is therefore possible that several insular forms may be distinguishable when adequate series become available. In view of the close approach of the Mona specimen to those from Culebra, I prefer to retain the use of sloanii for the entire series for the present. The measurements of the only specimen with a complete tail are as follows : 124 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO A. M. X. H. Parts measured No. 14007 Length ISO mm. Body 67 Length of head 15 Breadth of head 10 Foreleg 17 Hind leg 25 The largest specimen (from Culebra) measures 90 mm. from snout to vent. Habits. — This species is presumably viviparous like its American congeners. Nothing definite is known about its breeding habits. The "Lucia" is everywhere reported to enter houses, where its presence is supposed to bring good luck. It is most abundant in the more arid localities, and its persistence on Mona and Culebra may be in part due to the favorable habitat conditions. It was not reported at Aibonito, and probably does not enter the coffee plantations. The specimens seen in life were foimd among rocks (3), on the base of a cocoanut palm (1), in a knot hole in a fence post (1), and in the cracks of a rotten log (1). The specimen taken on Mona was in a vertical rock-fissure on the tableland. SERPENTES Suborder Synopsis of the Genera of Porto Rican Snakes A. Eyes covered by scales ; ventral scales small like dorsals ; tail extremely short (Typhlopidfe) Typhlops AA. Eyes well-developed ; ventral scales transversely enlarged ; tail elongate. B. Subcaudals undivided (Boidae) .Epicrates BB. Subcaudals in pairs ( Colubridse ) . C. Dorsal scales with one pore at the tip or none Dromicus CC. Dorsal scales with a pair of prominent pores at the tip. .Alsophis Typhlopidae Typhlops Oppel Ket to the Porto Rican Species of Typhlops A. Rostral very narrow, one-fifth to one-sixth the width of the head ; a white spot beneath the head and another beneath the tail T. rostellatus. AA. Rostral wider, one-third to one-fourth the width of the head. B. Scales on mid-line of back 365-430; venter light, with an angular notch or ring of the white color just in front of the tail T. platvcephalus. BB. Scales on mid-line of back 313-321; brown above, nearly white beneath, without a white caudal ring or notch T. monensis. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 135 Tjphlops platycephalus Dumeril and Bibron Culebra ciega Text Figs. 40 and 41 Typhlops platycephalus Dumeril and Bibron, 1844, Erpet. Gen., Vol. VI, p. 293. Typhlops luinbricalis (nee Linne) Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1876, p. 708.— Gundlach, 1881, Anales Soc. Espau. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 312.— Stahl, 1882, Fauna Puerto-Rico, p. 70, p. 160.— Stejneger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 684, Figs. 141-144 (part).— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 322 (part). Typhlops 1-ichardii (nee Dumeril and Bibron), Dumeril, 1851, Cat. Method. Rept, Mus. Paris, p. 205, (part).— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 195.— Danforth, 1925, Copeia, No. 147, p. 78. Typhlops jamaiccnsis Cochran, 1924, Journ. Wash. Acad. Sci., 14, p. 177 (part). Type locality. —Martmique (erroneously). Distributwn. — Confined to Porto Rico, where it has been collected at Aguadilla, Bayamon, and Mayagiiez. . Specimens collected. — 19 : Bayamon, Diagnosis. — A Typhlops with body scales in 22 rows anteriorly and 20 at mid-body; 365 to 420 scales from head to tip of tail; tail with a white ring or notch. Original description. — ^"This Typhlops, as its name indicates, has the head much more depressed than any of its congen,ers; the sides of the snout, in vertical profile, slope together at a subacute angle, rounded at the apex; the diameter of the body at the middle is contained almost forty-five times in the total length; the length of the tail is about one thirty-ninth of the total ; the upper part of the rostral is narrower than in the preceding species; the angle made by the posterior sides of the fronto-nasals is more acute than in T. lumhricalis or in T. richardii; the preoculars are proportionately larger and the oculars narrower than in these latter species; the upper labials are also less developed and none of them extends upward on the side of the head; the tail is a moderately slender cone, but its terminal spine is distinctly longer and more compressed; the rostral is a longitudinal band whose lower portion is shorter than the upper; the upper portion is narrow and very obtuse behind; the lower part is wider in front than behind, angulate on each side, and with a small projection enclosed by the first pair of labials ; the anterior frontal, (the true frontal), the interparietal, and the post- interparietal are similar, hexagonal, widened, and about one-half the size of the lower portion of the rostral; the supraoculars are a little larger tlian the frontal, hexagonal, and somewhat oblique to the trans- 126 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO verse line ; the parietals have the same shape, but they are strictly trans- verse, and in large part behind the oculars; a pair of post-parietals par- allels them; the nasals are scalene triangles rounded on their posterioi angles. The fronto-nasals, which do not meet behind the rostral, each has the shape of a <, with rather wide branches which narrow rapidly posteriorly; the preoculars are a little shorter than the fronto-nasals, subequilateral, two of their sides fitting into the chevron-shaped fronto- nasal; the oculars are a little higher and much narrower than the pre- oculars ; their peaks are acute and their bases rather enlarged and rounded behind; the four upper labials are oblong, the first very small, quadrilateral, higher posteriorly; the second is quadrangular, strongly rounded on its lower border, as are the third and fourth, which are triangular and increase gradually in size ; the eyes are perfectly distinct, lateral, just beneath the surface; the body scales are in twenty longi- „„,,_ Fig. 40. ^Pattern of tail of TiiiMopt %''>-vM'^^. t." ^ ^:^ PlatiMcphaJus (left) contrasted with that of T. rostcUatus (right). A. M. N. H. Nos. 1333G and 13179. A- "^^ B. ^? Natural size. * tudmal and three hundred and fifty transverse rows, with twelve trans- verse rows on the tail," Bemarl's. — Cochran (1924, p. 176) has given reasons for attaching this description to the Porto Rican species. This extremely satisfactory allocation of platycephahis has against it only the slightly low scale count given by Dumeril and Bibron, and the narrowness of the rostral. Exami- nation of types in the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris may upset this arrangement, but such a result will not affect the interesting results of Cochran's analysis of the West Indian Typhlops, which shows that the Virgin Island richardii, the Porto Eican platycephalus and the Jamaican jamaicensis constitute a series of related forms, united by her as jamaicensis. In view of their insularity and the gap due to' the lack of an Hispaniolan species of this group, I prefer to retain the three forms as distinct. The appropriateness of a subspecific nomenclature for such a series is somewhat in dispute, but where a series of more than two forms inhabit a chain of islands and exhibits overlapping but not identical characters, I see no reason against the extension of the sub- specific category to include them. The scale rows are 22-20-20 in seven specimens, 22-20-18 in seven, the reduction to 20 rows occurring a little anterior to the middle of the body. The scales from head to tip of tail on the mid-dorsal line vary SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 127 from 365 to 415, and by iucluding Cochran's counts of the U. S. National Museum specimens, this range is increased to 365-420. The coloration of this species is characteristic. The color above is brown, each scale darker on its posterior two-thirds; the underside is whitish, the dividing line between the dorsal and ventral color being extremely irregular ; the ventral color forms a notch or a complete ring about the level of the vent. The total length in fourteen specimens varies from 216 to 310 mm., average 266 mm. The diameter of the body -is contained in the total length from 34 to 44 times. Habits. — The specimens of the present series were discovered in the course of cultivation on the farm of Mr. B. A. AVall. The single speci- men secured by me personally was burrowing in the loose earth around Fig. 41. — Heads of Porto Rican Typhlops. Left to right (upper), T. platycephalus, T. rostellatus ; (lower). T. wonensis. (First two species from Stejneger ; last from Schmidt.) an old stump, in which both Typhlops and Lewiadophis eggs were found. The living specimen coiled tightly about my hand and was able to inflict a considerable prick with the sharp tail-spine. The tail is definitely manoeuvered for this purpose, and this habit has probably given rise to the many superstitions about the existence of snakes with a tail sting. Three eggs of this species, containing well-developed embryos, were removed from the soil about the same stump. The egg is elongated, like a slightly bent cylinder with rounded ends, and has a perfectly smooth, white surface. The embryo measures 98 mm. in length and 3 mm. in diameter. The smallest hatched specimens measure 114 mm. Three of the smallest specimens in the collection are in every way like the adults except that they are pale grayish white. This appears on examination to be caused by the opacity of the skin, which is nearly 128 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO ready to be shed, probably for the first time. An adult Cuban specimen in the collection has the same appearance, and the underlying skin proves to be normally colored. A certain number of the cases of sup- posed albinism in T. lumhricalis may be due to this appearance. Typhlops rostellatus Stejneger Text Figs 40 and 41 Typhlops rostellatus Stejneger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 686, Figs. 145-147.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp., Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 322.— Schmidt, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 197. Type locality. — Lares, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Confined to Porto Eico, where it has been collected at Aibonito, Bayamon and Lares. Specimens collected. — 11 : Aibonito, Bayamon. Diagnosis. — Snout rounded ; nostrils lateral ; preocular in contact with the third labial only ; nasal completely divided ; two post-oculars ; rostral very uarroM-, one-fifth to one-sixth the width of the head; scale rows 18-20 ; a sharply defined white spot beneath the tail. Original description. — "Head blunt, not depressed, snout projecting, rounded laterally; nostrils lateral; rostral narrow, about one-sixth the width of the head (1 :6.4), not extending as far back as a line between the anterior edge of the eyes; nostril on a suture completely dividing the nasal, the lower anterior part in contact with first and second, the upper posterior nasal in contact with second and third; preocular wider than ocular, its anterior angle much produced and rather acute, in con- tact with third supralabial only ; ocular with the anterior border strongly convex, in contact with third and fourth supralabials ; supralabials four, the posterior two large and reaching high up on the side; prefrontal, frontal, and interparietal scale-like, subequal; supraoculars and parietals enlarged, especially the latter; eye distinctly visible; 18 scale rows round the body; about 333 scales on the middle line of the body underneath from chin to vent, and 13 under tail ; tail ending in a spine. Color uni- form dark brown, slightly paler underneath; through the dark ground color a distinct blackish network can be traced, the meshes of which an- teriorly coincide with the outline of the scales, but becoming more and more discordant posteriorly; rostral and anterior nasal brown above, margined with whitish, underneath whitish; a very abrupt whitish spot occupying the anal region and the under side of the tail." Remarks. — This species is readily distinguished from T. platycephalus by its nearly uniform coloration above and below, and the sharply defined SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 129 white subcaiidal spot. There is little variation in the present series. The scales about the body number 30 in ten specimens, 18 in one. Stejneger had three specimens with 18 scales and onh' one with 20. The measurements of the largest specimen are as follows : A. M. N. H. Parts measured No. 13345 Total length 205 mm. Tail 5 Greatest diameter 4.5 Habits. — Xothing is known of the habits of this species, beyond the fact that it is subterranean like all Typlilops. The specimens taken by myself at Ail^onito were found under fallen logs in a coffee planta- tion. Typlilops moiiensis Schmidt Text Fig. 41 Tijphlops lumhilcalis Meerwarth, 1901, Mitt. Naturh. Mus. Hamburg, Vol. XVIII, p. 5. Tijphlops monensis Schmidt, 1926, Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool., Vol. XII, p. 157, Fig. 1. Type locality. — Mona Island, West Indies. Distrihutio?}. —Ivnown only from Mona Island. Diagnosis — Allied to Typlilops lumhricalis Linne as defined by Cochran (1924, p. 17-1) by the number of scales from head to tail; distinguished by the more pointed snout, depressed head, and the successive increase in size of the three median scales behind the rostral. Original description. — -"Head depressed, snout strongly projecting, pointed when viewed from above ; diameter contained in the total length about 40 times, varying from 3.8 mm. anteriorly, to 4.8 mm. near the tail. Eostral broader than the first median scale behind it, not extend- ing as far back as a line drawn between the anterior borders of the eyes; nostril slightly below the rostral edge, on a suture which extends from the middle of the upper edge of the second upper labial to the rostral at the lateral angle ; preocular a little wider than the ocular, in contact with the third labial; eye very distinct; ocular large, with a nearly straight anterior edge, in contact with the third and fourth upper labials; three median scales behind the rostral (prefrontal, frontal, and interparietal) successively larger, the last nearly as large as the "parietal'' (or posterior supraocular) which separates it from the ocular; four upper labials, the last largest; nasals narrowly in contact behind the rostral. "Scale rows 20 anteriorly, 20 at mid-body, and 18 posteriorly; 321 scales from rostral to tail-spine on the vertebral line. 130 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO "Color nearly uniform white, terminal part of each scale faintly dusky. "Total length 182 mm., tail 3 mm.'' Remarks. — The single paratype, Hamburg Museum No. 2039, agrees with the type in number of scale rows and in the details of head-scales.^ except that the nasals are narrowly separated by a rostral-prefrontal suture. The color is brown above, nearly white beneath, the brown pigment confined to the distal two-thirds of each scale. There is no trace of a white caudal ring or notch. Scales from rostral to tail-spine 313. It is interesting to find the Mona Island Typlilops related to the Cuban and Hispaniolan forms rather than to the Porto Eican. These two specimens were loaned for study through the courtesy of the ISTatur- historisches Museum of Hamburg. They are the only ones known. BOIDAE Epicrates Wagler The snakes of this genus are principally Greater Antillean, with rela- tives in South America rather than in Central America. There is a single species on each island, with the exception of Hispaniola, which has no less than three species. An anomaly of its distribution lies in the fact that the Bahaman specimens are conspecific with the Hispaniolan E. striatus. As in other boas, the snakes of this genus exhibit the claws at the sides of the vent which are the only external indication of the vestigial hind limbs. Synopsis of the Porto Rican and Mona Island Epicrates A. Indistinct dark dorsal markings 70-80; supraoculars about one-third as broad as the frontal E. inornatus. AA. Distinct dorso-lateral spots 51-57 ; supraoculars about one-half as broad as the frontal E. monensis. Epicrates inornatus (Reinhardt) Culebron Text Fig. 42 Boa inornata Reinhardt, 1843, Danske Vid. Selsk. Afhandl., Vol. X, p. 253, PI. 1, Figs. 21-23. CMlahothrus inornatus Jan., 1864, Icon. Ophid., Livr. 6, PI. 5, Fig. B, 1865; idem, text, livr. 2, p. 65.— Cope, 1868, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 312.— Peters, 1876, Monatsber, Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 708.— Stahl, 1882, Fauna Puerto Rico, p. 70, p. 126, p. 160.— -Garman, 1883, N. Amer. Rept. I, Ophid., p. 132 ; 1887, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc, Vol. XXIV, p. 279. Chilohothrus inornatus Gundlach, 1881, Anales Soc. Espan. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 312. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 131 Epicrates inornatus Stejneger, 1901, Proc. U. S. Nation. Mus., Vol. XXI II, p. 470 ; 1904, Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 688, Figs. 148-150.— Fowler, 1918, Papers Dept. Marine Biol., Carnegie Inst., Vol. XII, p. 14. Piesigaster boettgeri Seone, 1881, Abh. Senck. Ges., Vol. XII, p. 218, PL 1. Type locality. — Porto Eico. Distribution. — Confined to Porto Eico, where it is recorded from Bayamon, Caguas, Humacao and El Yunqne. Diagnosis. — More than nine shields on the top of the head; supra- oculars about one-third as broad as the frontal; ventrals 261-271; sub- FiG. 42.— Head of Epi- crates inornatus from above (left), after Stejneger. Head of Epicrates monensis from above (right), after Schmidt. caudals 67-75 ; scale rows at mid-body 38-42 ; about 75 dark spots in the dorsa,l row from head to vent. Original description. — "A boa with the head covered with irregular plates; eyes and nostrils lateral; labial scutes flat; dark in color (obso- lete fusca) with irregular diffuse markings posteriorly; ventral plates 264-271, subcaudals 67-69; dorsal scales at mid-body 39-41." RemarTcs. — Even the above brief description is entirely adequate, as there is only one boa in Porto Eico. In the twelve specimens known, the ventrals range from 261 to 271, the subcaudals from 67 to 7 dorsal scale rows from 36 to 43. -^5, the 132 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO I am indebted to Mr. B. A. Wall for the photograph repro- duced as Plate IV, which constitutes a record of this species from El Yuuque. Color. — Stejneger describes the coloration in life as follows : "Nearly uniform 'bistre' with ventrals and subcaudals darker, narrowly pale- edged behind; above numerous indistinct crossbars (70-80 from neck to ^ent) of dusky color witli one or two scales nearly black, thus emphasizing the spots, of which all the component rows (dorsal, dorso- lateral, lateral and ventrolateral) are recognizable; the crossbars in- crease in width posteriorly; a blackish postocular band indistinctly con- nected witli a niedio-lateral faint longitudinal line on the neck; supra- labials fading into pale brownish gray at the commissure; slight traces of rufous on rostral and other shields of face; iris silvery gray clouded with dusky. "A somewhat smaller individual (1,500 mm. total length) brought home by Mr. Bowdish is very similar in coloration, only the underside is more slate color, and the pattern much more distinct, the crossbars show- ing paler centers with blackish margins; the spots of the lateral series show a tendency to form a lateral blackish line on the anterior third of the body. "Another specimen showed hardly any traces of bars or spots; gen- eral color al)ove, chestnut, darkest on the median region and tail, gradu- ally becoming lighter toward the ventrals; the latter brownish-slate color with pale edges; throat and chin mottled dull rufous and brownish slate; scattered obscure dusky spots on flanks." Habits. — Nothing is known of the habits of this species, Disfribution. — Confined to Porto Eico, where it is recorded from Bava- mon, Caguas, Humacao and El Yunque. Epicrates nionensis Zenneck Epic-rates moncnsis Zenueck, 1898, Zeitsclir. Wiss. Zool., Vol. LXIY, p. 64, PI. 3, Figs. 58-62.— Stejneger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902. p. 692, Figs. 153-157.— Schmidt, 1926, Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool., Vol. XII, p. 158, Figs. 2-3. Epicrafcs fordii var. monensis Meerwarth, 1901, Mitt. Naturh. Mus. Hamb., Vol. XVIII, p. S. Type locality.- — Mona Island. Distribution. — Entirely confined to Mona Island, where, with Cydura, it is a conspicuous link with the Hispaniolan fauna. Diagnosis. — More than nine head shields on the top of the head; supraoculars about one-half as broad as the frontal; ventrals 259-267; SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO I33 subcaudals 79-88 ; scale rows at mid-body 33-43 : about 55 dark dorsal spots in the vertebral row on tlie body. Original description. — "The dorsal pattern on the body consists of the two uppermost rows of spots, the individual spots almost all united transversely. These dorsolateral spots are more irregular in sliape tlian in E. fordii. Their number ranges from 51 to 57. There is a single row of rather large spots on the sides, which frequently unite with the upper ones to form cross-bands. A faint postocular stri])e seems to be a continuation of the lateral row of spots. The fact tliat the lateral spots extend far downward toward the belly may indicate that they include a component part of the lower lateral row, but such a row is nowliere indicated. The dorsal rows of spots continue on the tail, while the lateral rows break off at the anus, (^n the head the lateral stripe may be absent or only very weakly indicated. The first of the dorsolateral spots lie on the posterior part of the head, and there arc very faint indications of a pair of stripes on the top of the head. Tlic dorsal ground color is light yellowish brown in juvenile specimens, the markings dark brownish black. In older specimens the ground color is much darker, so that the pattern is less sharply defined. "The distinctive peculiarities with reference to E. fordii are: a. Xuraber of spots in the dorsolateral row 51-57, as compared with 69-78. b. A single row of lateral spots instead of two. c. The frequent union of' the lateral and dorsolateral spots into crossbands. d. Head pattern very faint, except posteriorly. "The ventrals, in four specimens range from 259 to 263, the sub- caudals in two from 79 to 82. The dorsal scale rows range from 38 to 42." Remarks. — I have recently redescribed this species from a s])ecimen in Field Musemn of Natural History, collected by W. W. Brown in LS92. It is consequently more than thirty years since a specimen has been collected. Habits. — Xothing is known of the habits of this species. The tail of an Anolis cristatellus was found in the stomach of the specimen described by me. COLUBRIDAE Droniieus Kihion A word is necessary regarding the use of the generic names l)roini(iis and Alsophis. Stejneger shows that the type of Dromicus is D. cursor of 134 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Cuba, but he employs Leimadopliis for this snake and its allies because he regards Dromicus as preoccupied by Dromica Dejean, 1826. The International Commission has subsequently ruled that such a name as Dromica does not preoccupy Dromicus. It is therefore necessary to employ Dromicus for the snakes referred to Leimadopliis by Stejneger in 1904. Dunn, meanwhile (1922, p. 219), has shown that Dromicus, Alsopliis and Rhadinea intergrade in such a confusing way that he proposes to unite them all under the oldest name^ Dromicus. This results in a very large and very unwieldly group of snakes and, as the West Indian forms fall into two perfectly natural groups, I have in the present paper re- tained Alsophis as a distinct genus for the snakes with sharply defined scale-pits. Unfortunately I have complicated the synonymy by using Dromicus in Dunn's inclusive sense in describing Alsophis variegatus from Mona Island. Dromicus Stahli (Stejneger) Cnlebra Text Figs. 43 aud U Dromicus parrifrons (nee Cope). Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Ber- lin, p. 708. — Gundlacli, 1881, Auales Soc. Espafi. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 312.— Stahl, 1882, Fauna Puerto Rico, p. 70, p. 160. LeimadopMs stahli Stejneger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 695, Figs. 161-165.— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sei., Vol. XXVIII, p. 198. Type locality. — Bayamon, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Confined to Porto Eico, where it is known from Ad- juntas, Aibonito, Bayamon, Caguas, Catalina Plantation, Ensenada, Humacao, Mayagiiez and El Yunque. Specimens collected. — 21 : Aibonito, Bayamon and Ensenada. Diagnosis. — Tail less than one-fourth of the total length ; eight supra- labials, three entering orbit; scales in nineteen rows; ventrals 116-166; subcaudals 83-97. Original description. — "Rostral much broader than high, scarcely visible from above; internasal suture shorter than prefrontal suture; frontal longer than its distance from end of snout, shorter than parietals, widely separated from preocular; supraocular narrower than frontal; nasal divided, longer than its distance from eye; loreal small, as high as broad, pentagonal ; one large preocular ; two postoculars ; one large an- terior temporal followed by two smaller ones; eight supralabials, second in contact with posterior nasal, loreal, and preocular; third, fourth, and SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 135 fifth supralabials in contact with eye ; eight lower labials, four in contact with anterior chin-shield, two in contact with posterior; anterior chin- shields much shorter than posterior ones; scales smooth, without pores, in 19 rows; ventrals, 157; anal divided; 89 pairs of subcaudals. "Color pattern : On a brownish ground a narrow dusky lateral line covering the adjacent edges of the fourth and fifth scale-rows; above this line a pale longitudinal band covering the remaining part of fifth, the whole of the sixth, and other * half of seventh rows ; a median dorsal darker band of six scale-rows is thus set off, a series of elongated dusky spots on the seventh row, three scales apart, forming the limit as a line of dashes ; head above with numerous dusky spots, and a longitudinal line on the middle of the frontal and the parietal suture which in com- bination with a spot on the posterior half of each supraocular, form a fleur-de-lis-shaped figure, the median line continuing some distance down Fig. 43. — Dromicus stahli, head from above and from below. (After Stejneger.) the back; a dusky, black-edged band on the side of the head from rostal through nostril and eye over temporals and connected with the continuous dark lateral line on fourth and fifth scale-rows; labials whitish with a dusky spot on the middle of each, and a dusky oblique band from the eye to the commissure crossing the suture between fourth and fifth supralabials ; underside whitish, dusted over with minute dusky specks, which show a tendency to congregate near the ends of the ventrals so as to form a line of ill-defined spots on each side of the abdomen." Re marls. — The Survey of Porto Eico collection contains twenty-four specimens of this species. The range in number of ventral plates is slightly greater in this series than in Stejneger's series of 146-166 in twenty-three specimens. The subcaudals range from 83-94. The sexes are scarcely distinguishable by these characters. The tail-length varies from .29 to .34 of the total (.29-. 31 in $ , .32-.34 in $ specimens). The scales about the l)ody are * Probably "lower half." 136 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO imifonuly 19-19-17, The lower labials are nine, (eight in the original description). Freslily hatched specimens show the color pattern most distinctly, especially the median black markings on the head. The largest specimen, a female, measures 580 mm., tail 178 mm, Habifs. — This species proves to be still fairly abundant in Porto Rico, but its secretive habits have preserved it from scientific collectors as well as from the mongoose. It was noted at Aibonito beneath a log in a pasture, at the base of an extremely rotten stump in a coffee plantation, and one was observed that had been killed on the road by an auto- mobile. At Bayamon it was located by turning over stumps of trees which had been grubbed out, but which were quite firmly imbedded in the ground. Only one specimen contained identifiable remains in its stomach — a tail and egg of Anolis pulchellus. The tail was so coiled about tlie egg Fig. 44. — -Color-pattern of Dromicus stahli. (From Stejneger. ) that it appears probable that the egg was forced out after or during the swallowing of the lizard. It is likely that the lizard had attempted egg-laying under the edge of the stump which concealed the snake. Eggs of this species were found in three places : under a log in a pasture, and under an old termite nest in a coffee plantation, at Aibonito, and in the loose soil under a stump at Bayamon, One lot contained 7 eggs, another 13, and the third 40. The adult female found with the largest number of eggs contained 6 well-developed eggs. The eggs in this place were in three lots — IS old and discolored, in two clusters; 6 loose, somewhat different in ap- pearance; and two clusters of 6 and 10 eggs very fresh and white. Examination of the eggs showed that they contained emljryos in at least three stages, the fresher eggs having scarcely begun development, the oldest containing embryos nearly ready to hatch. The eggs found under the termite nest were also in two clusters, one of 7 eggs with advanced embryos, the other of 6, with no apparent development. The SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 137 older eggs are slightly larger, ranging from 21 to 25 mm. in length and from 12 to 15 mm. in diameter. The surface is finely striate, very white in the fresher specimens. It appears that the adult females of this species take up a location from which they do not wander far, and in which they lay successive batches of eggs, from 6 to 18 (?) in numl^er. The largest "nest" contained the remains of still older eggs which were either infertile or from which the young had hatched. The eggs are laid in clusters of 6 to 10, the individual eggs adhering firmly to the mass. The rate of reproduction is evidently fairly rapid. Droinicus exiguus Cope Text Fig. 45 Dromicun cjriguns Cope. 1862, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila.. p. 79. — Reinhardt and Lnetken, 1863, Vid. Meddel. Naturh. Foren. Copenhagen, 1862, p. 216.— Garman, 1887, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc, Vol. XXIV, p. 282.— Bou- lenger, 1894, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus., Vol. II, p. 126.— Meerwarth, 1901, Mitt. Naturh. Mus. Hamburg, Vol. XVIII, p. 14. Leimadophis exiguus Stejneger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 698, Figs. 167-169.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XTJV, p. 339. Type locality. — St. John and St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Distribution. — St. Thomas, St, John and Culebra islands. Diagnosis. — Closely allied to Dromicus stahli, from which it differs in having fewer ventrals, 134-146 instead of 151-159. Fig. 45. — Head of Droinicus exi- guus from above and from the side. (After Stejneger.) Original description.— "f>ize small; body stout; head little distinct, flat above, muzzle prominent, Eostral plate broad, presenting no su- perior surface. Prefrontals well-developed. Vertical elongate, lateral borders straight, the posterior long, forming an acute angle. Occipitals 138 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO well developed, the median or common suture shorter than the vertical plate, obtuse posteriorly, bounded by one large and five small temporals on each side. Postoculars two ; preocular one, rather broad ; loreal small. Postnasal longer than prenasal. Eight superior labials, third, fourth, and fifth entering orbit. Nine inferior labials, fourth and fifth largest. Scales in nineteen longitudinal rows. Total length of largest of five specimens 17 in. 1 lin. ; tail 5 in. 4 lin. "Above light brown, sometimes yellowish, densely punctuated with darker. ^The median dorsal region is of a deeper shade; distant dark brown spots sometimes form two parallel series, one of each side of it. A dark brown band along the fourth row of scales nearly to the end of the tail; it is sharply defined only superiorly; it is continuous with a head band which passes through the eye. Beneath yellowish, punctu- ated with brown, especially toward the extremities of the gasterosteges." Remarks. — This is the only species of snake on our list which has not passed through my hands. Stejneger's description of a Culebra specimen and his remarks on variation in this species are as follows : "Eostral scarcely visible from above; internasal suture shorter than prefrontal suture; frontal long, longer than the parietal suture, but shorter than the parietals; loreal (abnormally) joined to prefrontals; one preocular; two postoculars; one long anterior temporal, and two smaller posterior ones; eight supralabials, third, fourth, and fifth enter- ing eye (on left side nine, fourth, fifth, and sixth entering eye) ; posterior chin-shields longer than anterior ones; 19 rows of smooth scales without pores; 144 ventrals; anal divided; subcaudals, 82 pairs. Color as de- scribed under Leimadophis stahli, p. 695, but paler. Dimensions Tip of snout to tip of tail 310 mm. Vent to tip of tail 100 "The above specimen is abnormal in having no loreal. Ordinarily the loreal is very small, sometimes even rudimentary, and Eeinhardt and Luetken mention a specimen having none on the left side, preocular and postnasal being in contact. Garman mentions a specimen in the mu- seum at Cambridge, Massachusetts, having the prefrontals fused on the median line. The normal number of supralabials is 8, but the Culebra specimen described has 9 on one side. Meerwarth describes a similar specimen from St. Thomas. Ventrals (in 19 specimens recorded) vary between 134 and 146, subcaudals between 79 and 86 pairs. "The only essential difference between L. exiguus and L. stahli seems to be the lower number of ventrals in the former. Altogether 29 speci- SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 139 mens of both species have been examined and recorded, and in these the difference is marked and constant." Habits. — Nothing is known of the habits of this species. Alsophis Fitziuger Alsophis antillensis (Schleged) Text Figs. 46 and 47 Psammophis antillensis Sclilegel, 1837, Pbys. Serp., Vol. II, p. 214. Dromicus antillensis Dumeril and Bibron, 1854, Erpet. Geu., Vol. VII, Part 1, p. 659.— Giinther, 1858, Cat. Colubrine Snakes Brit. Mus., p. 129.— Cope, 1860, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila., p. 560.— Jan.. 1867. Icon. Ophid., livr. 25, PI. 1 ,Fig. 1.— Boulenger, 1894, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus., Vol. II, p. 123.— Meerwartb, 1901, Mittb. Naturb. Mus. Hamburg, Vol. XVIII, p. 12, PI. 1, Fig. 13. Alsophis antillensis Cope, 1862, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila.. p. 76.— Rein- bardt and Luetken, 1863, Vid Meddel. Naturb. Foren., 1862. p. 218.— Gar- man, 1887, Proc. Amer. Pbilos. Soc, Vol. XXIV, p. 282.— Stejneger, 1904, Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 704, Figs. 171-174.— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol XLIV, p. 336; 1917, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wasb., Vol. XXX, p. 101.— Fowler, 1918, Papers Dept. Marine Biol., Carnegie Inst. Wasb., Vol. XII, p. 14.— Scbmidt, 1920, Am. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 199. Alsophis anegadxe Barbour, 1917, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wasb., Vol. XXX, p. 102 (type locality, Anegada, outer Virgin Ids.). Type locality. — St. Thomas, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Cuba. Re- stricted to St. Thomas by Giinther. Distribution. — A^irgin Islands and Porto Eico. It is known from St. Thomas, St. John, Virgin Gorda and Anegada, from Vieques and Cule- bra, and from Coamo Springs on Porto Eico. Specimens collected. — 2 : Coamo Springs. _ Diagnosis. — Dorsal scales usually in nineteen, occasionally in seven- tween, rows; a pair of pits present at the tip of each scale; a row of black spots on the lower half of the fifth scale-row; ventral plates 170-189, caudals 116-144. Original description.— ''This species has the habitus of Psammophis inoniligev, to which it is also somewhat allied by its color pattern, but its head is much wider at the base and sharply conical; the narrow snout ends in a blunt point; the head-shields are almost like those of Psam- mophis moniliger, with the exception of the frontal, which is usually less elongate. ''The Antillean Psammophis has all its, teeth equal in length; it reaches a length of three feet; three specimens of diverse ages measure 140 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO respectively (in mm.): 760 + 290, 490 + 180, and 180 + 80; the ventrals var}^ from 178 + 100 to 204 + 144; there are seventeen to nine- ten rows of smooth, lanceolate scales. "The lower parts are yelloAv ; upper parts yellowish brown ; back with three narrow black bands, the median composed of two fine serrated f-iG. 46. — Alsoptiis antillcnsis, head from above and from side. (After Stejneger.) lines, the two on the sides of a great number of small dots; the lateral lines pass through the eye to the sides of the snout; this pattern is most distinct in young specimens; in older specimens the lines are obscure or converted into a network formed by the black borders of the scales." Fig. 47. — Color-pattern of Alsophis anfillensis. (From Stejneger.) Be marks. — The original description, based on specimens from St. Thomas, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Cuba, is a "composite species." The name has come to be restricted to the Virgin Island form by the con- sensus of opinion among herpetologists. Lidth de Jeude records Dromi- cus antiUensis from Curacao, and this is repeated by Euthven (1923, p. 9). This can scarcely be the Virgin Island species. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 141 The identification of the two specimens collected by me at Coamo Springs as this species removes the element of geographical distinctness from the allied A. portoricensls. The male specimen has only seven- teen scale rows, and so might be identified with A. portoricensis, were it not that the coloration of both specimens is nearly typical of A. antil- lensis, while the female has nineteen scale rows at mid-body. In view of the higher number of ventral plates and the distinct coloration, I prefer to retain portovicensis and antiUensis as distinct species. The two specimens agree closely in coloration with the color variety described by Barbour fron Anegada and, as I do not wish to admit of a discontinuous distribution of .4. anegadce, it seems best to include both Porto Eican and Anegadian specimens with A. antiUensis. The measurements and scale characters of the two Porto Eican speci- mens are as follows : AM. N. H. Parts measured No. 13305 d 13306 ? Length 707 mm. 820 mm. Tail 24.5 " 270 " Tail length 35 -33 Ventral plates 184 185 Subcaudals 134 132 Dorsal scales 17-17-15 17-19-15 Much the best description extant is that of Stejneger, based on a Culebra specimen, which I quote in full : "Eostral much broader than high, barely visible from above ; internasal suture scarcely shorter than the prefrontal suture ; frontal broader than supraocular, about equaling its distance from the tip of the snout and the parietal suture; nostril between two nasals; loreal moderate, trapezoid, the posterior border being strongly convex ; one preocular separated from frontal ; two postoculars, the lower one very narrow ; temporals 1 + 3 ; 8 supralabials, third, fourth, and fifth entering eye, the fifth and follow- ing ones abruptly much higher than the anterior ones; 5 lower labials in contact with anterior chin-shield, which is much shorter than the posterior; 19 rows of smooth scales with two conspicuous apical pores; 183 ventrals; anal double; 118 pairs of subcaudals. Color (in alcohol) above brownish drab, the individual scales irregularly tipped and edged with dusky; underneath whitish with dark drab mottlings on chin and throat and a series of similarly colored dots on the lateral canthus of each ventral shield, forming a dotted line on each side of the abdomen, each ventral, moreover, posteriorly more or less irregularly edged with brownish drab; a few brownish irregular spots on the labials and upper 142 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO head shields, with a double series of elongate brownish spots on the upper neck ; from anterior nasal through eye a dark-brownish streak continuing on the sides of neck and body as a broken line of elongate spots; these spots which on the sides of the body occupy the lower half of every second or third scale in the fifth scale row, the upper half being whitish or decidedly paler than the ground color." Habits. — Little is known of the habits of this species. One of my specimens was shot in an arroyo behind the Coamo Springs Hotel, the other was found at the base of the clifE behind the bath houses, beneath a stone. This specimen bit fiercely when captured. The stomach of one specimen contained the tail of an Anolis. Alsophis portoricensis ( Reinhardt and Luetken) Culebra Text Figs. 48 and 49 Alsophis portoricensis Reinhardt and Luetken, 1863, Vid. Meddel. Naturh. Foren. Copenhagen, 1862, p. 221. — Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 708.— Gundlach, 1881, Anales Soc. Espan. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 313.— Stejneger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 700, Fig. 170. (part).— Barbour, 1914, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, p. 335.— Fowler, 1918, Papers Dept. Marine Biol. Carnegie Inst., Vol. XII, p. 14.— Schmidt, 1920, Am. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 199 (part).— Danforth, 1925, Copeia, No. 147, p. 79. N"o common name other than "culebra." Type locality. — Porto Eico. Distribution. — Confined to Porto Eico, Desecheo Island and Caja de Muertos. On Porto Eico it is recorded from Adjuntas, Bayamon, Hu- macao, Mayagiiez and Utuado. Specimens collected. — 3 : Adjuntas and Caja de Muertos. Diagnosis. — ]N"ine large shields on top of head; dorsal scales in seven- teen rows, usually 17-15-14; dorsal scales with a pair of distinct pits at the tip of each; dorsal scales dark brown outlined with black, ventrals each with black posterior border. Oi-iginal description. — "Color (in alcoholic specimen), rufous brown above, the individual scales black bordered; yellow beneath, the abdomi- nal and subcaudal plates black bordered ; scales in seventeen rows, ventral plates 175, subcaudals 122." Remarks. — The N". Y. Academy's three specimens were secured by H. E. Anthony. Through the courtesy of Dr. Stuart T. Danforth, I have been enabled to examine the specimen of this species mentioned by him, and he also loaned for study a specimen secured by him on Desecheo SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 143 Island in 1926. Mr. M. Graham Netting of the Carnegie Museum kindly called my attention to the existence of two Porto Eican snakes of this species in the collections of the Carnegie Museum. I am further in- debted to Miss Doris Cochran for information on the specimens in the U. S. National Museum, and to Mr. Arthur Loveridge for notes on the two specimens in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. In all I have notes on thirteen specimens from Porto Eico, on one from Caja de Muertos and on two from Desecheo Island. My belief in the distinctness of the Mona Island species, which I dis- tinguished in 1926 primarily on what appeared to be a constant differ- PiG. 48. — Head of AlsopMs portoricensis from above, showing scale-pits in dorsal scales. (From Stej- neger.) ence in coloration, was rudely shaken by the discovery of pale colorations in Porto Eican specimens, especially Carnegie Museum No. 1333, from Ad juntas, and the Caja de Muertos specimen. An unexpected distinc- tion turns up, however, in the fact that the normal scale reduction in Porto Eican specimens is 17-15-14 or 17-15-13. When I first observed this scale count in the two Ad juntas specimens, I supposed it to be an anomaly. Ten of the thirteen specimens have the formula 17-15-14, two have 17-15-13, and one has 17-15. The Caja de Muertos specimen re- duces to 14 scale-rows, and in the Desecheo Island specimens one has the formula 17-15-14, the other 17-15. Eight Mona Island specimens have 15 scale rows anterior to the anus. .x^S ^ t i s^ R A k Yj 144 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO It is not unlikely that a pale form of true portoricensis formerly oc- curred in the arid district of southwestern Porto Eico, and the Muertos Island specimen is evidence to this effect. The Desecheo Island specimens agree quite closely in coloration with the Mona Island, species, and their relations are evenly divided by their scale counts. Additional specimens are evidently required to settle the principal affinities of the Desecheo population of this species. .'Xl/MTiWl Fig. 49. — Color-pattern of Alsophis porto- ricensis. A. M. N. H. No. 8435. Twice natural size. The range of ventrals and subcaudals in male specimens is 169-179 and 125-134. In females these counts are 175-183 and 115-128. The typical coloration was described by Eeinhardt and Luetken, and our Ad Juntas specimens and Stejneger's Humacao specimens agree excel- lently. The dorsal scales are dark brown, each scale outlined with black, and all except the anterior ventrals are heavily margined with black at their free edges. Habits. — Nothing is known of the habits of this species. Alsophis variegatus (Schmidt) Text Fig. 50 Dromicus sanctae-crucis var. portoricensis Boulenger, 1896, Jahresb. Naturw. Ver. Magdeburg, 1894-1896, p. 313; Meerwartli, 1901, Mitt. Naturh. Mas. Hamburg, Vol. XVIII, p. 11. Dromicus sanctae-crucis Bouleuger, 1896, Cat.. Snakes Bi-it. Mus., Vol. Ill p. 634 (not of Giinther). SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 145 Alsophis portoricensis Stejneger, 1904, Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 700, Fig. 170, (part).— Schmidt, 1920, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, p. 199 (part). Dromicus variegatus Sclimidt, 1926, Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool., Vol. XII, p. 160, Figs. 4-5. Type locality. — Mona Island. Distribution. — Confined to Mona Island. Specimens collected. — 3 : Mona Island. Diagnosis. — Allied to Dromicus portoricensis in scale characters, and distinguished chiefly by its coloration, in which the regular reticulation of black of the dorsal scales and the black borders of the ventrals are absent. Dorsal scale formula 17-15. Original description. — "Habitus unspecialized ; venter weakly angu- late; head large and well distinguished from the neck, somewhat de- FiG. 50. — Color-pattern of Alsophis varie- gatus. A. M. N. H. No. 13774. pressed ; body rather slender. Eostral wider than high, just visible from above ; internasal suture two-thirds that of the prefrontals ; frontal longer than its distance from the end of the snout, as long as the parietal suture ; parietals large; nasal divided; loreal small, 5-sided; a single large pre- ocular, extending to the upper side of the head, not in contact with the frontal; two postoculars, the lower much the smaller; temporals }^, with a well marked groove between them and the labials; upper labials eight, the third, fourth and fifth entering the eye; lower labials ten; chin shields slender, the posterior pair much longer than the anterior. ''Dorsal scales 17-17-15; ventrals 173; tail incomplete. 146 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO "Top of head with a few brown spots on a lighter ground color ; a black lateral line from the nostril through the eye, extending some dis- tance on the neck; a short nuchal black line from the parietal suture to the constriction of the neck; upper and lower labials and chin light, punctulate with brown dots; venter immaculate anteriorly, with slight brown markings on the angle and on the posterior margins of the ventrals toward the tail; subcaudals Avith narrow brown markings parallel to but not at the rear border ; posterior margins of the dorsal scales with irregu- lar black markings, tending to form zig-zag cross-bands." Bemarls. — The two specimens collected on Mona Island and men- tioned in my paper in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, A. M. N. H. Nos. 13773 and 13774, may be named as para- types of this species. They agree with the type described above, with the wavy dorsal cross-bands somewhat better developed. They show no approach to the coloration of the specimens of portoricensis examined by me, and Stejneger (loc. cit).) contrasts his Porto Eican specimens in the same way with one from Desecheo Island. The ventrals, caudals, and measurements of the two male paratypes are as follows : ventrals 177, 179; caudals 125, 113; total length 661 mm., 780 mm.; length of tail 213 mm., 2-48 mm. Another specimen, a female, collected by An- thony in 1926, agrees with the coloration described above. It has 179 ventrals. Meerwarth's notes on the coloration of the twenty-five Mona Island specimens examined by him confirm the constancy of this character. The extremes and averages of the ventral and caudal counts on record are as follows : No. of specimens Ventrals 41 Caudals 30 There is certainly an average difference in both caudals and ventrals in the two sexes, but the extremes appear nearly to coincide. Mr. H. W. Parker writes me that the four Mona Island specimens in the British Museum have the scale formula 17-15, and this agrees with that of the four specimens examined by me and affords the most con- stant distinction from Alsophis portoricensis. Habits. — The two specimens secured by myself on Mona Island were found hidden beneath rubbish on the low terrace of cultivated land on the south side of the island. The stomach of one specimen contained the remains of two Ameiva tails, and that of the other one tail of the same lizard. Extremes Average 170-181 176 112-126 120 SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO EICO 147 Order TESTUDINATA t Emydidae Pseudemys Gray Each of the islands of the Greater Antilles is inhabited by a species of fresh-water turtle belonging to the genus Pseudemys. This genus has a large development in Eastern North America and in C'entral America. Pseudemys stejiiegeri, sp. nov. Text Figs. 51 and 52 Emys rugosa Stahl, 1882, Fauna Puerto-Rico, p. 68.— Garman, 1887, Proc. Amer. Pliilos. Soc, Vol. XXIY, p. 286. * Clemmys dccussata Peters, 1876, Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 705.— Gundlach, 1881, Anales See. Espan. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. 307. Pseudemys palustns Stejneger. 1904. Kept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, p. 710, Figs. 179-186. Type locality. — San Juan, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Recorded only from C'aguas, San Juan, Desengaiio (Cartagena Lagoon) and Guanica Lake. Diagnosis. — A Pseudemys closely allied to the Pseudemys palustris of Jamaica and Hispaniola, from which it is distinguished by smaller size and by having the axillary and fifth marginal shields usually not in contact. Type.—U. S. X. M. Xo. 25642, San Juan, Porto Rico. Adult female collected by the U. S. Fish Commission ''Fish Hawk" Expedition. Description of type. — ' ''Shell moderately convex, the height being more than one-half the greatest width; length of carapace less than two and a half times the height of the shell and about one and one-third times its greatest width; carapace faintly keeled and with longitudinal wrinkles crossed by radiating ridges, which are especially strong on the anterior costals ; nuchal narrow ; first vertebral shield urceolate, anterior and posterior sutures of same length; lateral sutures of second, third, and fourth vertebrals much longer than the anterior and posterior sutures; vertebrals much narrower than costals; posterior margin of carapace slightly serrate, each of four posterior marginals on each side being faintly emarginate; carapace broader behind than in front, the posterior marginals flaring out considerably ; plastron less than two- thirds and more than one-half the greatest width of the carapace; the posterior lobe a trifle wider than the anterior, its length much less tlum 1 Quoted from Stejneger, 1904, p. 711. 148 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO the width of the bridge ; abdominal suture longest, equaling those of the pectorals and femorals together; humeral suture shortest; gulars pro- jecting, cut off square anteriorly; plastron slightly emarginate behind; axillars and inguinals large, latter largest; head moderate; snout short, pointed, feebly projecting; upper jaw with a very slight median notch, no cusps; jaws feel)ly denticulated; alveolar surface broad, with a deep notch behind on the median line; symphysis of mandible as broad as one-half the longest diameter of the orbit; digits connected with broad webs. Color (in alcohol) of carapace above nearly uniform tawny olive ; plastron yellowish, with obscure dusky symmetrical sinuous mark- ings all over; top of head without markings; yellowish lines narrowly Fig. 51. — Carapace and plastron of Pseudemys stejnegeri. One-half natural size. (From Stejneger.) edged with blackish on sides and under surface of head and neck, one from the nostrils crossing the upper jaw obliquely and ending abruptly at the posterior angle of the mandible, another from above the nostrils, crossing the eye of the lower posterior edge of the orbit, and thence obliquely down and backward to the corner of the mouth, continuing backward under the tympanum down the side of the neck; two fainter lines, one between the two just described and one above the transocular line, crossing the tympanum; a line on the symphysis of the mandible bifurcating on the chin and a third median line originating on the chin a short distance behind the fork, the three continuing parallel SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 149 down the under side of the neck ; two similar bnt wider lines on the upper side of the fore legs and two on the under side of the hind legs." Dimensions mm. Length of carapace 232 Width of carapace anteriorly 150 Width of carapace posteriorly 170 Height of shell 95 Width of anterior plastral lobe 90 Width of posterior plastral lobe 931 Width of bridge 88 Width of head 31 ♦ It must be added that the relation between the axillary and fifth marginal shields in this specimen is the normal one, i. e., that they are widely separated by a suture of the fourth marginal with the pectoral, as is illustrated in Stejneger's figure of another specimen, reproduced here (Fig. 51). Remarks. — Stejneger makes the comment with reference to this turtle that "There are indications at hand that there may be some constant differences between those inhabiting the different islands, but the ma- terial at my disposal is not sufficient to warrant an attempt to separate them." I have seen nineteen Porto Eican specimens and thirteen His- paniolan, but I have nevertheless hesitated at separating the Porto Eican specimens as a distinct species. I feel that there are now certain indica- tions at hand that there are two forms of this turtle in Hispaniola, which lack of material prevents me from distinguishing; and this un- certainty as to the Hispaniolan forms does not clarify the relations of the Porto Eican species. The character chosen as distinctive, the con- tact of the axillary shield with the fifth marginal or its exclusion from the fifth marginal by a contact of the fourth marginal with the pectoral shield is a trivial one. The specimens examined vary in this respect as follows : AxiUary reaching Not i-eaching: Localities 5th marginal .5th marginal Porto Rico 3 15 Hispaniola 11 2 Cuba 11 1 Jamaica 2 In the series of paratypes— U. S. N. M. No. 256-13, 25644 and 25653, A. M. K H. No. 15186, and F. M. N. H. No. 12476-12489 inclusive (the latter ex Danforth collection) — the length of the carapace of the type is not exceeded. The extremes of the Danforth -series are 150 SCIENTJFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO 100-179 mm., the average 124: mm. Three Hispaniolan specimens measure 333, 334 and 341 mm., and 1 have seen much hirger specimens at Monte Cristi. Additional information as to the adult size of Porto Eican specimens is, however, much to be desired. Fowler has discussed the color dimorphism in this species in some de- tail, and Danforth comments on it as follows : "There is a popular idea that there are two species, a green and a black one, but I have seen inter- grades between the two.'" This feature of the Porto Eican species is un- known in the Hispaniolan Pseudemys. Fig. 52. — Head of Pseudemys stejneyeri from below and from side, to show color-pattern. (After Stejneger.) Habits. — Nothing is known of the habits of this species except for the observations of Danforth (1935), which I quote: "By April they were laying eggs. For that purpose they come out on land at night, and the natives choose that time to hunt them with the aid of lights. They are sold in the markets for food. These turtles are only rarely seen sun- ning themselves." a hand-list of the amphibians and eeptiles of the vieCtIn islands In view of the fact that the Virgin Islands are frequently visited by naturalists en route for other localities, I have drawn up a table of the known distribution of the species, and added artificial keys and notes on some of the questions of interest which remain for investigation, in the hope that they may be found useful. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 151 Distributional List of the Amphibians and Reptiles of the Virgin Islands Bufo turpis Leptodactylits albilabrifi . . . . Eleutherodactylus antillensis Eleutherodactylus lentus... Hemidactylus mabouia .... Thecadactylus rapicaudus . . Sphaerodactylus viacrolepis . Anolis cuuieri Anolis cristatellus Anolis stratnlu.s Anolis pidchelhis Anolis acutus Iguana iguana Cyclura pinguis Ameiva exsul Ameiva polops Amphisbaena fenestrata . . . . Mabuya sloanii Typhlops richardii Dromicus exiguus Alsophis antillensis Alsophis sandi-crucis , Total No. Species 22 o Eh o PL, X X X X X X X X X 12 a. 3 X X X X X X X X X 10 X X X X X X X 10 03 o X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16 c o 1-5 m X X X X O H X X X X X X X Q c > CO O •-5 X .X X 03 O O M ;_ X X X o3 -o 03 be OJ C < X X X X X o o 02 X X X X X X X X X X X 13 XOTES ON HeRPETOLOGY OF THE YlKGIN ISLANDS 1. Amphibians. 1. Bujo iiirpis Barbour. Beadily recognized as the only toad in the islands. Known only from a single specimen collected on Virgin Gorda by James Lee Peters in 1915. Additional specimens for further com- parison with the Porto Rican toad are much to be desired. 2. Leptodadylus alhilabris (Giinther). General aspect frog-like. Barbour has called attention to apparent differences in specimens from St. Croix, and suggests that the species is adapting itself to burrowing habits there. 3. Eleutherodactylus antillensis (Eeiuhardt & Luetken). Coloration variable, usually uniform grayish brown, the concealed surface of the thighs reticulated with black. 4. Eleutherodactylus lentus (Cope). The uniformly mottled colora- 153 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO tion and the light dorsolateral lines readily distinguish this species. Its note is imdescribed, and its breeding habits are quite unknown, II. Eeptiles. 1. Hemidactylus mahouiu (Moreau de Jounes). It is difficult to understand why this introduced form has not become more common. It may be looked for at night on the walls of buildings near electric lights. 2. Thecaductylus rapicaudus (Houttuyn). It is not known whether this species has become established in St. Thomas and St. Croix. 3. Sphaerodactylus macrolepis Giinther. The range of variation in size of dorsal scales should be determined for Virgin Island specimens, for comparison with the data given above for the Porto Rican series. 4. Anolis cuvieri Merrem. The giant Anolis is recorded only from Tortola. It may be extinct even there, as there is no recent record. It might be looked for on St. John. 5. Anolis cristatelhis Dumeril & Bibron. The common Anolis of fence posts and open brush. 6. Anolis stratulus Cope. Often associated with A. cristatellus but a little more arboreal in its habits in Porto Rico. It should be looked for on St. Croix. 7. Anolis pulchellus Dumeril & Bibron. Also associated with A. cris- tatellus, this species is readily recognized by its more slender body and longer tail. Another species {Anolis richardii Dumeril & Bibron) with a slender body, keeled ventral scales and the occipital scale in contact with the scales bordering the orbits, was described from Tortola. Special search by Mr. Peters, who explored the outer Virgin IsJands for the Museum of Comparative Zoology, failed to re-discover this species. Anolis l-rugi, another closely allied species, might be looked for in the more shaded and moist localities on St. John. 8. Anolis acutus Hallowell, Related to Anolis pulchellus but confined to St. Croix, this species has not recently been recorded. It should be compared with Anolis poncensis of the arid district in Porto Rico for possible relationship. 9. Iguana iguana (Linne). This species is much used for food in many localities, which probably accounts for its introduction in St. Thomas. It does not appear to have become well established, but Barbour records a specimen of iguana from Water Island, near St. Thomas, in 1917. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 153 10. Cyclura pinguis Barbour. Known from a single specimen secured on Anegada by Mr. Peters. It should be further compared with the extinct Cyclura mattea Miller, from St. Thomas. 11. Ameiva exsul (Cope). Apparently exterminated in St. Thomas by the mongoose, the ground lizard is still found on the adjacent Water Island. 12. Ameiva polops Cope. Known only from the type from St. Croix. It should be looked for on the tops of the limestone hills, in the same habitat as that of A. luetmbrei of Porto Rico. 13. Ampliishaena fenestrata Cope. This species may be looked for wherever there is tillable soil. Specimens from St. Croix should be com- pared with those from St. Thomas for possible differences. 14. Mabuya sloanii (Daudin), A rare species. Virgin Island speci- mens have a somewhat different coloration from those of Porto Eico. 15. TypMops richardii Dumeril and Bibron. This burrowing blind snake can usually be secured through people who are cultivating or plowing. A series from both St. Thomas and St. Croix would be of interest for comparison with the Porto Eican specimens described above. 16. Dromicus exiguus Cope. This species like L. stalili of Porto Eico, may prove more abundant than is believed to be the case. It prob- ably is found in similar situations. 17. Alsophis antillensis (Schlegel). Formerly abundant on St. Thomas, now apparently rare. 18. Alsophis sancti-crucis (Cope). The present status of this species on St. Croix is unknown. It was not found by Noble or Euthven, who visited the island in 1914. ARTIFICIAL KEYS TO THE SPECIES I. Frogs and Toads fSkin rough; head with bony ridges Bufo turpis ^' ^ Skin smooth ; head without bony ridges ... 2 fTips of digits not at all dilated ; thigh with J dark crossbars LepodacUjhis alhilalris "■ 1 Tips of digits slightly or considerably di- lated ; thighs mottled, not barred 3 Tips of digits slightly dilated; belly smooth ; back mottled Eleutherodactylus lent us . Tips of digits well dilated ; belly granular ; back usually uniform or with narrow light line in the middle Eleutherodactylus antillen- sis 154 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO JiJ CO o J II. Lizards and Snakes CLimbs well developed 2 ■ ) Limbs absent 14 No eyelids ; skin soft, often broken in catching; digits more or less dilated.... .3 Eyelids present ; skin firm ; digits dilated or not 5 'Digits dilated only at tip, with circular plate beneath ; skin covered with over- lapping scales ; size small, less than three inches SpJiaerodactylus macrolcitis Digits broadly dilated, with transverse lamellae beneath ; skin of back covered with granular scales not overlapping ; adults larger, exceeding three inches.... 4 'Slender terminal joint bearing claw be- yond the expanded portion of digits Hemidactylus niahouia No slender terminal join on digits : claw concealed in slit Itetween expanded sides of digits Theeadactylus rapicaudns i i Digits dilated, with slender terminal joint beyond dilation ( A;io//.s-) 6 Digits not dilated 10 Scales on back (closely examined) consist of larger scales entirely surrounded by smaller granules Anolis cuvieri Scales on back not as above 7 ["Ventral scales keeled ; dorsal scales more J or less enlarged in vertebral region 8 Ventral scales smooth 9 'Enlarged occipital scale (largest median scale on head behind orbits) separated from enlarged scales bordering orbits by one or more scales Inolis pulchellus Occipital scale in contact with scales bor- dering orbits Anolis acutus 'Back with four or five well-defined trans- verse spots ; throat fan of male uniform orange Anolis stratultis 9. J Coloration extremely variable ; female usually with light longitudinal mid-dorsal I stripe; throat fan of male greenish i yellow, brownish orange at edge Anolis cristatellus 8. i 10. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO J 55 Uuder side of body covered with large plates in regular longitudinal and trans- verse series H I Under side of body covered with overlap- I ping scales like those of sides and back. .12 f Eight rows of ventral plates Imeiva polops ^^' )Ten or twelve rows of ventral plates Ameiva exsul f No dorsal fold or crest Mabuya sloanii ^~' ) Well-defined dorsal crest of spines 13 CDorsal crest continuous Iguana iguana ^^- ) Dorsal crest interrupted on rump Cyclura pinguis f Eye concealed beneath skin 15 ^^- ) Eye distinct 16 rBody covered with overlapping scales Typhlops rkhardii 15. J Skin divided into small rectangular seg- I meuts, arranged in regular rings Amphisbacna fcnestrata 'No pits at tips of scales ; dorsal scales in 19 rows; ventral plates 134-146; sub- 16. \ caudals 79-86 Dromicus exiguus A pair of distinct pits or pores near tip of each scale 1'7 ["Dorsal scales in 17 rows ; ventral plates I 191-195 ; subcaudals 145-147 Alsoph is sancti-crucis -|7 J ■ 1 Dorsal scales in 19 rows ; ventral plates I 170-189 ; subcaudals 116-144 AUophis anUllensis BIBLIOGRAPHY ^ Barbour, Thomas 1910. Notes on the herpetology of Jamaica. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. LII, pp. 271-301, Pis. 1-2. 1914. A contribution to the zoogeography of the West Indies, with es- pecial reference to amphibians and reptiles. Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLIV, pp. 200-359, PI. 1, Text Fig. 1. 1915. Recent notes regarding West Indian reptiles and amphibians. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXVII, pp. 71-78. 1916. Additional notes on West Indian reptiles and amphibians. Idem., Vol. XXIX, pp. 215-220. 1917. Notes on the herpetology of the Virgin Islands. Idem, Vol. XXX, pp. 97-104. 1919. Herpetological notes. Notes on Celestus. Proc. New England Zool. Club., Vol. VII, pp. 11-13. 1 See H. E. Anthony, 1926, Mammals of Porto Rico, Living and Extinct, Vol. IX, Part 2, of the present series, for references on zoogeography of the West Indies in general. 156 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY, OF PORTO RICO 1919a. A new rock iguana from Porto Rico. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXXII, pp. 145-148, PI. I. 1920. Sphacrodactylus. Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLVII, pp. 215-278, Pis. 1-26. 1923. West Indian investigations of 1922. Occ. Papers. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. No. 132, pp. 1-7. 1923a. Reptiles in the East and West Indies — and some digression. Amer. Nat., Vol. LVII, pp. 125-128. Baeboub, Thomas, and Noble, G. Kingsley. 1915. A revision of the lizards of the genus Ameiva. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. LIX, pp. 417-479. 1916. A revision of the lizards of the genus Cyclura. Idem, Vol. I.X, pp. 139-164, Pis. 1-15. Barboub, Thomas, and Ramsden, Charles T. 1919. The herpetology of Cuba. Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XLVII, pp. 69-213, Pis. 1-15. Bello y Espinosa, [Domingo] 1871. Zoologische Notizen aus Puerto Rico. . . . Nach dem Span- ischen frei bearbeited von Herrn E. von Martens in Berlin. Zool. Garten. Vol. XII, pp. 348-351. BOETTGEK, OSKAR 1892. Katalog der Batrachier-Sammlung im Museum der Seucken- bergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Frankfurt-am-Maiu. pp. X + 73. 1893. Katalog de Reptilieu-Sammlung im Museum der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Frankfurt-am-Main. Pt. I, pp. X + 140. 1898. Idem, Pt. 2, pp. X + 160. Boulenger, George Alfred 1882. Catalogue of the Batrachia, Salientia s. Ecaudata in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History), 2ud Ed. 1885-7. Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Natural History), Vols. I-III. 1890. First report on additions to the lizard collection in the British Museum (Natural History). Proc. Zool. Soc. London, pp. 77-86, Pis. 8-11. 1893-4. Catalogue of the snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Vols. I-IT. 1896. Ueber einige Reptilien von der Insel Mona (West Indien). Jah- resber. Naturw. Ver. Magdeburg, 1894-1896, pp. 112-114. Cochran, Doris 1924. Typhlops lum'bricaUs and related forms. Journ. Wash. Acad. Sci., Vol. XIV, pp. 174-177. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIANS OF PORTO RICO 157 Cope, Edward Dbinkee 1S62. Synopsis of the species of Holcosus and Ameiva, with diagnosis of new West Indian and South American Colubridae. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.. Phila., pp. 60-82. 1862a. Contributions to neotropical saurology. Idem. pp. 176-188. 1868. Sixth contribution to the herpetology of tropical America. Idem. pp. 305-313. 1885. On the species of Iguaninae. Proc. Amer. Philos. See., Vol. XXIII, pp. 261-271. CuviER, Georges 1829. La regne animal, distribue d'apres son organisation. Nouvelle Edi- tion, Vol. II. Danforth, Stuart T. 1925. Porto Rican herpetological notes. Copeia, No. 147, pp. 76-79. 1926. Birds of the Cartagena Lagoon, Porto Rico. Journ. Dept. Agr. Porto Rico, Vol. X, pp. 1-136, 45 figs. DUMERIL, A. M. C, AND BiBRON, G. 18.34-1854. Erpetologie general ou histoire naturelle des reptiles. Vols. I-IX, and atlas. DUMERIL, AUGUSTE, BOCOURT, F., AND MOCQUARD, F. 1870-1909. Etudes sur les reptiles. Miss. Sci. Mex. Amer. Centr., Pt. 3, Section 1, text and atlas. Fowler, Henry W. 1918. Some amphibians and reptiles from Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Papers Dept. Marine Biol., Carnegie Inst. Wash., Vol. XII, pp. 1-15, I'l. 1, Text Figs. 1-6. Garman, S. W. 1887. West Indian Batrachia in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Bull. Essex Inst., Vol. XIX, pp. 13-16. 1887a. On West Indian reptiles in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, Mass. Proc. Amer Philos. Soc, Vol. XXIV, pp. 278-286. Gray, John Edward 1838. Catalogue of the slender tongued saurians with descriptions of many new genera and species. Am. Nat. Hist., Vol. II, pp. 287-293. 1.845. Catalogue of lizards in the British Museum. GUNDLACH, J. 1881. Apuntos para la fauna puerto-riquena, III. Anfibios. An. Soc. Espan. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, pp. .305-317. 158 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO GtJNTHER, Albert 1859. On the reptiles from St. Croix, West Indies, collected by Messrs. A. and E. Newtou. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3), Vol. IV, pp. 209-217. 1880. Observations on some rare reptiles and a batrachian now or lately living in the Society's menagerie. Trans. Zool. Soc. London, Vol. XI, pp. 215-222, Pis. 42-46. Jan, Giorgio 1860-1881. Iconographie generale des ophidiens. Meerwarth, Hermann 1901. Die westindisclien Reptilien und Batrachier des Naturhistorischeu Museums in Hamburg. Mitt. Naturh. Mus. Hamburg, Vol. XVIII, pp. 1 + 41, Pis. 1-2. I Merrem, Blasius 1820. Tentamen systematis amphibiorum. Miller, Gerritt 1918. Mammals and reptiles collected l)y Theodoor de Booy in the Virgin Islands. Proc. U. S. Nation. Mus., Vol. LIV, pp. 507-511, PI. 81. MOREAU DE JONNES 1818. Monographic du mabouia des murailles ou gecko mabouia des Antilles. Bull. Soc. Philom. I'aris, pp. 138-139. NiEDEN, Fritz 1923. Anura I. Das Tierreich, Ifg. 46, pp. XXXI I -(-584, 380 text figs. Peters, W. 1876. Ueber eine von Hrn. Viceconsul L. Krug und Dr. J. Gundlach auf der Insel Puertorico gemachte Sammlung von Saeugethiereu und Amphibien, so wie ueber die Entwickelung eines Batrachiers, Hylodes martinicensis Dum. Bibr., ohne Metamorphose. Mouats- ber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, pp. 703-714, PI. 1. Reinhardt, I. Th. 1843. Beskrivelse af nogle nye Slangearter. Dauske Vidensk. Selsk. Afhandl., Vol. X. pp. 233-279, 3 pis. Reinhardt, J., and Luetken, C. F. 1863. Bidrag til det vestindiske Geriges og navuligeu til de dansk-vestin- diske Oers Herpetologie. Vidensk. Meddel Naturh. Foren., Copen- hagen, 1862, pp. 153-291. ROSENFELD, A. H. 1925. The food of Porto Rican lizards. J. Econ. Ent., Vol. XVIII, pp. 422-423. SCHMIDT, AMPHIBIAXS OF PORTO RICO 159 SCHLEGEL, HeINRICH 1837. Physionomie des Serpents, Vol. II. Schmidt, Karl Patterson 1920. Contributions to the herpetology of Porto Rico. Anm. N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVIII, pp. 167-200, Text Figs. 1-9. 1926. The herpetology of Mona Island, West Indies. Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool., Vol. XII, pp. 149-16.3. Kgs. 1-5. 1927. A new EleutheroAactylus from Porto Rico. Araer. Mus. Novitates, No. 279, pp. 1-3. Seoane, Victor Lopez « 1881. Neue Boiden-Gattung und-Art vou den Philippinen. Abh. Senck. Naturf. Ges., Vol. XII, pp. 217-224, PI. 1. 1890. Nouvelle espece de batracien anoure des iles Philippines. Mem. Soc. Zool, France, Vol. III., pp. 206-210, PI. 6. Sein, Francisco, Jr. 1927. El sapo. Revista de Agricultura, Vol. XIX, pp. 2.38-2.39, 1 fig. Smyth, E. Greywood 1920. Nuestro amigo el AnoUs. Rev. Agric. Puerto Rico, Vol. IV, pp. 11-21. Stahl, a. 1882. Fauna de Puerto-Rico. Clasificacion sistematica de los animales que corresponden a esta fauna y catalogo del gabinete zooligico de Dr. A. Stahl en Bayamon. Stejneger, Leonhard 1901. On the herpetology of Porto Rico. Tageblatt V, Intern. Zool. Congr., No. 8, Aug. 26, 1901, p. 28. 1904. The herpetology of Porto Rico. Rept. U. S. Nation. Mus., 1902, pp. 549-724, PI. 1, Text Figs. 1-196. 1905. Blunders in the scientific records. Science (2), Vol. XXI. p. 472. 1911. A new lizard from Porto Rico. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXVI, pp. 69-72. Strauch, a. 1883. Bemerkungen iiber die Eidechsenfamilie der Amphisbaeniden. Mel. Biol. Acad. Sci. St. Petersb., Vol. XI, p. 405-407. 1887. Bemerkungen iiber die Geckouiden-Sammlung im Zoologischen Mu- seum der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in St. Peters- burg. Mem. Acad. Sci. St. Petersb. (7), Vol. XXXV (No. 2), pp. 1-72, 1 pi. WoLcoTT, George N. 1924. The food of Porto Rican lizards. Journ. Dept. Agric. Porto Rico, Vol. VII, No. 4, pp. 5-37. 160 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO WiEGMANN, A. F. A. 1837. Herpetologische Notizen. Arch. Naturg., Vol. Ill, pp. 123-136. Zenneck, I. 1898. Die Zeichuung der Boiden. Zeitsclir. Wiss. Zool., Vol. LXIV, pp. 1-384, Pis. 1-8. THE FISHES OF PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Branchiostomidae to Sciaenidae By J. T. Nichols CONTEXTS rage Introduction 169 Field work in Porto Rico 160 Acknowledgments l^O Previous knowledge of Porto Rican fishes 171 Plan of work 171 Explanation of technical terms 172 Faunal discussion 175 The faunae represented in Porto Rican waters 175 Limits and relationships of the West Indian shore fauna 175 The tropical pelagic fauna 176 Tabular orientation of faunae repi'esented 177 The Gulf Sti-eam current system 177 Analysis of ranges of members of the West Indian shore fauna 178 Ontogenic adaptation to different faunae 178 Origins of the West Indian shore fauna 178 The slight Bermudian sub-fauna ISO Systematic account of the species 180 Branchiostomidae ISO Branchiosto-ma Costa 180 Branchiostoma caribaeum Sundevall 180 Asymmetron Andrews 181 Asymmetron lucayanum Andrews 181 Ginglymostomidae ISl Ginijlymostouia Miiller and Ilenle 181 Ginglymostoma cirratum (Gmeliu) 181 Galeidae 1S2 Galeocerdo Miiller and Henle 182 Galeocenlo tif/riniis Miiller and llenle 182 Carcharhinus Blainville 183 Carcharhimis falciformis (Bibron) 183 Cdfcharhinus limbatiis (Miiller and Henle) 1S3 Sphyrnidae ^^ Sphyrtia Rafinesque 184 Sphyrna zygactta (Linnaeus) 184 Pristidae 1S5 Pristis Latham 185 Pristis pectinatits Latham 185 Dasyatidae 186 Dasyatis Rafinesque 186 1(53 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Page Dasi/atis americana Hildebrand and Schroeder 186 Dasiiafis say (Le Sueur) 187 Myliobatidae 188 Actohatus Blaiuville 188 Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen) 188 Anguillidae 189 AnyuiUa Shaw 189 Anguilla rostrata (Le Sueur) 189 Leptocephalidae 189 Leptoccphalus Scopoli 189 Lcptocephalus conger (Linnaeus) 189 Mayerina Silvester 190 Mayerina mayeri Silvester 190 INIuraenesoeidae 191 MnracDCSox McClelland 191 Muracncsoje savanna (Cuvier) 191 Moringuidae 191 ApJithalmichthys Kaup 191 AphthalniicMhys caribbeus Gill and Smith 191 Myridae 192 Myrophis Liitkeu 192 3Iyrophis longleii Silvester 192 Chilorhmus Liitken 192 Chilorhinus siiensonii Liitken 192 Ophichthyidae 19.3 Sph agebranchus Bloch 193 Sphagebranchus ophioneus Evermann and Marsh 193 Myrichthys Girard 193 MyricMhys oculatus (Kaup) 193 Myiichthys acunmiatiis (Grouow) 194 Myrichthys keclcii Silvester , 194 Ophichthus Thunberg and Ahl 195 Ophichtus gomesii (Castelnan) 195 Muraenidae 195 Gymnothorax Bloch 195 Gymiwthorax moringa (Cuvier) 195 Gymnothorax funcbris Ranzani 196 Gymnothorax albimcntis (Evermann and Marsh) 197 Gymnothorax jo^rdani (Evermann and Marsh) 197 Echidna Forster 198 Ech idna catenata ( Bloch ) 198 Elopidae 198 Tarpon Jordan and Evermann 198 Tarpon atlanticiis (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 198 Flops Linnaeus 199 Flops sa urus Linnaeus 199 NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 163 Page Albulidae 200 Albula Bloch and Schneider 200 Alhula inilpes (Linnaeus) 200 Clupeidae 201 Jenkinsia Jordan and Everniann 201 Jenkinsia lamprotacnia (Gosse) 201 Sanlinella Ciivier and Valenciennes 201 Sardinella anchovia Cuvier and Valenciennes 201 Harengula Cuvier and Valenciennes 202 Harengula sardina Poey 202 Harengula macrophthalma (Ranzani) 202 Opisthonema Gill 203 Opisthonema oglinum (Le Sueur) 203 Ilisha Gray 204 Illsha hleekeriayia (Poey) 204 Engraulididae 204 Anchovia Jordan and Evermann 204 Anchoma perfasciata ( Poey ) 204 Anchovia cubana ( Poey ) 204 Anchovia hrownii (Gmelin) 205 Anchovia choerostoma (Goode) 205 Anchovia lyolepis (Evermann and Marsh) 206 Anchovia product a (Poey) 206 Cetengraulis Giinther 206 Cetcngranlis cdentiilus (Cuvier) 206 Synodontidae 207 Trachinocephalus Gill 207 Trachinocephalus mi/ops (Forster) 207 Synodiis Bloch and Schneider 207 Synodus intermedins (Agassiz) 207 Synodus foetens (Linnaeus) 208 Aulopidae 208 Chlorophthalmus Bonaparte 208 ChlorophthaliHus rhalybcius (Goode) 208 Cyprinidae 209 Carassius Nilsson 21)9 Carassiiis auratus ( Linnaeus) 209 Poeciliidae 209 Fundulus Lacepede 2(19 Fundulus fonticola Cuvier and Valenciennes 209 Poecilia Bloch and Schneider 210 Poecilia vivipara Bloch and Schneider 210 Esocidae 211 Tylosurus Cocco 211 Tylosurus notatiis (Poey) 211 Tylosurus timucu (Walbaum) 211 Tylosurus ardeola (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 211 1(34 SCIEXTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Page Tjilosurus euryops Bean and Dresel 212 TiiloNiirux raphidoma (Ranzani ) 212 Tiflomiriis (km,s (Laeei^ede) 213 Hemirauiijliidae 213 Hyporhamphus Gill 213 Hyporhumphus %imf(iHc'uitu)< (Ranzani) 213 Hcmlmmphus Cuvier 214 Hcmiramphus hrasilicnsia (Linnaeus) 214 Exoeoetidae 215 Parexocoetus Bleeker 215 Porexococtus hrachyptcnis (Solander) 215 Cyp-sclurns Swainsou 215 Cyi>f^6 Holocentridae Myripristis Cuvier — " Myripristis jacohu.s Cuvier and Valenciennes 226 Holoccntrus Seopoli — " Holocentriis ascensionis (Osbeck) --^ Holocentrus vexillarius Poey -- ' 007 Mullidae "" Upeneus Cuvier — '_ Upeneus maculatus (Blocli) — ' Jjpeneus parrus I'oey — '^ Upeneus martinicns Cuvier and Valenciennes 228 Scombndae " • /-. • 229 Auais Cuvier Auxis tMzard (Lacepede) "--^ Scomheromorus Lacepede — '' Scotuhcromonis maculatus ( Mitcliill ) —9 ScomheromoniH reynHs Blocli —^^ Scomheromorus ca valla (Cuvier) 230 001 Trichiuridae "' 001 Trichiurus Linnaeus -" Trk-hiurus Jepturus Linnaeus 2?.l 000 Carangidae ~^~ 000 Oligoplites Gill — '- Oliooplitcs snunts (Blocli and Schneider) 232 Serioki Cuvier -'^- Seriola fakata Cuvier and Valenciennes 232 Decapterus Bleeker -'"' Decapterus puiictatiis ( Agassiz) -J-J Trachurops Gill -"*" Trachurops crumenophthalmus (Bloch) 233 Caranx Lacepede — ^"* Caranx ruber ( Blocli ) 234 Caranx hartholomaei Cuvier and Valenciennes 234 Caranx Mpi)os ( Linnaeus ) — ^'^ Caranx crysos ( Mitcliill ) — ^" Caranx kttiis Agassiz -'^^ Tomer Cuvier and Valenciennes --^^ Vomer setaphutis setapinnis (Mitchill) '-'' Vomer setapinnis cuhensis Nichols 238 Sekne Lacepede - Sekne router ( Linnaeus ) — ^• Chlorosconihriis Girard -^•' Chkjroscomhrus chrysurus (Linnaeus) 239 Trachmotus Lacepede -^^ Ige SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Page Trachinotus glaucus (Bloch) 240 Trochhwtus falcaUis (Linnaeus) 241 Trachinotus caroUnus { Linnaeus) 241 >s'omeidae 242 Nomeus Cuvier 242 Nomeus gronovii ( Gmelin ) 242 Stromateidae 243 Pcprilus Cuvier 243 Feprilns paru ( Linnaeus ) 243 Clieilodiptei-idae 243 Apogon Lacepede 243 Apoyon seUicauda Evermann and Marsh 243 Apogon conklini ( Silvester) 244 Apogonlchthys Bleeker 245 Apogonichthys alutus (Jordan and Gilbert) 245 Apogonichthys stellatus Cope 245 Centropomidae -^^ Centropomus Lacepede 24b Centropomus undecimalis ( Bloch) 246 Centropomus parallelus Poey • 246 Centropomus pectinatus Poey 247 Serranidae -^' Petrometopon Gill ^^ ' Petronictopon eruentatus cruentatiis ( Lacepede) 247 Petrometopon cruentatus coronatus (Cuvier and Valenciennes).. 248 Cephalopltolis Bloch and Schneider 248 CephalophoUs fulvus ruber (Bloch and Schneider) 248 CephalopJiolis fulvus punctatus ( Linnaeus) 249 Epincphelus Bloch 249 Epinephelus adscensionls (Osbeck ) 249 Epineplmlus striatus (Bloch) 250 Epincphalus guttatus { Linnaeus) 2.51 Epincphelus morio (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 251 Alphcstes Bloch and Schneider 252 Alphcstes chloropterus ( Cuvier and Valenciennes) 2.52 Mucteroperca Gill -j- MyctC7'operca bonaci (Poey) -•^- Mycteroperca bowersi Evermann and Marsh 2.53 Hypoplectrus Gill — ^^ Hypoplcctrus unicolor chloruriis (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 254 Hypoplectrus unicolor guttavarius (Poey) 2.o4 Diplectrum Holbrook -5o Diplectrum radiale ( Quoy and Gaimard) 2oo Prionodes Jenyns -^^ PriOHodcs baldwini Evermann and Marsh 255 Bules Cuvier 2o6 Dules dispilurus (Giinther) — j" Paranthias Guichenot -^' NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 167 Page Paranthias furcifer (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 257 Rypticus Cuvier 257 Rj/pticiis saponaceus (Bloch and Schneider) 257 Rypticus coriaceus ( Cope) 258 Rypticus Mstrispinus (Mitchill) 258 Lobotidae 259 Lohotes Cuvier 259 Loliotes surinamensis (Blocli) 259 Priacantliidae 259 Priacantlius Cuvier 259 Priacantlius arenntus Cuvier and Valenciennes 259 Priacantlius criientatus (Lacepede) 260 Lutiauidae 260 Lutianus Bloch 260 Lutianus cyanopterus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 260 L utianus griscus { Linnaeus ) 261 Lutianus jocu (Bloch and Schneider) 262 Lutianus apodus ( Walbaum) 263 Lutianus aya (Bloch) 263 Lutianus vivanus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 264 Lutianus analis (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 265 Lutianus megalophthalnius (Evermann and Marsh) 265 Lutianus synagris (Linnaeus) 266 Lutianus mahogoni (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 267 Ocyurus Gill 267 Ocyurus chrysurus ( Bloch ) 267 RhmihopUtes Gill 268 RhombopUtes aurorubens (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 268 Apsilus Cuvier and Valenciennes 268 Apsilus ilcntatus Guichenot 268 FAelis Cuvier and A' alenciennes 269 Etelis oculatus (Cuvier and Valenciennes ) 269 Haemulidae -"^ Haemuion Cuvier 269 Haeniulon album Cuvier and Valenciennes 269 Hacmulon niacrostomus Giinther 270 Haemulon bonaricnse Cuvier and Valenciennes 271 Haemulon parra (Desmarest) 271 Haemulon carbonarium Poey 272 Haemulon melanurum (Linnaeus) 273 Haemulon sciurus ( Shaw ) - ' "^ Haemulon plumieri (Lacepede) 2(4 Haemulon flaiolineatum (Desmarest) 274 Bathy stoma Scudder - ' 'j Bathystoma rimator (Jordan and Swain) 275 Bathy stoma auroUneatum (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 275 Bathystoma striatum (Linnaeus) 2<6 Anisotremus Gill - ' " 1(58 SIOIEXTIFIC f 284 Xystaema Jordan and Evermann 284 Xystaema cinereum ( Walbaum) 284 Xystaema havana Nichols 285 Diapterus Ranzani 286 Diapterus rhombeus (Cuvier and Valenciennes ) 286 Diapterus oUsthostomus (Goode and Bean ) 286 Diapterus plumieri (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 287 Diapterus plumieri (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 287 Kyphosidae 288 Kyphosus Laeepede '. 288 Kyphosus incisor (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 288 Kyphosus sectatrix (Linnaeus) 288 Sciaenidae 289 Cynoscion Gill 289 Cynoscion jamaicensis ( Vaillant and Bocourt ) 289 Larimus Cuvier and Valenciennes 290 Larimus breviceps Cuvier and Valenciennes 290 Ofloufosrion Gill 290 Oiloiitoscioii dented- ( Cuvier and Valenciennes) 290 Corvtila Jordan and Eigenmann 291 Corvula sanctae-luciae Jordan 291 Corvula batahana ( Poey) 291 Bairdiella Gill 291 MCHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN If< 207 Distribution. — West Indian fauna, rather common about the Greater Antilles, but apparently not common in Porto Rican waters. Diagnosis.— Head 3.3 to 3.3; depth 3.3 to 3.4; eye 3.5 to 4. Dorsal 14 to 15; anal 23; scales 42. Attains a length of 6 inches. Synodontidae Trachinoeephalus Gill TrachinoceplialiLS inyops (Forster) Ground spearing; lagarto Salmo my ops Forster, 1801, MS., Bloch and Schneider, Syst. Ichtb., p. 421. Trachinoeephalus myops Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 91. Fig. ^'1.— Trachinoeephalus myops ^^ ^^^-_il_ &> _ ^ _ ^., •--;-- • From Zoologica, IX ^^^s^. ) ^^^^ ^'^^ ' ^ ' Type locality. — St. Helena. Distribution. — West Indian fauna from South Carolina to Brazil, and southward, occasionally north to Massachusetts. Eare in Porto Eican waters. Dia^gnosis.— Head 3.4; depth 5; eye 6.4. Dorsal 12; anal 14; scales 58. Attains a length of about 9 inches. Synodus Bloch and Schneider Synodus interniedius (Agassiz) Sand diver ; lizard-fish Sauriis intermedins Agassiz, 1829, in Spix, Piscium Brazil., p. 81, PI. XLIV. Synodus intermedius Evermanu and Marsh, 1902, p. 92. Fig. 43. — Synodus intermedius ^^ ^JMy ^^ From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — Southern Florida to Brazil, generally rather common. Fairly common in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 3.8 ; depth, 7 ; eye 7. Dorsal 11 ; anal 11 ; scales 49. This species attains a length of from 10 to 12 inches. Remarhs. — Lizard-fishes have little or no food value. 208 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Synodus foetens (Linnaeus) Galliwasp ; lizard-fish ; lagarto Salmo foetens Linnaeus, 1766, Syst. Nat, ed. 12, p. 513. Synodus foetens Evermaun and Marsh, 1902, p. 92, Fig. 16. Fig. 44. — Synodus foetens From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — South Carolina. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Cape Cod to Brazil, very common from South Carolina southward. Not uncommon in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 4; depth 8; eye 8. Dorsal 10; anal 12; scales 60. This species grows to be a foot in total length. HaMts. — The lizard-fish frequents sandy shores. It rests on the bot- tom, prepared to attack with lightning speed and devour any luckless smaller species that swims within range. Its mottled gray or brown color gives it a low visibility on the bottom, of aggressive rather than protec- tive usefulness. Young an inch or two long are translucent, with pairs of oval pigment spots along the midline, and may have habits somewhat like those of the related lantern fishes. AULOPIDAE Chlorophthabiius Bonaparte Chlorophthalmus chalybeius (Goode) Green-eye Hyphalonednis chalybeius Goode, 1881, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1880, p. 484. Chlorophthalmus chalybeius Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 93. Type locality. — Gulf Stream, off Block Island. Distribution. — Off the Atlantic coast of America from Ehode Island to Porto Eico, at depths of from 85 to 220 fathoms. A single specimen (21/2 inches long), Mayagiiez Harbor, P. E., at a depth of 220 fathoms. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 6; eye 2.5. Dorsal 9; anal 6; scales 51. Remarl-s. — The Porto Eican specimen of this interesting fish is so identified by Evermann and Marsh, though showing slight differences from the type taken off Block Island. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 209 Cypkinidae Carassius Nilsson Carassius auratus (Linnaeus) Goldfish Cyprinus auratus Liumvus, 1V58, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, Vol. I, p. 322. Carassius auratus Nichols, 1915, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. His., Vol. XXXIV, p. 141. Fig. 45. — Carassius auratus Type locality. — China and Japan. Distribution. — A native of eastern Asia, introduced cosmopolitan m temperate fresh waters. In 1914 the goldfish was said to he abundant at Isabella, P. E., in the northwest corner of the island. It had recently been placed in a small pond in the hills above Guayama, where it seemed to be doing well. Specimens collected. — 1 : Governor's House near Guayama. Diagnosis.— HeAd 3.6; depth 2.4; eye 3.4 (specimen of about 4 inches standard length). Dorsal II, 16 to 20; anal II, 5; scales 26 to 28. Dorsal in the middle of the back; last simple dorsal and anal rays spinous, serrate behind. No teeth in the mouth. The usual striking golden color is replaced by inconspicuous olivaceous shades in the very young and some grown feral individuals. POECILIIDAE Fundulus Lacepede Fuiiduliis fontit'ola Cuvier and Valenciennes Porto Rican killifish Fundlus fonticola Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1846, Hist. Nat. Poiss.. Vol. XVIII, p. 198. Fundulus fonticola Evermanu and Marsh, 1902, p. 96. 210 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 46. — Fiindulus fonticola Type locality. — Porto Rico. Distnhution. — Known only from mountain springs in Porto Pico; rare. Diagnosis. — Head broad, little depressed. Tail more slender and body deeper than in Fundulus heteroclitus. Body plump, with a long caudal peduncle. Dorsal 11; anal 12; scales 37. Poecilia Bloch and Schneider Poecilia vivipara Bloch and Schneider Viviparous tooth-carp; top-minnow Poecilia vivipara Bloch and Schneider, 1801. Syst. Ichth., p. 452, PI. 86. Fig. 2. Poecilia vivipara Everninnn and Marsh. 1902. p. 97. Fig. 47. — Poecilia vivipara Type locality. — Surinam. Distribution.— ^vesh waters in Brazil, Guiana, Martinique and Porto Pico. In Porto Pico found near Ponce and Fajardo, and at Arroyo and Hucares, — abundant. Specimens collected.— 20: Mouth of the Loiza Piver. 18: Guanica. Diagnosis.— Ue&d 3.6 ; depth 3.5 ; eye 3.5. Dorsal 7 ; anal 8 ; scales 25. Length 3 or 4 inches. Habits. This species belongs to that division of the tooth-carps or killifishes in which the eggs hatch within the body cavity of the mother fish, and young are brought forth "alive." A^iviparous tooth-carps are very plentiful in the middle Americas in respect to individuals, species and o-enera. Their small size and the numerical abundance which they attain in restricted sluggish fresh waters renders them an effective factor in mosquito control. This is the only species of top-minnow that occurs in Porto Pico unless others have been recently introduced. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS o^i ESOCIDAE Tylosurus Cocco Tjiosurus notatus (Poey) Needlefish ; long- jaws ; agujon BeJone notata Poey, 1860, Memorias, Vol. II, p. 293. Tylosurus notatus Silvester, 1916. Yearb-Carn. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 215. Porto Rico. Fig. 48. — Tylosurus notatus Type locality. — Havana. Distribution. — West Indies, north to Pensacola, Fla. Diagnosis.— Re^di 2; depth 5 (in head). Dorsal 13; anal 13 (count- ing developed rays only) ; scales 150, 85 before dorsal. Body robust, not compressed. Peduncle compressed, deeper than broad, without trace of a keel. Length about 20 inches. Tylosurus timucu (Walhaiim) Needlefish ; agujon Esox timucu, Walbaum, 1792, Artadi Piseium, Vol. Ill, p. 295; after Marc- grave. Tylosurus timucu Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 99. Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — Florida Keys to Brazil. Not uncommon in Porto Pican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 2.7 to 2.8; depth T (in head) ; eye 2.3 to 2.8 in post- orbital part of head. Dorsal 15; anal 17; scales 225, about 150 before the dorsal. Caudal peduncle compressed, deeper than broad, without trace of a keel. Length about 18 inches. Tylosurus arcleola (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Needlefish ; agiajon Belone ardeola Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1846, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. XVIII, p. 425. Tylosurus ardeola Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 99. 212 SCIEXTIFW SURVEY OF PORTO RICO mrnmr. 3*;^^ ■^, -.- ■- ■ — _^ ^^g^ Fig. 49. — Tylosurus ardeola Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, not common. Three or four rec- ords in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 3.7 to 3.8; depth 8 (in head) ; eye 7. Dorsal 13; anal 17; scales moderate, about 150 before the dorsal. Caudal peduncle depressed, broader than deep, with a keel. Length a foot or more. Tjiosurus euryops Bean and Dresel Needlefish ; long-jaw ; agujon TylosurKs euryops Bean and Dresel, 1884, Proe. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1884, p. 168. Tylosurus euryops Nichols, 1915, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 142. Porto Rico. Type locality. — Jamaica . Distribution. — Cuba and Jamaica, not common. A few small ones re- corded from San Juan Ba}^, P. R., in summer, possibly the young of T. timucu. Specimens collected. — 1 : San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 3 ; depth in head 6 ; eye in postorbital part of head 2.2. Dorsal 15; anal 17; scales 200. Eegion above base of pectoral without a black spot; 140 to 150 scales before the dorsal fin; peduncle compressed, deeper than broad, without trace of a keel. Tylosunis raphidoina (Ranzani) Neefllefish ; hound-fish : agujon • Beloiic raphidoina Kauzani. 1842, Nov. Comm. Ac. Nat. Sci. Inst. Bonon., Vol. V, p. 359, PI. XXXVIII, Fig. 1. Tylosurus raphidoma Evernianu and Marsh, 1902, p. 99, Fig. 17. S[t]r(tii!iylura raphidoma Beebe and Tee Van, 1928, Zoologiea, Vol. X, p. 63. ,^ .T — ^^aeaszaa^,^^ T^iG. 50. — Tijlosuriis raphidoma ' ^"^ — '^^ R'- :l:^.5s s^''~^^, From Zoologiea, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — Generally abundant in the West Indies, from the Florida Keys to Brazil. The young drift northward abundantly to the Capes of the Carolinas, and occasionally to Xew Jersey. Tylosurus NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 213 rapliidoma is the most numerous species of the genus in Porto Eican waters, where it is generally distributed. Diagnosis. — Head 3.3 ; depth 3.4 in head ; eye 7 in snout, 2.66 in postorbital part of head. Dorsal I, 20 to 24; scales about 350. Caudal peduncle slightly depressed, with a slight black keel; caudal fin un- equally lunate. Attains a length of from 3 to 5 feet. Habits. — Much preyed upon by barracudas. The young found among broken drifting eel grass, to which they bear a concealing resemblance (E. W. Gudger). Tylosurus acus (Lacepede) Houndfish ; agiijon Sphyraena acus Lacepede, 180.3, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. V, p. 6, PI. I, Fig. 3. Strongylura acus Fowler, 1928, Proc. Ac. Sci. Phila., p. 463. Porto Rico. Fig. 51. — Tylosurus acus From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indies, occasionally northward to Buzzards Bay. A Mediterranean species may be identical. Recorded from Porto Eico by Fowler. Diagnosis. — Head 2.G ; depth 18.5 ; eye about 2.5 in postorbital part of head. Dorsal 23; anal 21 to 22; scales 380 to 400. Keel on the peduncle strong, black; caudal deeply and unequally emarginate; no definite silvery lateral band. Eeaches a length of 4I/2 feet. Habits. — Houndfishes swim near the surface, hovering on the out- skirts of schools of smaller surface fishes, which seek to escape their periodic piratical raids by scattering in all directions, often leaping into the air. This and other big needle-fishes are themselves proficient in leaping. Their long bodies shoot out of the water and through the air as might a thrown spear or javelin, and there are said to be instances of their thus by chance striking and wounding fishermen in small boats. Hemiramphidae Hyporliaiiiphus Gill Hyporhamphus unifasciatiis (Ranzani) Half-beak ; escribano Hemirhamphus unifasciatiis Ranzani, 1842, Nov. Comui. Ac. Sci. Bonon., Vol. V, p. .326. Hyporhamphus unifasciatiis Evermann and Marsb, 1902, p. 101, Fig. 18. 214 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO ••' ^'^^'■■.^^>-. '!'^^~rrX ^^ From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Key West to Eio de Janeiro, com- mon. Common in Porto Rican Waters. Diagnosis.— ]1qa(\. 4.6; depth 6.8; eye 4. Dorsal 14 or 15; anal 14 to 16 ; scales 52. Caudal fin equally lunate. Attains a length of about a foot. RemarJcs. — Extensively used for food. Habits. — More numerous in shallow water near shore than is the fol- lowing species, less given to leaping. Heniirainphus Cuvier Heniiraniphus brasiliensis (Linnaeus) Half -beak ; ballyhoo ; balao Esox hrastUensis Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 314 ; after Browne. Hemirhamphiis hrasiUeiisis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 102, Fig. 19. -r^!=r r^ TT wT^*^"^^ Fig. 53. — Hemiramphtis brasiliensis ^-^V, ^- ^ ^ u-L;;;^-^-^^^^^ From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Jamaica. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, common off shore. Generally dis- tributed in Porto Rican waters. St. Croix. Diagnosis. — Head 4.2; depth 6.2; eye 3.8. Dorsal 13 or 14; anal 12 or 13 ; scales 53. Caudal fin unequally forked, the lower lobe the longer. Attains a length of 15 inches. Habits. — The Spanish name, "balao,'' refers to the habit of the fish to skitter over the surface of the water propelled by the strong lower lobe of the caudal fin. Some such fish was ancestral to the flying-fishes, and it is easy to understand how, given this habit, the pectoral fins, at first used only to raise and steady the half-beak's head, should have in- creased in size so as to lift the flying-fish into the air. The ballyhoo feeds chiefly on algae, its peculiar spear-like lower jaw being presumably an adaptation for collecting small floating particles of food at the surface. This character of an elongate lower jaw is shared by certain young needlefish, ancestral to the half-beaks, and by certain young flying-fishes, to which the half-beaks are ancestral. Ac- cording to our interpretation it is a character which serves a method of NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 215 feeding more favorable for small than for larger fishes, and hence has had greater permanence in the young than in the adults of this single evolutionary series. EXOCOETIDAE Parexoceetus Bleeker Parexoooetus brachypterus (Solander) Short-winged flying-flsh ; volador Exocoetus hraclnjiiicnis Solander, 1846, in Richardson Ichthyol. Chin., Proc. Brit. Assoc, 1846, p. 265. Parexocoetus mesogaster Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 103. Parcxocoetus hrachmttrniH Meek and Ilildebrand, 1923, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 1. Fig. 54. — Parexocoetus irachypterus From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Otaheite. Distribution. — Common in tropical seas, East Indies, West Indies, Hawaiian Islands. Apparently the commonest flying-fish about Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 4.4; depth 5; eye 3. Dorsal 12; anal 13; scales about 38. Attains a length of T inches. Cypseluriis S\Aainson Cypselurus bahiensis (Ranzani) Bahia flying-fish ; volador Exocoetus 'bahiensis Ranzani, 1842, Nov. Comm. Ac. Sci. Inst. Bonon., Vol. V, p. 362, PI. XXXVIII. Cypsiliiriis hahiensis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 104. Fig. 55. — Cypselurus hahiensis From Zoologica. X Type locality. — Bahia. Distribution. — Off tropical American coasts in both Atlantic and Pacific, plentiful. Xorth to Cuba, and one Porto Eican record. 21(3 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Diagnosis. — Head 4; depth 5; eye 3.1. Dorsal 13; anal 9; scales about 50. Attains a length of 8 to 12 inches. AULOSTOMIDAE Aulostonius Lacepede Aulostomus maculatus Valenciennes Ti-umpet-flsh ; trompetero Aulostoma maculatum Valenciennes, abt. 1845, in Cuvier's Illst. Poiss., PI. XCII, Fig. 2. Aulostomus maculatus Everniann and Marsh, 1902. p. 105, Fig. 20. - ^ . - . .i.fA^^A^ ^ — ^^^ PiQ 56 — Aulostomus maculatus F'rom Zoologica, X Type locality. — Uncertain. Distribution.— CsiTTihheaLn Sea, north to southern Florida. Appar- ently not common about Porto Eico. Eecorded from St. Croix. Diagnosis. — Head 3 ; depth 11 ; eye 3 to 2.5 in postorbital part of head. Dorsal X-23 ; anal 25 ; body covered with fine ctenoid scales. Attains a length of 2 feet. FlSTULARIIDAE Fistularia Linnaeus Fistularia tabacaria Linnaeus Cornet-fish ; trompetero Fistularia tahacarin Linnaeus, 1758. Sys. Nat., ed. 10, p. .312. Fistularia tabacaria Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 106. Fig. 57. — Fistularia tabacaria From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — "America." Distribution. — West Indies and neighboring seas, generally common, occasionally northward to Florida and Carolina, casually to Massachu- setts. Not common in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 2.8. Dorsal 14; anal 13; scale-less, but with bony plates, mostly covered by skin. Attains a maximum length of 6 feet, usuallv much smaller. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 317 Syngnathidae Syngnathus Linnaeus Syngnathus maokayi (Swain and Meek) Mackay's pipe-fisti Siphostoma mackayi Swain and Meek, 1884, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1884, p. 239. Siphostoma mackayi Evermann and Marsli, 1902, p. 107. Fig. 58. — Syngnathus mackayi From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Key West. Distribution. — Gulf of Mexico and West Indies, known from off Pen- sacola, Key West, Haiti, Cozumel, Yukatan, etc. One of 7 inches re- corded from Mayagiiez, P, E. Diagnosis. — Head 5.66 to 6.25 in total length. Dorsal 39 to 32; rings 18 + 33 to 36. Syngnathus floridae (.Jordan and (lilbert) Florida pipe-fisti Siphostoma floridae Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, Proe. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1882, p. 263. Siphostoma floridae Evermann and Marsb, 1902, p. 107. Fig. 59. — Syngnathus floridae Type locality. — Pensacola, Fla. Distribution. — North Carolina to Texas. Three specimens seined in Ensenada del Boqueron, P. E. Diagnosis. — Head 6 to 6.5 in total length. Dorsal 27; rings 17 to 18 + 31 to 32. Habits. — This is a rather common species on sandy continental shores. Syngnathus elucens Poey Pipe-fish Syngnathus elucens Poey, 1867, Synopsis, p. 443. Havana. Siphostoma elucens Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 108. 318 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 60. — Syngnaihus elucens From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Havana. Distribution. — Known from Havana, Haiti, and Porto Eico, whence one 6 inches long is recorded. Diagnosis. — Head 7 in total length; depth 3.6 in head. Dorsal 23, on 1 + 4 rings; rings 17 + 32. Sjngiiathus jonesi Giinther Jone's pipe-flsh SyngnatJius jonesi Giinther, 1874, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (4), Vol. XIV, p. 8. Siphostoma jonesi Evermann and Marsli, 1902, p. 108. Type locality. — Bermuda. Distribution. — Bermuda and Porto Eico. Diagonsis. — Head and snout short, the latter somewhat bent upward, shorter than postorbital part of head. Dorsal 18, on 1 + 5 rings; rings 17 + 32. Habits.— The pipefishes are small attenuate fishes, encased in rings of bony armature. They hide among weed and often drift considerable distances in ocean currents. Xumerous species are plentiful on con- tinental shores adjacent to the West Indies, and others are known only from the islands. The few species and individuals recorded from Porto Eican waters may have drifted there from distant centers of greater abundance. The male pipe-fish carries the eggs and small young in a pouch placed under his tail. Two small males of this species, their pouches with eggs, were taken in 11: fathoms of water between Vieques and Culebra. Hippichthys Bleelier Hippichthys cayoriun (Evermann and Kendall) Short-nosed pipe-fish Corythroichthys cayorum Evermann and Kendall, 1898, Bull. U. S. Fish. Comm. for 1897, p. 128, PI. VII, Fig. 7. Corytliroiclitliys cayorum Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 108, Fig. 21. Fig. 61. — Hippichthys caiioritm Type locality. — Key West. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, from Key West to Porto Eico, rare. Diagnosis. — Head 8.6; depth 12.6; eye in head, 4.33. Dorsal 21, on iy2 + 31/2 rings; anal 3; rings 17 + 26 ==43. Length from 4 to 5 inches. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ;> 1 !) Hippichthys ensenadae (Silvester) Short-nosed pipe-fish Corythroiclithys ensenadae Silvester, 1916, Yearbook Carn. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 215. Fig. 62. — Hippichthys ensenadae ,-f"^' ' mh i n i iniiniM hniuinHdiii Type locality. — Ballenas Point, P. E. Distribution. — Known only from Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 9 ; eye 5. Dorsal 19, on 1 -|- 4 rings ; anal 2 ; rings 18 + 33. Body with 23 yellow and 22 brown color rings, which break up on ventral surface of belly. Length about 4 inches. Remarlcs. — Known only from the type. Habits. — The fish was secured from a bunch of coral. Doryrhamphus Kaup Doryrhamphus sierra Nichols Rough pipe-fish Doryrhamphus sie>'ra Nichols, 1915, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 142, Fig. 1. . g3;gqrr -|-)-H-l-W FTTFyHl Fig. 63. — Doryrhamphus sierra Type locality. — Mouth of Loiza Eiver, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Known only from the type locality, where several speci- mens were taken. Specimens collected. — 12 : Mouth of the Loiza Eiver. Diagnosis. — Head in length to base of caudal 5.9 ; depth in head 5.6 ; eye in head, 8.8. Dorsal about 43, on 2^/2 + 5I/2 rings; rings 20 -|- 25. Snout 1.7' in head; caudal large, a little longer than head without snout (specimen 79 mm. standard length). Eidges on body high, sharp, ser- rate. Eemarhs. — In pipe-fishes of this genus the brood-pouch of the male is located on the abdomen, not the tail. They are apt to frequent the mouths of rivers but are rare in West Indian waters. There is so much difference between young and adults that the nunil:)er of good species is uncertain. 320 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Hippocampus Rafinesque Hippocampus punctulatus Guichenot Sea-horse; cabalito del mar Hippocampus punctulatus Guichenot, 1860, in Sagra's Cuba, Poiss., p. 174, PL V, Fig. 2. Hippocampus punctulatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902. p. 109. Fig. 64. — Hippocaitiptis punctulatus From Zoologica. X Type locality. — Cuba. Distribiiiion . — Tropical parts of the Atlantic, common in southern Florida, the West Indies, Brazil and Western Africa. Uncommon in Porto Eican waters. Specimens collected. — 1 : San Juan. Diagnosis. — Snout about 2.6 in head; eye 2 in snout. Dorsal 18, cov- ering 2^ -|- 1 rings; rings 12 -|- 30. Length of this species from 3 to 5 inches. Habits. — The grotesque- little sea horse, with head and shoulders like a knight in the game of chess, is related to the pipe-fishes, and shares with them their peculiar reproductive habits. It swims in an upright position and has a finless prehensile tail. Atherinidae Atherina Linnaeus Atherina stipes Miiller and Troschel Broad-headed silverside ; cabezote Atherina stipes Miiller and Troschel, 1848, in Schomburgk, Hist. Barb., p. 671. Atherina stipes Evermann and Marsh, 1902, Fig. 22. Hepsetia stipes Beebe and Tee Van, 1928, Zoologica, Vol. X, p. 88. Atherina laticeps Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 111. Fig. 65. — Atherina stipes From Zoologica, X NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 221 Type locality. — Barbados. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, north to Western Florida, abund- ant in Porto Rican waters as elsewhere. Specimens collected. — 2 : San Juan. Diagnosis.— Head 3.5 to 3.8; depth 4.6 to 5.2; eye 2.2 to 2.4. Dorsal IV or V-I, 8 to 10 ; anal I, 10 to 12 ; scales 36 to 38. Length about 3 inches. Remarl-s. — A most important food of larger fishes. Atherina araea Jordan and Gilbert Silverside Atherina araea Jordan and Gilbert, 1884, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1884, p. 27. Atherina araea Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. Ill, Fig. 23. Atherina stipes Evermann and Marsb, p. 110, text, not the figure. Fig. 66. — Atherina araea ^S) ^ ^^^"\\Vt ^^^ From Zoologica, X ^~-=ic ^r) >sss? ^^^^ Type locality. — Key West, Fla. Distribution.— West Indian fauna, north to Florida. Uncommon in Porto Rican waters. Diagnosis.— Head 4. to 4.6; depth 5.3 to 6.6; eye 2.4 to 2.8. Dorsal V or VI-I, 9 to 10; anal I, 10 to 13; scales 41 to 45. Length 2 to 3 inches. Remarhs. — In most localities less plentiful than the preceding, but reported to be the most abundant species in Haiti. Probably only ra- cially distinct from .1. harringtonensis of Bermuda. MUGILIDAE Mugil Linnaeus Mugil brasiliensis Agassiz Southern mullet; liza; le brancho Mugil brasiliensis Agassiz, 1829, in Spix, Pise. Brasil., p. 2.34, PI. LXXII. Muffil hrasiUensis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 112. Fig. 67. — Muyil brasiliensis 232 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Type locality. — Atlantic Ocean off Brazil. Distribution. — Cuba to Patagonia, common throughout the West In- dies and along the coast of Brazil. Abundant in Porto Rican waters. St. Croix. Diagnosis. — Head 4; depth 5; eye 5.75. Dorsal IV-I, 8; anal III, 8; scales 35. Vertical fins almost scaleless. Length from 16 to 18 inches. Eemarls. — An important and esteemed food fish abundant in the markets of Porto Pico. Mugil curema Ciivier and Valenciennes White mullet ; liza ; Josea Muoil curema Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. XI, p. 87. Brazil, Martinique and Cuba. Mugil curema Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 113. £\ ~-.-,.__^^ Fig. 68. — Mugil curema '■-''' i ■ ,"-" ': -' -■ ■ ' 3— -^^^^iv From Zoologica, IX ■ « Type localities. — Brazil, Martinique and Cuba. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, north to Cape Cod; and tropical American Pacific waters, south to Chile; particularly common in the tropics. Plentiful aliout Porto Rico, where it enters the Rio Grande River to Caguas. Specimens collected. — 3 : San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 4 to 4.4; depth 3.9 to 4.5; eye 4, Dorsal IV-I, 8 ; anal III, 9 ; scales 38. Soft dorsal and anal fins well scaled. Length a foot or less. Remarks. — An important food fish. Mugil trichodon Poey Fan-tail mullet ; liza Mugil trichodon Poey, 1875, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., Vol. XI, p. 66, PI. VIII, Figs. 4 to 8. Mugil trichodon Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 113. '(Si ^^ '^^^f Fif5- QQ-— Mugil tricJiodon NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 223 Type locality. — Cuba. Distrihution.— Florida. Keys to Brazil. Uncommon in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis.— Head 4.2; depth 3.6; eye 4. Dorsal lY-I, 8; anal III, 8; scales 33. Soft dorsal and anal fins well scaled. Attains a length of from 6 to 10 inches. Habits.— This is a rather small species and a very active jumper. It seems to be more numerous on continental shores than in the West Indies. Agonostomus Bennett Agonostomus montioola (Bancroft) Fresh-water mullet; dajao Mugil monticola Bancroft, 1836, In Griffith's edition of Cuvier's Animal King- dom, Fishes, p. 367, PI. XXXVI. Agonostomus monticola Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 114, Fig. 25. Fig. 70. — Agonostomus vionticola From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Uncertain. Distribution.— Fresh waters of the West Indies and eastern :\rexico. Abundant in the fresh-water streams of Porto Rico. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 3.8; eye 6. Dorsal IV-I, 8; anal III, 9; scales 42. Attains a length of 11 inches; usually smaller. Remarks. — ^Is used for food. Habits. — A proficient jumper. Sphyraenidae Sphyraena Bloch and Schneider Sphyraena barracuda (Walbaum) Great barracuda ; picuda Esox barracuda Walbaum, 1792, Artedi Piscium, Vol. Ill, p. 94 ; after Catesby. Spliyraena haiTacuda Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 11."., Fig. 20. 224 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OP PORTO RJCO Fig. 71. — Sphyraena hnrracuda From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Bahamas. Distribution. — AYest Indian fauna, north to Charleston, S. C, and Bermuda, south to Brazil. Common and generally distributed in Porto Eican waters. Specimen collected. — 1 : San Antonio Bridge, San Juan. Diag 710 sis. —Head 3.3; depth i (2 in head) ; eye 6.6. Dorsal V-I, 10; anal I, 8 ; scales 83. Body compressed ; maxillary reaching past front of orbit; teeth large. Irregular inky black spots on the flanks are a good distinguishing mark for this species of barracuda. Attains a very large size, commonly 3 feet or more long, sometimes 5 feet and perhaps even 10. Remarl-s. — This fish is valued for food in Porto Rico, where the prejudice on the ground that it is unwholesome does not attach to it as in Cuba. There are well authenticated instances of poisoning as a result of eating large individuals. Init no such case is known from Porto Rican waters. Habits. — A fierce voracious fish, paralleling in the sea the habits and appearance of the fresh-water pikes. There are a few well authenticated instances of its attacking man in the water. Sphyraena guachancho Cuvier and Valenciennes Small barracuda ; Guachanohe Sphyraena (juachancho Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1829, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. Ill, p. .342. Sphyraena yuachaneho Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 116. ^ — ■^TZ^ ^^«t ^^^^ Fi(5. 72. — iS/jhiiroeiKi fiiiiiiliancho ^^^^ J))'^ ~^I^1^^^~^§^ From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Havana. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, north to Florida; generally com- mon, but rare in Porto Rican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 3 ; depth 7 ; eye 5.4. Dorsal V-I, 9 ; anal I, 8 ; scales 115. Body little compressed or sub-terete: pectoral reaching front of spinous dorsal ;' maxillary reaching front of orbit. Length 2 feet. Bemarl's. — Valued for food where abundant. MCHOL^S, I'ORTO RICO AXD THE VJNGIX It "^v^^^^ From Zoologica. A -^ ■ Ti/pe locality. — Havana. Distribution. — West Indian fauna from Cuba to Babia. TiichKb^d in tbe Porto Eican list on the authority of Dr. Stabl. Diagnosis. — Head 3.1 to 3.2 ; depth 2.2 to 2.3 in bead ; eye about 5. Dorsal V-I, 9; anal I. 9: scales 110. Body approaching sub-terete; pectoral not reaching front of first dorsal; maxillary not reaching front of orbit. Length 18 inches. Remarl's. — Valued for food and, where abundant, of commercial im- portance. POLYNEMIDAE Pclyneimis TJnnaens Polynenius virginieus Linnaeus Thread-fin ; barhndo I'oUiHvmus virginicitii Linnaeus. 175S, Syst. Xat.. ed. 10, \\. :',17. Folydactulus virginieus Evermann and iNIarsh. 10n2, i>. 117. I'lC. 74. — Poliincmiix ririjiiiicKx From Zoologica. X Type locality. — ^" America." Distribution. — West Indian fauna, north to the Florida Keys but not to Virginia. Rather common and generally distributed in Porto Rican waters. Specimens seen. — San Juan (peddled cooked). Diagnosis.-— Head 3.3; depth 3.2 to 3.3; eye 5. Dorsal \'1II-I, 12 anal III, 13; scales 60. x\ttains a length of about a foot. Ee marl's. — A useful food fish. 226 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO HOLOCENTRIDAE Myripristis Cuvier Myripristis jacobus Cuvier aud Valenciennes Big-eyed squirrel-fish; Frere Jaques; candil Myripristis jacobus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1829, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. Ill, p. 162. Myripristis jacobus Nichols, 1915, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXI V, p. 143. Porto Rico. Fig. 7.5. — Myripristis jacobus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indies to Brazil, generally common. Not com- mon about Porto Rico. Sp&cimens collected. — 2 : San Juan. Diagnosis. — Depth 3; head 4; eye large. Dorsal X-I, 14 or 15; anal IV, 13; scales 36 to 38. Preopercle without conspicuous spine at its angle ; color red. Attains a length of about a foot. Habits. — Seems to spend the daytime in hiding or in deeper water. Holocentrus Scopoli Holooeiitrus asoensionis (Osbeck) Common squirrel-tish ; cartinau Perca ascensionis Osbeck, 1771, Iter Chineusis, p. 388. Holocentrus ascensionis Evermann and Marsh. 1002. p. 118, PI. III. Fig. 76. — Holocentrus ascensionis From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Ascension Island, Distribution — Eocks and reefs of the tropical Atlantic, north to Florida, and numerous at Bermuda, generally common in the West Indies. Common about Porto Eico, and recorded from St. Croix. yiCHOLS, PORTO RICO AM) THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 327 Specimens seen. — San Juau Market. ^ Diagnosis. — Head 3 to 3.1 ; depth 3 to 3.3 ; eye 2.8 to 3.3. Dorsal XI, 15 ; anal IV, 10 ; scales 48. Attains a length of 1 to 2 feet. Remarks. — About Porto Eico this fish is reputed to be unwholesome, but it is occasionally to be seen in the market. Holocentrus vexillarius Poey Black-barred squirrel-fish Holocentrum vcxillariitm Poey, 1860, Memorias, Vol. II, p. 158. Holocentrus vexiUarius Everuiann aud Marsh, 1902, p. 119. Fig. 77. — Holocentrus vexillarius From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — West Indies, not common, recorded from Porto Eico. Diagnosis.— Redid. 2.8; depth 2.6; eye 2.7. Dorsal XI, 13; anal IV, 9; scales 40, Maxillary extending to below first third of eye; dorsal with black markings. Size small. MULLIDAE Upeneus Cuvier Upeneus niaculatus (Bloch) Red goat-fish ; salmonete Mullm mactilatus Bloch, 1793, Ausl. Fische, and Ichth., PI. 348. Upeneus maculatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 120, PI. IV. Fig. 78. — Upeneus waruintus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — West Indian fauna from the Florida Keys to Brazil. Abundant about Porto Eico. St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 2 : Ponce ^larket. 228 XCIENTIFIV SURVEY OF PORTO RICO JU'uKjiiosis. — Head 3.2; depth o.7 : eye 4 to 5. Dorsal YIII-I, 8; anal 11, 7 ; scales 30. Teeth in both jaws uniserial; side with black blotches. Lenutli !> to 10 inches. Eeinarl-s. — Extensively used and esteemed for food. I'peneus parvus Poey ►Small gfoat-fish VpcncHH iiamis I'oey, 1851, Meniorias, Vol. I, i». 226. VpencKx iKirvii.i Kvenaann and Marsh, 1002, p. 121. l-"iG. TH. — UtJCiicuii itarvus Type locality. — (^il)a. Distrihufion. — Known only from the type, which was obtained by Poey in Cuba, and from a specimen recorded from Porto Eico by Stahl. Diagnosis. — Dorsal \'I1-1. 8; anal II, 6; scales JrO. Teeth of both jaws biserial, at least in front; dorsals and caudal with dark cross-bands. Upeneus niartiiiious Cuvier and Valenciennes Yellow soat-fish: salmonete amarilla IJpencii.s jinirti)ticiifi Cuvier and Valeneienues, 3820, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. Ill, p. 483. Vpenvu.s iiKirtiiiicii.s Everniann and .Marsh. 1902. p. 121. PL V. Fig. so. — L'pencus martinicus From Zoologlca, X Typ& locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indies, north to Florida. Less abundant in Porto Rico than is the red goattish. Spedmens collected. — 1: C'ondado Pocks. San Juan. Diugno.m. — Head 3.3 ; depth 4 ; eye 3.4 to 3.5. Dorsal YIII-I, 8 ; anal IT, G; scales 37. Teeth of both jaws biserial, at least in front; dorsals and caiulal ])lain yellow. Attains tlie lenath of a foot. NICHOLAS, PORTO RICO AXD THE VIRGIX LSLAXD.^ 229 SCOMBRIDAE Auxis Cuvier Auxis thazard ( Lacepede) Frigate mackerel ; albacora Scomber thazard Lacepede, 1802, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. IT, p. 9. Auxis thazard Evermann and Marsli, 1902, p. 122, Fig. 27. Fig. 81. — Auxin thazard From Zoologica, IX T^jpe locality.— BeUveen G° and 7° S. lat. off coast of Xew Guinea. Distribution.- — All warm seas, occasionally northward to Cape Cod. Probably not rare about Porto Eico. Diagnosis.— Bead 3.8; depth 4.4; eye 6. Dorsal X-12-VIII : anal 13-VII. Body mostly scaleless posteriorly; anteriorly covered with small scales, those of the pectoral region enlarged, forming a corselet. Attains a length of about 15 inches. Habits. — Frequently travels in large schools, and is very erratic as to presence or absence at a given locality. Scomberomonis Laoepede Sooinberomorus maoulatus (Mitchill) Spanisli mackerel ; carita Scoiiihcr iiiaciilafiis Mitcliill, 181.", Trans. I.lt. and I'liilos. i>. PI. VIII. Fig. 88. — Dvcaiitcnis luinctatus From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Brazil. Distribidion. — West Indian fauna, Cape Cod to Brazil, only occa- sional northward. Xot uncommon ahout Porto Eico. Diaffnosis.—TLe&d 4; depth 5.6; eye 3.3. Dorsal VIII-I, 30-1; anal II-I, 2T-I; scutes 39. Common up to 6 inches long; rarely attains the maximum of 12 inches. Trachiirops Gill Trachurops ('rumenophtlialinus (Bloch) Goggle-eyed scad ; chicliarro Scohiber criiiiiciiDitlithdlinuN lUoeli, 179:!, Ausl. Fiscbe, and Iclitli., PI. CCCXLIIl. Trachurops crunioiophtliahnus Evermann and Marsh. 1902. p. 129, Fig. .30. Sclar crumciiophtliiilnius Meek and Hildebrand. 1925, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 2. Fig. Sy. — Trachurops criimenoiilithnliniix From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Acara in Guinea. Distribution. — Cosmopolitan in tropical seas; found on both coasts of America ; nortli to Cape Cod in the Atlantic. Common in Porto Rican waters. 234 SCIEXTJFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Diagnosis.— ILe&d 3.2 ; depth 3.8 ; eye 3.2. Dorsal VIII-I, 25 or 26 ; anal II-I, 22 ; scutes 35. Shoulder girdle with a deep cross furrow, and a fleshy projection above the furrow. Rarely attains a length of 2 feet, usually 10 inches or less in length. Caranx Lacepede Caranx ruber (Bloch) Skip-jack; cibi mancho Scomber ruber Bloch, 1793, Ausl. Fische, and Ichth., PI. CCCXLII. Caranx ruber Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 130. Fig. 90. — Caranx ruier From Zoologica, X Type locality. — St. Croix. Distribution. — West Indies, casually north to I^forth Carolina. Not plentiful about Porto Eico. St. Croix. Specimens collected. — i : San Turce, San Juan. Diagnosis.— ne&d 3.5; depth 3.5; eye 5.4. Dorsal VIII-I, 26 to 27; anal II-I, 23 to 24 ; scutes 25 to 30. Soft dorsal and anal little elevated in front. Gill-rakers on lower limb of first arch 31 to 33. Specimens down to 4 inches in length, have depth 3 times, more or less, in length, with only slight tendency to become more slender with increasing size. Attains a length of about 15 inches. Remarks. — Riiljer is a misnomer for this fish, due to a wrongly colored figure ; it is more or less blue, never red. Habits. — An active, swift-swimming species, more plentiful about small islands and reefs than mainland shores. Caranx bartholoniaei Cuvier and Valenciennes Yellow-jack ; cibi amarillo Caranx bartholoniaei Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1833, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. IX, p. 100. Caranx bartholomaei, Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 131, Fig. 33 (mis- titled). NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIX ISLANDS 235 Fig. 91. — Caranx bartJiotomaei From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — St. Bartholomew. Distribution. — West Indies, north to Florida and the Carolinas, rarely to Massachusetts. Common about Cuba, but not very common in Porto Rican waters. Diagnosis. —Head 3.3; depth 2.8; eye 4.8. Dorsal VIII-I, 26 to 27; anal II-I, 22 to 23 ; scutes about 30. Soft dorsal and anal little elevated in front. Specimens under 6 inches in length (to base of caudal) have the depth 2.5 or less in this length ; from six inches to a foot long, depth falls off very rapidly and at the length of a foot there is no depth differ- ence between this species and the preceding. Gill rakers on lower limb of first arch, 17 to 19. Attains a length of about 15 inches. Remarl'S. — The yellow-jack is closely related to the skip-jack, and occurs more or less in association with it in the West Indies. Its young, which are notably deeper-bodied, drift northward in the Gulf Stream, and have a prettily mottled concealing coloration among the gulf weed. Relative depth is a good criterion to separate small individuals of yellow- jack and skip-jack but, when a length of about a foot has been reached, there is no depth difference. The yellow-jack has decidedly coarser gill- rikers. Caraiix hippos (Linnaeus) Common jack ; crevalle Scomber hippos Linnaeus, 1766, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, p. 494. Caranx hippos Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 131, Fig. .31. Fig. 92. — Caranx hippos From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Charleston, S. C. Distribution. — Tropical Atlantic and eastern Pacific, generally abun- dant, found on both coasts of America, north to Cape Cope and the Gulf 236 SClEyTlFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO of California. Not common in Porto Rican Avaters. Recorded from St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 8 : San Juan. Diagnosis.— Head 3; depth 2.5; eye 3.8. Dorsal VIII-I, 20; anal II-I, 17; scutes about 30. Soft dorsal and anal more or less falcate in front. Canines well developed. Breast naked with a small rhombic scaled area before ventrals. Attains a length of about 21/2 feet and a weight of 20 pounds. RemarJcs. — A good game fish but does not rank high as a food fish. Habits. — The commonest species of its kind on continental shores, fre- quently penetrating estuaries to fresh water. An active predaceous fish, hunting singly or in small, loosely organized companies. Caraiix erysos (Mitchill) Hardtail-jack ; runner ; cojinuda Scomber criisos Mitchill, 1815, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y., Vol. I, p. 424. Caranx cryms Everniann and Marsh, 1902, p. 132, Fig. .32, PI. IX. Fig. 93. — Caranx rrusos From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — New York. Distribution.— \Yest Indian fauna, from Cape Cod to Brazil, generally abundant southward. Not very numerous at Porto Rico. A similar fish on the west coast of Middle America is very closely related if not the same. Specimens collected.— o : Santurce and Fort San Geronemo, San Juan. Diagnosis.— Read 3.5; depth 3.2; eye 5.6. Dorsal VIII-I, 24; anal II-I, 20; scutes about 45. Soft dorsal and anal more or less falcate in front, breast completely scaled. Attains a length of about 2 feet and a weight of 4 to 6 pounds. Remarl-s. — A well-known food fish. Caranx latus Agassiz Horse-eyed jack; jurel Caranx latus Agassiz, 1829, Pise. Bras., p. 105. Caranx hitus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 132, not Fig. .33 (mistitled) . NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AMJ THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 337 Fig. 04. — Carana: latus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — All tropical seas, abuudant in the West Indies. By far the commonest species of Caranx in Porto Rico. Specimens collected. — 1 : San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 3.3 to 3.4; depth 2.7 (more than 3 at a standard length of 3 feet) ; eve 4. Dorsal VIII-I. 22 : anal II-I, 18 ; scutes about 35. Soft dorsal and anal more or less falcate in front : breast completely scaled. Occasionally reaches a length of 3 feet or more. In such cases it is less deep-bodied than in the more usual, shorter representatives of the species. Bemarks. — Various species of Caranx named in different parts of the world are referable to C. latus, unless they be taken for the types of local races of it, which may prove differentiable. Habits.— The preferred habitat of this species seems to be the shores of islands, and in the West Indies it more or less replaces the common jack, which it resembles in appearance. Vomer Cuvier and Valenciennes Vomer setapinnis setapinnis (Mite hill) Moonfish ; corcobado Zeus setapinnis Mitehill. ISlo. Trans. Lit. and I'liilos. Soc. N. Y. for 1815, p. 384. Vomer setipimiis Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 472. St. Croix. Vomer setapinnis setapinnis Nichols. 1918, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.. Vol. XXXVIII, p. 669-676. Torto Rico. Fig. 'Jii.^Voiner setapinnis From Zoologica. IX Type locality. — Xew York. Distribution.— Cape Cod (casually Maine) to the West Indies. Re- corded from Porto Rico and St. Croix. 238 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Diagnosis.— Uead 3.2 to 3.3; depth 2 in adult, 1.2 to 1.8 in young. Dorsal VIII-I, 21 or 22; anal II-I, 19 or 20; scutes 20 Remarks. — There is doubt whether one or both forms of Vomer seta- pinnis occur in Porto Rican waters. In recording V. setipinnis from St. Croix, Cope, 1871, presumably did not differentiate between the races. Nichols, 1918, refers small specimens from Porto Rico to V. s. setapinnis, but there is a chance of error due to the small size of the speci- mens examined. Evermann and Marsh were correct in their reference of Porto Rican material to V. gabonensis Jordan and Evermann, if the measurements given are based on some of their larger specimens from that region. Both forms apparently occur in Cuba (Nichols, 1912, Bull, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXI, p. 186), and probably also in Porto Rico. Vomer setapinnis cubensis Nichols Deep moonfish ; corcobado Vomer setapinnis cuhensis Nichols, 1918, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXVIII, p. 672. Vomer gahonensis Jordan and Evermann, 1896, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII, Pt. 1, p. 934, not of Guicheuot. Vomer gahonensis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 133. Fig. 96. — Vomer setapinnis cubensis From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution.— West Indies, probably (this form) to Brazil. Common about Porto Rico. Diagnosis.— TLead 2.7 to 2.8; depth 1.5 to 1.6 (specimens 4 to 6 inches standard length) ; eye 3.8. Dorsal YIII-I, 22 ; anal I, 18; scales minute. In Porto Rico the moonfish attains the weight of a pound or more. Remarl-s.— The moonfish is one of the compressed, silvery Caranx-like fishes, deep-bodied, particularly when young, at which stage it drifts widely in ocean currents. It is much used for food. NIVHOLH, PORTO RICO AXD THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 239 Selene Lacepede Selene vomer (Linnaeus) Angel moonfish ; silver angelfish ; jorobado Zeus vomer Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 266. Selene vomer Evermann and Marsb, 1902, p. 135, Fig. 34 and 35. Fig. 97. — Selene vomer From Zoologlca. IX Type locality. — '''America." Distribution. — Both coasts of tropical America, from Cape Cod to Brazil, and from Lower California to Peru. Included in the Porto Eican list on the authority of Poey and Stahl. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 1.5 (the young much deeper) ; eye 2.5 in preorbital (4 in head, obliquely) ; scales minute, lateral line wholly un- armed. Dorsal VII-I, 23 ; anal II-I, 18. Soft dorsal and anal lobes produced, more or less filamentous. Young have elongate ventrals and some of the dorsal spines filamen- tous, both fins becoming reduced with age; but the lol:)es of the dorsal and the anal are relatively longest in the adult. Attains a total length of about a foot and a weight of about 2 pounds. Remarks. — A delicious panfish. Chloroscombrus Girard Cliloroseombrus chrysurus (Linnaeus) bumper ; casabe Scomher chrj/siirus Linneaus. 1766. Syst. Xat., ed. 12, p. 494. Chloroscombrus chrijsnrus Evermann and Marsh, 1002, p. 136, Fig. 36. Fig. 98. — Chloroscombrus ehrysurus From Zoologica, IX 240 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Type locality. — Charleston, S. C. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Cape Cod to Brazil, common on the south Atlantic coast of the United States and about Cul^a, appar- ently not common in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis.— Hesid 3.7 to 3.8; depth 2.3 to 2.4; eye about 3. Dorsal VIII-I, 26 ; anal II-I, 26 ; lateral line unarmed Curve of the abdomen greater than that of the back. Attains a length of about 10 inches. Remarks. — ISTot valued as food, the flesh being thin and dry, the bones large. Trachinotus Lacepede Trachinotus glaucus (Bloch) Gaff-topsail pompano ; palometa Chaetodon glaucus Bloch, 1787, Ausl. Fische, and Ichth., PI. 210 ; based on a drawing by Plumier. Trachinotus glaucus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 137, Fig. 37. Fig. 99.^ — Trachniotus glaucus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distrihution.—West Indian fauna, from Virginia to the Caribbean. Common from the Carolinas to Florida ; common in Porto Eican waters. St. Croix. Specimens seen. — San Juan. Diagnosis.— Head 4; depth 2 to 2.2; eye 3.6. Dorsal I (procumbent) VI-I, 19; anal II-I, 17 to 18; scales fine. Body much compressed; sides with narrow black cross-bars ; lobes of vertical fins elongate, extend- ing past middle of caudal fin in adult. Attains a length of a foot or more. RemarTcs. — In Porto Eico the gaff-topsail pompano seems to rank with the species of Caranx in food value. It is not much prized for food else- where. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 241 Tra«?hinotus falcatus (Linnaeus) Round pompano ; palometa Lal)rus falcatus Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 284. Trachinotus falcatus Everniann and Marsli, 1902, p. 138, Fig. 38. Chaetodon rhomhoides Bloch, 1787, Ich., PI. 209. Martinique. Trachijnotus rhomioides Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Pliil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 472. St. Croix. Fig. 100. — Trachinotus falrntus From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — "America." Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Cape Cod to Brazil, couiinon south- ward; apparently only the young are carried by the Gulf Stream as far north as Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Common in Porto Eican waters and about the Virgin Islands. Specimens collected. — 1 young : Mouth of the Loiza Eiver. Diagnosis. — Head 3.2 to 3.6; depth 1.6; eye 3.2 to 3.9. Dorsal VI-I, 19 to 20; anal II-I, 17 to 18; scales fine. Body moderately compressed; sides unmarked. Lobes of vertical fins extending not quite to base of caudal, or the dorsal lobe to middle of caudal. Attains a weight of about 3 pounds. Remarks. — A West Indian race, T. f. rhomboides (Bloch), with higher vertical fins, may be differentiable, in which case the Porto Eican fish should be referable to it. Generally regarded as a fair food fish, and held in considerable esteem as such in Porto Eico. Trachinotus carolinus ( Linnaeus ) Common pompano Gasterosteus carolinus Linnaeus, 1766, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, p. 490. Trachinotus carolinus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 139. Fig. 101.— Trachinotus carolinus From Zoologica, IX 242 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Type locality. — Carolina. Distribution.— South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, north on sandy shores as far as Cape Cod; rare in the West Indies and Brazil. Young plentiful in Porto Kican waters, hut grown fish are rare. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 2.3 to 3.4; eye 4.1. Dorsal VI-I, 34; anal II-I, 33 ; scales fine. Attains a total length of at least 18 inches and a weight of 3 pounds. Re marl- s. — The common pompano is abundant in the southern United States, and is generally recognized as one of the choicest American food fishes. The young are common much farther north along the coast, being doubtless carried northward in the Gulf Stream drift, than are grown fish. The occurrence of young fish in a similar mariner about Porto Rico might be taken as evidence of Gulf Stream water eddying eastward nortli of the Greater Antilles. XOMEIDAE Noineus Cuvier Nomeus gronovii (Gmeliu) Man-of-war fish ; pastor Gohiiis gronovii Gmelin, 1788. Syst. Nat., ed. 13. p. 1205 ; after Gronow. Nomeus [/ronovii Nioliols. 1915, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 14.3. Torto Rico. Fig. 102. — Nomeus gronovii Fi-om Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Tropical America. Distribution. — Tropical Atlantic, north to Florida and Bermuda, occa- sionally to Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Probably common with the Physalm as they drift in upon Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands from the open sea. . Specimens collected. — 1 : off the mouth of the Loiza River. . Diagnosis. — Dept 3.8; head 3.4; eye 3.3. Dorsal X-I, 36; anal III, 36 ; scales fine, no scutes on peduncle. Dark bands on sides, which break lip into spots or blotches in preservative ; ventrals large and black. At- tains a maximum total length of 6 or 8 inches. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 243 Habits. — Almost always closely associated wtili the communal, sting- ing jellyfish, Physalia, the Portuguese man-of-war, finding shelter in proximity to its dangerous tentacles. Stkomateidae Peprilus Cuvier Peprilus paru (Linnaeus) Harvest-fish ; palometa Stromateus para Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat. ed. 10, p. 248; based on Sloane. Peprilus paru Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 141, Fig. 39. Fig. 103. — Peprilus para From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Jamaica. Distribution.— Q-A])e Cod to Brazil. Apparently not common in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis.— Rq?l({ 3.6; depth 1.5; eye 3. Dorsal III, 42; anal II, 39; scales about 90. Body sub-circular; dorsal and anal fins much elevated in front (falcate) ; caudal deeply forked. Attains a length of 8 inches and a weight of % pound or more. Remarks. — A delicious pan-fish. Cheilodipteridae Apogon Lacepede Apogoii sellicauda Evermann and Marsh Saddle-tailed cardinal-fish Apogon sellk-auda Evermann and Marsh, 1902, Bull. U. S. Fish Comui, for 1900, Vol. XX, Pt. 1, p. 143, Fig. 40. 244 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO KiG. 104.— Apogott sellicauda Type locality. — Culebra Island, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Known from Porto Eico, and the Tortugas, Fla. ; few specimens recorded. Diagn osis. —Uesid 2.6 to 2.9 ; depth 3 to 3.1 ; eye 2.7. Dorsal VI-I, 9 ; anal II, 7 to 8 ; scales 27 to 29. A broad, dark, saddle-like blotch on caudal peduncle, black spot below soft dorsal, and blackish band behind eye. Total length l^j to 3 Mi inches. Apogon conklini (Silvester) Couklin's eardiual-fish Amia conld'ml Silvester, 1916, Yearbook Cam. Inst. Wash., for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 215. Fig. lOo.— Apogon conklini Type locality. — Coral reef off Guanica Harbor, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Known only from the type locality. Diagnosis. — Head 2.6; depth 2.7; eye 2.6 (in specimen 2 inches long). Dorsal VI, I, 9 ; anal II, 8 to 10 ; scales 27. Orange red, with clusters of small black spots over entire body. Peduncle with a large oblong black spot; caudal edged with black; spinous dorsal, black; soft dorsal and anal with black bar on base; a black bar downward and backward on front of preopercle from eye ; another transversely on nape and down on opercle. Length about 2 inches. RemaH-s. — There are only two specimens known. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 245 Apogonichthys Bleeker Apogonichthys alutus (Jordan and Gilbert) Freckled cardinal-fish Apofjon alutus Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1882, p. 279. Apogonichthys alutus Evennann and Marsh, 1902. p. 144, Fig. 41. Fig. 106. — Apogoniihtlnjs alutus Type locality. -^SnaYipev banks off west coast of Florida. Distribution. — West coast of Florida at a depth of 20 to 50 fathoms. One record from Porto Eico in shallow water. Diagnosis. — Head 2.4; depth 3.7 to 2.8; eye 3. Dorsal VI-I, 9; anal II, 9 ; scales 22. Yentrals short, not reaching vent. Length 2 inches. Remarks. — Specimens of this fish were taken from the stomachs of red snappers in Florida. Apogonichthys stellatus Cope Spot-finned cardinal-fish Apoyonichthijs stellatus Cope, 1866, Trans. Anier. Philos. Soc. for 1866, p. 400. Apogonichthys stellatus Silvester, 1916, Yearb. Carn. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 215. Porto Rico. Fig. 107. — Apogonicliihys stellatus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Nassau, Bahamas. Distribution. — AVest Indies, Bahamas and Florida Keys; seldom met with though probably not rare. Almost every sea-urchin skeleton in a small muddy area west of Guanica Harbor, P. R., was inhabited by one of these fishes (Silvester). Diagnosis. — Head 3 ; depth 3 ; eye 2.8. Dorsal VII. I, 9 ; anal II, 8; scales 23. Yentrals long, extending beyond front of anal. Reddish 246 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO brown, with dark brown and silvery spots on the scales. Length about 1 inch. Habits. — Found living in the mantle cavity of conchs, and in the cavi- ties of large sponges (Gudger). Also inhabits empty shells, etc. Centropomidae Centropoinus Lacepede Centropomus undeciiiialis (Bloeh) Common snook ; robalo Sciaena itndecimalis Bloch, 1792, Ausl. Fische, and Ichth., Vol. VI, p. 60, PI. 303. Centropomus undecimaUs ^vermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 146, Fig. 42. Fig. 108. — Ceniropemus umlecimalis From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Jamaica. Distrihution. — Florida to the West Indies and South America. Com- mon in Porto Eican waters. Specimens seen. — San Juan Market. Diagnosis.— ReSidi 3; depth 4.2 to 4.3; eye 7.7. to 7.8. Dorsal VII or VIII-I, 10 ; anal III, 6 ; scales 75. Preorbital entire or very slightly serrated; second anal spine projecting beyond third, about 1.9 in head. Head pointed, forehead low, lower jaw much projecting; caudal mod- erately forked. Attains a length of 2 or 3 feet, or more. Remarls. — An excellent food fish. Centropomus parallelus Poey River snook, robalo Ccutropomus parallelus Poey, 1860, Memorias. Vol. II, p. 120. Centropoinus parallelus Everuiaun and Marsh, 1902, p. 146. Fig. 109. — Centropomus parallelus Type localities. — Havana and Ceinfuegos. Distribution. — Found about Cuba, Santa Domingo, Porto Eico and at Pernambuco, Brazil, ascending rivers into fresh water. Eather com- NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 247 mon in Porto Eico, where it ascends the larger streams well towards the interior of the island. Diugnosis.—ILeaid 2.7; depth 3.3 to 3.4; eye 5.7. Dorsal VIII-I, 10; anal III, 7; scales 80. Preorbital with well developed retrose teeth; second anal spine longer than third, equal to depth of body. Earely exceeds a foot in length. Remarls. — With Centropomus undecvmalis this fish possesses game qualities and is sought by local anglers. The best fishing is said to be in the lower portions of the Eio de la Plata, j\Ionati and the Eio Grande de Arecibo. Centropomus pectinatus Poey Comb-toothed snook ; robalo Centropomus pectinatus Poey, 1860, Memorias. Vol. II, p. 122. Centropomus pectinatus Silvester, 1916, Yearb. Carn. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 216. Porto Rico. Fig. 110. — Centropomus pectinatus From Zoologica, X Type localities. — Havana and Cienfuegos. Distribution. — Cuba to Porto Eico and Pernambuco, Brazil, entering lakes and rivers; also the Pacific coast of tropical America. Eecorded from Guanica Lake, P. E., by Silvester. Diagnosis.— Heiid 2.5; depth 2.7 to 2.8; eye 6. Dorsal VIII-I, 10; anal III, 7; scales 68. Preorbital with well-developed retrose teeth; lateral line not in a dark streak; second and third anal spines about equal to depth of body ; angle of preopercle with about 6 comblike teeth. Earelv more than a foot long. Serranidae Petrometopon Gill Petrometopon erueiitatus enieiitatus (Lacepede) Red hind ; coney ; eabrilla ; enjambre Sparus cruentatus Lacepede, 1803, Hist. Nat. Poiss.. Vol. lA^ p. 157, Pl. 4, Fig. 1 ; based on a copy of a drawing by Pluniier. Petrometopon cruentatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 149. 248 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Florida to Brazil. Common about Jamaica and Cuba, but apparently uncommon in Porto Eican waters. Specimens collected. — 1 : Santurce, San Juan. Diagnosis.— Residi 2.5; depth 2.8; eye 5.5. Dorsal IX, 14; anal III, 8; scales 85 to 95. Mandible without curved canines on its sides. Red- dish gray in life, with small red spots nearly everywhere. Attains a length of about a foot. Remarks. — The coney is of considerable importance as a food fish. Petrometopon cruentatus coronatus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Brown hind, petite negre Serranus coronatus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1928, Hist. Nat. Poiss., II, p. 371. Serranus coronatus Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 466. St. Croix. Petrometopon cruentatus coronatus Jordan and Everniann. 1896, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII, Pt. 1, p. 1142. KiG. 111. — Petrometopon cruentatus coronatus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distiibution. — Generally common in the West Indies, north to Key West. jSTot common in Porto Eican waters or recorded from the island of Porto Eico, but known from St. Croix. Diagnosis. — A shallow water representative of the red hind or coney, differing from it in color. Pale or dusky olive with orange red spots, the head decidedly greenish. Cephalopholis Bloch and Schneider Cephalopholis fulvus ruber (Bloch and Schneider) Red guativere ; flno ; ouatilibi Gymnocephalus ruler Bloch and Schneider, 1801, Syst. Ichth., p. 346, PI. 67; based on Caranna of Marcgrave. Bodianus ruber Everniann and Marsh, 1902, p. 150. Cephalopholis fulvus (Labrus fulvus Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., 10th ed., p. 287. Bahamas) Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 2. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 2V.) riG. 111;. — Cepfialopholis fithus ruber From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — West Indies to Brazil, usually at moderate depths. jSTot common in Porto Eican waters, but recorded from there and also from St. Croix. Diagnosis. — Head 2.6; depth 3; eye 5.3. Dorsal IX, 15; anal III, 9; scales 90 to 110. Color in life, rich red, with small blue spots, especially in front. Length about a foot. Remarl's. — CephalophoUs ruber and punctatus are best considered races of C. fulvus; fulviis is probably the deepest water and punctatus the shore form. A good food-fish. Cephalopholis fulvus punctatus (Linnaeus) Black guativere; nigger-fish Perca punctata Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat, ed. 10, p. 291; based on Catesby. Bodianus punctatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 150, Fig. 106. Cephalopholis fulvus (Labrus fulvus Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat. ed. 10, p. 287. Bahamas) Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 2. Fig. 11.3. — Cephalopholis fulvus puctatus from Zoolosifa, X Type locality. — Bahamas. Distribution. — West Indies, north to Florida, generally common. Not common in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis. — Brownish or blackish olive, with small blue spots, espe- cially in front. Otherwise as in C. f. ruber. Length about a foot. Eplnephelus Bloeh Epinephelus adscensionis (Osbeck) Rock-hind ; cabra mora Trachinus adscensionis Osbeck, 1757, Iter Chin., etc., English edition, 1771. p. 96. Epinephelus adscensionis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 152, PI. 11. 250 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 114. — Epinephelu8 adscensionis From Zoologica, IX I'l/pe locality. — Ascension Island. Distribution. — Southern Florida to Brazil, Ascension and St. Helena Island and the Cape of Good Hope. Should be common in Porto Eican waters, though there are not many records from there. Diagnosis.— Head 2.4; depth 3.2; eye 6. Dorsal XI, 16 to 17; anal III, 8; scales about 100. Maxillary without scales; body and head in life covered with red or orange spots, and with larger pale spots also present on the body. ]\Iay attain a maximum length of 2 feet or more and a weight of 15 or 16 pounds, but is usually much smaller and as a rule only 2 or 3 pounds in weight. Epinephelus striatus (Bloch) Nassau grouper ; oherna crioUa Anthias striatus Blocb, 1702, Ausl. Fisbe, and Icbtb., PI. 324. Epinephelus striatus Evenuann and Marsh, 1902, p. 152, PI. 12. Fig. 115. — Epinephelus striatus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distrihution. — West Indian fauna, Florida Keys to Brazil. Common in Porto Eican waters. St. Croix. Specimens seen. — San Juan and Ponce Markets, Diagnosis. — Head 2.5; depth 3; eye 5.5. Dorsal XI, 1-7; anal III, 8; scales about 110. Caudal peduncle with a large saddle-like black blotch above; eye surrounded by conspicuous dark brown points; lower jaw little projecting; maxillary more or less scaly. Attains a weight of 50 to 60 pounds, but Porto Eico specimens average less than 10 pounds. Remarks. — A common and very important food fish. In Porto Eico it is taken with hook and line. NICHOLS. rORrO RICO AM) THE VIRGIX f^^LANDS 251 Epinephelus guttatus (Liunaeus) Red-hind ; mero guajiro ; cabrilla Perca guttata Linnaeus, 1758, Syst, Nat., ed. 10, p. 292. Epinephelus guttatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 153, PI. 13. Fig. 116. — Epineiihehm guttatus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Brazil? Distribution. — West Indian fauna, from the Carolinas to Brazil, Gen- erally distributed in Porto Eican waters. Specimens seen. — Ponce Market. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 3.3; eye 4.3. Dorsal XI, 16; anal III, 8; scales 100 to 130. Body covered with small dark-orange or broMH spots; maxillary more or less scaly. Earely attains a greater length than 18 inches. Remarks. — One of the smallest of the groupers but an important food fish. Epinephelus morio (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Red grouper ; cherna americana ; jaboncillo Serranus morio Cuvier and Yalentieunes, 182S, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. II, p. 285. Epinephelus morio Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 154, PI. 14. Fig. 117. — Epinephelus morio From Zoologica, iX Type localities. — New York and Santo Domingo. Distribution. — Atlantic coast of America from Virginia to Rio Ja- neiro. Probably common in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 3.7; e3^e 5.5. Dorsal XI, 16; anal III, 9; scales 130 to 140. Second dorsal spine elevated, the longest. Gray or brown, blotched ^^■itll whitish, with more or less salmon color or red- dish shades about the lower part of the head and breast. Attains a length of 3 or 3 feet and a weight of from 30 to 35 pounds, or sometimes even 40 pounds. At Key West the average is 8 to 15 pounds. 252 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Remarks. — An important food fish. Habits. — A voracious fish; an individual 22 inches long is reported to have been taken with a llV2-inch snapper it had swallowed; 3^^ inches of the tail of the snapper protruded from the oesophagus into the mouth of the grouper. Alphestes Bloch and Schneider Alphestes chloropterus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Guaseta Plectropoma chloropterum Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. II, p. 398. Alphestes chloropterus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 155, Fig. 44. Alphestes afer Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 2. Fig. 118. — Alphestes chloropterus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Santo Domingo and Martinique. Distribution. — West Indian fauna from Cuba to Brazil, not known from Florida. Perhaps the same as an African species. Apparently not uncommon in Porto Eican waters. Specimens collected. — 1 : Ponce Market. Diagnosis.— Head 2.6; depth 2.7; eye 4.6. Dorsal XI, 18; anal III, 9; scales 75 to 85. Eye close to end of snout, over the mouth; lower jaw projecting. Grows to a foot or more in length. Remarlcs. — A food fish of importance. Mycteroperea Gill Mycteroperca bonaci (Poey) Black rockfish ; black grouper ; Bonaci acara ; Aguaji Serranus bonaci Poey, 1860, Memorias, Vol. II, p. 129. Mycteroperca honaci Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 157. Fig. 119. — Mycteroperca bonaci From Zoologica, IX NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 253 Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Florida to Brazil. Probably not uncommon in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 2.7 to 2.8; depth 3.2 to 3.3; eye G (in young). Dorsal XI, 16 to 18; anal III, 11 or 12; scales 120 to 125. About 10 ffill-rakers, besides several rudiments, on the lower limb of the first arch. Caudal subtruncate. Dark blotches on body rather large, often quadrate. Attains a length of from 2 to 3 feet and a weight of 50 pounds. RemarJcs. — An important food fish. Mycteroperca bowersi Evermann and Marsh Commissioner Bowers' rockfish Mycteroperca hoiiersi Evenuann and Marsh, 1902, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1900, Vol. XX, Pt. 1, p. 158, Fig. 4.5. Fig. 1-0. — Mycteroperca lotcersi Type locality.— Culehra, Island, P. E. Distribution. — Porto Eico in the neighborhood of Culebra and Vieques islands. Also recorded from the Tortugas, Fla. (Gudger). Diagnosis.— Head 2.4 to 2.8; depth 3.2 to 3.4; eye 7.5. Dorsal XI, 16; anal III, 11; scales about 140. Nostrils close together, the posterior decidedly the larger. x\bout 12 gill-rakers on the lower limb of first arch. Remarks. — This fish seems to be well known to the fisherman about Culebra and Vieques islands, and to be held in high esteem as a valu- able food fish, though Evermann and ]\Iarsh had only the type specimen from which to describe the species. A somewhat larger specimen from the Tortugas was 2 feet 10 inches in total, and 2 feet 5 inches in stand- ard length, and weighed 21 pounds (Gudger). 254 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Hypoplectrus Gill Hypoplectrus unicolor chlorurus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Vaca ; petit-negre Plectropoma chlorurum Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. II, p. 406. Plectropoma chlorurum Cope, 1871, Trans, Amer. Pbil. Soc. Vol. XIV, p. 466. St. Croix. Hypoplectrus unicolor chlorurus Jordan and Evermann, 1896, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII, Ft. 1, p. 1193. Fig. 121. — Hypoplectrus unicolor From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — Eange of H. unicolor: West Indies, north to the Florida Keys; known from St. Croix but not from Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 2.7 to 3; depth 2 to 2.3; eye 3.5 to 4. Dorsal X, 14 or 15; anal III, 8; scales 80 to 92 (pores 52 to 60). Black with violet shades, pectoral and caudal abruptly bright yellow. This species attains a length of about a foot, but is usually small. Remarks. — There are several well-marked color-phases of H. unicolor, which may occur at different points in the range of the species. Some may be nothing but color-phases, others distinct species, others geo- graphical races ; but in our present state of knowledge it is best to regard them as ecological races and follow Jordan and Evermann in according them subspecific rank. Hypoplectrus unieolor guttavarius (Poey) Vaca ; petit-negre Plectropoma puttavarlum Poey, 1851, Memorias, Vol. I, p. TO. Plectropoma guttavarium Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Pliil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p.. 466, St. Croix. Hypoplectrus unicolor guttavarius Jordan and Evermann. 1896, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII, Pt. 1, p. 119.3. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 255 Type loality. — Havana. Distribution. — Range of //. uriicolor: West Indies north to the Florida Keys, known from St. Croix but not from Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Body yellow anteriorly, black posteriorly; fins orange. A blue black stripe or spot in front of eye, ocellated with sky blue; caudal peduncle very dark above. Otherwise as in the preceding form, to which the reader is referred. This species may attain a length of about a foot, but is usually small. Diplectrum Holbrook Diplectrum radiale (Quoy and Gaimard) Aguavina Serraniis radialis Quoy and Gaimard, 1824, Voyage Uranie, p. 316. Diplectrum radiale Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 1.59. Type locality. — Eio Janeiro. Distribution. — Both coasts of tropical America, north to Havana and Guayamas, very common on the coast of Brazil and in the Gulf of Cali- fornia, usually in shallow -bays. Apparently not common in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis.— Head 2.8 ; depth 3.8 ; eye 3.7 to 3.8. Dorsal X, 12 ; anal III, 7 ; scales TO. Ventrals inserted more or less in advance of the axil of the pectoral, well separated ; caudal fin limate, none of the dorsal spines elongate. Preopercle Avith numerous spines at its angle, diverging from a single center. About 10 gill-rakers on the lower limb of the first arch. Prionodes Jenyns Prionodes baldwini Evermann and Marsh Baldwin's serranid Prionodes Mldwini Evermann and Marsli, 1899, Report U. S. Fish Comm. for 1899, p. 353. Prionodes haldwini Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 160, PI. 15. Fig. 122. — Prionodes haldwini 256 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Type locality. — Off Culebra Island, Porto Rico. Distrihtition. — Known only from Porto Eico. A number of specimens taken at the type locality, in about 15 fathoms of water. Diagnosis. — Head 2.5; depth 3.2; eye 4. Dorsal X, 12; anal III, 7; scales 42. Eye longer than snout. About 6 gill-rakers on the lower limb of the first arch. Caudal truncate. Preopercle simply, and rather finely serrate; ventrals inserted more or less in advance of axil of pec- toral; none of the dorsal spines elongate. Upper parts scarlet, lower parts bluish white; a yellow lateral band, under which are 4 quadrate black blotches. A small species, about 2 inches long so far as known. Dules Cuvier Diiles dispilurus (Giinther) Mottled sea-basslet Ccntropristis (lispilurus Giinther, 1867, Proo. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 99. Dales disiiiliirus Everinann and Marsh, 19<>2, p. 162. Eudnlus dlsplluriis Beebe and Tee Van, 1928, Zoologica, Vol. X (1), p. 142. Fig. lt!3. — Dules dispilurus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Trinidad, Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Porto Eico to Trinidad. Appar- ently not plentiful about Porto Eico. Diagnosis.— Y{q&^ 2.4; depth 2.7 to 2.8; eye 4.2. Dorsal X, 12; anal III, 7 ; scales 44, Third dorsal spine not longer than fourth, its length contained 3 times in that of the head. Ventrals inserted more or less in advance of axil of pectoral; caudal fin truncate. A broad white area or bar before the anal fin ; pectoral red ; inky blotch on soft dorsal small or obsolete ; dusky bars on body distinct. A small species, 2 or 3 inches long. Habits. — Usually hiding about weed in shallow water, but also de- scending to considerable depths on rocky bottoms. NICHOLf^, PORTO RICO AND THE VIROIX hSLAXDS 257 Parantliias Guichenot Paranthias furcifer (Ciivier and VaU'iicieniios) Cre(»le fish ; ral)iiubia de lo alto t^erraniis furcifer Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828, Hist. Nat. I'oiss., N'ol. 11, p. 264. Paranthias furcifer .Tonlan and Everniaini, ISIKJ, V>u\\. T'. S. Nat. Mns., Vol. XLVII, Pt. 1. 1). 1221. Bruchiirhinus crcolus Cupe, 1871, Trans. Anjer. I'liil. Soc, \o\. XIV, \). Itjo, St. Croix. Fig.' 1-!4. — I'll ruH I It ids fun ifcr TjiiJe localiiij. — Brazil. Distribution. — Both coasts of tropical America, (*iiba to Brazil, (*ape San Lucas to the Galapagos. IJecorded from St. Croix l)y Cope. Diagnosis. — Head 3.7; depth ;> ; eye about 4, Dorsal IX, IS to 20; anal III, 9 or 10; scales 120 to 135. Spinous and soft portions of the dorsal fin united. ^Maxillary without a supplemental bone, (i ill-rakers long, slender and close set. Lateral line complete and continuous. Cau- dal deeply forked. Adult red witb a few small violet spots. Remarks. — A very ))eautiful fisli, usually uncommon. Rjptu'us Cuvier Kyptij'us saponareiis ( Kloth and Schneider) Soapfish Anthias saponaceus IModi and Sdnieidcr, 1801, Syst. Ichth.. p. Parra. RyiJticii.s mvomiccus Evcrniann and Marsh, 1902, j). 168. ;nO; after Type locality. — Havana. DiMribiition. — Tropical Atlantic from I'ensacola, Fla., to West Africa, and from the West Indies to Brazil. Included iji the Porto Iiican list on the authority of Poey ; also recorded from St. Croix. Diagnosis. — Head 3 to 3.4; deptli 2.() to .3.3; eye about 4.5. Dorsal III, 23 to 25; anal 16 or IT ; scales fine, 85 to 90 pores. Preopercle with 2 spines only, lower scarcely the longer ; 3 opercular spines well devel- oped. Caudal rounded. Lower jaw projecting, eye placed anteriorly over the end of the long maxillary, not greater tlian snout in length. Color chiefly olivaceous, not red. 258 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Rypticus coriaceus (Cope) Black soap-fish Eleuthcracfis coriaceus Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. riiil. Soc, p. 4G7, Rypticus coriaceus Everuiann and Marsh, 1902, p. 163. I''i(;. 125. — Rypiicus coriaceus From Zoologica, X Tiipp localitii. — St. Martins. Distribution. — A West Indian species, known from St. Martin's to Jamaica, not common about Porto Eico or elsewhere. Diagnosis.— 'Kedidi 3.3 ; depth 3.5; eye 5. Dorsal III, 25; anal 15; scales 125. Preopercle with 2 spines only, the lower scarcely the longer; opercular spines 2, small, the uppermost the smaller. Color brown, dark on the back ; fins dark ; a white line from lower lip to occiput. Size small, from 5 to 6 inches long. Rypticus bistrispiiuis (Mitchill) Northern soap-fish Bodianus bistrisinnus Mitchill, 1818, Anier. Month. Mag. and Crit. Rev., Vol. II, p. 247. Rypticus histrispinus Evorniann and Marsh. 1902. p. 163, Fig. 46. Fig. 126. — Ri/ptictis bisfrisiniiiis From Zoologica, IX Ti/pe locality. — Bahama Straits. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, north to South Carolina, and occa- sionally to Newport, E. I. Several small specimens recorded from the vicinity of Culebra Island, P. E. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 3.6; eye 4.5. Dorsal II, 26; anal 15; scales fine. Preopercle with 3 spines. Caudal rounded. Lower jaw projecting; eye placed anteriorly over the end of the long maxillary; about equal to the snout in length. Color brownish. Attains a length of about a foot. Remarls. — Usually found in ratlier deep water. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AXD THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 359 LOBOTIDAE Lobotes Cuvier Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch) Tripple-tail ; sama Unlocentrus surinamensis Bloch, 1790, Ausl. Fische. and Ichth.. PI. 243. Lohotes surinamensis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 164, Fig. 47. KiG. 1'27. — Lobotes surinamensis From Zoologiea. IX Type locality. — Surinam. Distribution. — Found in most warm seas; north to Cape Cod on our coast; usually not common. Two small specimens recorded from Porto Kico. Diagnosis. — Head 2.8; depth 2; eye 6.5. Dorsal XI, I, 15; anal III, 11; scales 48. Mouth oblique with lower jaw projecting; eye placed far forward over its angle; profile slanting, slightly concave. Caudal rounded, and rounded soft dorsal and anal projecting backward. Said to attain a length of 3 feet and a weight of 50 pounds. Remarks. — Is regarded as a good food fish. Priacanthidae Priacanthus Cuvier Priacanthus arenatus Cuvier and Valenciennes Big-eye; catalufa; toro I'ridcanthus arenatus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1829, Hist. Nat. Poi.ss., Vol. Ill, p. 97. Priacanthus arenatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 166, PI. 16. 260 t:auoptcriis Cuvior and Valenfiennes, 1S2S. Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. II. p. 472. Neot)Hiciiis cuniioptcnis Evermanii and Marsh, 1902, p. 1(J0. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 261 Recorded by Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, south to Brazil. Cuvier and Valenciennes and by Poey from Porto Rico. Diagnosis. — Head 2.T to 2.8; depth 3; eye 5.6 to 5.7. Dorsal X, 14; anal III, 8; scales 50 (pores). Anal fin rounded, its middle rays less than half length of head ; no black lateral spot. Developed gill-rakers 7 to 9 on lower limb of first arch. ^louth very large, length of maxillary contained less than 2.4 times in that of head; lower as well as upper canine teeth strong. Colors grayish and olivaceous. Attains a length of 2 to 4 feet. Remarks. — Inferior as a food fish to other snappers, and regarded as unwholesome by fishermen, probably without sufficient cause. Lutianus griseus (Linnaeus) Gray snapper; Mangrove snapper; Cabellerote; pargo prieto Lahrus griseus Linnaeus. 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10. p. 283 ; after Catesby. Neomaenis griseus Evermanu and Marsh, 1902, p. 170. I'l. 17. Fig. 129. — Liitianiiii (jrisens From Zoologica. IX Type locality. — Bahamas. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, very common, south to Brazil, occa- sionally north to Xew Jersey. Plentiful about Porto Rico and recorded from St. Croix. Specimens seen. — San Juan and Ponce Markets. Diagnosis.— ILe&d 2.7 to 3.0; depth 2.8 to 3.3; eye 4.6 to 6. Dorsal X, 14 ; anal III, 8 ; scales 50. Anal fin rounded, its middle rays less than half length of head; no black lateral spot. Developed gill-rakers 7 to 9 ; caudal lunate. Upper canine teeth strong, but lower moderate. Scales above lateral line arranged in series which are more or less oblique and irregular. Colors grayish and olivaceous. Individuals from comparatively deep water are redder, with body a trifle less elongate {Lutjanus stearnsi). May attain a length of 3 feet and a weight of 18 pounds, but usually weighs not more than 5 pounds. Remarl-s. — The gray snapper is an important food fish about Porto Rico. 262 SCIEN2UFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Habits. — Gudger writes of the intelligence and wary alertness of the gray snapper as observed at the Tortugas. Some two or three dozen used to hang aronnd a dock and to feed on scraps thrown overboard by the cook, apparently recognizing this individual. "However, let anyone else walk out on the dock (which was about 8 feet above the water) and some of the snappers (generally those nearest) would turn slightly on one side, thus keeping a cool and wary eye on the intruder." They were clever and quick in eluding the grains, and never taken by this means, very rarely hooked. They would swim parallel with pedestrians taking a customary stroll along the shore, and seize the frightened ghost crabs which frequently scuttled into the water. In the bands of snappers the fish were nearly all of approximately the same size. Lutianus jocu (Bloch and Schneider) Dog snapper ; jocu Anthias jocu Bloch and Schneider, 1801, Syst. Ichth., p. 310; after Parra. Xeomaenis jocu Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 171, PI. 18. Fig. 130. — Lutianus jocu From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Florida Keys to Bahia, Brazil; young occasionally borne northward in the Gulf Stream drift to Massa- chusetts. Moderately plentiful about Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 2.5 to 2.6; depth 2.5 to 2.6; eye 4.7 to 4.8. Dorsal X, 13 ; anal III, 8 ; scales 50 to 56. Anal fin rounded, its middle rays less than half the length of the head ; no black lateral spot. Developed gill-rakers 7 to 9. Caudal lunate. Upper canine teeth very strong but lower comparatively moderate. Scales above lateral line arranged in series which are more or less oblique and irregular. Colors more or less grayish and olivaceous, but the fins yellow and reddish; a whitish area below the eye. Attains a length of 2 feet, and may weigh about 20 pounds, though usually much smaller. Remarks. — Sometimes reputed to be unwholesome, but frequently seen in the Porto Rico market. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 263 Lutianus apodus (Walbauni) Schoolmaster snapper ; pargo amarilla ; eaji J'erea aimda Walbaum, 17U2, Artedi Piscium, p. 351 ; based on the schoolmaster of Catesby. Ncotnacnis apodus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 172, PI. 10. Fig. 131. — Lutianus a/wilus From Zoologica, IX Type locality.— B-dhamas. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, south to Bahia, Brazil, north to southern Florida, young occasionally borne north to Massachusetts in the Gulf Stream drift. The most abundant of the snappers about Porto Eico. 'Specimens collected. — 5 ; San Juan. Diagnosis.— B^ead 2.5; depth 2.8 to 2.9; eye 4.3 to 4.4. Dorsal X, 14; anal III, 8 ; scales 42 to 45. Developed gill-rakers 7 to 9 ; caudal lunate. Anal fin rounded, its middle rays less than half length of head ; no black lateral spot. Upper canines very strong, lower moderate. Colors more or less olivaceous, and the fins, especially, yellow. May attain a length of 18 inches and a weight of perhaps T or 8 pounds, but averages only about 3 pounds. Remarl-s. — A valuable food fish. Lutianus aya (Bloch) West Indian red snapper: pargo Colorado: pargo guachinango Bodianus aija Bloch. 1700, Aiisl. Fische, and Ichth., PI. 227; after Marcgrave. Neomaenis aya Evermann and Marsh, 1002, p. 174, PI. 20. Mesoprion campechanus Poey, Memorias, Vol. II, 1800. p. 140. Lutianus campechanus Hildebrand and Ginsburg, 1925. Bull. U. S. Bur. Fish- eries for 1926, Vol. XLII, p. 82, Fig. 2. Caribbean Sea off Honduras. 2Q4: SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. iy2. — Liiiianus aya From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — West Indies to Brazil on rocky banks in rather deep water. Plentiful about Porto Eico. Represented in Florida waters by tlie closely related Lutianus hlackfordii. Specimens seen. — Ponce Market. Diagnosis. — Head 2.8 to 3.1 ; depth 2.8 ; eye 5.3 to 5.5 (larger in young). Dorsal X, 14; anal III, 9; scales 69. Anal fin angulated, its median rays longest in the adult, at least half as long as head. Upper canine teeth rather long, lower small. Maxillary reaching front of eye, 2.4 in head. Color rose red, nearly uniform, the iris rose red in life; young with a black lateral mark. Attains a length of 30 inches and a weight of from 15 to 20 pounds. Lutianus vivanus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Silk snapper ; i)argo cle lo alto Mesoprion vivanus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. II, p. 454. Neomaenis vivanus Evermann and Marsh, 1002, p. 175. Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — Found in comparatively deep water in the West Indies. Seasonally common about Porto Rico, where it is taken in some 60 fathoms of water. Also recorded from St. Croix. Specimens seen. — San Juan Market. Diagnosis. — Head 2.7 or 2.8; depth 3; eye 4. Dorsal X, 14; anal III, 8 ; scales 72. Anal fin angulated ; its median rays longest in the adult, at least half as long as head. Upper canines rather long, lower small. Maxillary reaching edge of pupil, its length contained 2.5 times in that of the head. Color rose red with golden streaks, iris golden j^ellow in life. Young with a black lateral blotch. Length about 18 inches. Remarks. — A highly valued food-fish. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 265 Lutianus analis (Cuvier aud Valenciennes) Mutton-fish snapper ; pargo criollo ; sama MesnprloH (tnalin Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828, Ilist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. II, p. 452. Neomaenis analis Evermann and Marsh, 1!M)2, p. 176. PI. 21. Fig. I'S'd. — Lutianus analis From Zoologica, IX 'Type locality. — Santo Domingo. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Florida to Brazil; young, borne northward in the Gulf Stream, occasionally drift to Massachusetts. Abundant in Porto Eico waters. Specimens seen. — San Juan Market. Diagnosis. — Head 2.7; depth 2.8 to 2.9; eye 5.6 to 5.T. Dorsal X, 14; anal III, 8 ; scales TO. Anal fin angulated, its median rays longest in the adult, at least half as long as head. Upper canine teeth rather long, lower small. Maxillary reaching edge of eye, 2.T in head. Colors olivaceous ; the fins more or less red ; a small distinct black mark on the side below the soft dorsal, larger and more conspicuous in the young. Attains a maximum weight of 25 pounds, though individuals weighing more than 18 or even 15 pounds are uncommon. At 21 pounds weight, the length is about 27 inches. Remarks. — One of the most plentiful and important food fishes of Porto Eico, highly esteemed. Lutianus megalophthalnius (Evermann and Marsh) Large-eyetl snapper Neomaenis megalophthalmus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1900, Vol. XX, Pt. 1, p. 177, Fig. 48. Fig. 134. — Lutianus mcfialophthalntus Type locality. — Puerto Eeal, Porto Eico. 266 ISVIEXTIFW SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Distribution. — Known only from the description by Evermann and Marsh, based on a specimen 11% inches long. Diagnosis. — Head 2.6 or 2.7; depth 2.9; eye 4.7 or 4.8. Dorsal X, 12; anal III, 8; scales 64. Upper canine teeth moderate, lower small or obsolete. Scales above lateral line in very oblique series. Anal low, its outline rounded. Mouth moderate, maxillary length 2.6 to 2.8 in that of the head. There are 8 or 9 gill-rakers besides rudiments. Pectoral more than 2/3 the length of the head. A large black lateral spot. Differs from Lutianus synagns in having a larger eye and longer pectoral. Lutianus synagris (Linnaeus) Lane snapper ; manchego ; raiado Sparus synagris Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 280; after Catesby. Neomaenis synagris Evermann and Marsh, 19€2, p. 178, PI. 22. Fig. 13.5. — Lutianus synagris From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Bahamas. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, southern Florida to Colon and Brazil, generally abundant. N'ext to the mutton-fish the most abundant snapper in Porto Eican waters. Specimens collected. — 1 : Ponce Market. Diagnosis. — Head 2.6 to 2.7; depth 2.7 to 3; eye 4.5 to 5. Dorsal X, 12 ; anal III, 8 ; scales 64 to 68. Upper canines moderate, lower small or obsolete. Scales above lateral line in very oblique series. Anal fin low, its outlines rounded. Mouth moderate, the length of the maxillary con- tained 2.4 to 2.7 times in that of the head. Pectoral long. Color with red shades; a large black lateral blotch. Maximum weight about 4 pounds; usually not more than 2 pounds in w^eight or more than 14 inches in length. Remarl-s. Though of small size, this species is valued for its food qualities and is plentiful in Porto Eican Markets. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE MRGIN ISLANDS 26T LutianiLS mahogoiii (Cuvier and ^'aleIlciennes) Mahogoni snapper ; ojant-o Mesoprion mahogoni Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1S2S, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. II, p. 447. Neomacnis mahogoni Evermann and Marsh, 3902, p. 179. Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indies, not known to occur in Florida, not com- mon, a single specimen 9 inches long recorded from Ponce, Porto Rico. Diagnosis. ^B^esid 2.5; depth 3; eye 3.7 to 3.8. Dorsal X, 13; anal III, 8 ; scales 63. Upper canine teeth moderate, lower small or obsolete. Scales above lateral line in very oblique series. Anal fin low, its outline rounded. Mouth large, length of maxillary contained 2.4 times in that of head. Color deep brown, shaded with red; narrow bronze streaks following the rows of scales; silvery below; eye and fins more or less bright red. OcYURUs Gill Ocyui-us chrysurus (Blocli) Yellow-tail ; colirubia Spams chrysurus Bloch, 1790, Ausl. Fische, and Ichth., PI. 262; after Marc- grave. Ocyurus chrysurus Evermann and Marsli, 1902, p. ISO, PI. 2.3. Fig. 136. — Oci/inns clirijsiinis From Zoologlca, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — West Indian fauna from southern Florida to Brazil, generally abundant. Plentiful in Porto Rican waters and also reported from St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 1 : Santurce, San Juan. Diagnosis.— Head 3 ; depth 2.9 to 3 ; eye 4.5 to 5. Dorsal X, 13 ; anal II to III, 9 to 10; scales 65. Gill-rakers long and numerous, about 25, or more. Lateral stripe, peduncular region, and caudal bright yellow. Attains a length of about 2 feet and a w^eight of 3 or 4 pounds; averages about a pound in weight. Remarhs. — This is an important food fish. 268 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Rhomboplites Gill Rhomboplites aurorubens (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Cagon de lo alto Centropristis unioruhcns Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1829, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. Ill, p. 4.j. Rhomhoplitcs aiiroruhens Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 181, Fig. 40. Fig. 137. — Rhoinhoplitcfi aurorubens From Zoologica, X 2'ype localities. — Brazil, Martinique, 8anto Domingo. Distribution. — West Indian fauna from Charleston, S. C, and Pen- sacola, Fla., south to Brazil. Uncommon in Porto Eican waters. Specimens collected. — 1 : Ponce Market. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 3; eye 3.4. Dorsal XII, 11; anal III, 8; scales 68. Teeth small, bands and patches of villiform teeth behind the outer row in the upper jaw, in the top of the mouth and on the tongue. Lower jaw projecting. Tail moderately forked. Gill-rakers 25 or a few more. Top of the head scaled to before the middle of eye. Color Ver- million. Size small, length less than a foot. Apsilus Cuvier and Valenciennes .\psilus dentatus Guichenot Aruillo Apsilus dentatus Guichenot, 1845, in Ramon de la Sagra, Hist. Cuba, Poiss., p. 29, 1*1. I, Fig. 2. Apsilus dentatus Jordan and Evermann, 1898, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., XLVII, Pt. 2, p. 1278. Lutjanus a mill us Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 470. St. Croix. Fig. 138. — Apsilus dentatus Type locality. — Havana. Distrihution. — West Indies; recorded from St. Croix by Cope. NICHOLAS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 269 Diagnosis. — Head 3 ; depth 2.7 ; eye 3.8 or 3.!). Dorsal X, 10 ; anal III, 8; scales 60. tSoft dorsal and anal scaleless; caudal deeply forked. About 17 gill-rakers on the lower limb of the first arch. Color in life, dusky violet, paler below. Length about a foot. Etelis Cuvier and Valenciennes Etelis ooulatus (Cnvier and Valenciennes) Cachucho Scrrntiiis oeulatus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. II, p. '2m. Etelis oeulatus Evermann and Marsh, 1!X)2, p. 183, Fig. .50. Fig. 139. — Etelis oeulatus Type locality. — Martinique. Pistrihution. — Warmer waters of the North Atlantic, West Indies and Madeira, not yet known from the coast of the United States. Un- common about Porto Bico. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 3.8; eye 3.4. Dorsal X, 11; anal III, 8; scales 51. Maxillary scaly. Dorsal nearly or quite divided into 2 fins by a deep notch between spines and soft rays. Head scaleless above and on snout. Caudal deeply forked. Color red. Attains a length of from 2 to 3 feet. Remarl-s. — A handsome as well as edible species. Habits. — Found in rather deep water on rocky bottoms. Haemulidae Haemiilon Cuvier Haemulon album Cuvier and Valenciennes Margaret grunt ; margate-flsh : vallao Haemulon album Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. V, p. 241. Haemulon album Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 185, PI. 24. 270 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 140. — Haemiilon album From Breder's Field Book of Marine Fishes (Putnam). Type locality. — St. Thomas. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Florida Keys to Brazil. Not very common about Porto Eico and the Virgin Islands. Diagnosis. — Head 2.7; depth 2.5; eye 6, Dorsal XII, 16; anal III, 8; scales 51. Scales on sides not particularly enlarged either above or below the lateral line. Length of the maxillary contained 2.3 to 2.8 in that of the head, not reaching center of eye in adult. There are 9 scales in an oblique series from first dorsal spine to lateral line; back elevated. Preorbital deep and the snout long and pointed. Back and sides with- out yellow or blue stripes; sides without dark bars. One of the largest of the grunts, attaining a length of from 8 to 10 pounds, the average from 4 to 6. Be marls. — Highly esteemed as a food fish. Haeniulon macrostoniiim Giiuther Gray grunt ; Corocoro Haemulon macrostoma Giiuther, 18.59, Cat., Vol. I, p. .308. Haemulon macrostomum Evermanu and INIarsli, 1902, p. 106, Fig. 51. Fig. 141. — Haemulon macrostomum From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Jamaica. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, north to southern Florida. Prob- ably not common in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis.— Head 2.7 to 2.8 : depth 2.9 ; eye 4.3 to 5. Dorsal XII, 16 ; anal III, 8 to 9 ; scales 53. Scales on sides not particularly enlarged either above or below lateral line. Length of maxillary contained 2.3 to 2.8 in that of head, not reaching center of eye in adult. There a*re 9 NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 271 scales in an oblique series from first dorsal spine to lateral line (T or 8 in a vertical row). Mouth rather large, maxillar}^ reaching to below front of pupil. Back and sides without yellow or blue stripes, but with 4 or 5 black longitudinal streaks which disappear only in very old ex- amples. The young of various grunts have a similar pattern, much less persistent. Attains a length of a foot or more. Haenuilon bonariense Cuvier and Valenciennes Black grunt ; ronco prleto Haemulon honariense Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830, Hist. Nat. I'oi.-^s., Vol. V, p. 254. Haemulon bonariense Evermaun and Marsh, 1902, p. 187. Fig. 142. — Haemulon honariense From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Buenos Ayres. Distribution. — Not very common in the West Indies, but with a wide range south to Buenos Ayres. Not common about Porto Rico, though sometimes seen in the San Juan Market. Diagnosis.— TLead 2.8; depth 2.6; eye 4.6 to 4.7. Dorsal XII, 16; anal III, 8; scales 44, Scales on sides not particularly enlarged either above or below the lateral line. Length of maxillary contained in that of head 2.3 to 3 times, not reaching center of eye in adult. There are 5 or 6 scales in a vertical row from first dorsal spine to lateral line. Back and sides without yellow or blue stripes, but dark spots on the scales coalescing to form continuous dark stripes. Attains a length of a foot or less. Remarks. — Has some value as a food fish. Haemulon parra (Desmarest) Sailor's choice ; arrayado : ronco Diabasis parra Desmarest, 182.3, Prem. Dec. Ichth., p. .30, PI. 2. Fig. 2. Haemulon parra Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 187, Fig. 52. 272 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 143. — Haemulon parra Type locality. — Havana. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, southern Florida to Brazil. Prob- ably not uncommon at the west end of Porto Eico. Specimens collected. — 1 : Santurce, San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 2.6 to 3; eye 4.4. Dorsal XII, IT; anal III, 7 or 8 ; scales 50 to 54. Scales above or below lateral line anteriorly not especially enlarged. Maxillary not reaching center of eye in adult; its length 2.5 times in that of the head. Scales in a vertical row from first dorsal spine to lateral line, 5 or 6. Snout not very pointed. Back and sides without yellow or blue stripes, each scale above with a median blackish spot, the spots not coalescent into lines. Averages about V^ pound in weight but may weigh up to 2 pounds. Remarks. — A valuable food fish. Haemulon carbonarium Poey Roneo carbonero Haemulon carhonariiim Poey, 18G0, Memorias, Vol. II, p. 176. Haemulon earhonariutn Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 188. Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — West Indian fauna from Bermuda south to Brazil, very common at Havana, rare in the Florida Keys (recorded from Tor- tugas). Uncommon about Porto Eico (recorded from San Geronimo). Specimens seen. — San Juan (peddled cooked). Diagnosis. — Head 3 to 3.1; depth 2.7 to 2.8; eye 3.6 to 3.7. Dorsal XII, 16; anal III, 8; scales 55. Scales above or below lateral line an- teriorly not especially enlarged. Maxillary not reaching center of eye in adult, but extending about to under front of pupil, its length contained 2.3 to 2.4 in that of the head. Back and sides with distinct horizontal yellow stripes, no black spots anywhere. Length about 10 inches. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 273 Haemulon inelaniirum (Linnaeus) Black-tailed grunt ; jeniguana Perca mchmura Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Xat., ed. 10, p. 202; based on Catesby. Haemulon, mclanurum Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. I'hil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 471. St. Croix. Type locality. — Bahamas. Distribution. — West Indies, rather common at Havana and southward. Not recorded from Porto Eico, but known from 8t. Croix. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 3; eye 5. Dorsal XII, !(> ; anal III, 8; scales 50 to 56. Maxillary reaching to below center of eye in adult, its length about half that of the head. Back and sides with continuous horizontal yellow stripes, which do not everywhere follow the direction of the row of scales. A blackish area on back and caudal, bounded be- low by a slanting line from first dorsal spine to tip of lower caudal lobe. Attains a length of about a foot. Haemulon soiurus (Shaw) Yellow grunt; I'oneo amarillo; chachicata Spams sciiiru-s Shaw, 1803, General Zoology, Vol. IV, VI. 64; based on the description and figure of Bloeh. Haemulon seiurus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 1S!», Fig. 53. Fig. 144. — Haemulon sciiinis From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Antilles. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Florida Keys to Brazil. Generally abundant in Porto Rican waters and also reported from St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 1 : Santurce Market, San Juan. Diagnosis.— Read 2.6 to 2.9 ; depth 2.8 to 3 ; eye 4 to 4.8. Dorsal XII, 16; anal III, 8 to 9; scales 50 to 53. Scales above or below lateral line anteriorly not especially enlarged. Maxillary nearly or quite half length of head, reaching center of eye in adult. Ground color bright yellow; back and sides of head and body with continuous horizontal blue stripes, not everywhere following rows of scales, one stripe forming an upward angle under eye. Attains a length of 18 inches and a weight of a pound or less. Remarks. — A common and important food fish. 274 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF FORTO RICO Haenmlon plumieri ( Lacepede) Common grunt ; ronco arara ; cacbicata Lahrus tj]in>ucri Lacepede, 1802, Hist. Nat. Pois.s., Vol. Ill, p. 4-80, I'l. 2, Fig. 2; based on a copy of a drawing by Plumier Haemuloii itJumierl Evermann and Marsli. 1!X»2. p. 100, Fig. 54. Fig. 145. — Haemulon plumieri From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indian fauna from Cape Hatteras to Brazil, Gen- erally abundant in Porto Eican waters and also reported from St. Croix. Specimens seen. — Ponce Market. Diagnosis. — Head 2.5 to 2.8; depth 2.4 to 2.7; eye 4.5 to 5. Dorsal XII, 15 or 16; anal III, 8 or 9 ; scales 51. Scales above lateral line anteriorly much larger than the others, those below the lateral line not especially enlarged. Mouth large, maxillary about half length of head. Narrow blue, more or less horizontal lines on the head ; the body witli brown or brassy spotting. Grows to be about 18 inches long, with a maximum weight of 4 pounds, usually weighing 2 pounds or less. Beniarl-s. — An abundant and valuable food fish at Porto Eico as it is at Key West. Haemulon flavolineatum (Desmarest) French grunt ; ronco condenado Diah(i.02, p. 207, Fig. Gl. Gerres cinereus Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 2. Fig. 161. — Xystaema cinereum From Zoologica, X NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 285 Type locality. — Bahamas. Distribution. — Both coasts of tropical America and in the West Indies, north to southern Florida, Bermuda and Lower California. Plentiful in Porto Eican waters. Specimens collected. — 9 : Santurce and Fort San Geronimo, Sa .Juan, and Cataho Market. Diagnosis. — Head 3.2 ; depth 2.6 to 2.8 ; eye 3.4. Dorsal IX, 10 ; anal III, 7; scales 45. Second interhaemal spine long, spear-shaped, not hollow ; preopercle entire ; second anal spine moderately enlarged. At- tains a length of more than a foot. Remarks. — Commonly seen in the San Juan Market, Porto Eico. Habits. — Generally common in waters of moderate depth within its range, entering rivers. Xystaenia havana Nichols Large-eyed mojarra Xystaema havana Nichols, 1912, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXI, p. 189, Fig. 2. Xystaema havana Nichols, 191.5, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 144. Porto Rico. Gerres havana Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 2. Fig. 162. — -Xystaema havana Type locality. — Havana. Distrihution. — West Indian fauna from Miami, Florida to Brazil, prob- ably not uncommon, but seldom reported due to its resemblance to other species. Eecorded from Fort San Geronimo, Porto Eico. Specimens collected. — 2 : San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 3.1; depth 2.7; eye 2.9 (specimen of 5 inches stand- ard length). Dorsal IX, 10; anal III, 7; scales 42. Second interhaemal spine spear shaped, not hollow; preopercle entire; second anal spine moderate. Color silvery, without cross-bars. Length from 5 to G inches. 286 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Diapterus Ranzani Diapterus rhombeus (Ciivier and Valencieunes) Rhomboid mojarra Gerres rhomheus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. VI, p. 459. Gerres rlwtnbeus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 208. Diapterus rhomheus Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 2. Fig. 163. — Diapterus rhombeus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indian fauna. Common in Porto Rican waters. Specimens collected. — 1 : Catano. Diagnosis. — Head 2.8; depth 2; eye -i. Dorsal IX, 10; anal II, 9; scales 38. Preorbital entire, preopercle serrate. Second interhaemal spine long and pointed, not hollow. No distinct dark streaks along the rows of scales. Length 10 inches or less. Diapterus olisthostomus (Goode and Bean) Irish pompano ; mojarra Gerres olisthostomus Goode and Bean, 1882, proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1882, p. 423. Gerres olisthostomus Evermann and Marsh, p. 209, Fig. 62. Diapterus olisthostomus Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 2. Fig. 164. — Diapterus olisthostomus Type locality. — Indian Eiver, Fla. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, southern Florida to Brazil. Not common in Porto Eican waters. One noted in the San Juan market. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 287 Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 2 A; eye 3 A. Dorsal IX, 10; anal HI, 8; scales 39. Preorbital entire, preopercle serrate ; second interhaemal spine long and pointed, not hollow, Xo distinct dark streaks along the rows of scales. Length a foot or less. Diapterus brasilianus ( Cuvier and Valenciennes) Streaked luojarra Gerrcs hrasilianus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. VI, p. 458. Gerres hrasilianus Everniann and Marsh, 1002. p. 200: Diapterus brasilianus Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 2. Fig. 16.5. — Diapterus hrusiliaiius Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, Greater Antilles to Bahia. Brazil. Xot common abont Porto Eico. Specimens seen. — San Juan Market. Diagnosis.— Head 3.4 ; depth 2.3 ; eye 3.4. Dorsal IX, 1 : anal III, 8 ; scales 36 to 38. Preorbital as well as preopercle serrate; second inter- haemal spine long and pointed, not hollow ; length of longest dorsal spine contained 1.4 times in that of the head. A distinct dark streak along each row of scales on the back and sides. Length a foot or less. Diapterus pluniieri (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Plumier's mojaffa Gerrcs pluniieri Cuvier and Valenciennes, 18.30, Hi.st. Nat. Poiss.. Vol. VI. p. 452. Gerres plumieri Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 210. Diapterus plumieri Meek and Hildebrand. 1925. Fishes of Panama. Pt. 2. 288 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. l(jG. — Diapteius idnniicri Type localities. — Antilles and Porto Rico. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, and the Atlantic coast of tropical America. Generally not uncommon, but known from Porto Rico only on the authority of Cuvier and Valenciennes, and of Poey. Diagnosis. — Head 3 ; depth 2.1 to 2.2 ; eye 3. Dorsal IX, 10 ; anal III, 8; scales 37. Preorbital as well as preopercle serrate; second interhaemal spine long and pointed, not hollow; longest dorsal spine equalling head in length, or longer. A distinct dark streak along each row of scales on back and sides. Length 10 inches. ^o* Kyphosidae Kyphosus Lacepede Kyphosus incisor (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Cliopa amarilla Pimeleptcrus incisor Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1831, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. VII, p. 266. Kyphosus incisor Evermann and Marsh, 1901.', p. 211. Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — Tropical Atlantic from Cuba to Brazil and the Canary Islands. Reported by Dr. Stahl from Porto Rico. Diagnosis. — Head 4.5; depth 2.5; Dorsal XI, 14; anal III, 13; scales 65 to 66. Color grayish, with bright yellow streaks. Attains a length of 21/2 to 3 feet. Kyphosus sectatrix (Linnaeus) Rudder-flsh ; Bermuda chub ; Chopa blanca Pcrra saltiiri-r Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 293; misprint, sectatrix of Catesby incorrectly copied. Knphosus scrtafri.r Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 211, Fig. 63. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 289 Fig. 16". — Kyphusun sect at rue From Zoologicii, IX Type locality. — Carolina. Distribution. — Warm waters of the Atlantic from the West indies to the Canary Islands, north in the Gulf Stream drift to Cape Cod; acci- dental in the Mediterranean. Not common ahout Porto Rico, from which it is recorded by Poey and Stahl. Diagnose. — Head 3.7 to 3.8; depth 2.1 to 3.2; eye about A. Dorsal XI, 12 ; anal III, 11 ; scales 55. Dark grayish with paler gray or yellow- ish streaks. May attain a length of 18 inches or more and a maximum weight of 9, though usually it weighs between 3 and I pounds. SCIAENIDAE Cynoscion Gill Cynoscioii janiaiceiisis (Vaillant and Bocourt) Mongolar drummer; corviua OtoUthus jamaicensis Vaillant and Bocourt, 1874, Miss. Sci. au Mexique, Poiss., p. 156. Cynoscion jamaicensis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 215. Fig. 168. — Cynoscion jamaicensis From Zoologica, X Type locality: — Jamaica. Distribution. — Known only from Jamaica and from Porto Rico, where it is not common. Diagnosis. — Head 3.3 ; depth 4 ; eye 4.7. Dorsal X-I, 25 ; anal II, 10 ; scales 76. Vertical fins rather closely scaled; snout longer than eye, its length contained 3.7 to 3,8 times in that of head. Coloration nearly uniform silvery. Length about a foot. 290 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Lariinus Cuvier and Valeuciennes Larinuis breviceps Cuvier ami Valeuciennes Corbino cabezou Larinnis hrcriccps Cuvier and Valemiennes, 1830, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. V, 1). 146. Lariuni-'i lircriccps Kverniann and Marsh. IIKVJ. p. 21(j. Fig. 169. — Larimus hreviceps l<'rom Zoologica, X Ti/pe localities. — Santo Domingo and Brazil. Distribuilon. — West Indian fauna. West Indies to Brazil. Not un- common about Porto Eico. Specimens collected. — o Santurce ^larket. >San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 3.2 ; depth 3 ; eye 3.S. Dorsal rays X-I, 27 ; anal II, G : scales 50. Mouth large, very oblique. Indistinct dark streaks along the rows of scales on sides ; inside of gill-cavity pale-colored. At- tains a length of a foot or less. Bern arks. — A good food fish. Odontosoion Gill Odontosoion deiitex (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Corvina Cortina dciitex Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. V. p. 139. Odontoscioii dentcx Everinann and Marsh. 100:2. p. 210. Fig. 170. — Odontoscion dentcx From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Santo Domingo. Distribution. — West Indies, generally common. Rather common in Porto Rican waters. Diagnosis.— Rmd 3 ; depth 3.4; eye 3.T. Dorsal XI-I, 24; anal II, 9 : scales 56. Canine teeth in front of lower jaw. Dark streaks along the rows of scales. Attains a length of about a foot. Re marls. — A food fish of some commercial importance. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND TUB VIRGIN ISLANDS 291 CorviJa Jordan and Eigenmann Corvula sanotae-lueiae Jordan St. Lueian corvina Corvula sanctae-luciae Jordan, 1889, I'roe. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1880, p. 049. Corvula sanctae-luciae Evermanu and Alarsh, 1902, p. 217. Type locality. — Port Castries, St. Lucia. Distribution. — Xot uncommon in Porto Rico, otherwise known from the type only. Diagnosis. — Head 3.1; depth 3.2; eye 4.5 (3.5 in tlie young). Dorsal XI-I, 23; anal II, 8 or 9; scales 47. IMaxillary reaching be- yond vertical from middle of pupil ; pectoral short. Bows of scales with dark stripes which bend upward in a characteristic manner under the notch separating the dorsals. Attains a length of 8 inches. Corvula batabana (Poey) Barriga blanca Johnius haiahanits Poey, 1860. Meniorias, Vol. II, p. 184. Corvula hatabana Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 217. Type locality. — Batabano, Cuba. Distribution. — Known from Cuba and Porto Rico, where it is not common. Diagnosis. — Head 3.3 to 3.5 ; depth 3.3 ; eye 4. Dorsal XI-I, 28 ; anal II, 8; scales 45. Dusky, with dark streaks along the rows of scales. Attains a length of about a foot. Bairdiella Gill Bairdiella ronohus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Ground drummer ; ronco Corvina ronchus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830, Hi.st. Nat. Poiss., Vol. V, j). 107. Bairdiella ronchus Evermanu and Marsh, 1902, p. 218. Fig. 171. — Bairdiella ronchus Prom Zoologica, X Type localities. — Maracaibo and Surinam. Distribution. — West Indies and the Atlantic coasts of tropical America to Brazil. Not uncommon in Porto Rican waters. Specimens collected. — 2 : San Juan markets. 292 SVIEXTIFW SURVEY OF PORTO RICO JJiiKjiiusis. — Head 3.1; depth 3.2; eye 4.6. Dorsal X-I, 2-4; anal II, 8; scales 50. Second anal spine very long, 2/3 the length of head. Pre- opercle with sharp bony teeth, the lowermost directed abruptly downward. Xot exceeding 8 or 10 inches in length. Remarks.— tA good food fish though small. Ophioscion Gill Ophioscion adustus (Agassiz) Snake croaker SciacHd (Corvina) adut^ta Agassiz, 1802, in Spix, Pise. Brazil, p. 12G, I'l. 70. Ophioscion aditstus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 219. Type locality. — Montevideo. Distribution. — Five small specimens from Vieques and Arroyo, P. R., are referred to this species by Evermann and Marsh. Diagonsis.—ILe&d 3.2 to 3.3; depth 3.3; eye 4.2. Dorsal XI-I, 22; anal, II, 7 ; scales 56. Preopercle with strong bony spines; middle caudal rays the longest. Attains a length of 10 inches. Micropogon Cuvier and Valenciennes Micropogon furnieri (Desmarest) West Indian croaker ; white-mouth drummer ; verrugato Vmltrina furnieri Desmarest, 1822, Premiere Decade Ichth., p. 22, PI. 2, Fig. 3. Micropogon fu?'nieri Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 220. Fig. 172. — Micropogon ftirnieri From Zoologlca, X. Type locality. — Havana. Distrihution. — West Indian fauna. Greater Antilles to Surinam. Prob- ably not rare in Porto Rican waters. Diagonsk.— Head 3.2 to 3.3 ; depth 3.7 ; eye 5.3 to 6. Dorsal X-I, 30;' anal II, 8; scales 51 to 54. Second anal spine moderate, its length con- tained 5 times in that of the head. Preopercle with strong bony teeth; slender barbels along the sides of the lower jaw. Attains the length of a foot or more. Remarls. — A good food fish. l^ICHOL^, PORTO RIVO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 293 Umbrina Ciivier Unibrina coroides Cuvier and Valenciennes Umbrina Umhrina coroides Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830, Hist. Nat. Polss., Vol. V, p. 187. TJmhrina coroides Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 220. Tijpe locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, southern Florida to Brazil. Gen- erally distributed and not uncommon in Porto Kican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 3.5; eye 4.2 to 4.3. Dorsal X-I, 26; anal II, 6; scales 48. Lower jaw with a single thickish barbel at its tip; edge of preopercle with bony crenation or serration. Length of second anal spine 2.3 times in that of the head; caudal truncate. Body with about 9 dark vertical cross-bands, besides narrow undulating streaks along the rows of scales. A small species, less than a foot long. Menticirrhus Gill Menticirrhus martinicensis (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Jewsharp drummer Umbrina martinicensis Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. V, p. 186. Menticirrhus martinicensis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 221. Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indies to Patagonia, common on the Brazilian coast. Not rare in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 3.3 ; depth 4 ; eye 7. Dorsal X-I, 22 to 24 ; anal I, 7 ; scales 54. Gill-rakers obsolete, reduced to tubercular prominences similar to those on the inner gill-arches. Outer teeth of the upper jaw decidedly enlarged; lower jaw with a single thickish barbel at its tip, overhung by the jDiglike snout; preopercle with membranous crenulations only. Remarks. — A fair food fish. Eques Bloch Eques acuminatus (Bloch and Schneider) Streaked ribbon-fish ; berdugo or bergudo Gratmnlstcs acuminatus Bloch and Schneider, 1801, Syst. Ichth., p. 184; after Seba. Eques acuminatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 222. 294 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Type locality. — Not specified. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, South Carolina to Brazil. Known from Porto Eico and also from St. Croix, but not common in Porto Rican waters. Diag7iosis.—Read 3.1; depth 2.6 to 2.8; eye 3.8. Dorsal X-I, 38 to 41; anal II, 7; scales about 50. Back much elevated, ventral outline nearly straight; body tapering backward to a narrow caudal peduncle; caudal fin rhombic. Eemarks. — A^alued as a food fish, though not large. Eques pulcher Steiudachuer Steindachner's ribbon-fish Eques pulcher Steindacliiier, 1867, Ich. Notiz., Vol. VI, p. 43. Eques pulcher tSilvester, lOlG, Yearb. Cam. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 'IW). Porto Rico. Type locality. — Barbados. Distribution. — Known from Barbados and Porto Rico in the West Indies. A specimen recorded in shallow water west of Guanica Harbor, P. R. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5 to 3.7 (in total) ; depth the same; eye 3. Dorsal X-I, 37 or 38; anal II, 7; scale 50. Profile very steep; body deepest below first dorsal spine, thench rapidly tapering to the narrow peduncle. Olivaceous; 3 dark lengthwise bands, the middle one reaching the tip of middle caudal rays. Length 6 inches. Eques punctatus Bloch and Schneider Spotted ribbon-fish Eques punctatus Bloch and Schneider, 1801, Syst. Ichth., p. 106 ; based on Parra. Eques punctatus Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 471. St. Croix. Fig. 173. — Eques punctatus From Zoologica, X. Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — West Indies. Recorded from St. Croix but not from Porto Rico. MCHOLS, PORTO RICO Ayo THE VIRGfy ISLANDS 295 Diagnosis. — Head 3.7 to 3.8; depth 3; eye 3.T to 3.8. Dorsal XI or XII-I, 46 ; anal II, 6 to 7 ; scales 55 to 59. Distance from snout to first dorsal spine about equal to depth of body; dorsal spines elevated, the length of the longest about 2% times in the length of Ijody. Back ele- vated in front, the body rapidly tapering to a narrow caudal peduncle. Color dark brown ; light bars on head and fore part of Ijody, a light bar downward behind the elevated portion of the spinous dorsal, dividing in two, the branches running backward. Length 7 or 8 inches. Eques lanceolatus Linnaeus Lance-shaped ribbon-tish ; guapena Chaetodon lanceloatus Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10. p. 277; based on Edwards. Eques lanceolatus Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 471. St. Croix. Fig. 174. — Eques lanceolatus From Zoologica, X Type locality.— CaiTaihes Islands. Distribution. — -West Indies, northward to Pensacola, Fla. Recorded from St. Croix but not from Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 4; depth 2.4; eye 4. Dorsal XIV to XVI-I, 53; anal II, 5 ; scales small, irregular. Profile almost vertical ; back elevated in front, the body rapidly tapering to a narrow caudal peduncle. Body variegated with ribbon-like, oblique bands. Length from 6 to 8 inches. THE FISHES OF PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POMACENTRIDAE TO OgCOCEPHALIDAE By J. T. Nichols CONTENTS Page 304 Pomacentridae Pomacentrus Lacepede ^^ Pomacentrus fuscus Cuvier and Valenciennes "^04 Pomacentrus atrocyaneus Poey ^^^ Pomacentrus analis Poey ^^ Pomacentrus leucostictus Miiller and Troschel 30b Pomacentrus chrysus (Bean) ^"' Abudefduf Forskal ^[^° Abudefduf saxatilis (Linnaeus) 3U» Abudefduf analogiis (Gill) ^ Microspathodon Giinther 3U9 Microspathodon chrysurus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 309 Microspathodon niveatus (Poey) 310 Microspathodon fowleri Silvester 311 Labridae Lachnolaimus Cuvier and Valenciennes 311 Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum) "^^j^ Harpe Lacepede Harpe rufa (Linnaeus) 3 ^ Clepticus Cuvier ^^ Clepticus parrae (Bloch and Schneider) 313 Halichoeres Riippell ^^ Halichoeres garnoti (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 313 Halichoeres radiatus (Linnaeus) 314 Halichoeres bivittatus (Bloch) 315 Halichoeres kirschii (Jordan and Evermann) 315 Thalassoma Swainson "^^^ Thalassoma nitidum (Giinther) 31b Thalassoma bifasciatum (Bloch) 317 Doratonotus Giinther ^;' ' Doratonotus megalepis Giinther 31/ Scaridae Sparisoma Swainson ^|^ Sparisoma radians (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 318 Sparisoma niphobles Jordan and Bollman 319 Sparisoma aurofrenaturn (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 319 Sparisoma abildgaardi (Bloch) ^^^ Sparisoma chrysopterum (Bloch and Schneider) 320 Sparisoma lorito Jordan and Swain "^^^ 300 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Page Sparisoma viride (Bonnaterre) 321 Sparisonia ftavescens (Bloch and Schneider) 322 Sparisoma rubripinne (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 323 Sparisoyna brachiale (Poey) .^ 323 Scarus Forskal 324 Scarus taeniopterus Desmarest 324 Scarus pundulatus Cuvier and Valenciennes 325 Scarus vetula Bloch and Schneider 325 Scarus croicensis Bloch 326 Scarus coeruleus (Bloch) 326 Pseudoscarus Bleeker 327 Pseudoscarus guacamaia (Cuvier) 327 Ephippidae 328 Chaetodipterus Lacepede 328 Chaetodipterus faber (Broussonet) 328 Chaetodontidae 329 Chaetodon Linnaeus 329 Chaetodon ocellatus Bloch 329 Chaetodon striatus Linnaeus 330 Chaetodon capistratus Linnaeus 330 Pomacanthus Lacepede 331 Pomacanthus arcuatus (Linnaeus) 331 Holacanthus Lacepede 332 Holacanthus tricolor (Bloch) 332 Angelichthys Jordan and Evermann 333 Angelichthys ciliaris (Linnaeus) 333 Teuthididae 334 Teuthis Linnaeus 334 Teuthis caeruleus (Bloch and Schneider) 334 Teuthis hepatus Linnaeus 334 Teuthis bahianus (Castelnau) 335 BaUstidae 336 Balistes Linnaeus 336 Batistes vetula Linnaeus 336 Melichihys Swainson 337 Melichthys piceus (Poey) 337 Xanthichthys^ Kaup 338 Xanthichthys ringens (Linnaeus) 338 Monacanthidae 338 Cantherines Swainson 339 Cantherines pullus (Ranzani) 339 Cantherines amphioxys (Cope) 339 Monacanthus Cuvier 340 Monacanthus ciliatus (Mitchill) 340 Monacanthus tuckeri Bean 341 Monacanthus hispidus (Linnaeus) 341 Alutera Cuvier 342 Alutera scripta (Osbeck) 343 I^ICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 301 Page Ostraciidae 343 Ladophrys Swainson 343 Lactophrys triqueter (Linnaeus) 343 Ladophrys trigonus (Linnaeus) 344 Ladophnjs bicaudalis (Linnaeus) 344 Ladophrys tricornis (Linnaeus) 345 Tetraodontidae 346 Lagocephalus Swainson 346 Lagocephalus laevigatus (Linnaeus) 346 Tetraodon Linnaeus 346 Tetraodon spengleri Bloch 346 Tetraodon marmoratus Ranzani 347 Tetraodon testudineus Linnaeus * 348 Canthigasteridae 348 Canthigaster Swainson 348 Canthigaster rostratus (Bloch) 348 Diodontidae 349 Diodon Linnaeus 349 Diodon hystrix Linnaeus 349 Diodon holacanthus Linnaeus 350 Chilomyderus Bibron 350 Chilomyderus antennatus (Cuvier) 350 Scorpaenidae 351 Scorpaena Linnaeus 351 Scorpaena brasiliensis Cuvier and Valenciennes 351 Scorpaena albifimbria Evermann and Marsh 352 Scorpaena bergii Evermann and Marsh 352 Scorpaena plumieri Bloch 353 Scorpaena grandicornis Cuvier and Valenciennes 353 Pontinus Poey 354 Pontinus heanorum Evermann and Marsh 354 Pontinus macrolepis Goode and Bean 355 Triglidae 355 Prionotus Lacepede 355 Prionotus pundatus (Bloch) 355 Peristediidae 356 Peristedion Lacepede 356 Peristedion gracile Goode and Bean 357 Cephalacanthidae 357 Cephalacanth us Lacepede 357 Cephalacanthus volitans (Linnaeus) 357 CalUonymidae 358 Callionymus Linnaeus 358 Callionymus calliurus Eigenmann and Eigenmann 358 Gobiidae 359 Gobiomorus Lacepede 359 Gobiomorus dormitor Lacepede 359 Dormitator Gill 360 Dorinitator maculatus (Bloch) 360 Guavina Bleeker 361 302 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Page Guavina guavina (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 361 Eleotris Bloch and Schneider 361 Eleotris pisonis (Gmelin) 361 Sicydium Cuvier and Valenciennes 362 Sicydium antillarum Ogilvie-Grant 362 Sicydium caguitae Evermann and Marsh 362 Sicydium plumieri (Bloch) 363 Bathygobius Bleeker 363 Bathygohius soporator (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 363 Gobius Linnaeus 364 Gobius translucens Nichols 364 Gobius glaucofraenum (Gill) 364 Gobius boleosoma Jordan and Gilbert 365 Gobius lyricus Girard 366 Gobius bayamonensis Evermann and Marsh 366 Gobius oceanicus Pallas 367 Chonophorus Poey 367 Chonophorus taiasica (Lichtenstein) 367 Bollmannia Jordan 368 Bollmannia boqueronensis Evermann and Marsh 368 Microgobius Poey 368 Microgobius meeki Evermann and Marsh 368 Gobiosoma Girard 369 Gobiosoma multifasciatum Steindachner 369 Gobioides Lacepede 369 Gobioides broussonnetii Lacepede 369 Echeneididae 370 Echeneis Linnaeus 370 Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus 370 Malacanthidae • 371 Malacanthus Cuvier 371 Malacanthus plumieri (Bloch) 371 Caulolatilus Gill 371 Caulolatilus cyanops Poey 371 Dactyloscopidae 372 Dactyloscopus Gill 372 Dactyloscopus tridigitatus Gill 372 Gobiesocidae 373 Gobiesox Lacepede 373 Gobiesox tudes Richardson 373 Gobiesox cerasinus Cope 373 Blenniidae 374 Gillias Evermann and Marsh 374 Gillias jordani Evermann and Marsh 374 Brannerella Gilbert 374 Brannerella culebrae (Evermann and Marsh) 375 Acteis Jordan 375 Acteis moorei (Evermann and Marsh) 376 Malacoctenus Gill 376 Malacoctenus puertoricensis Evermann and Marsh 376 XICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN LSLANDS 303 Page Malacoctenus delalandi (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 376 Labrisomus Swainson 377 Labrisomus nuchipinnis (Quoy and Gaimard) 377 A uchenopterus Giinther 377 Auchenopterus albicaudus Evermann and Marsh 377 Auchenopterus fajardo Evermann and Marsh 378 Auchmwpterus rubescens Evermann and Marsh 379 Tekla Nichols 379 Tekla dngulata (Evermann and Marsh) 379 Tekla fasciata (Steindachner) 380 A uchenistius Evermann and Marsh 380 Auchenistius stahli Evermann and Marsh 380 Rupiscartes Swainson 381 Rupiscartes macclurei Silvester 381 Blennius Linnaeus 38 1 Blennius cristatiis Linnaeus 381 Salarichthys Guichenot 382 Salarichthys texlilis (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 382 Coralliozetus Evermann and Marsh 383 Coralliozetus cardonae Evermann and Marsh 383 Emblemaria Jordan and Gilbert 383 Eviblemaria pandionis Evermann and Marsh 383 Fierasferidae '^°^ Fierasfer Cuvier 384 Fierasfer bermudensis (Jones) 384 Pleuronectidae 385 Platophrys Swainson 385 Platophrys ocellatus (Agassiz) 385 Platophrys lunatus (Linnaeus) 386 Syacimn Ranzani 387 Syadum micrurum Ranzani 387 Citharichthys Bleeker 387 Citharichthys unicornis Goode 387 Citharichthys spilopterus Giinther 388 Citharichthys arenaceus Evermann and Marsh 388 Etropus Jordan and Gilbert 389 Etropus crossotus Jordan and Gilbert 389 Soleidae 390 Achirus Lacepede 390 Achirus inscriptus Gosse 390 Achirus lineatus (Linnaeus) 390 Symphurus Rafinesque 391 Symphurus plagusia (Bloch and Schneider) 391 Antennariidae 3'9-i Histrio Fischer , 392 Histrio gibbus (Mitchill) - 392 Antennarius Lacepede 393 Antemiarius inops Poey 393 Antennarius scaber (Cuvier) 393 Antennarius nuttingii Garman 394 304 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Page Antennarius muUiocellatus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 395 Chaunax Lowe 395 Chaunax pidus Lowe 395 Ogcocephalidae 396 Ogcocephalus Fischer 396 Ogcocephalus vespertilio (Linnaeus) 396 Halieutichthys Poey 397 Halieutichthys aculeatus (Mitchill) 397 Halieutichthys smithii Evermann and Marsh 398 Bibliography 399 POMACENTRIDAE Pomacentrus Lacepede Pomaeentrus fuscus Cuvier and Valenciennes Brown demoiselle; Maria molle Pomacentrus fuscus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. V, p. 4.32. Eupornacentrus fuscus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 224, PI. 27. Fig. 175. — Pomacentrus fuscus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — West Indies, south to Brazil and north to Key West, Fla. Diagnosis.— Head 3.5 ; depth 2.2 to 2.5 ; eye 3.4. Dorsal XII, 15 ; anal II, 13 ; scales 28. Upper anterior profile of head arched ; body -uniformly dark; caudal mostly dusky; opercle without a distinct dark spot; anal without a distinct blue spot in its posterior axil, except in the young; base of pectoral without a black spot or with but one. Head with few if any accessory scales. Attains a length of about six inches. Remarks. — The least common of the three members of this genus recog- nized from Porto Eico by Evermann and Marsh. The distinctness of this form from Pomacentrus leucostictus has been questioned. P. leucostictus, particularly in larger examples, is some- times uniformly dark colored, and such dark-colored individuals are NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDti 305 doubtless often misidentitied as P. fuscus. A Pomacentrus which the writer found abundant in somewhat brackish water along the water front at Matanzas, Cuba, in 1913, and identified as P. fuscus, was certainly not P. leucostictus. Color variations of the living fish were observed at close range and studied carefully. The caudal fins were varyingly dusky or yellowish, but none had the yellow color running forward on the under- parts as it frequently does in P. leucostictus. Some small specimens were observed which were bright blue on the head and front part of the back and which had one or more dark lengthwise stripes on the head, somewhat different from any coloring of P. leucostictus. A few large ones swim- ming about actively had the back and the fore part of the sides pale ashen, but the same individuals became uniformly dusky when they ceased their activity. Their motions seemed less gliding and wrasse-like than those of P. leucostictus. Pomacentrus atro(iyaneus Poey Blue-black demoiselle Pomacentrus atrocyancus Poey, 1860, Memorias, Vol. II, p. 190. Eupomacentrus atrocyancus Nichols, 1915, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 144. San Juan Bay, P. R. Fig. 17C. — Poma< enlnis atroryandi^ Type locality. — Havana. Distribution. — Cuba and Porto Eico, only recognized 3 or 3 times. Specimens collected. — 1 : ^an Juan Bay. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5 to -1.5 ; depth 3.5 to 3 ; eye 3 to 3.5. Dorsal . XII, 13 to 16 ; anal II, 13 ; scales 38 to 30. Black or dark blue, with pale blue specks on sides of head and sometimes on back ; a black spot at the top of the base of pectoral. Length from 4 to 5 inches. RemarJhS. — This species has sometimes been synonymized with Poma- centrus fuscus, but on the basis of our specimen is more slender, witli dif- ferent fin and body outlines. 306 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Pomacentrus analis Poey Blue-spotted demoiselle Pomacentrus analis Poey, 1867, Synopsis, p. 327. Eupomacentrus analis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 224. Fig. 177. — Pomacentrus analis Type locality. — Havana. Distribution. — West Indies, north to Key West. The abundant spe- cies of the genus in Porto Rican waters according to Evermann and Marsh. Specimens collected. — 5 : Santurce, San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 3.2 to 3.5; depth 2 to 2.4; eye 3.2 to 3.5. Dorsal XII, 15; anal II, 13; scales 28. Upper anterior profile of head arched; body uniformly dark ; caudal mostly dusky ; opercle without distinct dark spot; anal with a bluish spot at the base of its last ray; head and fins much spotted with blue. Up to 4 inches long. Questionably distinct from Pomacentrus leucostictus. Pomacentrus leucostictus Miiller and Troschel Blue Gregory ; cockeye pilot ; blue and yellow demoiselle Pomacentrus leucostictus Miiller and Troschel, 1848, in Schomburgk's Exc. Barbados, p. 674. Eupomacentrus leucostictus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 226, PI. 28. Fig. 178. — Pomacentrus leucostictus From Zoologica, IX MCHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN /.S'LAA'D.S' 307 Type locality. — Barbados. Distribution. — West Indies, north to southern Florida, the generally- abundant species of the genus. Fairly plentiful about Porto Rico and recorded from St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 7 : Santurce and Fort San Geronenio, San Juan; Tallaboa, near Ponce. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 2; eye 3. Dorsal XII, 15; anal II, 13; scales 39. Upper anterior profile of head arched. Lower posterior half of body more or less abruptly bright yellow ; caudal bright yellow ; usually a blue spot at base of last ray of anal; region below lateral line with many blue spots. Attains a length of about 6 inches. Remai'Jcs. — A number of perfectly distinct though closely related spe- cies of this genus occur in the West Indian fauna, usually dilfering in color and in the ecological niche which they occupy. The ease with which specimens of the generally abundant and highly variable P. leiicos- tUctus may be misidentified confuses our knowledge of the group. Habits. — Throughout its range one of the most abundant of the small, brightly colored fishes in shallow water among the reefs and tide pools along the shore. It is continually active and, when alarmed, darts to cover in some hole or niche, to reappear in a few moments when tlie alarm has passed. Pomacentras ehrysus (Bean) Yellow reef-pilot ; yellow demoiselle Eupotnacentrus chri/sns Bean. 1906. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XIX, p. .32. Eupoiiiacentrus chri/sus Nichols. lOl.j. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXI V, p. 144. Porto Rico. Fig. 179. — Poniacentrns cfiri/sii- Type locality. — Bermuda. Distribution. — Bermuda and Porto Eico only; rare. Specimens collected. — 1 : near San Antonio Bridge. Diagnosis. — Head 3.2 to 3.3; depth 2; eye 2.2 (in a specimen 1% inches standard length). Dorsal XII, 16; anal II, 15; scales 2S. Yel- 308 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO low or orange-yellow all around with few dark markings, usually with a blue ocellus on base of soft dorsal extending onto back, and a smaller ocellus on peduncle. Length from 2 to 3 inches. Rernarl's. — The only Porto Eican specimen was captured near shore in shallow water beside an old iron hulk. This is one of 2 or 3 well marked species of shore fishes known only from Bermuda and Porto Eico, U^here they are rare. They may be taken as evidence that the corner of the West Indian faunal area lying north and east of the Gulf Stream current system has certain peculiarities that deserve further investigation. Abutlefduf Forskal Abudefduf saxatilis (Linnaeus) Cockeye pilot ; demoiselle ; chirivita ; pintado Chaetodon saxatilis Linnaeus, 1758, Syst Nat., ed. 10, p. 276. Ahudefduf saratiUs Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 227, Fig. 64. Ahudefduf mnrginatus Fowler, 1928, Proc. Ac. Sci. Phila., p. 465. i'lG. 180. — Ahudefduf saxatilis From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Xot given. Distrihution.—Both coasts of the Americas, Florida to Uruguay, and Guaymas to Peru. Common in Porto Eican waters and about St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 6 : San Juan. Diagnosis.— Hesid 3.2; depth 1.8; eye 3.2. Dorsal XIII, 13; anal II, 12; scales 28. Color pale (looking yellowish in the water) ; sides with 5 or 6 conspicuous vertical dark bars, fading out on the belly. Attains a length of 6 inches. ^^a{^5,_Generally one of the most abundant and conspicuous fishes about coral reefs. Its bold color patern gives it a high visibility, and places it with other highly colored species that lend variety and interest to the appearance of a coral reef. The colors of such fishes have been called immunity colors, implying that the interstices of their' habitat afford such excellent chances to dodge and hide at the approach of danger. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 3C9 that the fish can afford to be so conspicuous. Little schools of the young of Abudefduf, small replicas of the adults, are usually to be found swim- ming actively about in tide pools along shore in the company of Porna- centrus leucostictus. Abudefduf analogus (Gill) Gray cockeye pilot Euchistodus analogus Gill, 1863, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. for 1863, p. 219. Abudefduf analogus Nichols, 1915. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 144. Porto Rico. Fig. 181. — Abudefduf analogus Type locality. — Aspinwall. Distribution. — Caribbean, apparently rare. One Porto Rican record. Specimens collected. — 1 : Condado Rocks. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 2. Dorsal XIII, 12; anal II, 10; scales 26 to 27. Preorbital breadth not less than width of pupil. Brownish with green dots, not distinctly banded. Microspathodon Giinther Mierospathodoii chrysurus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Yellow tailed soft-toothed demoiselle Glyphidodon chrysurus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 18.30, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. V, p. 476. Microspathodon chrysurus Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 461. St. Croix. Fig. 182. — Microspathodon chrysurus From Zoologica, X 310 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Type locality. — St. Thomas. Distribution. — West Indies, uncommon. Known from St. Thomas and St. Croix; but not from Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 1.7 to 1.8; eye 3.5. Dorsal XI to XII, 15; anal II, 13; scales rather large. Teeth movable, incisor-like, in one row on front of each jaw. Vertical fins elevated and the caudal lobes falcate. Caudal golden yellow or orange in color; body dark, more or less spotted with blue on head and back. Length 6 inches. Habits. — Beebe and Tee Van found this species common in Haitian waters, and it is often brought into the markets. They took it almost entirely with dynamite. Stomach contents consisted mostly of chewed algae and bottom debris. Mierospathodon niveatus (Poey) White-spotted, soft-toothed demoiselle Pomacentrtis niveatus Poey, 1875, Enumeratio, p. 102. Mierospathodon niveatus Silvester, 1916, Yearb. Cam. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 216. Porto Rico. Fig. 183. — Mierospathodon niveatus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Havana. Distribution. — Cuba, Haiti and Porto Eico, rare. Silvester saw sev- eral and obtained one at Guanica. Diagnosis.— Hesid 2.7 to 2.8; depth about 2; eye 3.7 to 3.8. Caudal dark colored like the body, which is sprinkled with blue spots like flakes of snow. Vertical fins elevated, the caudal lobes falcate ; teeth movable, incisor-like. Attains a length of 6 inches but is usually smaller. This may be the young or a color phase of Mierospathodon clirysurus, from which it seems to differ only in color. Habits. — Frequents reefs, where it may be seen swimming among the corals. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 311 Microspathodon fowleri Silvester Fowler's soft-toothed demoiselle MicrospatJwdon fowleri Silvester, 1916, Yearb. Carn. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 216. Fig. 184. — Microspathodon fowleri Type locality. — Coral reef off Guanica Harbor, P. E. Distribution. — Known only from the type locality, whence 5 individ- uals were examined by Silvester, Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 1.9; eye 4.2 to 4.3 (specimen 7 or 8 inches long). Dorsal XII, 15; anal II, 13; scales 39. Color uniformly black with indications of a yellowish tinge under the scales, fins uniformly black. Length from 5 to 8 inches. Labridae Lachnolainius Cuvier and Valenciennes Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum) Hogfish : capitan ; perro perro Labrus maximus Walbaum, 1792, Artedi Piscium, p. 261. Lachnolaimus maximus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 230, Fig. 65. Fig. 185. — Lachnolaimus maximus From Zoologlca, X Type locality. — Uncertain. Distribution. — West Indies, north to Key West and Bermuda. Eather common in Porto Eican waters. 313 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Specimens seen. — Ponce Market. Diagnosis. — Head 3 ; depth 2.3 ; eye 5.4. Dorsal XIV, 11 to 13 ; anal III, 10; scales 38. Three or four anterior dorsal spines produced in streamers. Attains a weight of 10, 15 or even 30 pounds. Remarks. — An important food fish, though at one time in ill-repute in Cuba, because it was thought to be unwholesome, especially when large. Habits. — Abundant about reefs and rocks in most West Indian locali- ties, a large, showy fish, variously marked with reds and yellows. The young hide in patches of weed, and have a mottled neutral concealing color. Harpe Laoepede Harpe rufa (Linnaeus) Spanish hogfish ; pudiano ; pero Colorado Labrus rufus Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat, ed. 10, p. 284. Cossyphus rufus Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 46.3. St. Croix. Bodianus rufus Meelc and Hildebrand, 1928. Fishes of Panama, Pt. 3. Fig. 186. — Harpe rufa From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Bahamas. Bistrihution. — West Indies, north to Key West and Bermuda, south to Eio Janeiro. Known from St. Croix, but apparently only a single specimen recorded from Porto Eico, from off Guanica Harbor, by Sil- vester (1916). Diagnosis. — ^Head about 3; depth 3 to 3.5 (including scaly dorsal sheath) ; eye a little less than 6. Dorsal XII, 11; anal III, 13; scales 33. Anterior canines strong, posterior canines present; soft dorsal and anal produced behind, with a scaly sheath at base. General color violet red above and in front, yellow or orange behind and below. Length 3 feet. Remarks. — One of the largest and most brightly colored of the wrasses that inhabit West Indian coral reefs, occasionally seen in the markets, but apparently only locally abundant. A related species is of frequent occurrence on the Pacific coast of tropical America. The West Indian NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN WLANIJti 'A 1 3 fauna is dominated by a somewhat different, usually larger, scaled group of wrasses. Clepticus Cuvier Cleptious parrae (Bloch and Schneider) Purple-tailed Wrasse ; genizara ; janissary Brama parrae Bloch and Schneider, 1801, Syst. Ichtli.. p. 100. Clepticus parrae Jordan and Evermann, 1898, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII, Pt. 2, p. 1586. Clepticus genizarra Cope. 1871. Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 463. St. Croix. Fig. 187. — Clepticus parrae From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Havana. Distribution. — West Indies, uncommon. Recorded from St. Croix by Cope. Diagnosis. — Head 3.6 to 3.7; depth 2.8 to 3.9 (in specimens nearly a foot long). Dorsal XII, 10; anal III, 12; scales 35. Anterior teeth small, blunt, not canine-like ; mouth small. Dorsal and anal sheathed in scales, except produced tips of the fins; caudal deeply forked. At- tains a length of about a foot. Halichoeres Riippell Halichoeres ganioti (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Coral Wrasse Julis garnoti Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1839, Hist. Nat. Poiss.. Vol. XT IF, p. 390. Iridio garnoti .Jordan and Evermann, 1898, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus.. Vol. XiiVir, Pt. 2, p. 1593. Platfiglossus ruptus Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 464. St. Croix. Fig. 188. — Halichoeres garnoti From Zoologica, X 314 tSClENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RIVO Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indies, usually not common. Eecorded from St. Croix by Cope. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 3.7 to 3.8; Dorsal IX, 11; anal III, 11 ; scales 26. Caudal fin rounded or subtruncate ; scales before dorsal large, not crossing the median line of the back; ventral fins with the outer rays produced, more than twice the length of the inner; side without conspicuous dark lateral band, and with a distinct dark vertical bar downward from the spinous dorsal. Length 8 inches. Habits. — Beebe and Tee Van report this wrasse as common at Port au Prince Bay, Haiti, to be seen at almost any time on the coral reefs. The color is very variable, but strikingly different in front and behind, which renders the species conspicuous. Its food is varied in nature, iiicluding small crustaceans, sea urchins, spines and all, and mollusks with their shells. Haliehoeres radiatus (Linnaeus) Variegated wrasse ; pudding wife Lahrus rndiatus Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 288; based on Catesby. JrhUo radidtus Jordan and Evermanu, 1S98, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII, Pt. 2, p. 1590. I'Uityglossus cyanostigma Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc., Vol. XIV, p. 464. St. Croix. mum, Fig. 189. — Ilaliclweres rmUatus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Bahamas. Distribution. — West Indies, from Brazil north to the Florida Keys and Bermuda. Though generally common within its range, this wrasse seems not to have been recorded from Porto Eico. It is, however, known from St. Croix. Diagnosis.— B.esid 3.6 to 4; depth 2.7 to 2.8; eye 6.5. Dorsal IX (rarely VIII), 11; anal III, 12; scales 28. Caudal fin slightly con- cave, truncate when spread open ; scales before dorsal not crossing the middle line of the back. Side below spinous dorsal without a dark cross-bar; general color bluish or bronze, with blue spots and stripes. Length 18 inches. MCHOLS, PORTO RICO AXI> THE VIRdlX ISLAMJ.S 315 Remarks. — Tliis may l)e tlie adult form of Halichoeres hivitiatus, from which it differs little except in color. Habits. — Frequents coral reefs, gliding in and out among the project- ing corals. Eanges from the surface to a depth of at least 50 feet. Larger individuals browse on sponge, coral, and other organic debris. FrequeJitly captured in fish-traps. Halichoeres bivittatus ( Bloch ) Slippery dick ; doncella Labrus hivittatus Blocli, 1702, Icth., I'l. 284. Fig. 1; from a painting by Phimier. Iridio hivittatus Evermann and Marsli. 1902. p. 232. Fig. 66. fl Halichoeres radiatus Meek and Hildebrand, 192S, Fislies of Panama, I't. 3. Fig. 190. — Halichoeres bivittatus Type lucaUty. — Martinique. Distribution. — Throughout the West Indies, north to Pensacola, Fla., and Beaufort, X. C; south to Brazil, usually abundant. Common in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 3.2; depth 4; eye 6.3. Dorsal IX, 11; anal III, 13; scales 28. Caudal fin rounded or sub-truncate; ventral with its outer ray not produced, in length not more than twice the inner rays. Side with a dark lengthwise band ; spinous dorsal pale colored, with a very small l)lack spot or none. Length 6 inches. Remarks. — This may be the young of Halichoeres radiatus. Habits. — Abundant, gliding in and out among the interstices of the reefs ; also found in a variety of localities in shallow water. According to Gudger it rests on its side on the bottom ; hides in weed ; and swims rather slowly with a sinuous eel-like motion of the hinder part of the body. Like other wrasses it uses its pectoral fins a good deal in swim- ming. Halichoeres kirsrhii (Jordan and Evermann) Kirseh's wrasse Iridio hirschii Jordan and Evermann, 1896, Clieek-4ist of Fislies of North and Middle America, p. 413; name only; 1898, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII, Ft. 2, p. 1598. Iridio kirschii Evermann and Mar.sh, 1902. p. 232. 31G SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fi9, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. XIV, p. 191. Sparisoma aurofrenatuiii Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 2.38. Fig. 197. — Sparisoma aurofrenatum From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Santo Domingo. Distribution. — A West Indian species, known from St. Croix, and with one or two Porto Rican records. Diagnosis. — Head 3.1 ; depth 3.1 ; eye 5. Dorsal IX, 10 ; anal II, 9 ; scales 25. Caudal lunate, its outer rays more or less excerted, but not 320 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO twice as long as inner rays; a single canine tooth on each side (rarely obsolete or duplicated). A scarlet stripe from below eye to angle of mouth ; a round spot of yellow and black behind head ; body chiefly pur- plish brown and fins chiefly red. Attains a length of from 8 to 10 inches. Sparisoma abildgaardi (Blocli) Red pari'otfish ; loro Colorado Scarus ahildgaardi Bloch, 1791, IcMh., PI. 259. Sparisoma ahildgaardv Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 239, PI. 30. Fig. 198. — Sparisoma abildgaardi From Zoologiea, X Type locality. — "America." Distribution. — West Indies to Brazil. Appears in numbers at Arroyo, and probably common elsewhere about Porto Eico. Known from St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 2 : Santurce, San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 3 to 3.5; depth 2.5 to 2.7; eye 5.3 to 6.4. Dorsal IX, 10; anal II, 9; scales 25. Caudal fin lunate, its outer rays more or less excerted, but not twice as long as the inner rays ; a single canine tooth on each side (rarely obsolete or duplicated). Eeddish brown or gray in color with whitish mottlings; belly and fins mostly cherry red. Attains a length of a foot or more. Habits. — This is a striking and easily recognizable species among the numerous and varied parrot fishes which frequent coral reefs. It also extends its range out over sand or mud bottom and, perhaps correlated with this fact, is capable of considerable color changes, lighter or darker, brighter or duller. It is regularly found in West Indian fish markets, its capture, as in the case of other parrot fishes, being mainly in wicker traps placed on the bottom. Sparisoma I'hrysopteruni (Bloch and Schneider) Blue-green parrotfish ; loro verde ■ Slcarus chrgsaptcrus Bloch and Schneider. ISOl, Syst. Ichth., p. 286, PL 57. Sparisoma chrgsopterum Everniaini and Marsh, 1902, p. 239. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 321 Fig. 199. — Sparisoma chriisopteriim From Zoologica, X Type lucality. — American Seas. Distribution. — West Indies, south to Bahia, Brazil. Eather common about Porto Eico, and known from St. Croix. Diagnosis. — Head 3.1; depth 3; eye 5.8. Dorsal IX, 10; anal II, 9; scales 25. Outer caudal rays, in adult, twice the length of inner rays or more ; the caudal variegated in color. Usually from 4 to 6 canine teeth on each side. Greenish-blue; middle caudal rays red; axillary spot black, edged with red. Attains a length of a foot or more. Remarks. — Of value as a food fish. Sparisoma lorito Jordan and Swain Parrotfish ; loro Sparisoma lorito Jordan and Swain, 1884, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1884, p. 95. Sparisoma lorito Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 240. 222ZZ> Fig. 200. — Sparisoma lorito Type locality. — Havana. Distribution. — West Indies. Not uncommon about Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 2.9; eye 5.3, Dorsal IX, 10; anal II, 9; scales 25. Outer caudal rays in adult twice the length of the inner rays or more. One or 2 canine teeth on each side. Opercle without black and yellow spot. Attains a length of about a foot. Remarks. — Of some value as a food fish. / Sparisoma viride (Bonnaterre) Dark -green parrotfish ; loro verde Scams virldis Bonnaterre, 1788, Enc. Meth., Vol. X, p. 96; after C^iitesliy. Sparisoma -viride Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 240. 322 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 201. — Spnrisoma riride From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Bahamas. Distribution. — West Indies. Known from Arroyo and Culebra, P. E., where it is probably common. Diagnosis.— He-Ad 3 to 3.3; depth 2.4 to 2.6; eye 6.2 to 7.5. Dorsal IX, 10; anal II, 9; scales 25. Upper lobe of caudal twice. the length of its inner rays or more; one or 2 canine teeth on each side. Opercle with a black and yellow spot; general color green or greenish; caudal with bands or crescents of orange, and paler green or bluish. Attains a length of 2 feet or more. Remarks. — Xot of much value though used for food. Habits. — Frequents coral reefs. Beebe and Tee Van report it com- monly at a depth of from 20 to 40 feet. Sparisoma flavcsceiis (Bloch and Schneider) Mud parrotfish Scarus flavescens Bloch and Schneider, 1801, Syst. Ichth., p. 200; after Parra. Sparisoma flavescens Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 197. Fig. 202. — Sparisoma flavescens From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — Biscayne Bay and Key West, Fla., and straying fur- ther north ; through the West Indies to Eio Janeiro, Brazil. Common and generally distributed in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 3.1; depth 2.7; eye 5.5. Dorsal IX, 10; anal II, 9; scales 25. Upper jaw without posterior lateral canines; caudal lunate or truncate (rounded in the very young). Colors dull, mottled; caudal irregularly barred ; lower fins mostly red ; chin with a whitish crossband. Earely exceeds a foot in length, usually small. Habits. — This species, as its name implies, is not so typical a reef fish as most parrots. It hides about old dead reefs or ranges over open NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 323 ground, where it is quick to take refuge about snags or under stones, and frequents shallow water close to shore. Its relatively dull colors are doubtless correlated with such a habitat. Sparisoina rubripinne ( Cuvier and Valenciennes) Red-finned parrotfish. Loro S<:arn.'i ruhripinnis Cuvier and Valenciennes, 18.39, Hist. Nat. Poiss.. Vol. XIV, p. 199. SpurisoDia rubripinne Evermann and Marsh, 1902. p. 241. Fig. 203. — Sparisoma rubripinne Type locality. — Santo Domingo. Distribution. — West Indies. Common about Porto Eico, and known from St. Croix. Diagnosis. — Head 3.3; depth 2.9; eye 5.5. Dorsal IX, 10; anal II, 9 ; scales 25. Caudal truncate, not lunate in the adult, angles very slightly produced, — rounded in the young. Colors in general like those of Sparisoma flavescens but paler. Length from 6 to 9 inches. Remarks. — This species is close to and perhaps indistinguishable from S. flavescens. Sparisoma brachiale ( Poey ) Red-tailed parrotfish Scarus brachialis Poey, 1S61, Memorias, Vol. IT, p. .345. Sparisoma brachiale Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 242. Fig. 204. — Sparisotyia hrnchinlt' From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — Greater Antilles. Not uncommon in Porto Rico, where it was recorded by the U. S. Fish Commission from Aguadilla, Arroyo and Isabel Segunda. 324 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Diagnosis. — Head 3.2; depth 3.1; eye 5.6. Dorsal rays IX, 10; anal II, 9; scales 25. Upper jaw without posterior lateral canines; caudal fjn lunate or truncate with sharp angles (rounded in the very young), not marked by cross-bars, its center red. A very distinct black axillary spot. Color greenish, reddish below, a faint greenish streak running backward from the angle of the mouth. Length 9 inches to more than a foot. Scarus P'oiskal Differs from Sparisoma in that the gill-membranes form a fold across the isthmus, instead of being broadly joined thereto, the dorsal spines are flexible instead of stiif, and the teeth are more completely fused. Differs from Pseudoscarns in having white or rosy instead of blue or green teeth. Of the three genera, Sparisoma is the least specialized, but on the other hand it is the dominant genus in the West Indian fauna, and the one wherein speciation seems to be most active, and is there represented by many closely related species. There are not so many species of Scarus and but few of Pseudoscarus. Scarus taeniopterus Desmarest Painted-tailed parrotfisli Scarus taeniopUriis Desmarest, 1831, Diet. Classique, Vol. XV, p. 244, PI. 12. Scarus taeniopterus Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 461. Santa Cruz. Scarus taeniopterus Jordan and Evermann, 1898. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII, Pt. 2. p. 1646. Porto Rico and St. Thomas. Fig. 205. — Scarus taeniopterus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — West Indies. Reported from St. Croix by Cope, from Porto Rico and St. Thomas by Jordan and Evermann. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 2.6 to 2.7; eye 6. Dorsal IX. 10; anal II, 9; scales 24. A canine tooth, directed backward and outward, above the angle of the mouth; cheek with 2 or 3 rows of scales; caudal sub- truncate. A yellow lengthwise stripe on the body; outer rays of caudal NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 825 orange, ligliter than the median rays; head with bluish green stripes, the interspace reddish or yellow. Length from 8 to 9 inches. Habits. — An uncommon, reef-dwelling species. Scarus punctulatus Cuvier and Valenciennes Punctulated parrotfish Scarus punctulatus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1<839, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. XIV, p. 195. Scarus punctulatus Jordan and Evermann, 1898, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII, Ft. 2, p. 1645. Porto Rico. Scarus diadema Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 461. St. Croix. Fig. 206. — Scarus punctulatus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indies. Recorded from Porto Eico by Jordan and Evermann and from St. Croix by Cope. Diagnosis. — Head 3.1; depth 3.3 to 3.4; eye 5.8 to 5.3. Dorsal IX, 10; anal II, 9; scales 24. An outwardly directed canine tooth above angle of mouth on each side; cheek with 2 or 3 rows of scales; caudal subtruncate. A yellow stripe on the body; outer rays of caudal deep greenish blue, darker than the median rays; side of head with 2 bluish green stripes, the interspace reddish or yellow; dorsal and anal banded with green and orange, the anal with a roundish blue spot on the mem- brane between every 2 rays. Length from 6 to 8 inches. Scarus vetula Bloch and Schneider Old wife parrotfish ; vieja Scarus vetula Bloch and Schneider, 1801, Syst. Ichth., p. 289 : after Parra. Scarus vetula Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 243, PI. 31. Fig. 207. — Scams vetula 32(5 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution.— Known from Cuba and Porto Eico. Not uncommon about Porto Rico. Specimens collected. — 1 : Santurce, San Juan. Diagnosis.— Head 2.7 ; depth 2.7 ; eye 7. Dorsal IX, 10 ; anal II, 9 ; scales 25. Upper jaw with 2 posterior lateral canines; cheek with 4 rows of scales; angles of caudal fin more or less salient. Color blue with rose edgings, bright yellow markings on the fins, and a variegated face. Length a foot or more. Scarus croicensis Bloeh St. Croix parrotfish ; hullon Scarus croicensis Bloch, 1790, Ichth., I'l. 221. Scarus croicensis Evermann and Marsh, 1902. p. 244. Fig. 208. — Srarus croicensis From Zoologica, X Type locality. — St. Croix. Distribution.— >io\ithcrn Florida and the West Indies, south to Brazil. Plentiful about Porto Rico and in neighboring waters. Specimens collected. — 4 : San Juan. Diagnosis.— Head 2.9 ; depth 3.3 ; eye 4.8. Dorsal IX, 10 ; anal II, 9; scales 25. Upper jaw without canines; 21/2 series of scales on the cheek, the third (partial) row consisting of 3 or 4 scales; caudal slightly rounded. Sides of body with 2 broad, dark, longitudinal shades; gen- eral color dark reddish brown. Length from 5 to 7 inches. Habits. — This small parrotfish is usually abundant where found, particularly on shallow reefs or among weeds near shore. It also occurs on the deeper reefs. Beebe and Tee Van have found its food to consist of algae, small crustaceans, etc. Scarus eoeruleus (Bloch) Blue parrotfish, lore Coryphaena cocrulca Bloch, 1786, Ausl. Fische, PI. 176, in part; after Catesby, etc. Scarus eoeruleus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 244. ^UCE0L8, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 327 Fig. 209. — Scams cocnilcKS Type locality. — Bahamas. Diatrihution. — Florida and throughout the West Indies, north cas- ually to Chesapeake Bay. Abundant about Porto Kico and in adjacent waters. Diagnosis. — Head 3 to 3.4; depth 2.6 to 3; eye 6.8 to 8. Dorsal IX, 10; anal II, 9; scales 25. Upper jaw without canines; 21/0 series of scales on the cheek, the tliird (partial) row of 1 or 2 scales only; caudal subtruncate, its outer rays more or less produced. Color bright Ijlue, young more or less shaded with reddish brown. Attains a length of from 2 to 3 feet, and a weight of from 12 to 20 pounds. Remarks. — Utilized but not highly regarded as a food fish. Habits. — Frequents pools among the mangroves as well as the reefs. Pseudoscarus Bleeker Pseudoseariis guacamaia (Cuvici) Green parrotfish ; guacamaia Scarus guacamaia Cuvier, 1829, Regue Animal, ed. 2, Vol. II, p. 26."> ; after P:uia. I'seudo.sraius guacamaia Evermann and Marsh. 1902. p. 24.5, Fig. 68. Fi«. 210. — Pseudoscarus yuacamaia From Zoolojric:!, X Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, from Florida to Eio Janeiro. Abundant in Porto Rican waters. Specimens collected. — 2 : Santurce, San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 2.9; depth 2.7; eye 5. Dorsal IX, 10; anal II, 9; scales 25. Upper jaw without posterior canines ; teeth deep blue-green 328 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO in color; caudal with its angles much produced in the adult, truncate or rounded in the young. Color dark green with lighter green mark- ings, and more or less red, orange and blue. Attains a length of 2 feet or more. Remarlcs. — Of some food value. Ephippidae Chaetodipterus Lacepede Chaetodipterus faber (Broussoaet) Spadefish; paguala Chaetodon faber Broussonet, 1782, Ichth., Decas 1, PI. 6. Chaetodipterus faber Evermanii and Marsh, 1902, p. 246, PI. 33. Fig. 211. — CJiaetodipterns faber From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Jamaica; Carolina; Society Islands, Distribution. — Cape Cod to Rio Janeiro, common from Chesapeake Bay southward. Common in Porto Eican waters. Pmgrno.sis.— Head 3.5; depth 1.1 to 1.8; eye 4.2. Dorsal VIII-I, 20 to 22; anal III, 18; scales about 60. Third dorsal spine elongate; soft vertical fins falcate, with pointed lobes, turned backward. Dark cross- bands on the body, disappearing in large individuals. Attains a length of from 2 to 3 feet and a weight of 20 pounds. Remarks. — A good food fish, of considerable market importance on the American coast from North Carolina to Florida. Habits. — The spadefish frequents rocky patches, also wrecks and pil- ings. Its food consists of small crustaceans, worms, etc., also vegetable matter. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN hSLANDt^ 339 Chaetodontidae Chaetodon Linnaens The butterfly-fishes are small active flat deep-bodied fishes typical of tlie tropical coral reef, where several species are likely to be found asso- ciated, very similar in everything but the bold, diagnostic color pattern of each. Their colors are usually less gaudy than those of parrotfishes, wrasses, and other fishes which share this habitat with them, but their conspicuous liveries add much to the gay and attractive appearance of the reef. Chaetodon ocellatus Blocli Common buttertly-tish ; parche Chaetodon ocellatus Bloch, 1787, Ichth., PI. 211, Fig. 2. Chaetodon ocellatus Jordan and Evermann, 1898, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII, Pt. 2. p. 1674. Sarothrodus himaculatus Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 474. St. Croix. Fig. 212. — Chaetodon ofcllatus From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Uncertain. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, the young straying northward to Ehode Island. Known from St. Croix and probably occurs also about Porto Rico, thougli it must be uncommon there as it is not recorded. IHugnosis. — Head 2.9 to 3; depth 1.4 to 1.5; eye 3.4. Dorsal XII or XIII, 19 to 21 ; anal III, 16 to 17 ; scales 34. The series of scales below the axis of the body running obliquely upward and backward, the lowest becoming more or less horizontal. Ocular band extending from nape across cheek; base of soft dorsal with a large black spot, not ocellated. Attains a length of about 8 inches. 330 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Habits. — A typical reef species, flitting about among the corals singly or by twos or threes. The young of this species may hide in weed more tlian do those of related species. In any event they are drifted great distances by ocean currents, and are relatively common northward, car- ried by the Gulf Stream drift. It is a fact which may have faunal significance that such "Gulf Stream'' species are frequently less common in Porto Eican waters than one might suppose that they would be. Cliaetodon striatus Linnaeus Banded butterfly-fish ; mariposa 'CTiaetodon striatus Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 275. Chaetodon striatus Evermanu and Marsh, 1902, p. 249, PI. .34. Fig. 21,3. — Chaetodon striatus From Zoologica, X 2'ype locality. -^Indies. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, rare in southern Florida, ranging south to Brazil. Fairly abundant in Porto Rican waters; known from St. Croix. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 1.6; eye 3.2. Dorsal XII, 20 or 21; anal III, 16 or 17; scales 38 to 40. The series of scales below axis of body running downward and backward, forming an angle with those above, each row marked by a continuous black streak. Body without ocelli, crossed by dark bands. Earely more than 6 or 7 inches in length. Habits. — The food of this species is doubtless similar to that of other butterfly-fishes. Beebe and Tee Van have found that the food includes minute crustaceans, algae and other organic matter. Chaetodon capistratus Linnaeus Eyed Butterfly-fish ; four-eyed fish ; mariposa Chaetodon capistratus Linnaeus, 1758. Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 275. Chaetodon capistratus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 249, PI. 35. , NICHOLS. PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 331 Chaetodon hricei H. M. Smith, 1897, Bull. U. S. Fish Gomm. for 1897, p. 102. Woods Hole, Mass.; the young (according to Meek and Hildebraud. 1928, Fislies of Panama, Pt. .3). Fig. 214. — Chaetodon capistratiis From Zoologica. IX ■^^*?tei,. Type locality. — Indies. Distribution. — West Indian fauna from southern Florida southward ; the young casual north to Massachusetts. Abundant in Porto Rican waters and known from St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 2 : Fort San Geronemo and Santurce, San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 2.5 to 2.9; depth 1.7; eye 2.8 to 2.9. Dorsal XII or XIII, 19 or 20 ; anal III, 17 ; scales about 40. The series of scales below axis of body running downward and backward, forming an angle with those above, each row marked by a continuous black streak. Body with a large black ocellus below soft dorsal ; young with a second smaller ocellus on first 8 or 9 soft rays of dorsal. Attains a length of 6 inches. Remarhs. — This species, abundant in Porto Rico, is also plentiful about Bermuda — an incident of the similarity of the fauna at the two localities. Poiiiaoantlius Lacepede The black angel-fishes are larger than the related butterfly-fishes and have a strong spine on the preopercle. They are deeper-bodied than the blue angel-fishes, or the gorgeous black and orange rock beauty, and less strictly reef-inhabiting than the latter. Pomacanthus areuatus (Linnaeus) Black angel-fi.sh : chirivita Chaetodon areuatus Linnaeus, 1758. Syst. Nat., ed. 10. p. 273. Pomacanthus areuatus Evermann and Marsh. 1902. p. 251. Fig. 69. 332 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 215.- — Pomavanthus arcuatus From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — India. Distribution. — Generally common in the West Indies; south to Bahia, Brazil; casually north to New Jersey. Not uncommon about Porto Eico, and known from St. Croix. Diagnosis.— Re?i({ 4; depth 1.2 to 1.5; eye 4. Dorsal VIII or IX, 30 to 32; anal III, 23 to 24; scales 50 to 56. Color dusky; the adult steel- gray or slightly yellowish with a white chin; the young with narrow pale cross-bands, which are more or less whitish. Attains a length of from 1 to 2 feet. Habits. — An omnivorous feeder, algae constituting a considerable part of its diet (Gudger) ; algae, hydroids, etc. (Beebe and Tee Van). Remarks. — Of some value as food and often seen in West Indian fish markets. There are thus far no satisfactory records from our region of the closely related French angel-fish, Pomacanthus paru. The color of the adult is black, each scale edged with yellow, and the base of the pectoral fin yellow; the young have narrow pale cross-bands which are more or less yellow. Holaranthus Lacepede Holacanthus tricolor (Bloch) Rook beauty ; catalineta ; palmoneta Chaetodon tricolor Bloch, 1795, Ichth., PI. 426. Holacanthus tricolor Evermann and Marsh, p. 251, PL 36. Fig. 216. — Holneonthus tricolor From Zoologica, X N1CH0L8. PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN I8LANDH 333 Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — West Indies, south to Bahia, Brazil, and north to Ber- muda. Probably not common about Porto Eico, where it has been recorded from Arroyo, Isabel Segunda and the Ponce Market. Known from St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 1 : Ponce Market. Diagnosis. — Head 3.-1; depth 2.1; eye 4.4. Dorsal XIV, 18; anal III, 18; scales 48. Front of body, belly and caudal bright yellow or orange in color; posterior part of body and all but margins of vertical fins solid black. Attains a length of a foot or more. Remarks. — Regarded as a good food fish. Habits. — An inhabitant of coral reefs, usually solitary. Food consists of algae and scrapings (Beebe and Tee Van). Captured mainly in fish traps. Aiigelichthys .Jordan and Evermann Angelichthys ciliaris (Linnaeus) Blue angel-fish ; queen angel-fish ; isahelita Chaetodon ciliaris Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 276, in part. Angelichthijs ciliaris Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 2.52, PI. .57. Fig. 217. — Angelichthys ciliaris From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Indies. Distribution. — From southern Florida and Bermuda through the West Indies to Brazil. Pather common in Porto Eican waters. Specimens seen. — Ponce Market. Diagnosis. — Head 3.8 ; depth 1.8 to 1.9 ; eye 4.7. Dorsal XIV, 31 ; anal III, 21; scales 47. Xape with a blue ocellus; soft dorsal and anal edged with dark blue; pectoral and caudal bright yellow. Attains a length of 2 feet. Remarks. — A fair food fish. Habits. — Primarily an inhabitant of the coral reef. 334 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Teuthididae « Teuthis Linnaeus The surgeon-fishes or tangs derive the former name from an erectile, forwardly directed, defensive knifelike spine on the peduncle. Other fishes in general recognize that "they carry a knife" and leave them alone. Teuthis caeruleus (Bloch and Schneider) Blue tang; barbero ; medico Acanfhurus caeruleus Bloch and Schneider, 1801, Syst. Ichth., p. 214; based on Catesby, Parra and Browne. Acanthurus coeruleus Meek and Hildebrand, 1928, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 3. Teuthis coeruleus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 253, PI. 38. Fig. 218. — Teuthis caeruleus From Zoologica, IX Distrihution.—'BevmudA and southern Florida, through the West Indies to Brazil. Common and generally distributed in Porto Eican waters, and known from St. Croix. Specimens seen. — San Juan. Diagnosis.— Hesid 3.4; depth 1.5 to 1.75; eye 4.5. Dorsal IX, 26; anal III, 25 ; scales minute. An erectile spine on the peduncle. Color brown, washed with deep blue. Length from 8 to 12 inches. Teuthis hepatus Linnaeus Common tang; barbero; medico Teuthis hepatus Linnaeus, 1766, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, p. 507. Teuthis hepatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902. p. 254. Acanthurus hepatus Meek and Hildebrand, 1928, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 3. Fig. 210. — Teuthis hepatus From Zoologica, IX -NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 335 Type locality. — Carolina. Distribution. — From the Carolinas and Florida south through the West Indies to Brazil. Abundant about Porto Rico, known from St. Croix. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5 ; depth 2 ; eye 3.5. Dorsal IX, 24 to 26 ; anal III, 22 to 24; scales minute. An erectile spine on the peduncle. Color brownish, never blue, adult with narrow dark cross-marks ; caudal slightly lunate. Sometimes grows to be a foot long, 6 or 7 inches being usual. Remarl's. — Of considerable importance as a food fish in Porto Eico. Habits. — Of general distribution, but particularly about the reefs. Usually caught in fish traps. Feeds by browsing with its small mouth and incisor-like teeth on miscellaneous animal and vegetable matter, which is ground up in a powerful gizzard-like stomach. Teutliis bahianus (Casteluaii) Ocean tang; crescent-tailed tang: barbero; medico Acanthurus haliianus Castelnau, 1855, Anim. Nouv. ou Rares de TAmer. Sud, p. 24, PL 11, Fig. 1. Acanthurus hahianus Meek and Hildebrand, 1928, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 3. Teuthis bahianus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 254. Fig. 220.~Te!it}ns Iwhianiis From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Bahia, Brazil. Distribution. — From southern Florida through the West Indies to Brazil. Abundant in Porto Eican waters. Specimens collected. — 17 : San Juan, Tallaboa near Ponce (all young). Diagnosis. — Head 3.5 ; depth 2 to 2.4 ; eye 3 to 4.3. Dorsal IX, 24 to 25 ; anal III, 22 to 23 ; scales minute. An erectile spine on the peduncle. Color brownish, never blue, dorsal striped lengthwise, a pale band at base of caudal. Caudal lunate, deeply emarginate, upper lobe produced in a filament in adult. Attains a length of a foot or more. Remarks. — An important food fish. 336 SCIENT/FIV iiURVEY OF PORTO RICO Habits. — Of general distribution, most plentiful about the deeper reefs. From stomach examinations Beebe and Tee Van record as its food finely disintegrated organic matter, with traces of algae and of worm tubes. Balistidae Balistes Linnaeus Balistes vetula Liiniaeus Queen trigger-fish ; old wife ; cotliino BalixtcH vetula Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 329; after Osbeck. Balistes vetula Evermaun and Marsh, 1902, p. 256. PI. 39. Fig. 221. — Balistes vetula From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — Ascension Island. Distribution. — Bermuda, through the West Indies, and the warmer waters of the South Atlantic Ocean ; also in the Indian Ocean ; casually north to AVoods Hole, Mass. Not uncommon about Porto Rico and known from St. Croix. Specimens seen. — Ponce Market. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 1.8; eye 4.5 in snout. Dorsal III, 39; anal 27; scales 63. Conspicuous curved blue stripes across face; ante- rior dorsal and outer caudal rays filamentous in the adult. Attains a length of about 15 inches without the caudal filaments. Habits. — The trigger-fishes (Balistes) are sluggish, deep-bodied forms, with small mouth and strong incisor-like teeth. They feed on small crustaceans, shelly animals and to some extent on algae. They are protected from more active, predaceous fishes by a tough, leathery, defensive hide. The first spine of the trigger-fishes' back fin is also stout and strong, though not very long. The second, smaller dorsal spine locks the first in erection, hence the name trigger-fish. Trigger- fishes drift widely in ocean currents, especially at an early age. It is somewhat surprising that this is the only species common in Porto Eican waters, where the common trigger-fish, B. carolinensis, is so far NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN WLAND8 337 unrecorded. Presumably this fact is correlated with Porto I^ico's lying somewhat outside the influence of the Gulf Stream current system. RemarJis. — As a species Balides vetula has a very wide range in the North Atlantic, South Atlantic and Indian oceans. The fish from Trinidad Islet in the dominion of the Brazil current has been described as a distinct race {B. v. trinitatis) by Nichols and Murphy (see Copeia, 1917, No. 39), who find the Ascension form closer to West Indian ex- amples than is the one from Trinidad. They suspect that if the West Indian fish is separable from the Ascension form, it will be found that the representative from the Indian Ocean is distinct also. The name Balistes vetula hellus (Walbaum) is available for the West Indian form, but until a more careful study has been made than the available mate- rial permits, there is little to be gained by attempting to divide the species into component races. The chief interest of the problem lies in correlations with ocean current distribution. Meliohthys Swainsou Meliehthys piceus (Poey) Black trigser-fisli ; galafate Balistes piceus Poey, 1863. Proc. Ac. Nat. Sei. Phila. for 1863, p. 180. Balistes piceus Cope. 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 478. St. Croix. Melichthj/s piceus Jordan and Evermanu, 1898, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII. Pt. 2. p. 1711. Fig. 222. — Meliehthys piceus Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — West Indies southward to Ascension Island, etc., not very common. Kecorded from St. Croix by Cope, An East Indian form may be the same ; a form about islands off the Pacific Coast of America is recognized as distinct. Diagnosis. — Head 4 (to end of middle caudal rays) ; eye 4 in snout. Dorsal III, 34; anal, 32; scales about 53, skin leathery. Mouth small, with a series of even, white, incisor-like teeth. Caudal truncate, with its angles produced backward. Color blue-black, a sky-blue band alon^ 338 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO bases of dorsal and anal fins, and usually a white band along the poste- rior edge of the caudal. Habits. — Most frequently noted about outlying islands. Xanthifhthys Kaup Xantliichthys ringens (Linnaeus) Pelagic trigger-fish : cocuyo Balistes ringens Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 329. Xantliichthys ringens Jordan and Evermann, 1898, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vot, XLVII, Pt. 2, p. 1709. Xanthichthys cicatricosus Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 479. St. Croix. Fig. 223. — XaHthichthi/s rinyens Type locality. — Xot given. Distrihution. — West Indies and southward, recorded from Mauritius, and probably widely distributed. Eecorded from St. Croix by Cope. Z>t«^nosi.s.— Head 3 ; depth 2 ; eye 5. Dorsal II, 31 ; anal 28 ; scales 38, skin leathery. Cheek with 3 grooves; chin projecting; mouth small, with unequal oblique notched teeth. Sides with distinct lines of pur- plish spots. Length 10 inches. Habits. — Apparently mostly pelagic at all ages, wandering and drift- ing at the surface of the high seas. MONACANTHIDAE The file-fishes are obviously a further specialization of the trigger-fish group, — more sluggish fishes with body more compressed, dorsal spines reduced to a single strong one and usually a rudiment, and leathery skin with only rudimentary spinigerous scales, that give it for the most part a rough velvety texture. The so-called plectognath fishes from the trigger-fishes through the file-fishes to the armored box-fishes, inflatable swell-fishes and monstrous, incomprehensible, specialized ocean sunfish, form an interesting series with obvious evolutionary interrelationships. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 339 Cantherines Swaiuson Cantherines pullus (Ranzani) Lija Colorado ; peje puerco Monacanthus pnllus Ranzani, 1842, Nov. Conun. Act. Sci. Inst. Bonon.. Vol. V, p. 4, PI. 1. Cantherines pullus Evermanu and Miirsh. 1902. p. 25S. Fig. 224. — Cantherines pullus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distrihuiion. — West Indies to Brazil, occasionally north to southern Florida. Eather common in Porto Rico, and known from St. Croix. Specimens see?!. — San Jnan. Diagnosis. — Head 3.3; depth about 2. Dorsal 11-35; anal 31; no scales, skin leathery. Dorsal spine without barbs. Coloration variable generally with a whitish spot behind last dorsal ray. Adults (12 inches long) with from 2 to 6 pairs of recurved spines on each side of the caudal peduncle. Attains a weight of 6 pounds. Cantherines amphioxys (Cope) False file-fish Monacanthus amphioxys Cope, 1S71, Tran. Amer. Phil. Soc-.. Vol. XIV, p. 477. Pseudomonacanthus aniphioxiis Silvester, 1916. Yearb. Carn. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 216. Off Ballenas Point, P. R. Fig. 225. — Cantherines (n>ij)hiij.v!f< 340 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Type locality. — St. Martins. Distribution. — West Indies, from Bermuda to Dominica, uncommon. Eecorded from Porto Rico by Silvester. Diagnosis. — Head 3.6 to 2.7 (at length of 2 or 3 inches) to 3.4 (at length of 5 or 6 inches) ; depth 2 to 1.6 (at 5 or 6 inches) ; eye 3 in snout (at 2 or 3 inches) to 4 in snout, 4.5 in head (at 5 or 6 inches). Dorsal 1-34 to 35 ; anal 30 ; no scales, skin leathery. Dorsal spine with series (3 in front, 2 behind) of small spinules in the young, merely granular in the adult. Ventral spine fixed. Remarks. — This species is probably not the same as Cantherines pul- lus, as has been suggested, but a smaller fish with relatively smaller eye and greater depth. The genus Pseudomonacanthus, on the other hand, may be synonymous with Cantherines. Monacanthus Cuvier Monacanthus riliatus (Mitchill) File-fish ; leather-fish ; lija Balistes ciliatus Mitchill. 1818, Amer. Monthly Mag. and Crit. Rev., March, 1818, p. 326. Monacanthus ciliatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 2.58. Fig. 226, — Monacanthus cilintus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Bahama Straits. Distrihution. — Southern Florida and the West Indies. Not uncom- mon about Porto Rico. Diagnosis.—Uesid 2.9 to 3.5; depth 1.7 to 2.6 ; eye 3.3 to 3.8. Dorsal 1-30 to 34; anal 30 to 33; scales minute, rudimentary, skin leathery. Ventral spine movable; ventral flap wide; profile concave; spines on peduncle in adult. Length from 3 to 8 inches. Habits. — This species seems to be more solitary and nowhere as plenti- ful as is M. Uspidus within its range of abundance ; more strictly West Indian, and presumably with a somewhat different life history, as a NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 341 result of which the young drift less freely in weed carried by currents of the Gulf Stream system. Monacantlnis tuckeri Bean Tucker's tile-fish Monacanthns tuckeri Bean. 1906. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XIX. p. ,33. Monacauthus tuckeri Nichols, 1915. Bull. Amer. Mus. Xat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 145. Condado Bay, P. R. Fig. 227. — Monacanthns tuckeri From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Bermuda. Distribution. — Known from Bernnida, Porto Eico and Haiti, rare. Specimens collected. — 1 : Condado Bay, San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 3 ; depth 3 ; eye 2.5 in snout. Dorsal 1-35 ; anal 34 to 36; skin leathery, scaleless. Ventral spine movable; ventral flap wide, as in M. ciliatus. Size small (the Porto Eican specimen li/o inches long). Re marl's. — This little file-fish, a well marked slender species related to Monacanthus ciliatus, was, like Pomacentrus chrysus, known for a long time only from Porto Eico and Bermuda. Moiiacanthus hispidus (Linnaeus) Common file-fish ; fool-fish ; leather-fish ; lija Batistes hispidus Linnaeus. 1766, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, p. 405. Monacanthus hispidus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 2.59, Fig. 71 (mislabeled ciliatus) and 72. Fig. 228. — Moiiarniithiis liisiiidis From Zooliigifii. IX 342 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Type locality. — Carolina. Distribution.— Ca])e Cod to Cuba, Florida Keys, West Indies, Brazil. Apparently not common in Porto Rican waters. Diagnosis.— Head 3.4; depth 1.7 to 1.8 (1.5 in young) ; eye 3.5 to 4. Dorsal 1-32 ; anal 32 ; scales minute, rudimentary ; skin leathery. Ven- tral spine movable ; ventral flap narrow, little distensible ; profile straight ; peduncle without spines; first dorsal ray in adult (sometimes) pro- duced as a filament. Attains a length of 10 inches. Remai-hs.-M.eek and Hildebrand (1928, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 3) differentiate Monacantlius oppositus from M. hispidus on the basis of a lower fin-count, as it is probable that the color differences given will not hold; and Beebe and Tee Van (1928, Zoologica, Vol. X, p. 258) refer all material from Port au Prince Bay, Haiti, to oppositus. There is some likelihood that oppositus will prove to be merely a southern race of hispidus. Should this be the case, it will be necessary to verify whether the Porto Rican form is typical hispidus, and the range of that form southward may have to be emended. For the present we follow Evermann and Marsh in referring the Porto Rican fish to hkpidus. Habits. — The common file-fish is somewhat intermediate in habits be- tween the sluggish but free-swimming trigger-fishes (Balistes) and mem- bers of the genus Alutera, which have a tendency to drift about aim- lessly in the currents, frequently not even maintaining an upright posi- tion in the water. Young of this species less than an inch long are often very numerous in drifting eel-grass or gulf-weed, for instance among the Florida keys, and are carried in this manner far to the north along American shores. Porto Rican waters, somewhat removed from Gulf Stream influences, seem to be outside the range of abundance of hispidus. Alutera Cuvier Alutera scripta (Osbeck) Unicorn file-fish ; lija trompa Balistes scriptus Osbeck, 1757, Iter. Chin.. Vol. I, p. 144. Alutera scripta Evermanu and Marsh, 1902, p. 261, Fig. 73. Fig. 229. — Alutera scripta From Zoologica, X NICHOL,^. PORTO RICO AKD THE VIRGIN If^LANDS ;}13 Type locality. — China. Distribution. — Cosmopolitan in warm seas. Eather common in the West Indies, and straying north to South Carolina. Eecorded from Porto Rico by Poey. Specimens seen. — Ponce Market. Diagnosis. — ^Head 3.5 ; depth 3 to 3.3 ; eye 4.7. Dorsal I-il to 48 ; anal 47 to 52 ; scales minute, rudimentary ; skin leathery. Xo ventral spine (or external trace of ventrals) ; caudal graduated; profile concave. Irregular blue spots and lines and round dark spots on sides. Length from 2 to 3 feet. Habits. — The file-fishes, particularly those of the genus Alutera, are sluggish drifters, which often do not bother to keep right side up in the water, and may frequently be caught in the hand. Their leanness and tough hide, inactivity and frequently concealing colors are sufficient protection against predaceous enemies. OSTRACIIDAE The trunk-fishes are encased in a bony shell or carapace, which greatly limits their facility of motion throug'h the water, at the same time giving complete protection from other predaceous fishes of com- parable size. They are sometimes used as food,— cooked in the shell. Lactophrys Swainson Lactophrys triqueter (Linnaeus) Trunk-fish ; chapin Ostracion triqueter Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 330; after Mus. Ad. Fe. liactophrys triqueter Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 262, Fig. 74. Fig. 230.~Lactophrys triqueter From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — India. Distribution. — West Indies north to Bermuda, Key West and Pen- sacola, Florida, generally common in the tropics. Common in Porto Rican waters and known from St. Croix. 344 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Diagnosvi. — Head 3.5 ; height of side about 2 ; greatest ventral width 2.6; eye 3.4. Dorsal 10; anal 10. Encased in a three-cornered shell, or "carapace,''' without spines anywhere. Attains a foot in length. EemarTcs. — Delicious eating when cooked in the shell, the entrails hav- ing been drawn (Gudger). It is interesting that this species appears to be more abundant about Porto Eico, removed from Gulf Stream influences, than is L. irigonus, the generally common trunk-fish, which drifts northward most frequently along American shores. Lactophrys trigonus (Linnaeus) Common trunk-fish ; chapin « Ostracion trigonus Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10; after Artedi. Lactophyrys trigonus Evermann and Marsli, 1902, p. 263, Figs. 75, 76. Fig. 231. — Lactophrys trigonus From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — India. Distribution. — West Indies, north to Bermuda and Florida, occa- sionally to Woods Hole, Mass. Apparently not common in Porto Eican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 2.9; height of side l.T; greatest ventral width 1.7 to 1.8; eye 2.8. Dorsal 10; anal 10. Encased in a three-cornered shell or carapace, which is open behind the dorsal fin, and with distinct spines on the ventral ridges behind. Attains a length of about a foot. Habits. — Young occur under gulf-weed or among eel-grass at Woods Hole, . Mass. When 1/2 inch or less in length, they are squarish or orbicular in outline (due to the slight development of the ridge in the center of the back, and the comparatively great development of the two ridges at the side) suggesting the allied genus Ostracion, which does not occur in America. One may reason from this that the Ostracion form of body is primitive for trunk-fishes, and the Lactophrys or triangular form secondary. Lactophrys bicaudalis (Linnaeus) Spotted trunk-fish ; chapin Ostracion Incaudalis Linnaeus, 175S, Syst. Nat., ed. 10. p. .>30. Lactophrys bicaudalis PJvermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 264, li. 40. NJCHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGJN Ifis^H&wfio/(-.— Florida Keys, through the West Indies to Brazil. Abundant about Porto Eico, and also recorded from St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 1 : San Juan. Diagnosis.— Re?i(i 2.5; depth 2.6; eye 4. Dorsal XII, 10; anal III, 5; scales 40. A tentacle over the eye which is longer than twice the diameter of the eye. Axil (of pectoral fin) gray in color, with many small white spots. Attains a length of a foot or less. Habits. — Scorpion-fishes are small, spiny, sluggish, concealingly colored, huge-mouthed, voracious bottom fishes. They occupy in tropi- cal seas somewhat the same niche that sculpins do in colder northern waters. The present species is most numerous in shallows close to shore, frequently hiding in weed, which environment is perhaps corre- lated with its relatively conspicuous tentacles and a boldly variegated color pattern. Pontinus Poey Pontinus beanorum Evermann and Marsh Porto Rican deep-water scorpion-fish rontinm hcamninii Evermann and Marsh. 1902, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm. for 19O0, Vol. XX. Pt. 1, p. 279, Fig. 85. Fig. 247. — Pontinus heanortim Type locality. — Near San Juan, Porto Eico, in 91 fathoms of water. Distribution. — Known only from the type. Diagnosis.— TLead 2.5; depth 3.5; eye 4 to 4.1. Dorsal XII, 10; anal III, 5; scales 36. Pectoral rays all simple; base of pectoral broad, the NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 355 fin fan-shaped; snout above and interorbital without scales; eleventh dorsal spine nearly as long as the twelfth. Length 5i/^ inches. Remarl's. — The genus Ponfinus is closely related to Scorpaena but differs from it in having all the rays of the pectoral fin simple, instead of some of the median rays more or less branched. Its species are found in deeper water, and are more or less rosy in color. Pontinus macrolepis Goode and Bean Deep-water scorpion-fish Pontinus macrolepis Goode and Bean, 1896, Ocean, Ichth.. p. 257, Fi,u. 247. Pontinus macrolepis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 280, PI. 4.3. Fig. 248. — Poniinus macrolepis Type locality. — Off Yucatan in 130 fathoms of water. Distribution. — Gulf of Mexico to Porto Eico in deep water, rare. A specimen recorded from Mayagiiez Harbor in about 230 fathoms of water. Diagnosis. — Head 2.2; depth 3.2 to 3.3; eye 3.4. Dorsal XII, 10; anal III, 5; scales 35. Pectoral rays all simple; base of pectoral broad, fin fan-shaped; snout above and interorbital without scales; eleventh dorsal spine nearly as long as twelfth. Length from J: to 6 inches. Triglidae To this family belong the gurnards (Mediterranean) and sea-robins (West Indian). The two are not very unlike, but the former are highly valued food-fishes, while the latter, which have somewhat larger, spinier heads and smaller bodies, are not as a rule eaten, though prob- ably palatable. Prionotus Lacepede Prionotus piinctatus (Bloch) Spotted sea-robin Tri(fJa pvuctata Bloch, 179.3, Ichth.. I'l. 3.5.3; based on a drawing by Tlumier. Prionotus punctatus Evermann and .Marsh. 1902. p. 238. 356 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 240. — I'rionotns punctatus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indian fauna, south on the coast of South Amer- ica to Uruguay. Uncommon in Porto Rican waters. Diagnosis.— Read 2.8; depth 2.8; eye 6. Dorsal X-12 ; anal 12; scales 50. Mouth large, maxillary 2.5 in head; preopercular spine with a distinct smaller one at its base; cheek bone with a spine (small in adult, larger in young) at center of radiation of the striae; spines on bones of head moderate, not knife-like; first 3 dorsal spines little if at all serrate. Grows to a length of about a foot. Habits. — Shrimps and other small crustaceans are probably the favorite food of this fish. Sea-robins are usually found at the bottom, where they frequently glide slowly forward, appearing to crawl by moving the thick fleshy ten- tacles in front of the breast fin in a finger-like manner. They make grunting noises wdien caught, and perhaps communicate by similar sounds down in the water, as under natural conditions the writer has heard one make an audible croak when startled. At times they swim vigorously upward, it may be in pursuit of prey, then spread the broad pectoral fins and with their aid glide gracefully back to the bottom again. One may reason with a fair degree of probability that the ex- panded pectoral fins of the sea-robin are to help raise its big heavy bony head in the water; and that the increased size of these fins in the more specialized flying gurnard is correlated with leaping, a habit here homologous with the under-water gliding of its relatives. Peristediidae Peristedion Lacepede These peculiar armored large-eyed deep-water sea-robins are charac- teristic of considerable, though not abysmal, ocean depths. The one recorded from Porto Rico is merely tinged and marked with rose. Others — for instance, the one common off the North Atlantic States — are a striking bright red. There is a tendency to red colors in fishes found at more or less considerable depths of sea-water, but not beyond NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDt^ 357 the zone of penetration of sunlight, which is doubtless in some way correlated with the dim and exclusively blue-green light which reaches them. Perhaps in the absence of red light a potential red is for them the most inconspicuous livery; or it may be that it absorbs a maximum of the dim blue-green rays of some physiological benefit to the wearer; or there may be some purely mechanical (chemical) explanation. Peristedion graeile Goode and Bean Slender deep-water gurnard Peristedion gracile Goode and Bean, 1896, Oceanic Ichthyol., p. 473, IM. 114, Fig. 387. Peristedion. gracile Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 284, PI. 44. Fig. 250, — Pcristciiion (jracile Type locality. — Gulf of Mexico in 142 fathoms of water. Distribution. — Gulf of Mexico to Porto Eico in deep water, rare. A specimen recorded from Mayagiiez Harbor in about 225 fathoms of water. Diagnosis. — Head (base of rostral prolongation to tip of opercular spine) 3; depth 6.5; eye 4. Dorsal VII-19; anal I, 19; body covered with bony plates. Color yellowish, or whitish washed with rose; a pearly lateral band. Preorbital process contained 2.25 times in the snout. Cephalacanthidae Cephalaeanthus Lacepede Cephalacanthus volitans (Linnaeus) Flying gurnard ; flying robin ; murcielago Trigla volitans Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10. Vol. T, p. 302; after Artedi. Cephalacanthus volitans Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 28.5, Fig. 86. Fig. 251. — Cephalacanthus rolitnns From Zoologipa, IX 358 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Type locality. — Mediterranean and open tropical ocean. Distnbutio7i. — Warmer waters of the Atlantic, on both coasts, rarely north to Massachusetts. Recorded from Porto Rico by Poey and Stahl. Z)w (7/(0515.— Head 4.3; depth 5.5; eye 3.7. Dorsal II, IV-8; anal 6 ; scales small. Very long nuchal and preopercular spines ; head blunt, bony; pectorals very large, reaching nearly to base of caudal in adult, shorter in young. Attains a total length of from 15 to 16 inches. Habits. — Though widely distributed, the flying gurnard is generally uncommon on warm shores. It is rather a sluggish fish and may some- times be seen resting quietly on the bottom, but it is capable of great activity as is evidenced when it lunges into the air, making long leaps supported by its broad pectoral fins. Its aerial powers in no wise com- pare with those of the true 'flying-fishes. Its young appear to be more or less pelagic, being sometimes found in mid-ocean. Beebe writes of this species: "A secondary use for the great wing expanse is as a float. Several times in widely separated oceanic areas, I have seen gurnards, either singly or in a school, sunning themselves at the very surface, with the wings widely spread, floating buoyantly with only occasional flicks of the caudal fin." Again he says: "In large aquariums on my Haitian schooner, I watched these fish at leisure and was astonished at their peripatetic facility. Every movement brought to mind a strange, half-living aeroplane. A gurnard volplanes swiftly downward from the surface, wings tightly folded, and when close to the bottom turns slightly upward, partly spreads its pectorals and, stretching out the long, thin ventral fins, alights gently, and at once trots off, scampering here and there, now and then actually holding up one leg fin, as the fish pivots slightly and looks about. . . . "In front of the dorsal fin are two free rays, long, slender, and knobljy at the tips, and for their entire length quite separate from the rest. When the fish begins walking, these separate laterally and act as balancers, one on each side, forming an angle of about 45 degrees. If the gurnard turns quickly or trips up, one of the two rays quickly dips down on the corrective side, exactly as a person's outstretched arms assist in regaining lost balance." (Natural History, 1928. pp. S-'-ST.) Callioxymidae Callionymus Linnaeus Callionynius (■alliiirus Eisenniann and Eigenmann West Indian dragonet Callionynius calliurus Eigenmann and Eigenmnnn. 1888, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci. for 1888, p. 76. XfCHOLS. PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 359 Callionymus calliurus Nichols, 1915, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 145. Porto Rico. Fig. 252. — Callionymus calliiirKs Type locality. — Key West, Florida. Distribution. — Florida Keys and West Indies, rare. One Porto Rican record. Specimens collected. — 1 : Condado Bay, San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head (to tip of opercular spine) 3 to 3.5; depth 1; eye 3.5. Dorsal IV, 6 ; anal, 4 ; scales absent. Ventral fins widely sepa- rated; preopercle strongly armed; lateral line present. Preopercular spine with 2 barbs, the anterior turned forward. Body with white spots. Size small. Remarls. — The dragonets are among the few forms which have ap- parently reached American shores from the Mediterranean fauna, of which they are a characteristic element. One or two species are here de- scribed from rather deep water, as are certain other Mediterranean forms; but Callionymus calliurus is a true West Indian shore fish, though of insignificant size and. so far as known, everywhere rare. Habits. — A small bottom fish, resembling the gobies or colder-water sculpins in form and habits. GOBIIDAE Gobioinorus Lacepede Gobiomorus domiitor Lacepede Guavina Gobiomorus dormitor Lacepede. 1798, Hist. Nat. Poiss.. Vol. II, p. .">99 : from a di'awing by Plumier. Philypnus dormitor Evernianii and Marsh. 1902, p. 288, Fig. 87. Fig. 25.3. — Gobiomorus dormitor From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — Fresh-water streams of the West Indies, and the At- 360 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO lantic shores of Middle America and Surinam. Abundant in all the larger streams of Porto Rico. Specimens collected. — 2: Mayagiiez (Lutz). Diagnosis. — Head 3 ; depth 5 ; eye 9.7 to 9.8. Dorsal VI-12 ; anal I, 10; scales about 61. Ventrals separate with rays I, 5; vomer with teeth ; gill-openings extending forward to below posterior angle of mouth ; caudal rounded, and lower jaw projecting. Attains a length of 2 feet. Remarks. — One of the important fresh-water food fishes in the West Indies. Habits. — All of the gobies, of which innumerable species occur in warm shore waters and relatively few in fresh waters of the tropics, are small, more or less concealingly colored bottom fishes of not dissimilar habits. The more primitive members with ventral fins separate, such as this one, are apt to be the. more active, sometimes voracious, and to attain the largest size. Dormitator Gill Dormitator niaculatus (Bloch) Masaguan : mapiro Sciaena maculata Bloch, 1790, Ichth., PI. 299, Fig. 2. Dormitator maculatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 289, PI. 45. Fig. 254. — Dormitator maculatus Prom Zoologica, X Type locality. — West Indies. Distrihution. — Both coasts of tropical America, from South Carolina through the West Indies to Para ; and from Cape San Lucas to Panama. Uncommon about Porto Rico, Specimens collected. — 1: San Juan (Lutz). . Seen at Guanica. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 3.5; eye 5.7 to 5.8. Dorsal A^III-9; anal I, 9 ; scales 33. Ventrals separate, their rays I, 5 ; vomer with- out teeth ; gill openings scarcely reaching to below posterior angle of preopercle. Attains a length of from 1 to 2 feet. Remarks. — Recorded from Porto Rico by Poey and Stahl as Dormi- tator mugiloides. Valued as a food fish. Habits. — Found in salt, brackish and fresh water. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 3G1 Ouavina Bleeker Ouavina guavina (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Moron Eleotris guavina Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1837, Hist. Nat. I'oiss., Vol. XII, . p. 223. Guavina guavina Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 289. Fig. 255. — Ouavina guavina Tijpe locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — Fresh and brackish water from Cuba to Rio Janeiro; rare in Porto Eico, 8 examples in the San Juan Market believed to be from the mouth of the Bayamon River. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 4.5; eye 6.5. Dorsal VIT-13 ; anal I, 10 ; scales about 100. Ventral fins separate, their rays I, 5 ; gill open- ings scarcely extending forward to under posterior angle of preopercle. Attains a foot in length. Remarks. — A good food fish. Eleotris Bloch and Schneider Eleotris pisonis (Gmelin) Moron Gobius pisonis Gmelin, 1788. Syst. Nat., p. 1206: based on Eleotris of Gronow. Eleotris pisonis Evermann and Marsh, 1902. p. 290. Fig. 88. Fig. 256. — Eleotris pisonis Breder's Field Book of Marine Fijihes (Putnam). Type locality. — Uncertain. Distribution. — Florida to Rio Janeiro. Common in fresh and brackish waters of Porto Rico, especially the lower portions of the rivers. Specimens collected. — 2 : Guanica. Diagnosis. — Head 2.9; depth 3.7 to 3.8; eye 7. Dorsal VI-9 ; anal I, 8 ; scales 57 to Q6. Preopercle below with a small concealed spine, its tip hooked forward ; ventrals separate, their rays I, 5 ; gill openings scarcely extending forward to under posterior angle of preopercle. At- tains a length of more than 6 inches. Eemarls. — N"ot much used for food. 3G2 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Sicydium Cuvier and Valenciennes Sicydium antillarum Ogilvie-Grant Sirajo Sicydium antillarum Ogilvie-Grant, 1884, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. for 1884, p. 157. Sicydium antillarum Silvester, 1916, Yearb. Oarn. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 216. Porto Rico. Fig. 257. — Sicydium antillarum Type locality. — Barbados. Distribution. — Fresh waters of the West Indies. Several taken in mountain streams flowing into the Arecibo Eiver near Utuado. Diagnosis. — Head 4.6; depth 6; eye 6.5 (in a specimen 4 or 5 inches long). Dorsal VI-I, 10; anal I, 10; scales 68. Ventrals united into a short cup-shaped disk. Attains a length of about 5 inches. Habits. — Small gobies of the genus Sicydium inhabit fresh-water streams, holding to the rocky bottom with a cup-shaped disk formed by their united ventral fins, being thereby aided in stemming the current. Sicydium oaguitae Evermann and Marsh Sirajo Sicydium caguitae Evermann and Marsh, 1899, Rept. U. S. Fish Coram, for 1899, p. 355. Sicydium caguitae Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 291, Fig. 89. Fig. 258. — Sicydium caguitae Type locality. — Eio de Caguitas, Caguas, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 4.4; depth 4.8; eye 5.75. Dorsal A^I-I, 10; anal I, 9; scales 83. Densely scaled. Ventrals united to form a short disk, adnate to the belly. No dark vertical bars on body. Length 3.6:) inches. RernarlvS. — Known only from the type. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 363 Sieydiuin pliimieri (Bloeh) Sirajo Golius plumieri Bloeli, 1786, Iclith., p. 125, PI. 178, Fig. 3; based on a draw- ing by Plumier. Sicydium pluritieri Evermaun and Marsh, 1902, p. 292. P^iG. 259. — Sicydium plumieri _ Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — Fresh waters of the West Indies. Eecorded from Porto Rico by Poey. Diagnosis. — Head 4 to 4.6; depth 4.5; eye 6 to 7. Dorsal VI-I, 10; anal I, 10; scales 84. Squamation sometimes more or less incomplete; ventrals united to form a short disk, adnate to the belly. About 7 more or less distinct vertical bars on the body. Size small. Bathygobius Bleelier Bathygobiiis soporator (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Silk-fin goby ; sleeper ; mapo GoMus soporator Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1837, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. XII, p. 56. Gobius soponttnr Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 294. Fig. i!(;0. — Bathygobius soporaio) From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — Generally distributed and abundant in the shallow shore waters of tropical seas, north to Carolina and the Gulf of Cali- fornia. Abundant and omnipresent about Porto Eico. Specimens collected. — 17: Condado Bay and Eocks, Martin Pena; Santurce, Paloseco Pt., San Juan. Diagnosis.—Uead 3 to 3.5; depth 4 to 4.8; eye 3.5 to 5. Dorsal VI-9 to 10; anal 9 to 10; scales 38. Upper rays of pectoral fin free for nearly their whole length, silklike, that is, very slender and flexible.. Ventrals united, free from bellv. Length from 3 to 5 inches. 564 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Habits. — This is one of Nature's most successful species, an omni- present small shallow-water bottom fish, with a practically universal range in warm seas. It has no great swimming powers, does not drift widely in the adult form, and superficially seems to resemble in habits other small species of which there are many with restricted ranges. The reason for its wide distribution is not at all obvious. It has a mottled coloration, which, combined with considerable ability to change its color tone to match the bottom, gives it a low visibility. As is usual in such cases, it takes advantage of its concealing coloration by resting quietly on the bottom or moving quickly from place to place. Gobius Linaaeus ! Gobius translucens Nichols Translucent goby Gobius translucens Nichols, 1915, Bull. A men Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 145, Fig. 2. Fig. 261. — GobUts translucens Type locality.— Sam Antonio Bridge, San Juan, Porto Rico, Distribution. — Porto Rico and Bermuda. Specimens collected. — 1 : San Antonio Bridge. Diagnosis.— He-Ad 3.3; depth 4.4; eye 3. Dorsal VI-10 ; anal 10; scales 33. Color pale ; a dark streak from snout through eye to shoulder and other lengthwise streaks on head; two dark spots connected by a vertical bar on base of caudal; other small dark marks on body, par- ticularly a row of spots along mid-line of back. Ventrals united. Lower jaw slightly projecting. Length about 1 inch, Remarlcs.—¥ew specimens known. Questionably distinct from Gobius glaucofraenum. Gobius glaucofraenum (Gill) Bridled goby Coryphopterus glaucofraenum Gill, 1863. Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. for 186.3, p 263 GoUus glaucofraenum Fowler, 1928, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. for 1928, p. 466. Porto Rico. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 365 Fig. 2G2. — Gotius ylaucofraenuni ^^ Type locality. — C'oast of Washington (evidently an error). Distribution. — Florida Keys, not rare, occasionally recorded from the West Indies. Uncommon at Porto Eico. Specimens collected. — 1: Mayagiiez (Lutz), Diagnosis. — Head 3.3 to 3.6; depth 4.3: eye 3.3. Dorsal VI-10; anal 10; scales abont 88. Color tawny; three rows of dark spots, on the ridge of the back along the bases of the dorsal fins, from the scapular region, and along the middle of the sides; blue marks on the head and dorsal fins. Ventrals united. Lower jaw slightly projecting. Length from 1 to 2 inches. Gobius boIeo80iiia .Tordan and Gilbert Darter-like goby Gobius holeosoma Jordan and Gilbert, 1S82. Proe. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1882, p. 295. Gobius boleosoma Nichols, 1915; Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 146. Porto Rico. Gobionellus boleosoma Meek and Hildebrand, 1928, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 3. Fig. 263. — Gobius boleosoma Type locality. — Laguna C4rande, Pensacola, Florida. Distribution.—Gxili of Mexico and West Indies, Pensacola, Fla., to Porto Eico. Common in Condado Bay and vicinity. Specimens collected.— 7 : Martin Peiia, mouth of the Loiza Eiver, Hotel Nava, San Juan, Condado Bay. Diagnosis.— Head 4; depth 4.5 to 5.5; eye about 4. Dorsal YI-12; anal I, 10 to 12; scales 25 to 30. Ventrals united, free from the belly. Lower jaw included; nape, breast a'nd belly without scales. Dorsal spines low, the highest not or but little longer than head. Caudal with not more than a single spot at its base. Length about 2 inches. Habits. — Common in shallow sandy bays, lurking in sea wrack. 366 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF FORTO RICO Gobius lyricus Girard Tall-finued goby Gobius lyricus Girard, 1858, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sei. Phila. for 1858, p. 169. Gobius lyricus Evermaun and Marsh, 1902, p. 295. Gobionellus lyricus Meek and Hildebrand, 1928, Fishes of Panama, Pt. .'{. Fig. 264. — Gobius lyricus Type locality. — Brazos Santiago, Texas. Distribution. — Coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean to Florida and the West Indies. Probably not common in Porto Eican waters. Specimens collected. — 6 : Martin Pena. 1 : Guanica. Diagnosis. — Male : Head 4; depth 4.5 to 5 ; eye 4 to 5. Dorsal VI-11 ; anal I, 10 ; scales 29. Female : Head 3.8 ; depth 4.9 ; eye 3.6 to 4. Ven- trals united, free from the belly. Dorsal spines high, highest reach- ing past middle of second dorsal. Caudal plain or with but a single spot at its base. Length from 2 to 3 inches. Gobius bayamonensLs Evermann and Marsh Porto Rican oceanic goby Gobius bayamonensis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1900, Vol. XX, Pt. 1, p. 296, Fig. 90. ^fe^Sg^S^^ Fig. 2G5. — Oobiiis batjamonens Type locality.— San Juan Market, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 5.8; depth 6.4; eye 5. Dorsal YI-14; anal 15; scales 74. Mouth large, the lower jaw slightly projecting; only a few scales on the opercle. Caudal long and pointed, much longer than head; ventrals united, free from the belly. Length 9 inches. Rernarls. — Only the type known, from the San Juan Market, prob- ably came from near the mouth of the Bay anion Eiver at Palo Seco. This species is close to Gobius oceanicus. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 30? Gobius oceanicus Pallas Oceanic goby ; esineralda ; seti GoMus oceanicus Pallas, 1769, Spicilegia. Vol. VIII, ]>. 4; after Gronow. Gobius oceanicus Everniami and Marsh, 1902, p. 296. Fig. 91. Gobionellus oceanicus Meek and Hildebrand, 1928, Fishes of Panama, Pt. 3. Fig. 266. — Gohius oceanicus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Uncertain. Distribution. — South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States from South Carolina south through the West Indies to the South American coast. Common in Porto Rican waters. Specimens collected. — 1 : Paloseco Point, San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 5 ; depth 6 to 6.5 ; eye 5 to 5.5. Dorsal VI-1 i ; anal 15; scales about 63. Mouth large, the lower jaw slightly project- ing; upper part of opercle with a large patch of scales. Caudal long and pointed, much longer than the head; ventrals united, free from the belly. Attains a foot or more in length. . Remarks. — Of considerable value as a food fish. Hahits. — Abundant in deeper water than most of its congeners, from 4 or 5 to 15 fathoms. Chonophorus Poey Chonophorus taiasica (Lichtenstein) Fringe-shouldered goby ; guavina ; saga Gohius taiasica Lichtea.stein, 1822, Berl. Abhandl. for 1822, p. 27.3; not taiasica of Marcgrave. Awaous taiasica Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 297. Fig. 267. — Chonophorus taiasica From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — Fresh waters of the West Indies and both coasts of Mexico, south to Brazil. Common in fresh and brackish waters of Porto Rico. Specimens seen. — Guanica. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 5.4 to 6; eye 5.5 to 6. Dorsal VI-11; anal I, 10; scales G6 to 71. Isthmus broad; inner edge of shoulder 368 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO girdle with 2 or 3 conspicuous (lermal flaps; preorbital region very long. Ventrals united, free from the belly. Attains a length of a foot or more. Remarlcs. — Of some value for food. BoUnianiiia Jordan BoIImannia boqueronensis Evermaiin and Marsh West Indian Bollmania Bollmunnia boqueronensis Evermann and Marsh, 1899, Rept. U. S. Fish Conim. for 1899. p. 356. Bollmannia hoqueronensis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 298, Fig. 92. -^_ Fig. 208. — Bolliiiaiiiiin hoqueronrnsis Type locality. — Ensenada del Boqueron, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Porto Rico. Diagnosis. — Head 4; depth 5.5; eye 3.5. Dorsal VII-13 ; anal 12; scales 27. Sides of head scaled. Caudal long and pointed; ventrals united, free from the belly. Attains a length of from 2 to 3 inches. Habits. — Unlike most gobies, members of this genus are found in water of moderate or considerable depth and do not inhabit the shallows. Microgobius Poey Microgobius meeki Evermann and Marsh Meek's little goby MicrogoMus meeki Evermann and Marsh, 1899, Rept. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1899. p. 356. Microyohlus meeki Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 300, Fig. 93. Fig. 269. — Mkroyohius meilci '"^■? >-K->->^"''' Type locality. — Between Vieques and Culebra islands, east of Porto Eico, in 15^ fathoms of water. Distribution. — Known only from the type. Diagnosis. — Head 3.75; depth 6; eye 3.5. Dorsal VII-17; anal 16; scales 55. Body greatly compressed ; scales cycloid or nearly so ; head NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 369 without scales; mouth large, the lower jaw prominent. Ventrals united, free from the belly. Length 1.5 inches. Gobiosoma Girard (jlobiosoma multifasciatum Steindachiier Many-banded naked goby Gohiosoma multifasciatuni Steindaehner, 1870, Ich. Beitr.. No. V. i). 183. Gohlosfyma multifasciatum Silvester, 1916, Yearb. Carn. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 216. I'orto Rico. Fig. 270. — Gobiosoma mullifasciatum Type locality. — Lesser Antilles. Distribution. — West Indies. Taken from coral rocks in shallow water east of Guanica Harbor, Porto Rico. Diagnosis. — Head about 4; depth 5.6 to 5.7; eye 4. Dorsal VI or VII-11 or 12; no scales. Ventrals united, free behind. Head with a red band, ending behind over pectoral in a small blue spot ; body with 16 or 17 light green cross-bars, separated by narrow whitish interspaces. Length from 1 to 2 inches. Habits. — These little gobies are found in shallow water where they usually hide in weed, broken sliells or crannies of a rocky bottom. Gobioides Lacepede Gobioides broiissonnetii Lacepede Broussonnet's goby Gobioides hroussonnetii Lacepede. 1798, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. II, p. ,'")80. Gobioides broussonnetii Evermann and Marsh, 1902. p. .300. /yrrTTTrrry Fig. 271. — GoMoides hroussonnetii Type locality. — Probably Surinam. Distribution.— West Indies to Brazil, common southward, ascending rivers; once taken near New Orleans. Recorded from Porto Rico by Poey. Diagnosis.— Head 5.2 (young) to 7 (adult) ; body elongate; eye min- ute. Dorsal VII, 16; anal I, 16; scales moderate, those on anterior part 370 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RlCO of body not imbricated, much smaller than those on posterior part, wliich are elongate oval. Dorsal fin continuous; soft vertical fins joined to base of caudal; ventrals united, free from the belly. Mouth oblique, lower jaw projecting. Attains a length of 20 inches or more. ECHENEIDIDAE Echeneis Linnaeus Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus Shark-suelier ; pega ; pegador Echeneis neucrates (misprint for naucrates) Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ecL 10, p. 261. Echeneis naucrates Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 301, Fig. 94. Fig. 272. — Echeneis naucrates From Zoologica, IX Type locality. — "In Pelago Indico." Distribution. — Widely distributed in warm seas, common north to Cape Cod and occasionally to San Francisco. Eecorded from Porto Kico by Poey and Stahl. Diagnosis. — Head 5.2 to 5.3; depth 11 to 12; eye 5. Dorsal XXII to XXVIII (rarely XXI)-32 to 41; anal 31 to 38; scales minute. A conspicuous dark lengthwise stripe, which is more or less ephemeral. Usually less than a foot long, it may attain a length of 38 inches or more and a weight of 1% pounds. Remarlvs. — This is the only sucking-fish or remora so far recorded from Porto Eican waters, but several others are to be expected there. Another slender striped form, Phtheirichthys, is smaller with a shorter sucking disk. Remora, with more pelagic habitat, and Rhomhochirus, which attaches to spearfishes and sailfishes and has the pectoral fin stiffened, are both shorter-bodied and plain-colored. Reniilegea, which is rare and at times attaches itself to small Cetacea, has a very large sucking disk. Habits. — The remoras or sucking-fishes have the head and front part of the body flattened dorso-ventrally, with a peculiar oval sucking disk on the head, its plates arranged like the slats of a blind, each one sup- posed to represent a spine of the dorsal fin. These fish attach them- selves by means of this disk to sharks, other large fishes, etc., and thus obtain free transportation and protection against enemies. Their feed- ing habits are not well known, but doubtless they subsist to some extent NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 371. on scraps from the big fishes' table. This particular species is the most familiar, and the one usually found attached to coastwise sharks. It has a peculiar striped color pattern, which in life may be very bold and distinct or quickly fade out altogether. This color pattern is so similar to that of the Cobia (Rachijcentron) as to suggest that it is to some more normal fish of this type that the sucking-fishes are most nearly akin; and it may be that such is the case though our present classification places them elsewhere. Their true relationship to other fishes is not known. Other such cases come to mind of animals re- moved from general evolutionary competition by some peculiar habit and structure, — of which the more primitive ancestral forms, that would give a clue to relationships, have been entirely swept away. Malacanthidae Malacanthus Cuvier Malacanthus pluinieri ( Bloth ) Slangdang; matajuelo bianco Coryitharna plumieri Bloch, 1787, Ichth., Vol. V, p. 119, PI. 175. Malacanthus plumieri Jordan and Everuiann, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XLVII, Pt. 3, p. 2275. Fig. 273. — MaJarantlnis iiliiniieri From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Martinique. Distribution. — West Indies, not generally common. Recorded from St. Croix by Cope. Diagnosis.— Uead 3.6 to 3.7; depth 6.5; eye 5.5. Dorsal VI, 49; anal 48; scales 130. Preopercle entire; caudal forked. Darker above and paler below without bold markings. Attains a length of 15 inches. Remarls. — Used as food. Caulolatilus Gill Caulolatilus oyanops Poey Blanquillo ; tremba Ceulolatilus cyanops Poey, 1867, Repertorio, Vol. I, p. .312. Caulolatilus cyanops Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 30.3. 373 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 274. — Caulolatilus cyanops Type locality. — Cuba. Distribution. — Greater Antilles. Known from Cuba and recorded from Porto Eico by Poey and Stahl. Diagnosis. — Head 4 in total length. Dorsal VII, 24; anal I, 23; scales 108. Form robust; preopercle serrate; upper jaw with posterior canine teeth. Caudal slightly lunate. Eegion below the eye and belly rather clear bluish in color; spinous dorsal and edge of soft dorsal orange. Remarks. — Valued as a food fish. Dactyloscopidae Dactyloscopus Gill Dactyloscopus tridigitatus Gill Sand star-gazer Dactyloscopus tridiyitatus Gill, 1859, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Pliila. for 1859, p. 132. Doctyloscopns tridigitatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 304. ^r/mr/mm ^^ Fig. 275. — Daciyloscopus tridigitatus Type locality. — Barbados. Distribution. — West Indies north to southern Florida; one Porto Eican record (Ensenada del Boqueron). Diagnosis. — Head 5 (in total length, with caudal) ; depth 7. Dorsal XII, 28; anal II. 32; scales 45. Head cuboid; eyes small, superior (directed upward) ; interorbital broad; mouth. nearly vertical; opercular fringe of 15 filaments. Attains a length of only a few inches. Habits. — Found in shallow water, burying itself in the coral sands near shore, with only the mouth and eyes exposed. NICHOLS. PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 373 GOBIESOCIDAE Gobiesox Lacepede Gobiesox tudes Richardson Richardson's Cling-fish Gobiesox tudes Richardson. 1S45, Voy. Sulph., Fish., p. 103, PI. 40, Figs. l-'i. Gobiesox tudes Evermanu and Marsh, 1902, p. 305. Fig. 276. — Gobiesox iudes Type locality. — Supposed to be China. Distribution. — West Indies, rare. Recorded from Culebra Island. Diagnosis. — Head 2.5; depth 4.6 to 4.7; eye 3 to 4.8. Dorsal 8; anal 6 ; no scales. Incisors of lower jaw with entire edges ; a large ventral sucking disk. Uniformly pale yellowish in color, with a slightly rosy tinge on middle of back. Length 1 or 2 inches. Remarks. — If Evermann and Marsh have correctly identified the specimen they refer to Gobiesox tudes, this species proves to be West Indian, not Chinese as supposed. Gobiesox cerasinus Cope Cherry-colored Cling-fish Gobiesox cerasinus Cope, 1871, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, Vol. XIV, p. 473. Gobiesox cerasinus Silvester, 1916, Yearb. Carn. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 216. Near Guanica Harbor, Porto Rico. --^^ Fig. 277. — Gobiesox cerasinus Type locality.— St. Martins. Distribution. — St. Martins and Porto Eico; common near Guanica Harbor. Diagnosis. — Head 3 in total length (with caudal) ; eye 314. Dorsal 6 ; anal 6 ; no scales. Light red above, whitish below, without spots. Tadpole-shaped, flattened below; a large complex sucking disk between and behind the ventrals. Incisors of lower jaw with entire edges ; lower jaw without distinct canines. Length from 2 to 3 inches. Lj'L 374 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Habits. — Frequents crevices in the rocks about coral reefs. The cling-fishes are small, little active, flattened fishes found clinging to rocky bottoms by a sucking disk on their lower surface, thus holding what sometimes seem like untenable positions against the wash of the sea. # Blenniidae Tropical members of the blenny family, very numerous in species as well as individuals in shallow water, are more or less elongate small bottom fishes which hide in the weed or among the intricacies of a broken bottom. They have in the main mottled concealing colors and are not as a rule very active but, when danger threatens, dart quickly into protecting holes and crannies. Gillias Evermann and Marsh Gillias jordani Eveimanii and Marsh Rough-scaled blenny Gillias jordani Evermann and Marsh, 1899, Rept. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1899, p. 357. Gillias jordani Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 307, Fig. 95. Fig. 278. — Gillias jordani From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Cordona Light-house Eeef, Ponce, Porto Bico. Distribution. — Porto Pico and Haiti, rare. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 4.3; eye 2.5. Dorsal III-XII-7; anal II, 15; scales 33. Scales ctenoid; lateral line arched over pectoral, be- coming median further back; ventrals Jugular, their rays reduced in number. An inch or 2 in length. Habits. — Foimd on coral reefs. Brannerella Gilbert Brannerella culebrae (Evermann and Marsh) Marbled blenny Malacoctenus culelrae Evermann and Marsh, 1899, Rept. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1899, p. 357. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 375 Malacoctenus culebrae Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 308, Fig. 06. Brannerella culebrae Beebe and Tee Van, 1928, Zoologica, Vol. X, No. 1, p. 236. Fig. 2~Q. ^Brannerella culebrae From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Culebra Island. Distribution. — Porto Eico^ Curacoa and Haiti. Diagnosis. — Head 3.3 to 3.4; depth 5: eye 4,2. Dorsal XXI, 8; anal II, 18 ; scales 35. Nape with a single filament ; a tentacle above eye; scales c3-cloid; lateral line arched over pectoral, becoming median further back; ventrals jugular-subthoracic, their rays in reduced num- ber. Males with first anal spine detached and covered with rather thickened skin. Length from 1 to 2 inches. Habits. — Found along shore and on reefs, especially among low sea- weeds and in broken coral. Acteis Jordan Acteis nioorei (Evermann and Marsh) Moore's blenny Malacoctenus moorei Evermann and Marsh, 1899, Rept. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1899, p. 358. Malacoctenus moorei Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 309. Fig. 97. Acteis moorei Beebe and Tee Van, 1928, Zoologica, Vol. X, No. 1, p. 235. Fig. 280. — Aft (is moorei From Zoologica. X Type locality. — Culebra Island. Distribution. — Tortugas, Florida, to Porto Eico and Haiti; rare. Diagnosis.— Head 3.6 ; depth 3.7 ; eye 3.5. Dorsal XXI to XXII, 11 ; anal II, 20; scales 45 to 47. Xape with a single bifid filament; a ten- tacle above eye; scales cycloid; lateral line arched over pectoral, be- coming median further back; ventrals Jugular-subthoracic, their rays in reduced number. Lenofth from 1 to 2 inches. Remarks. — Evermann and Marsh give the teeth in jaws as one row only, probably having overlooked a group of inner villiform teeth, if 376 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Beebe and Tee Van have correctly identified their material from Haiti. Habits. — Frequents shallow water about reefs, broken coral and sea- weed. Malacoctenus Gill Malacoctenus puertoricensis Evermann and Marsh Porto Rican blenny Malacoctenus puertoricensis Evermann and Marsh, 1899, Rept, U. S. Fish Comm. for 1899, p. 358. Malacoctenus puertoricensis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 309, Fig. 98. Kio. 281. — Malacoctenus puertoricensis Type locality. — Hucares, Porto Rico. Distribution. — Porto Rico (Hucares, Fajardo, Culebra), uncommon. Dm^nosts.— Head 3.4 to 3.5; depth 3.4 to 3.7; eye' 3.8 to 4. Dorsal XX, 10; anal II, 19; scales 44 to 45. Nape with a comb of slender filaments; front of spinous dorsal notched; orbital filament present; dorsal without ocelli, its highest soft ray, 1.4 to 1.7 in head; scales cycloid ; teeth in jaws in one row only ; lateral line arched pectoral, be- coming median further back ; ventrals jugular-subthoracic, their rays in reduced number. Length about 21/^ inches. Remarks. — Resembles Malacoctenus bimaculatus Steinachner, from which it differs in having a larger head, greater depth, smaller mouth, narrower interorbital, as well as in color. Malacoctenus delalandi (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Brazilian blenny Clinus delalandi Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. XI, p. .378. Malacoctenus delalandi Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 310. Fig. 282. — Malacoctenus delalandi NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 377 Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — West Indies to Brazil, and probably both coasts of middle America. Not common about Porto Rico, being recorded from Ponce and Hucares. Diagnosis. — Head 3.4 ; depth 4 ; eye 3.5. Dorsal XX, 10 ; anal II, 19 ; scales 53 to 55. Xape with a comb of slender filaments ; front of spinous dorsal notched ; orbital filament present ; scales cycloid ; teeth in Jaws in one row only; lateral line arched over pectoral, becoming median further back; ventrals jugular-subthoracic, their rays in re- duced number. Length about 3 inches. Labrisomus Swainson Labrisoinus nuehipinnis ( Quoy and Gaiinard) Fringe-naped bleiiny Clinus nnchipinnis Quoy and Gaimard, 1824, Voy Uranie et Physicienne, Zool., p. 255. Labrisomus nnchipinnis Evermanu and Marsh, 1902, p. 311, PI. 46. Pig. 283. — Labrisomus nuehipinnis From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — West Indies, north to southern Florida, south to Brazil, east to the Canary Islands. Common and generally distributed in Porto Rican waters. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 3.5; eye 4.?. Dorsal XVIII. 12; anal II, 17; scales TO. Teeth in jaws in more than one row (some villi- form) ; filaments present above eye and on nape; lateral line arched over pectoral, becoming median further back ; ventrals thoracic, their rays in reduced number; scales cycloid; operculum with an ocellus. Attains a length of from 6 to 8 inches. Habits. — Frequents coral reefs, and broken bottoms near shore. Auchenopterus Giinther Auehenopterus albicaudus Evermaun and Marsh White-tailed blenny Auchenopterus albicaudus Evermann and Marsh, 1899, Rept. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1899, p. 360. Auchenopterus albicaudus Evermann and Marsh, 1902. p. 313. Fig. 99. 378 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 284 — Auchenopterus alMcaudus Type locality. — Arroyo, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 3.2; depth 4; eye 4. Dorsal XXX, 1; anal II, 17; scales 34. Spinous dorsal notched in front; membrane of third dorsal spine joining fourth spine (shorter) near its tip; scales cycloid; lateral line arched over pectoral, becoming median further back; ventrals jugular-subthoracic, their rays in reduced number. Caudal white, with a broad black bar on its base; body dark, without cross-bars. Length about 11/2 inches. Remarks. — Known only from the type specimen. AiifSietiopterus fajardo Evermaiin and Marsh Fajardo bleniiy Auchenopterus fajardo Evermann aud Marsh, 1899, Kept. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1899. p. 361. Auchenopterus fajardo Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 313, PI. 47. Cremnohates fajardo Beebe and Tee Van, 1928, Zoologica, Vol. X, Xo. 1, p. 239. Fig. 285. — Auchenopterus fajardo From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Fajardo, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Porto Eico, Haiti and the Bahamas, uncommon. Diagnosis.— Uead 3.2 to 3.3 ; depth 4.8 ; eye 4.2. Dorsal XXIX, 1 ; anal II, 17; scales 34. Spinous dorsal notched in front; membrane of third dorsal spine joining fourth spine near its tip; scales cycloid; lateral line arched over pectoral, becoming median further back ; ven- trals jugular-subthoracic, their rays in reduced number. Caudal fin mottled ; body with about 7 dark cross-bars. Length from 1 to 2 inches. Habits. — Frequents shallow water among sea-weeds and small coral masses. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 379 Auchenopterus rubescens Evermann and Marsh Rosy blenny Auchenopterus ruhescens Evermann and MarsL, 1899, Kept. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1899, p. 360. Auchenopterus rubescens Evermann and Marsh, 1902. p. 314, Fig. 100. Fig. 28G. — Auchenopterus ruhescens Type locality. — Puerto Eeal, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 3.4; depth 5; eye 5. Dorsal XXX, 1; anal II, 18; scales 33. Spinous dorsal notched in front ; membrane of third dorsal spine joining fourth spine (shortest) near its tip; scales cycloid; lateral line arched over pectoral, becoming median further back; ventrals jugular-snbthoracic, their rays in reduced number. Caudal fin pale- colored, no dark bar at its base; body pale rosy with no cross-bars. Length 1.3 inches. Remarl's. — Only the type specimen knowji. Tekia Nichols Tekla eingulata (Evermann and Marsh) Belted blenny Auchenopterus cingulatus Evermann and Marsh, 1899, Rept. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1899, p. 361. Auchenopterus cingulatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. P,lo, Fig. 101. Ki«. 287. — Tckln einfjiilatn Type locality. — Ponce, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Ponce and Puerto Eeal, Porto Eico; uncommon. Diagnosis. — Head 3; depth 4.4; eye 5. Dorsal XXVIII; anal II, \C>; scales 30. Spinous dorsal notched in front, membrane of the third dorsal spine joining fourth spine (shortest) near its tip; scale? cycloid : lateral line arched over pectoral, becoming median further back; 380 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO ventrals jugular-subthoracic, their rays in reduced number. Length about 1 inch. Tekla fasciata ( Steiudachuei-) Banded blenny Cremnohates fasciatus Steindachner, 1877, Sitzb. Ak. Wiss. Wien, Vol. LXXIV, Pt. 1. I). 224. f Auchenopterus fasciatus Evermaun and Marsh, 1902, p. 315. Hucares, Porto Rieo. Tekla fasciata Nichols, 1922, Copeia. No. 110, pp. 69 and 95. Southern Florida. Pig. 288. — Tekla fasciata Type locality. — Florida Straits. Distrihution. — Southern Florida and Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth 4.6; eye 4.5. Dorsal XXVIII to XXXI; anal II, 17 to 18; scales 31 to 38. Spinous dorsal notched in front, membrane of third dorsal spine joining fourth spine (shortest) near its tip ; scales cycloid ; lateral line arched over pectoral, becoming median further back ; ventrals jugular-subthoracic, their rays- in reduced number. Dorsal with a distinct ocellus; dorsal and anal boldly barred. Length from 1 to 3 inches. Remarks. — The small scaled members of the blenny family of which we have been treating, although numerous in species, are poorly repre- sented in collections, with the result that their number and exact rela- tionship still remain uncertain. Further knowledge may synthesize some of the genera or species here recognized. In the present case it is somewhat doubtful if Evermann and Marsh are correct in identifying their Porto Eican specimen with Tekla fasciata from Florida. Auchenistius Evermann and Marsh Auchenistius stahli Evermann and Marsh Green thalassia blenny Auchenistius stahli Evermann and Marsh, 1899, Rept. TT. S. Fish Conun. for 1899, p. 359. Atichenistius stahli Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 316, Fig. 102. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 381 Fig. 289. — Auchenistins stahJi j^^ From Zoologica, X ^JtJr' Type locality.— Fonee, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Porto Bico, the Bahamas and Haiti. Diagnosis. — Head 5 ; depth 6.5 ; eye 4.8. Dorsal XLI to XLII ; anal I or II, 23 to 34; scales 58 to 60. Dorsal without a notch; dorsal and anal confluent with the base of the caudal; no lateral line; ventrals small, subjugular, their rays in reduced number. Attains a length of 1 inch or somewhat more. Habits. — Hides about shallow reefs, broken coral or algae, such as thalassia. Kupiscartes Swainson Rupiscartes macclurei Silvester Silvester's rock-hopping blenuy Rupiscartes macclurei Silvester, 1916, Yearb. Carn. Inst. Wash, for 1915, Vol. XIV, p. 217. Porto Rico. Fig. 290. — Rupiscartes macclurei Type lomlity. — Dead coral reef, west of Guanica Harbor, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Known only from the type locality. Diagnosis.— Rein\ 4.2; depth 4.3. Dorsal XI, 20 or XII, 19:^=31; anal 22; no scales. Dorsal continuous without a deep notch; posterior canines large, fanglike; teeth in a comblike row, movable, not firmly fixed. Length a trifle more than 2 inches. Remarks. — This may be the young of the widely distributed Rupis- cartes atlanticus. Blennius Linnaeus Blennius cristatus Linnaeus ! Crested blenny Blennius cristatus Linnaeus, 1758. Syst. Nat., eel. 10, Vol. I, ]i. 250; after Gronow. Blennius cristatus Nichols, 1915, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 146. Porto Rico. 382 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Pig. 291. — Blennius cristatus Breder's Field Book of Marine Fishes fPutnam). Type locality. — Indies. Distribution. — Warmer waters of both sides of the Atlantic; West Indies to Florida and Brazil. Found at Condado Eocks in July, and probably rather common about Porto Rico in suitable places. Specimens collected. — 4 : Condado Rocks, San Juan. Diagnosis.— Resid^ 4; depth 4; eye 4.2 to 4.3. Dorsal XI, 16; anal 19; no scales. Nape with a comb of close-set cirri: a cirrus above the eye; short, stoutish canines present in lower jaw only; teeth comblike, firmly fixed; caudal rounded; gill membranes free from or forming a broad fold across isthmus. Length from 21/0 to 4 inches. Salarichtliys Guichenot Salarichthys textilis (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Silver-marked blenny Salarias textilis Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Vol. XI, p. .307: from Quoy and Gaimard MS. Salariichttius textilis Nichols, 1915, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXIV, p. 146. Porto Rico. Fig. 292. — Salarichthys textilis Type locality. — Ascension Island. Distribution. — West Indies, from Bermuda to Brazil and Ascension Island. Found abundant at Condado Rocks in July, and probably com- mon about Porto Rico in suitable places. Specimens collected. — 12 : Condado Rocks, San Juan. Diagnosis.— Hesid 4.6 ; depth 4.6 ; eye about 4. Dorsal XII, 16 ; anal 18; no scales. Teeth in a single comblike row, movable, implanted in the skin of the lips ; small posterior canines present, and a few teeth on the vomer. Color olive, with silvery whitish markings. Length from 2 to 3 inches. Habits. — Frequents shallow rocky sea-washed pools along shore. NICHOLS, I'ORTO RICO AND THE VIKOIN IHLANDH :58;{ CoraUiozetus Evermann and Marsh Coralliozetus eardonae Evermann and Marsh Coral blenny CoraUiozetus eardonae Evermann and Marsh, 1899, Rept. U. S. Fish ("omm. for 1899, p. 362. CoraUiozetus eardonae Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 317, Fig. 103. Fig. 293. — CoraUiozetus eardonae Type locality. — Reef at the Cardoiia lighthouse. Play a de Ponee, Porto Eico. Distribution. — Porto Rico. — coral reefs about Ponce. Diagnosis. — Head -t ; depth 5.6; eye 4. Dorsal XVII, 11; anal 21; no scales. Ventral subjugular; profile steep, subvertical; eye large, ante- rior, over the large mouth ; dorsal notched behind the fourth spine ; jaws each with 8 enlarged, curved, conical teeth; caudal rounded. Length up to 1 inch. Eniblemaria .Jordan and Gilbert Embleniaria pandionis Evermann and Marsh The "Fish-Hawlc's" blenny Eniblemaria pandionis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, Bull. U. S. Fish Comai. for 1900, Vol. XX, Pt. 1, p. 318, Fig. 104. FtG. 294. — Emblemaria pandionis Type locality. — 8I/2 miles northeast from Isabel Segunda, Vieques Island, in 14% fathoms of water. Distribution. — Off Vieques Island. Diagnosis. — Head 3.7 ; depth 5.8 ; eye 3.6. Dorsal XVII, 18 ; anal II, 23 ; no scales. Eye with a cirrus above pupil ; maxillary reaching to under posterior edge of orbit ; jaws with numerous, more or less unequal teeth. Caudal short, bluntly pointed : dorsal continuous, unnotched, 384 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO highest in front; ventrals thoracic, tlieir rays in reduced number, dark cross-bars. Length 1.5 inches. Remarks. — Only the type known. No FlERASFERIDAE Fierasfer Cuvier Fierasfer bermudensis (Jones) Bermuda pearl-fish Lefroyia bermudensis Jones, 1874, Zoologist, Vol. IX, p. 38.38. Fierasfer bermudensis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 319. Fig. 295. — Fierasfer iermudensis Type locality.— 'Bermuda,. Distribution. — Bermuda and Porto Eico, where recorded from Mayagiiez and Puerto Real, uncommon. Diagnosis. — Head 8.5 ; body elongate, compressed, tapering into a long and slender- tail; eye 4. Vertical fins long, low, confluent; no scales. Vent at throat ; ventrals absent. Pale brownish in color, pearly along the sides. Remarks. — The genus Fierasfer in American waters is divided into several rather poorly defined species of small fishes, almost everywhere uncommon. Habits. — The peculiar eel-like fishes of this genus are usually found seeking shelter within the shell of mollusks (the pearl oyster is a favorite), echinoderms or within the body cavity of large Holothurians (sea cucumbers). The fish has been observed to enter the anal aperture of these last named and, thus sheltered by the body of its host, to project its head through the opening in search of food outside. Thus the rela- tionship between the two is not one of parasitism, nor is their any com- mensal benefit to the host so far as known. In thus entering a Holothu- rian the fish sometimes does so head first, sometimes tail first, taking advantage of the suction which alternates with the expulsion of water by the creature's orifice. There are one or two instances of dead speci- mens taken from the pearl oyster, enclosed in a pearly covering deposited on them by the shell-fish. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 385 Pleueonectidae This family, the flounders, introduces us to a hirge, rather liomoge- neous group of flat fishes, peculiarly adapted to lying on one side on the bottom. They are bilaterally unsymmetrical in various ways, the most notable being that both eyes are on the same side of the head, the side which is uppermost when the fish is at rest. The lower, or blind, side is usually plain white, colorless, the upper side variously patterned to match the bottom and thus contribute to the fish's low visibility. When settling to rest, those species found on sand or mud frequently bury their margins loosely, sometimes so that only the mouth and eyes are exposed. It has been experimentally proved in the case of 2 or 3 species (and doubtless is true in many) that both color tone and pattern of a flounder's upper side is changed to match the particular bottom on which it is resting, the stimulus so to do being visual, — a fact which overthrows the fallacy that the fish eye has no color vision. Flounders take full advantage of their low visibility by spending much of the time at rest, shifting their position by gliding forward gently over the bot- tom or by swift rushes, when for a brief moment they become con- spicuous, only to disappear immediately as they settle to rest again. Some flounders are more or less translucent, which further contributes to their concealment. When the larval flounder hatches from the egg, it is bilaterally sym- metrical, with an eye on either side of the head. Thus we have here a striking instance of ontogeny paralleling phylogeny, for these peculiar flattened forms are doubtless descended from more normal fishes. Platophrys Swainson Platophrys oeellatus (Agassiz) Eyed flounder R}wml)us oeellatus Agassiz. 1829. in H\nx. Pise. Brazil., p. 85, PI. 46. Platophrys oeellatus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 321, Fig. 105. Fig. 296. — Platophrys oeellatus From Zoologica, IX 386 SCIEXTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RlCO Type locality. — Brazil. Distribution. — Western Atlantic waters from Long Island, X. Y., to Eio Janeiro. Eather common about Porto Eico. Specimens cellected. — 1 : Condado Eocks, San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 3.7 to i.l; depth 1.5 to 1.8; eye (lower) 3 to 3.4. Dorsal 80 to 85 ; anal 59 to 67 ; scales 75. Anal rays without spinules at their base: anterior profile of head convex before interorbital area, the very short snout scarcely forming a reentrant angle at its base. Eyes and color on the left side; lateral line with a distinct arch in front; scales adherent and ctenoid; interorbital more or less broad and con- cave, not a narrow ridge ; caudal sub-sessile ; mouth symmetrical ; ventral fins dissimilar, that of the eyed side on the ridge of the abdomen. A small species, attaining a length of about 8 inches. Habits. — Found on sandy shores in usually shallow water. A little one sometimes occurs on the small sand bottom of some tidal rock pool, where it is almost unbelievably hard to see. Platophrys lunatus (Linnaeus) Peacock flounder Pleuronectes luyixitus Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10. p. 269; based on Catesby. Platophynjs lunottis Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. .322. Fig. 297. — Platophrys lunatus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Bahamas. Distribution. — West Indies north to Florida. Xot uncommon at Porto Eico; recorded from St. Croix. Specimens collected. — 1 : San Juan. Diagnosis.— UeaQl 3.8; depth about 2; eye (lower) 6.2 to 6.3. Dorsal 92: anal Tl; scales (pores) 92. Anal rays without spinules at their base; anterior profile of head strongly concave before interorbital area, the projecting snout leaving a marked reentrant angle above it; maxil- larv 3 in head. Eves and color on the left side ; lateral line with a dis- XICHOLS. PORTO RICO AXD THE VIRGfX h^LAXDH •Ml tinct arch in front ; scales adherent and ctenoid ; interorbital more or less broad and concave, not a narrow ridge : caudal sub-sessile ; mouth symmetrical; ventral fins dissimilar, that of the eyed side on the ridge of the abdomen. Attains a length of 18 inches. Syaeium Ranzani Syacium niicrurum Ranzani Transparent flounder ^liarAum micrurum Ranzani. 1840. Nov. Spec. PLsc. Diss., Sec, p. 20, PI. 5. iii/achim micrurum Everniann and Marsh, 1902, p. 324. FcG. 298. — Siiacium inicruriim From Zoologic.i, X Type locality. — Brazil. Distj-ibution. — West Indian fauna, Key West to Rio Janeiro, Brazil. Rather common about Porto Rico. Dwgnosis.—B.ea.(l 3.7 to 3.8; depth 2.4; eye i to 6. Dorsal 87 to 93; anal 54 to 70; scales (pores) 65 to 70. Interorbital space broad in the male, narrow in the female; lateral line without a distinct arch in front; teeth in the upper jaw biserial; gill-rakers short. Mouth sym- metrical, ventral of the eyed side on the ridge of the abdomen. Length from 6 to 7 inches. "Young, quite transparent" (Beebe and Tee Van). Habits. — Frequents sandy shores, the adults common in water several fathoms in depth. Cithariclithys Bleeker Citharichthys unicornis Goode Deep-water wliiff Citharichthys unieornUs Goode, 1880, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1880, p. 342. Citharirhthiis unicornis Evermann and Marsh, 1902. p. .325. Fig. 299. — Citharichthys unicornis 388 SCIEJ^TIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RWO Type locality. — Gulf Stream southeast of New England. Distribution. — Deep waters of southeast coast of New England, Florida and Gulf of Mexico, seldom collected. A specimen about 2 inches long recorded from Mayagiiez Harbor. Diagnosis.— ReQ.({ 4 to 4.5; depth 2.3 to 2.4; eye 2.3 to 3. Dorsal 77; anal 60; scales 42. Interorbital space with a wide ridge, about ^ the diameter of eye ; snout with a strong sharp spine on the eyed side, above upper lip; eyes and color on the left side; caudal fin sub-sessile; lateral line without an arch in front; teeth in each jaw uniserial; mouth not very small; gill-rakers slender, of moderate length; scales thin, decidu- ous, ciliated. Mouth symmetrical ; ventral of the eyed side on the ridge of the abdomen. Size small. Citharifhthys spilopterus Giinther Spot-finned whiff Citharichtliys spilopterus Giinther, 1862, Cat., Vol. IV, p. 421. Citharichthifs spilopterus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 326. Fig. 300. — Citharichtliys spilopterus From Zoologica, X Type locality. — New Orleans, Santo Domingo and Jamaica. Distribution. — South Carolina (casually New Jersey) through the West Indies to Brazil. Abundant in Porto Eican waters. Specimens collected. — 8 : Paloseco Point, San Juan. Diagnosis. — Head 3.7 to 3.8 ; depth 2.2 to 2.3 ; eye 7.8 to 8. Dorsal 82; anal 61; scales (pores) 48. Interorbital ridge low and narrow; head closely compressed. Eyes and color on the left side ; caudal fin sub-sessile ; lateral line without an arch in front ; teeth in each iaw uniserial ; mouth not very small ; gill-rakers slender, of moderate length ; scales thin, deciduous, ciliated. Mouth symmetrical; ventral of the eyed side on the ridge of the abdomen. Attains a length of 6 inches. Habits. — Frequents sandy shores in shallow water. Cithariehthys arenaceus Evermann and Marsli Sand whiff Citharichtliys arenaceus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1900, Vol. XX, Pt. 1, p. 326, Fig. 106. NICHOLS, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 38!) Fig. 301. — Citharichthijs arenaceus Type locality. — Mayagiiez, Porto Rico. Distribution. — Porto Rico (Mayagiiez, Aguadilla and San Juan). Diagnosis. — Head 3.'8 ; depth nearly 2 ; eye 6. Dorsal 74 ; anal 54 ; scales (pores) 51 (from the type, 162 mm. long). Resembles Citharich- thys spilopterus but with larger eye. Interorbital ridge low and nar- row ; head closely compressed. Eyes and color on the left side ; caudal fin sub-sessile ; lateral line without an arch in front ; teeth in each jaw uniserial ; mouth not very small ; gill-rakers slender, of moderate length ; scales thin, deciduous, ciliated. Mouth symmetrical; ventral of the eyed side on the ridge of the abdomen. Length up to a little more than 6 inches. Etropus Jordan and Gilbert Etropus crossotus Jordan and Gilbert Small-mouthed flounder Etropus crossotus Jordan and Gilbert, 1881, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1881, p. 361. Etroims crossotus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. .329, Fig. 107. Fig. .302. — Etropus crossotus Type locality. — Mazatlan. Distribution.— TroTpicsil America on both coasts, north to Cerros Island and North Carolina, south to Panama and Rio Janeiro. Not uncommon al)out Porto Rico. Diagnosis. — Head 4.8; depth 1.7 to 2; eye 3.7 to 3.8. Dorsal 76 to 85 : anal 56 to 67 ; scales 42 to 48. Caudal fin sub-sessile ; lateral line 390 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO without a distinct arch in front; teeth in each jaw uniserial; inter- orbital space very narrow ; mouth very small. Eyes and color on the left side; mouth symmetrical; ventral of the eyed side on the ridge of the abdomen. Size small. SOLEIDAE Achirus Lacepede Achirus inscriptus Gosse Scrawled sole Achirus inscriptus Gosse, 1851, Nat. Sojourn Jamaica, p. 52, PI. 1, Fig. 4. Achirus inscriptus Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. .330. Fig. 303. — Achirus inscriptus Type locality. — Jamaica. Distribution.— West Indies north to southern Florida. Generally distributed and not uncommon in Porto Eico. Diagnosis.— Jle&d 3.7 to 3.8; depth l.T to 1.8; eye small. Dorsal 53 to 57; anal 40; scales 75 to 80. Pectoral present on both sides, that of the eyed side of about 3 rays, that of the blind side of a single ray. Eyes and color on the right side; mouth small, twisted. Achirus lineatus (Linnaeus) Lineated sole Pleuronectcs lineatus Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 268; based on Browne and Sloane. Achirus lineatus Evenuann and Marsh, 1902, p. .331, Fig. 108. Fig. 304. — Achirus lineatus * ^ From Zoologica, X NICHOLS, PORTO RIVO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ,';01 Type locality. — Jamaica. Distrihuiion. — Widely distributed, from the Florida Keys through the West Indies to Brazil, and south to Uruguay. Fairly common about Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Head 3.5; depth about 1.5; eye about 5. Dorsal 49 to 58 ; anal 38 to 44 ; scales 75 to 85. Only one pectoral present, that on the right side, with from 4 to 6 rays, considerably longer than eye. Eyes and color on the right side; mouth small, twisted. Length from 4 to 5 inches. Remarks. — The soles represent a further specialization of the asym- metrical flounder form. Their mouths are small and crooked, eyes small, pectoral fins more or less imperfect or lacking. Two types are com- mon in American waters, represented by this and the following genus, but we have no representative of the delicious edible sole of Europe. All our species are small and worthless as food. Habits. — -This widely distributed species is an adaptable bottom fish. In the work by Beebe and Tee Van the coming of the young to the sur- face at night is described as follows: ^'On several nights I caught young soles of this species, near the surface, at our submerged light. They swam slowly along and when at the surface elevated the encircling ring of vertical fins, and depressed the body, and in this cupped shape floated with no apparent movement of fins or body. The tips of all the rays could be seen breaking the surface film, but I could see no difference in the level of the enclosed water and that outside. These specimens meas- ured from 17.5 to 25 mm. The color change in these young soles was more extreme than in any fish I have ever seen." Symphurus Rafiiiesque Symphiiriis plagiisia ( Kloch and Schneider) Pleuroncctes plaffusia Bloch and Schneider, 1801. Syst. Ichth., p. 162 ; after Browne. Symphui-us pingusia Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. ,3.32. Fk;. ,305. — Symphurvs plagusui From ZooloKicn, X Type locality. — Jamaica. Distribution. — West Indies to Brazil, common, probably ccc:sio)uillv north to Florida. Not uncommon in Porto Eico. 393 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Specimens collected. — 1 : Paloseco Point. Pm^no.sis.— Head 5.3 to 5.8; depth 3.1 to 3.7 (usually about 3.5). Dorsal 88 to 96; anal 74 to 83; scales 75 to 90. Caudal and a large part of dorsal and anal fins usually either uniformly black or with large black spots. Eyes and color on the left side; eyes small, very close to- gether; mouth small, twisted; caudal pointed. Length up to 6 inches. Remarks. — Several somewhat poorly differentiated species of Symphu- rus are recognized. They occur at the shore and also run into rather deep water. This seems to be a variable, plastic genus with recognizable geographic and bathymetric forms. Antennariidae Histrio Fischer Histrio gibbus (Mitchill) Gibbous mouse-fish, gulf-weed fish, pescador Lophius gibhus Mitchill, 1815, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y., Vol. I, PL 4, Fig. 9. Pterophryne gibba Evermann and Marsh, 1902, p. 334. Fig. 306. — Histrio (jihbus From Zoologica, X Type locality.— Oft St. Croix (22 °X. 64:° W.). Distribution.— WQ&i Indies, north to Key West and the Tortugas, more or less confounded with Histrio histrio. Eecorded from Porto Rico by Poey and Stahl. Diag7iosis.—'DoTS3l II, 12 ; anal 7. "Bait" on first dorsal spine bulb- ous and covered with slender fleshy filaments instead of being bifurcate. Head compressed; a rostral spine or tentacle followed by 2 larger dis- connected spines; skin naked and smooth; ventral fins elongate. Mouth large, opening upward ; pectorals forming an elbow-like angle with their peduncles; numerous irregular dermal filaments. Length from 2 to 4 inches. Remarks.— At present two species of gulf-weed fishes are recognized, this and Histrio histrio, which is more widely distributed in the open Atlantic, etc. It may be that H. gihha replaces this other form more or NICHOLS, I'Oh'TO nWO and the VlIiaiN lULANDti 393 less aiiioiig- tlie islands, but, the literature is too confused to give any delinite information on the point. The two are similar in liahits and general appearance, and the extent of individual variation in them has not been worked out satisfactorily. Habits. — The mouse-fish hides and has its being in drifting gulf-weed. Its peculiarly spotted color, the shape and irregularities of its form, and its usually deliberate movements all combine to give it almost complete concealment in this habitat. This is doubtless as serviceable to it in stalking the smaller Crustacea, etc., of the weed, as in escaping the at- tack of possible enemies, for the mouse-fish is eminently predacious, the draoon of its environment. It does not hesitate to swallow entire smaller individuals of its own kind. The eggs of H: gihha are embedded in a gelatinous egg-raft, similar to that laid by //. hislrio (Gudger). Antennarlus Lacopede Antennarius inops Poey "White-spotted frog fish Antennarius inops Poey, 1881, Anal. Soc. Esp. Hist. Nat., Vol. X, p. .140. Ante^inariu.s inops Kvorniann aiul Marsli, 1902. p. .3.35. Fig. 307. — Antennarius inops From Zoologica, X Type locality. — Porto Rico. Distribution. — Porto Rico and Haiti, uncommon. Diagnosis. — Depth 2.7 to 2.8 in total length (with caudal). Bulbous end or 'Taait" of first dorsal spine undivided at tip; skin inclined to be smooth except about eyes ; first dorsal spine short, second rough ; head compressed. Body brown with whitish spots or marks; no ocelli. A rostral spine or tentacle followed by 3 larger disconnected spines; mouth large, opening upward; pectorals forming an elbow-like angle with their peduncles. Attains a length of about 3 inches. Antennarius scaber (Cuvier) Rough frog-fish Chironrcfcs scaher Cuvier, 1817, ISIem. Mas.. Vol. TIT. p. 42.i. PI. 16, Fig. 2. Antennarius seaher Everuiann and Marsh, 1902, p. .3.3.j. I'l. 48. 391 SCIIJXT/FIC sum JJ) OF I'ORTO RIVO Ht3 Fi(i. oOS. — Aittciimiriiis srnUi r ;v- ^'/y^JC local ih/. — ^rartiiiique. Distribution. — Caribhoaii Sea and llic \\'<'st Indies; a s|)e('iiiiei) frdiii Mayagiie/j Porto Eico. Diagnosis. — Plead about 2; deptli about 2.3; eye about 5. Dorsal 111- 12; anal 7; skiu velvety or shagreen-like with prickles, and numerous dermal flaps. Bulbous end or "bait" on first dorsal spine bifid at tip; color reddish with l)rown spots, those about eye radiating. Head c(mi- pressed ; a rostral spine or tentacle followed l)y two larger disconnected spines; mouth large, opening upward; ])ectorals forming an ell)()\\-like angle with their peduncles. lTah\l'<. — The frog-fislies are moi'e goici'aliztMl in lial)its tban Ihi' re- bite(l nionse-fishes. Tbey are IVccincnlly found with di'iriing sea-weed, but are not jieculiar lo gnlf-weed as are the lattei'. and tliey ai'e gcn- I'rallv uncommon whereas mouse-fishes are plentilui. Tliey are very \ariable, and some of the several recognized species may be nominal. Aiiteiiiiarius nuttiiiKii Ganiiau Dusky fro.y- lisli : murcielago .\iil( niKiriiix inilliiii/ii Cariuaii. 1S!M). I'.ull. Iitwn I.ah. Xal. llisl. for \x\H\. )>. 8.3, ri. 1'. AiifrniKiriiis inittiii. I'l. 4!t. I'li;, ."UlO. .\ tiloiiitirhi.s iiiiltiiinil Tijiic local.il I/. — LJreat lialianui i)aidss. Distribution. — Bahamas and Porto Hico; rare. NICHOLS, POIiTO liICO A\n THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 395 Piiii/iiosis. — Head atidui J.S; dcpili about 2.3; eye ahout 5. Dorsal lll-l-.': anal 1 . Skin velvety or shagreen-like witli prickles. Color uiiiLoniiiv Maekish, inside of jnonili white. Head comi^ressed ; a ros- tral spine or tentacle followed by 'i larger disconnected spines; mouth lar»'e, openini;- upwai'd: pectoi'als foi'ming an ciltow-like angle with their pednncles. Aiitennarius nuiltiocellatus iCiivicr and ^■al('ll(•ienlles) Maiiy-cyt'd I'l-og- lish : luariiii i)cs( adoi- Chirom <-h s ninUioa Ihit kx Ciivlcr and Nalcucicnucs. IS.'IT. ITist. Xat. I'ulss., \ul. XI. !>. A-1-1. Aiitciiiniriiis iiiKlfiocclhilii-s ('oi'*'. \^~h Trans. Anicr. riiil. Soc, \'(d. \1\', p. 4.S0. St. ("mix. Fli:. .'ilO. — Anlfiuinriii-i tiniltlficrUnUis Type localHij. — Martinique. Dislribution. — A\'est Indies north to the Florida Keys, uncommon. "Recorded from St. Croix. Ditu/iiosis. — Eye very snudl : skin with line ])rickles, inclined to be smooth. Head compressed; a rostral spine or tentacle followed by 2 largei', disconnected spines; mouth large, opening upward: pectorals forming an elbow-like angle with their peduncles. Bulbous tii) or "'bait'' or first dorsal spine trifid; first dorsal s[)iiu' twice as long as the seconn2, p. o.lS, Fiu's. 110 .ind 111. Fig. ^12.~"-0-\vak'i- l)atiisli L<>l>ltiii.s (iciihdiii-s Milchlll, ISIS, Amor. .Month. Maj;-., Vol. II. i». ^2"). Unlu utichthiis (iculcdtiis ICveriiiaiiii and Mai'sli. ]t>ir/|///as/.s'.— Head 'i : (le])th G; eye 4. Dorsal 1, 5; anal 1 ; skin al.ove sparselv armed with stclhitc tiihcrch's. lower surface smooth. Flattened disk of llie l)ody with frontal region depressed, snout not producep. xi-xv. N/CIIOJ.S. I'Oirro ],'IC(> \\l> THE V]1!(IL\ ISLAXDS 399 EvKIi.M A.N.N, 1!. W., AM) MAKSII, M. (". ls!>U. 1 H'.scriptioiis of now yciicr;i .iml sjH'cics (if tislics frimi I'licild Kicn. Kcpi. U. S. Fish Coiiim. lor isKs. Aoi. XX I \'. |(p. :;.">i :;(;•_'. 1!»(IL'. Tlio Fi.shes of I'orto llU-u. r.ull. U. S. Fisli Coiimi. for lUKd. Vol. XX. rt. 1. pp. .")7-:;ri(), n.s. i-xiix. J'JOJ. J'orto Kico. il.s lislies jiiid lisliories. Current Encyclopedia. \dl. 1 1, pp. 12TMJ7!). s fi-is. (.'i],i.. 'I\ X.. A.M) Smith. H. .M. 1!)(I0. The luoi-iiiuMiid eels and I heir yeoyrapliical (lislriliulion. I'luc. Anier. Assoc. .\p. J4r)-i.'4(;. lUO'i). The nioi'in.iruid eels in American Wcitor.s. .Science, ]!KMi, ^ml ser., Vol. XI. pp. !t7:;-!lT4. LKDItl. A. P. J8l(>. \uya,iie anx lies de TcnerilTe. la Trinile. Sainl-Tliouias. Sainte- Croix el I'orlo IJicco. execute par I'lUMlre du :.'ouv. fi-anc;.. etc. "_' vols. Paris. 180.'!. Viaire a la isla de I'uerto Itico en el aho ITHT, eh-, [-a Spanish li'anslation J. L'(iS jip. Xuiiois, .1. T. I'.ll."). Sti'ay noh's fi-oni I'orln Kico. Trans, .\nier. I'"ishei'ies Soc. for 1!»14. 1). l.",!l. r.)1.". Fislies new lo I'oi'lo Rico. Hull. .Vnier. .Mus. Nat. Ills!.. \'ol. XXXi\. pp. 141-]4(i. -2 li^s. FoEV, F. ISSl. I'esces (In <;undlach. Apunles para la fatnia puerlo-i-iipiena) . Anal. Soc. lOspahola llisl. Xal.. :\Iadrid. \ol. IX. pp. L'4:;2(il. 4 Ills. ; Vol. X. ]i|). :',]~ :'>'){). Sn,\ Ksri:i;. (". F. l'.nr». Fishes new lo Ihe fauna of I'oilo Kico. Yearh. C'arn. Insl. Wash., ^•ol. XI \'. pp. 1'14-lMT. Staiii,, .\. ISS."!. l-'auna de I'nerlo Uico. ( 'lasilicacioii sisleiii.at ica de los aniniales que con-esponden a esia fauna. >■ caraloi;o del ;;aliinete zoolo^jco del l>r. .\. Slahl en T.ayanu'di. pp. l-'J4'.t. San Juan. \\ir,(ON. \\'. .v. 1!»(1(). X(»les on the forei.^n lishei\- Irade and local lisheries of I'orto Kico. Ueiil. V. S. Fish Coinni. for 18!)'.t. \'ol. XX>'. jip. l-:!4. (J pis. and 1 ilix. ntlll'. The lisheries and lish Irade of I'orlo Kico. 1!\HI. U. S. Fish Connn. for 1!KI(». Vol. XX. I't. 1. p|.. I2i-^t(iplia hrnintdensis Van Name, 1902 1902 Diplosoma macdonaldi Herdman, Perophora viridtx Verrill, 1871 1886 Ascidia nigra (Savigny), 1816 Didemnum randidum Savigny, 1816 Ascidia Migomlana (Traustedt), 1882 420 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Ascidians from Porto Rico (26 Species) — Continued Ascidia sudnciensis Stimpson, 1855 Ascidia curvata (Traustetlt), 1882 Rhodosoma turcicum (Savigny), 1816 Botrylloides nigrum Herdmau, 1886 Symplcgma viride Hordman, 1886 Polycarpa ohtecta Trau.stedt, 1883 Folycarpa spongiabilis Traustedt, 1883 Styela partita ( Stimpsou), 1852 Styela plicata (Lesueur), 1823 Micricosmus claudicans exasperatus (Heller), 1878 Microcosmus hcJIcri Herdman, 1881 Pyura rittata ( Stimpsou ) , 1852 Molgula Occident alix Traustedt, 1883 Asc'idiajn^s from the Virgin Islands (25 Species) Aplidium lobatum Savigny, 1816 Aplidium (Amaroucium) bermudae (Van Name), 1902 Trididemnum solidum (Van Name) 1902 Didemnum candidum Savigny, 1816 Diplosoma macdonaldi Herdman, 1886 Lissoclinum fragile (Van Name), 1902 Polycitor (Eudisioma) oUvacetis Van Name, 1902 Polycitor (Eudistoma) hcpaticus Van Name, 1921 Clavelina ohlonga Herdman, 1880 Distaplia hcrniudensis Van Name, 1902 Ecteinascidia turbinata Herdman, 1880 Ascidia nigra (Savigny), 1816 Ascidia hygomiana (Traustedt), 1882 Ascidia sydneiensis Stimpson, 1855 Ascidia curvata (Traustedt), 1882 Ascidiclla styeloides (Traustedt), 1882 Rhodosoma turcicum (Savigny), 1916 Corclla niinuta Traustedt, 1882 Polycarpa obtecta Traustedt, 1883 Styela plicata (Lesueur), 1823 Microcosmus claudicans exasperatus (Heller), 1878 [Microcosmus anchylodeirus Trau- stedt, 1883] Doubtful sp. Pyura momus form pallida (Heller). 1878 Pyura vittata (Stimpson) 1852 Molgula occidentalis Traustedt, 1883 Total iiunil)er of species from Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands, 35. Total number of species recorded from the West Indies, 49, not in- cluding T reported only from the coasts of the mainland of Xorth or South America or Bermuda. The species thus far known from Porto Eico are therefore only a little more than 53 per cent of those recorded from all the West Indies. Xo doubt this percentage will be greatly increased by future collecting. No new species are described and no new genera are established in the present article. Other Species Likely to be Fouxd in Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands A numl)er of the other West Indian and Bermuda ascidians will prob- ably be found at Porto Rico or the Virgin Islands when more thorough collecting is done. It has, therefore, seemed best to include at least a VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 421 brief notice and in some cases illustrations and more extended treatment of the followino- 13 species: ApUdium (Amarouciuin) exile (Tan Name), 1902 Trididenmum orhkulaiuni (Van Name), 1002 Didemnum vanderhorsti Van Name, 1924 Echinoclinum vcrrilll Van Name, 1902 Poli/citor convexus (Van Name), 1902 Poh/citor clantH (Van Name), 1902 Distaplia hursata (Van Name), 1921 Cystodytes dellechiaUc (Delia Valle), 1877 Rhopalaea ahdominalis (Sluiter), 1898 Ascidia corelloides (Van Name), 1924 Botryllus planus (Van Name), 1902 BotrylJus schlosseri (Pallas), 1776 Polyandrocarpa tincta (Van Name), 1902 There is only one deep-sea ascidian recorded from this region. This is Pyura antiUarum Van Name, 1921, described in the monograph re- ferred to above. It was dredged at Albatross Station No. 2750 (Lat. 18°30' X., Long. 63°31' W., 496 fathoms, fine gray sand). DESCEIPTIONS OF SPECIES EXPLAXATIOX OF LETTERING ON ILLUSTRATIONS dig atrial lan.guet I liver at atrial orifice 1(1 languet br branchial orifice Iv larva ccl common cloacal ai>or1 ture mb muscle l>and ccp eiulocarp mp muscular process cm embryo od oviduct e>i endostyle oe oesophagus U gonad r rectum go gastric caecum rf rudimentary fold Uv internal longitudinal vessel sd sperm duct in intestine St stomach hng intestinal gland tn tentacle ip incubatory pouch trv transverse vessel k kidney rp vascular process Most of the figures show the animal (or one of the zooids if a com- pound ascidian) removed from the test, and often represent it as more transparent than is actually the case so as to reveal its internal joarts. Order APLOUSOBEAXCHIATA Lahille [= Krikobranchia Seeliger] These are compound ascidians having the body di\ided into two or three distinct parts or segments (thorax, abdomen and sometimes post- 4.99 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO abdomen), the digestive tract and reproductive organs being situated in the posterior part or parts of the body. The tentacles are simple; the branchial sac is without folds or internal longitudinal vessels. Synoicidae Hartmeyer [:= Polyclinidae auct. mult.'] The body consists of three divisions or segments, the last (post- abdomen) containing the reproductive organs and heart. Budding occurs by segmentation of the post-abdomen. Polyelinum Savigiiy The post-abdomen is a small oval sac connected by a narrow elongated neck with the abdomen. The stomach wall is smooth: the intestine is twisted into a closed loop posterior to the stomach. The inner aspect of the transverse vessels of the branchial sac with small papillfe. Polyelinum oonstellatum Savigny Polyelinum constellatum Savigny. 1816, Mem. s. 1. animaus sans vertebres, Pt. 2, p. 189, PL 4, Fig. 2 ; PI. 18, Fig. 1. Polyelinum constellatum Van Name. 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Vol. XLIV, p. 299, Figs. 1 and 2. Diagnosis. — This species forms colonies of a grayish-brown color which, when of small or medium size, tend to assume a capitate, oval or pyri- form shape. The attachment is liy the smaller end; the top may be rounded or more or less flattened. Larger colonies often become broader and sometimes even assume expanded and flattened or umbrella-like forms, but the area of attachment is usually small, so that much of the base of the colony, as well as the sides and top, are free, though the zooids are chiefly confined to the upper portions. In some cases the basal part of the colony tapers gradually to the size of the attached area, but a distinct pedicel is rarely developed, not even a very short one, the colony being sessile on the object on which it grows. Some colonies are cleft into two or more distinct lobes ; these are perhaps often separate colonies that have grown together more or less at the base. In all but the smallest colonies the zooids are arranged in several or many distinct systems. The small round or oval common cloacal orifices are scattered over the surface of the colony at distances of a VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN I> -if 1- ^r. :# s^^ Si^.X:?*ii^'" Fig 12. — Trididemnum orbiculatum (Van Name). 1902. Zooid. X 40. spicules X 460; part of tbe surface of a colony to show the distribution of spicules in the superficial layer of the test X 11. sti-atum of the colony. The spicules are so distributed that the surface of the colony usually shows over the position of each zooid a circular or oval area of about the diameter of the thorax, more transparent than the intervening spaces, which latter are whiter and more opague, owing to the greater abundance of spicules there. Distribution. — Known only from Bermuda and Curagao. Didemnuni Savigny [ = Leptoclinum auct. mult.] There are four rows of stigmata in the branchial sac. The proximal part of the sperm duct is wound spirally about the testis. spicules are present in the test. Calcareous Subgenus Didemnum The atrial orifice is not produced into a tube and there is usually no lanouet. The testis is single or is divided into not more than two lobes or separate glands. The white or yellowish (sometimes reddish) colonies of animals of this group, which incrust stones, sponges, algse and other objects, and are often so densely crowded wdth minute spherical or stellate spicules as to become hard and brittle, are common in many parts of the world. Under the wrongly applied name Leptoclinum Milne-Edwards, they are familiar to nearly everyone who has collected marine invertebrates. VAN NAME. PORTO RICO AND THE ] IRdIN JSLANDH 435 Dideininim caiididuni Savigny Didcniinnii nnuJiduin Savigny, 1816. Mem. s. 1. animaux .sans vertebres, I't. 2. pp. 14. 194. 1*1. 4. Fiji. 8: PI. 20, Fig. 1. Lcptocliinnii speciosinn + L. s. var. aspcrum Herdinan. 1886, Kept. Voy. Chal- leii-ci-. Zoo]., Vol. XIV, pp. 274, 277, PI. 34. Figs. 8-18: PI. 36, Figs. 1-0. DUh'innum cuudidiim Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 323, Figs. 16-25. Fig. 13. — Didemniim candiihtm Savigny. 1810. A colony, natural size. Diagnosis. — Colony of the incrusting type, usually thin (not over 2 or 3 mm. thick), though sometimes measuring 60 to TO mm. across or occasionally considerably more. AVhen growing on uneven objects, its thickness in some places may become considerably greater than above stated. This is its usual form of development when growing on a con- tinuous surface as a stone or a shell, but often it grows on an irregular branching object, as a gorgonian, hydroid or branching sponge. In such cases it surrounds the branches and often binds together or incloses two or more of them. As it grows larger, it may finally entirely envelop the object, covering all its branches and assuming more or less its form. The color is usually white, sometimes very pure white, in other cases yellowish or less freqently reddi.sh ; in turbid waters it is more or less discolored with mud. Borders of the colony vary from thin to thick and rounded ; the surface is very variable, sometimes quite even, in other cases much wrinkled. The surface, if comparatively free from spicules in the extreme superficial ])art, may be somewhat glossy and smooth to the touch, but an abundance of spicules there renders it a dead white and makes it feel slightly gritty. When the spicules are abundant, the zooids, which are yellow or in parts orange during life, may be entirely 436 tiClENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO concealed, unless their branchial apertures are expanded. l)ut their positions are often indicated by a small, low, rounded elevation over the anterior end of each zooid. When less abundant, the spicules are often chiefl}^ gathered in the upper layers of the colony, leaving the deeper portions of the test yellowish and translucent and the colony compara- tively soft. In some colonies the branchial apertures are conspicuous in the preserved condition and each is surrounded by a minute circle of more densely crowded spicules within which the six-lobed character of the aperture is indicated by six minute groups of very small spicules between the lobes. Different colonies vary very greatly in respect to the clearness with which the systems and the courses of the common cloacal ducts show on the surface. These features may be very conspicuous, so that the zooids are seen to be arranged in branching and curving lines, or they may be impossible to* follow out, the zooids appearing to be merely scattered irregularly in the superficial part of the colony. In some colonies the spicules exhibit very striking uniformity in size, in others they are of various sizes, which may be present in varying proportions; occasional abnormally large spicules ("giant spicules'") may be found in a few specimens. The usual diameter of the spicules varies in different colonies from .025 mm. (sometimes even less) to about .04 or .05 mm. ; rarely more. Commonly there is within a single colony great uniformity in the shape of the spicules, as well as in their size ; dif- ferent colonies, even those growing side by side on the same stone, may differ conspicuously in the type and average size of their spicules. The illustrations here given show typical groups of spicules from different colonies and illustrate the principal modifications that occur. In completing this description of the general character of the colony, it should be mentioned that there are occasional specimens, apparently of this species, which for some unexplained reason develop very few spicules in the test, so that the colony remains soft, flexible, semitrans- parent, and (in the preserved material) of a yellow or grayish color. The few spicules present are generally in the upper parts of the colonies (sometimes chiefly about the branchial apertures of the zooids) and are of small size. Such colonies may attain a large size and appear normal in all other respects except in the scarcity and poor development of the spicules, though this deflcency gives them a very different superficial appearance. I have seen such specimens from widely separated localities (Florida, Porto Eico, and South Carolina). There are also colonies containing large accumulations of dark- colored fffical pellets in the cloacal canals and cavities and imbedded VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 437 Fig. 14.— Didemnum camlidmn Savigny, 1816. Zooid, X 40, and groups of spicules showing their variation in different colonies, X 460. in the solid test substance. This is merely the result of some abnormal or pathological condition, the water currents being insufficiently strong to carry off this waste material. Its presence in large quantities may greatly alter the appearance of the colonies and make it difficult to realize that they belong to the same species as normal examples. 438 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO When considerably expanded, the zooids may measure 1.6 mm. in total length, even in preserved material, but in most alcoholic specimens they will be found strongly contracted and often not more than 1 or 1.1 mm. long. They have six lobes to the branchial tube; these lobes vary greatly in length and form in different colonies. A tapering muscular process, often of considerable length, extends out into the test from the constricted middle part of the zooid ; its development is very variable in different colonies, though often quite constant within the same colony. Atrial orifice round, without a languet. Its border is usually almost flush with the dorsal surface of the thorax; even if slightly raised, it is not produced sufficiently to form a tube. The testis is sometimes cleft into two more or less completely or entirely separate lobes or distinct glands, but more frequently it is undivided. I have never observed it cleft into three lobes or glands. The si)erm duct usually makes six or eight spiral turns about the testis. The ovary consists of a few eggs situated in the region between the stomach and the testis. Distribution. — This species, which is widely distributed, was found abundant at many points on the south coast of Porto Eico attached to the under side of stones along the shore and to algs, sponges, and other ascidians, etc. Though mainly a shallow water form, it is occasionally found in fairly deep water. It is also recorded from St. Thomas. Virgin Islands. Didemiuim vanderhorsti Van Name (Included as likely to be found) Dklemnum vanderhorsti Van Name. 1924, Bijilr. t. d. Dierkuiide, Vol, XXIII, p. 2,5. Fig. 1. Diagnosis. — This species forms incrusting colonies of a size similar to that of D. candidum, and the zooids are much alike in the two species. In this form, however, the colony has very few and minute spicules, which are of spherical or burrlike shape. In some colonies the spicules may be practically wanting. The test is semitransparent and contains abundant pigment cells, giving the colony a more or less dee]) lirown or purple color. Distribution. — Known thus far from Curagao; Jamaica, and Tortugas, ria. VAN NA3IE, PORTO RICO AXD THE VIRGIN li^LAXDS 439 Subgenus Polysyncratoii Nott This differs from the typical subgenus of Didemnum in having the testis divided into several entirely separate glands, disposed in a circular group, about which the sperm duct coils. The typical species (incliiding the West Indian form) have an atrial languet. Didemniiin (Polysyncratoii) amethysteum (Van Name) Polysyncniton amethysteum Van Name, 1902, Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, p. 366, PI. 54. Figs. 62. 64-67 : PI. 5S. Fig. 102. Didemnum {Polysyncniton) amethysteum Van Name, 1921, Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XL IV, p. 333, Figs. 27-29. Fig. 15. — Didemnum { Poliixuncraton) aiiie- thysieum (Van Name). 1902. A colony attached to a sponge, natural size. Diagnosis. — The colonies in this species are of a flat, incrusting type; the upper surface is nearly smooth and even; the thickness of the colony is about 3 mm., and the greatest diameter rarely over 25 or 30 mm. In spite of their small size, the colonies are during life of striking appear- ance. The test is transparent and of a handsome purple or rose-purple tint, which fades to yellow on preservation. The color is due to pig- ment in the test cells. The zooids during life are bright red. The upper surface-layer of the colony contains a layer of small white burrlike or almost spherical spicules, but small o\al areas about the branchial aper- tures of the zooids and a large central area on the upper surface of the colony surrounding the common cloacal aperture (there appears to be usually but one) are without spicules, except that in the small areas about the branchial orifices there are six small V-shaped groups of them corresponding to the intervals between the six lobes of the branchial tubes. The deep purple of the exposed areas of the test, with the contained brightly colored zooids, often appears in strong contrast to the pure white of the spicule-covered portion. The layer of test containing the spicules mav readilv be stripped off'. The spicules are always small. .015 440 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO or .02 mm. in diameter or even less, with short and often more or less blunted rays, so numerous that the spicule appears nearly spherical except under high magnification. Fig. 16. — Didemnum {Polysyn- craton) amethys- teum (Van Name), 1902. Zooid, X 40. Spicules fall from same colony), X 460. and part of the surface of a colony showing distribution of spicules in super- ficial layer of test. X 11. The zooids are about 1.5 mm. long when well expanded. The body is strongly constricted between the thorax and abdomen; a tapering mus- cular process extends ventrally and posteriorly out into the test from the constricted part of the body. The branchial aperture is six-lobed, the atrial plain, with a languet at its anterior border. This languet is, in well-expanded zooids, fairly long and wider toward the end, where it is slightly forked. In strongly contracted individuals it is merely a small tongue-like projection. Distribution. — Specimens of this species, previously known from Ber- muda and Florida, were dredged off Point Brea and off Guanica Harbor, Porto Eico, in water 35 to 100 feet deep. Diplosoma MacDonald (Nomen Conservandum)=Leptocliniim Milne Edwards In this genus there are four rows of stigmata ; the testis is divided into two separate glands, and the sperm duct is not spirally coiled. No atrial languet or atrial tube is developed and the test is without spicules. Usually the common cloacal cavities are greatly developed. Diplosoma maodoiialdi Herdman Diplosoma macdonaldi Herdman, 1886, Rept. Voy. Challenger, Zool., Vol. XIV, p. 315, PI. 42, Figs. 1-4. Leptoclmum macdonaldi Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV. p. 3.35. Fig. 30. TAX NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 441 Fig. 17. — Diplosoma macdonaldi Herd- man, 1886. A colony, nat- ural size. Diagnosis. — The colony is thin and incrusting, rarely much over 2 mm. thick, but sometimes 50 mm. or more across. (One specimen sur- rounds a blade of turtle grass for a length of 138 mm.) Test in life transparent and colorless or sometimes suffused with milky white, which commonly disappears on preservation. The zooids are clearly visible through the test and often quite conspicuous as small, irregular dis- tributed, blackish objects, since they usually have more or less black pigment in the mantle cells about the branchial tube and on the surface of the abdomen. Their tissues are otherwise light colored, except that the stomach and part of the intestinal loop are yellow or orange during life, fading out in preservation. The common cloacal cavities are very extensive, though developed to a varying degree in different colonies; in extreme cases the entire interior of the colony may be hollow, except for columns or trabeculae of test sub- stance in which the zooids are imbedded. Large and conspicuous pale yellowish, oval cells are often present in the test substance. Fig. 18. — Diplosoma macdonaldi Herdman, 1886, Zooid, X 48. The zooids are very small ; their apparent length is further diminished by the fact that the axis of the abdomen is usually 'bent at right angles to that of the thorax, so that they often average only .8 or .9 mm. long in 442 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO the preserved colonies but, when moderately expanded and straightened out, they may measure 1.5 or l.G mm. in total length. As seen from the surface of the colony, the branchial apertures appear round or oval, without lol^es, but the usual six lobes are slightly developed on the branchial tube and are often visible within the circular exterior orifice. There is no atrial tube or atrial languet; the atrial opening is large and plain-edged. Distribution. — Widely distributed in both the East and ^Yest Indian reo-ions. At Porto Rico it was collected in Guanica Harbor and dredged at other points off the south coast with a depth of 6 to 8 fathoms. The U. S. National Museum collection contains specimens from 8t. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Habits. — It appears to grow more commonly on corals, gorgonians, sponges and other ascidians in water at least a few feet deep than near low-water mark, perhaps because its delicate structure is not adapted to withstanding either exposure to the air or to strong waves. Lissoclinum Verrill [ ^ Diplosomoides Herdman] This genus is similar to Diplosoma in general characters, but has stellate calcareous spicules in the test. There are four rows of stigmata; the testis is partially or completely divided into two or more glands or lobes ; the sperm duct is not coiled, and the atrial orifice has a languet. Lissoolinum fragile (Van Name) Diplosomoides fragile Van Name. 1902, Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI. p. 370, PI. 53, Figs. 57 and .58 ; PI. 61, Fig. 126. Lissoclinum fragile Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.. Vol. XLIV, p. 338, Figs. 31 and 32. Fig. 10. — LissocUitinn fragile (Van Name), 1902. Zooid, the bran- chial sac well ex- tended. X 36. and spicules (all from the same colon.v). X 460. VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN LSLANDS 443 Diagnosis. — This animal forms very thin, flat, incrusting colonies, often of eonsiderahle extent (GO mm. to 80 mm. across), hut only 2 to 3 mm. thick. Living specimens collected at Bermuda were easily recog- nizable by two characters: 1) their snowy whiteness without the least tinge of yellowish (though preserved specimens become somewhat yellow- ish) and 2) their very fragile character. The test breaks or tears at the slightest touch, and the colony cannot readily be removed entire from the surface on which it grows. The white color is due to the spicules that densely crowd the test and conceal the zooids, which are yellow or orange during life. The spicules are minute (usually not more than .02 to .023 mm. in diameter) and stellate or burrlike in form, luiilt up of \ery numerous rays, which may end in sharp points l)ut are more often truncated or Ijroken at the tips. The rays or points are so short and numerous that under low magnification the spicules appear nearly spheri- cal. The fragile character of the colony is in part due to the l)rittleness of the test, caused by the great abundance of spicules, but still more to the very extensive development of the common cloacal cavities, as in the genus Diplosonia. The apertures of the zooids are usually quite con- spicuous on the surface of the colony, which is fairly smootli. though not glossy, during life, but becomes much wrinkled through the collapse of the common cloacal cavities in preserved specimens. The zooids are about 1..") long when fairly well expanded. They have the branchial aperture six-lobed ; the atrial is provided with a languet. Xo muscular ])rocess extending out into the test is developed. Distribution. — This ascidian, which is common at Bermuda, has not yet been recorded at Porto Rico. It was collected by ^Mr. C. R. Shoemaker of the JJ. S. National Museum in 1915 at St. Thomas, A'^irgin Islands, where it was growing on ])iles and other ascidians in shallow water. Ec-hinocliiuim Van Name This genus is closely related to Li.ssocUnum and Diplosoma though at once distinguishable by the peculiar form and arrangement of the spicules described below. The following is the only known species. Erhinocliiium verrilli Van Name (Included as likely to l)e found) Echinorlinuni rcrriVi Van Name. 1902. Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, p. 372, PI. 50. Figs. 28-25. Ecliinoclinum rcrrilli Van Name. 1021, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Vol. XLIV, I). 340, Figs. 33-35. 444 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Fig. 20. — Echinoclinum verrilli Van Name, 1902. A colony, X 2 ; zooid, X 36 ; group of spicules, X 230. Diagnosis. — The colony is of the flat, inerusting type but usually rather thick, with the upper surface generally smooth but uneven. It attains a considerable size, one specimen from near Key West, Florida, measuring 125 mm. by 95 mm. across and averaging at least 5 or 6 mm. in thickness (at some points considerably more). The zooids are ar- ranged in systems often of considerable extent and complexity. The test is more or less transparent, colorless or yellowish in preservation; there are no notes on its color in life. The spicules have the form of tetrahedrons whose four apices are produced into points ; they are mostly so placed as to form a spiny capsule about each zooid. Distribution. — Known from Bermuda and Florida. PoLYCiTORiDAE Hartmeyer [ = Polycitoridae + Clavelinidae auct. plur.] Members of this family are compound ascidians, having the body con- sisting of two parts (thorax and abdomen) joined by a constricted part or neck, usually rather long. The buds form on vascular processes or stolons (often of considerable length) arising from the posterior end of the abdomen of the parent. The dorsal lamina is represented by a series of languets. The reproductive organs are in the abdomen (or in a diverticulum of it), usually in or near the loop formed by the intestine. VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 445 Polycitor Renier This genus includes forms with many rows of stigmata, and a plicated stomach wall (constituting the subgenus Polycitor) and those with but three or four rows of stigmata and a globular stomach, always smooth- walled, which constitute the subgenus Emlistoma. To this latter o-roup the species here described belong. Subgenus Eudistonia Caullery See above, under Polycitor. Polycitor (Eudistonia) olivaceus (Van Name) Distoma oliraecum Van Name, 1902. Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, p. 344, PI. 48, Fig. 9 ; PI. 59, Fig. 113. Polycitor {Emlistoma) olivaceus Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 343, Fig. 36. Fig. 21. — Pohichor {Eudistonia) ollvncetis CTan NameK 1002. Two colonifs, natural size. Diagnosis. — The usual form of the colony in this species is a group of numerous, small, somewhat flat-topped heads of circular outline, with fairly abrupt sides, which contract toward the base in to a rather thick peduncle. The several peduncles expand and unite into a basal mass by which the colony is attached. These heads are usually only 446 aClEyTlFlC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO oe- hd 5 to 8 mm. across and 8 to 10 mm. high, or often much smaller, but many may be united into one colony. The color in life varies from olive-green or yellowish olive to olive-brown, often more or less blackish on the upper surface. The color holds fairly well in alcoholic material. The upper portion of the colony is smooth and shiny, free from incrusting or imbedded sand; the basal parts and peduncles contain sand grains and are often covered with an outside layer or pellicle densely crowded with fine sand. This pelhcle, however, usually ends abruptly at the top of the peduncle. The test is gelantinous and semitrans- parent, in spite of its dark coloration, which is in part due to pigment contained in the test cells. The zooids are rather slender and elongate when expanded, the thorax and abdomen being connected by a long slender neck but, owing to the very strong longitudinal muscle bands in the mantle, especially in the thoracic region, they are apt in the case of preserved material to be found contracted and dis- torted out of all semblance to their natural form and size, and in such condition measure only 3 to 4 mm. long or even less. They are light-colored, with the stomach and parts of the intestinal loop orange during life. The mantle, especially on the anterior part of the thorax, is dotted with blackish pigment, sometimes to a very conspicuous extent; in other cases there is very little such pigment. In many colonies the regions over the ganglion and anterior end of the endostyle are much more deeply . pigmented than any other part, so that these areas show from the outside of the colony as black dots on the otherwise light-colored zooids. Both aper- tures on tubes, the atrial usually the longer. Tlie branchial aperture has six or seven, the atrial six lobes. The mantle musculature is strong on the thorax, where it consists of many stout longitudinal bands, and underlying trans- verse fibers. On the abdomen the long bands spread out and gradually become weak, disappearing near the posterior end of the body. rOe ^^Si Fig. 22. — Polycitor (Eudistoma) oliva- ceus (Van Name), 1902. Zooid, X 32. VAN NA3IE, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 447 Dktrihuiion. — Tliis is one of the oommonest compound ascidians at Bermuda, in Florida and many parts of the West Indies in very shallow water, growing on rocks, piles, mangrove roots, etc. Collected in Giianica Harbor, Porto Rico, and at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Remaii-s. — Polycitor (Eudistoma) ohscuratus (Van Name), 1902, is probably only a form of this species l)ased on specimens in which the blackish pigment is very abundant and the colony unusually broad and sessile, witliout distinct division into separate heads. It lias been re- corded from Water Island, Virgin Islands. (See Van Name, 1921, p. 345.) Polycitor (Eudistoma) convexirs (Van Name) (Included as likely to be found) Distoma convexuni Van Name, 1902, Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, p. 342, PI. 4fl, Fig. 16 : PI. 58, Fig. 104 : Plate 59. Fig. 118. Pohiciior ( Eudistnmfi) convcrus Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 346. Diagnosis. — The colonies are larger and more massive than in P. olivaceus, consisting usually of a single irregularly rounded mass, which is often attached by a broad base and seldom divided into more than a very few separate heads or lobes if divided at all. The color of the test is yellowish, pale brownish or horn color, sometimes with a reddish or a violet shade. The zooids are somewhat larger and stouter than in P. olivaceus, but of similar structure. Distribution . — Known from Bermuda, coasts of the southeastern United States, Bahamas and Cuba. Polycitor (Eudistoma) hepaticus Van Name Plate VII, lower fig. Poh/rifor ( Eutlistonui) hepaticus Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 349. Diagnosis. — This species (if it is correct to regard it as a species) forms very large massive colonies, a specimen from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, in the U. S. National Museum measuring- 270 bv 240 mm. in its longer and «liorter diameters respectively and befng about 100 mm. in height. Such dimensions are, however, unusual. The colonies as a rule form large ovoid or ellipsoidal masses, com- monly more or less flattened in one direction and generally attached by 448 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO a rather small area on or near one of the narrower sides or by one end; the surface of the test is more or less uneven, and large colonies are often partly divided by narrow clefts into two or more large lol)es, which may have one or more of their sides flattened and the borders sharp and angular as a result of pressure against one another. In such cases the form of the colony, the dark color, and the consistency of the rather soft test give it an appearanance suggesting the liver of a vertebrate animal, except that the color (in preservation) instead of red is a pure, intense purple, caused by grains of purple pigment in the test cells. There are no notes regarding the color in life. In some specimens the purple pigment is much less in amount, the colonies having sometimes only a pale purple or violet shade — in extreme cases oiily a purplish buff color; this may be in part due to fading, but such specimens approach P. convexus in character, and in spite of the difference in typical examples, raise the question whether hepaticus should not be regarded as a form of convexus instead of as a distinct species. The collection and study of more material and possibly the study of the two forms in a living state will be necessary to determine the question. Vistrilution. — Except that it is not known from Bermuda, the distribu- tion of this form is similar to that of P. convexus though somewhat wider, extending from Xorth Carolina to Yucatan, Jamaica and the Virgin Islands, where it appears to be abundant. Such a distribution would seem to increase the possibility that this is a form of P. convexus. Habits. — Three small purple specimens obtained by the "Albatross'' at St. Thomas in 188-1 appear to have grown on crabs, as many other compound ascidians sometimes do. Polycitor (Eudistoma) clams (Van Name) (Included as likely to be found) Distoma claruni Van Name, 1902, Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, p. 345, PI. 48, Fig. 10 ; VI. 59, Fig. 117. Polycitor (Eudistoma) clartis Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p 350, Fig. 37. Diagnosis. — The colony is a small, rounded or oval mass without a peduncle, attached by most of the under surface. The test is transparent and colorless in preserved specimens, but slightly opalescent in life, with a grayish, pinkish, or sometimes a blue or green cast. The size of the VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 449 largest colonies is about 12 mm. across and 6 mm. or less in height. The zooids are irregu- larly distributed, lying in preserved colonies at all angles to the surface, no systems discernible. The zooids are visible with perfect clearness through the test; they are small, and are pro- vided with very strong longitudinal muscle bands on the thorax and anterior part of the abdomen; these usually produce such violent contractions in preserved specimens that the natural size and form of the zooid is entirely changed and distorted. Both apertures are on muscular tubes; the branchial tube is very stout, six or seven-lobed; the atrial is longer and six-lobed. In immature zooids both tubes may be mere conical projections. The posterior end of the body is produced into a vascular process, which is often very large and thick. The length of the zooids when moderately ex- tended is 3 to 4 mm. or more, but in the strongly contracted and distorted condition in which they are found in preserved specimens, the length is usually much less (2 mm. or under). During life the thorax of the zooids is white, the stomach and more or less of the intestinal loop is yellow or orange. In preservation the zooids fade to yellow or flesh-color, and usually eventually turn dark (dark yellow or brown ) . DistribiUion. — Known only from Bermuda, where it is abundant. Clavelina Savigny This genus is very insufficiently distinguished from the typical sub- genus of Pohjcitor, the chief difference being that the zooids are usually more separated from one another, each having its own separate covering of test, at least so far as the anterior part of the zooid is concerned, instead of being wholly buried in the common mass of test of the colony. Yet every degree between complete burying in the common test to com- plete separation of the zooids except for connection at their rear end, can apparently be exhibited within the same species, and even within the same colony at different periods of its development. The zooids in this genus are usually of rather large size. Fig. 23. — Polycitor (Eii'di- stoma) clarus (Van Name), 1902. Zooid Containing four develop- ing embryos or larvae, X 35. 450 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Clavelina oblonga Hertlman Plate V Clavelina ohlonga Herdman, 1880, Proc. Roy. Soe. Edinburgh, Vol. X, p. 724, Figs. 93-95. Clavelina ohlonga Herdman, 1882, Kept. Voy. Challenger, Zool., Vol. VI, p. 246, PI. 35 Figs. 6-10. Clavelina ohlonga -f Clavelina gigantca Van Name, 1921,^ Bull. Amer. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, pp. 354, 358, Figs. 3840 and 53. Diagnosis. — This species exhibits the full range of variability in the degree of separation or union of the zooids alluded to above. In many colonies the individuals are club-shaped, usually 20 to 30 mm. long (high) inclusive of the test; each is inclosed in a thick covering of test, which is wide and rounded at the summit or anterior end, where the two apertures are situated, and tapers into a narrow base by which it is attached to the other members of the colony through a basal mass of test containing branching vessels that may bear a few bulbs or enlarge- ments. Colonies of this type are frequent, but along with them are often found others in which the posterior half of each zooid (or a greater or less part of its length) is buried in the common basal mass of the colony; only their anterior parts have a separate and independent test covering; in immature or imperfectly developed colonies the entire length of the zooid may be thus buried, as it is in most compound ascidians, the colony consisting of one or more capitate lobes; in some specimens this entirely buried condition persists even though the zooids have attained large size and fully adult condition. The usual condition is, however, that of at least partial separation of the zooids. The test is gelatinous, more or less perfectly transparent, sometimes entirely colorless, in other cases with a pink, violet or brown tinge, which may or may not be retained in preserved material. In some living specimens the zooids show through the test as light yellowish, with the stomach and intestine deep yellowish brown. Some opaque white pig- ment was present about the apertures and elsewhere on the thorax. There was no pink or carmine color on any part of these specimens, but in some colonies there is a carmine ring about the oral aperture and often a stripe of the same color down the ventral side of the thorax of each zooid. 1 Clavelina gigantea Van Name, 1921. is not Polycitor giganteiis Sluiter, 1919. The latter is a Diazona. See Arnbiick Christe-Linde, Arliiv f. Zool., Vol. XVIII, No. 1, p. 15. VAN NAME. PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 451 Fig. 24. — Vlavelina ohionga Herdman, 1880. Two colonies, showing zooids almost completely separated (left fisure) and one section of a completely consoli- dated colony (right figure), both natural size. Fig. 25. — Clavelina ohlonoa Herdman, 1880. A small colony with separate zooids, X 1.8. and three lobes of a large colon.v with partially united zooids, X 1.8. 452 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Rwa en od- xsi in- The zooids are very variable in size in different colonies ; in some their length is quite uniform, in others it is not at all constant. Large zooids, well expanded, may reach 25 mm. to 35 mm. in length. In the ordinary, contracted, preserved condition they do not usually exceed half or two-thirds this length. A vascular process from the posterior end of each zooid joins it to the branching stolons in the base of the colony. Spincter muscles of aper- tures not very strong. Both apertures frequently have six distinct lobes ; in other specimens the border may be merely sinuous or even perfectly plain. The stigmata are small and arrantie:! in numer- ous rows (twenty or more in large zooids). The atrial cavity often contains numerous small tad- pole larvae. Distribution. — A common and widely distrib- uted shallow-water species ranging from Bermuda and South Carolina to Brazil. Small colonies of it were found at several points off the south coast of Porto Rico, and it has been recorded from St. Thomas (Hartmeyer, 1913). Bemarks. — Some of the colonies of this species are, from their large size, delicate structure, transparency and bright coloration, among the most beautiful members of the varied marine fauna of the West Indian region. Cystodytes von Drasche Cystodyies is distinguished from Polycitor chiefly by possessing disk-shaped calcareous spic- ules in the test. Fig. 26. — C lavelina ohlonga Herdman, 1880. Zoold (branch- ial sac contracted : embryos and larvae in peribranchial cav- ity), X 10.5. Cystodytes dellechiaiae (Delia Valle) (Included as likely to be found) Distoma dcllechiauF Delia Valle, 1ST7. Contribuzioni alia storia naturale delle Aseidie composte del Golfo di Napoli, p. 40 (fide Herdman). Custody tes draschii Herdman. 1886. Rept. Voy. Chal- lenger. Zool., Vol. XIV, p. 137. PI. 19, Figs. 1-15. VAX XAME, PORTO RICO AXD THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 453 Cystodiitcs (leUechiaiae Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV. p.. 3(50, Figs. 41-42. Fig. 27. — Cystodytes dellechiaiae (Delia Valle), 1877. Two entire colonies and a sec- tion of another colony, natural size. Diagnosis. — Forms flat incrusting colonies which ma}' measure as much as 60 to 8U mm. across and 5 mm. in thickness. The color is very variable ; often dark brown, blackish or purple, but sometimes pale Iniff or almost white. Purple colonies turn brown on preservation in alcohol. Though there is little that is distinctive in an exterior view of the colony, the white calcareous capsules built up of overlapping disk-shaped spicules that surround the body of each zooid are quite conspicuous when the colonv is sectioned. Fig. 28. — Cystodytes del- lechiaiae (Delia Valle), 1877. Zooid, X 32, and a group of spicules, X 52. ^S Distribution.— This is a widely distributed and in many places a com- mon species, occurring along the shore as well as in water of considerable 454: SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO deptli. The size of the spicules and some of the otlier characters are variable in different specimens as well as the color, as I have already mentioned, but I have been unable to find grounds for distinguishing more than one species in the West Indian region. Distaplia Delia Valle (Nomen Conservandum ) = Holozoa Lesson The branchial sac has four rows of stigmata, each row crossed at its middle by a slender transverse (dorso-ventral) vessel. Development of the embryos (in the typical species, at least) takes place in a large pouch or external diverticulum of the peribranchial cavity into which the oviduct passes. Distaplia bermudensis Van Name Cellulophana collectrije ? O. Schiuidt. 1870, Gruudz. Spougienf. Atlant. Geb., p. 25. Distaplia henmt(lenfti.<^ Van Name. 1902, Traus. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, p. 349, PI. 49, Figs. 15, 18 and 19 : PI. 59, Figs. 108 and 111 : PI. 62, Fig. IWb. Holozoa hcrmudcnsis Van Name, 1921, Bnll. Amer. Mas. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 363. Fig. 43. .■>£< .:% A. . Fig. 29. — Distaplia bermuden- sis Van Name, 1902. A colony, natural size. ^-.'» Diagnosis. — The form of the colony is very variable: sometimes capi- tate, consisting of one or more heads, usually somewhat flattened on top with rather abrupt sides tapering into a short peduncle, in other cases it forms a flat incrusting sheet, commonly 4 or 5 mm. thick and often several centimeters across. The colony may, however, have any of an infinite variety of intermediate forms. The heads in the capitate colonies may reach a diameter of 20 mm. or more. They are rarely of very symmetrical form. The colors of the colonies are as variable as their shape, often very brilliant during life, but usually fading to a green, blue-green, yellowish or olive tint in preserved material, though VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 455 some alcoholic siDeciniens are reddish or pink, or are mottled or marbled with areas of greenish or blue-green and red or pink. As a rule, the basal parts of the colony are pale, the upper portions darker, sometimes shading into blackish. The colors of living specimens are much more varied and beautiful, often chocolate-brown, shading into or marbled with olive, violet, purple, black, rose color, or even an intense orange-red; any one of these colors may predominate. White pigment is often present about the orifices. These colors are chiefly due to oval pigment cells in the test. The test is translucent or semitransparent ; the surface of the colony is not shiny. The zooids are arranged in systems, sometimes composed of but few zooids, in other cases extensive and complex. Vascular proc- esses, straight and unbranched, extending down from the pos- terior ends of the zooids, are often conspicuous in the l)asal parts of the colonies. Expanded zooids may meas- ure over 3 mm. in length and 1.3 mm. across the thorax, even in preserved material, but are much subject to shrinkage ow- ing to the delicacy of their tis- sues, which are often beautifully transparent. The mantle musculature is slight, consisting chiefly of very delicate bands in the thorax, which run largely in oblique directions. This is in strong contrast to the con- dition prevailing in the genus Polycitor, where there are very powerful longitudinal bands on the thorax. Even the sphincter of the branchial orifice is comparatively weak in the present genus. The margin of branchial orifice has irregular rounded teeth or crenations; when con- tracted often appearing plain. Atrial orifice large, smooth-margined, its anterior lip produced into a large languet. Fig. ZO.—Distaplia iermudensis Van Name 1902. Zooid with incubatory pouch containing three em- bryos or larvae, X 30. ^a^> 456 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Tlie stomach is elongate-oval, tapering toward the pyloric end. In all of the many zooids examined from different colonies and localities, its walls were found smooth within and without. The stomach and proximal part of the intestine are orange or yellow in life. The zooids are hermaphroditic; the reproductive glands are on the right side of the intestinal loop. The small, oval testes (about ten to twelve in number) and the ovary lie close together. The thick-walled sperm duct accompanies the ascending branch of the intestine. The delicate, thin-walled oviduct does likewise for a distance, then enters the incubatory pouch. The latter structure is not present on all zooids, and in many colonies none will be found on any of them. Apparently it develops only when needed to receive the embryos. It is a large, elon- gate, curved, tapering evagination of the wall of the right posterior dorsal part of the peribranchial cavity, connected with the body of the zooid by a neck too narrow to allow the embryos to pass out again when they have attained their growth ; these escape by bursting the walls of the pouch and the surrounding test substance. The embryos are ar- ranged in the pouch in one row, the oldest in the proximal part. Often pouches with their contents of developing young are found lying in the test unattached to any zooid, having broken away, or the zooids originat- ing them having died and been absorbed. Habits. — This is a shallow-water species which grows on stones, piles, corals and a great variety of other objects, including other species of '^scidians. Distribution. — This is one of the commonest species at Bermuda and at St. Thomas, W. I. At Porto Rico it was found common along the shores of Guanica Harbor, and was also dredged off the mouth of that harbor in 5 fathoms and near the mouth of Guayanilla Harbor in 15 feet. One colony was also obtained in San Juan Harbor below San Antonio bridge. ti^ Distaplia bursata (Van Name) (Included as likely to be found.) HoJozoa hur.wta Van Name. 1921. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 3G6, Figs. 44-47. Diagnosis. — The peculiar mushroom-like shape of mature colonies and the situation of the ovaries and testes of the zooids in a pouch-like diverticulum of the abdomen are clearly shown in the illustrations. Only in the case of immature colonies that have not attained their char- acteristic shape would there be any danger of confusing it with D. her- VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 457 mudensis. The color of preserved specimens is yellowish to grayish brown. Distribution. — Known from Marco and Key "West, Florida, washed up on the beach and from southeast of Jamaica (52 fathoms). Fig. 31. — Distaplia bursata (Van Name), 1921. Three colonies, X 1.3, and zooid X 55. Order PHLEBOBRAXCHIATA Lahille [ = Diktyobranchia Seeliger] This is a rather well-defined, though varied group of simple and com- pound aseidians having a system of internal longitudinal vessels (though in a few cases these are rudimentary or lost), but no large folds in the branchial sac. The tentacles are always simple, the gonads are on one side only, in the immediate vicinity of the digestive tract. 458 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO DiAZOXiDAE Garstang This is a small family that has the body divided, as is usual in com- pound ascidians, into thorax and abdomen, and the dorsal lamina re- placed by a series of languets, but it is distinguished by possessing internal longitudinal vessels (usually well developed) and many rows of stigmata in the branchial sac. Bhopalaea Philippi Rhopalaea abdoiuinalis ( Sluiter ) (Included as likely to be found) Ciona nhdominalis Sluiter. 1898. Mem. Soc. Zool. France, Vol. XI. p, 8, PI. 1, Figs. 3-8. Rhopalaea abdominalis Van Name, 1921, p. 372, Figs. 48-51. Fig. 32. — Rhopalaea abdominalis (Sluiter). 1808. On the left, the outline of the entire individual, including the test, slightly enlarged. In the center, the in- dividual removed from test, showing muscle hands on mantle, X 5.6 ; also a piece of the branchial sac, X 5.0. In the right, the upper part of the median dorsal vessel, showing the dorsal tubercle and five of the dorsal languets, X 56. Diagnosis. — Of the few specimens of this species that were collected, only one shows any evidence of budding, consisting of several small individuals united by their basal portions into an irregidar group; the other specimens each consist of a single individual only. The external form is exceedingly variable and usually quite irregular, owing to the great and uneven thickness of the test. The normal form VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN If zooid X 27. iroxn. 3.5 to S.b mm. m VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 461 greatest diameter (length), are borne on the tips of the branches of a slender stolon which grows like a vine over shell, algse, other ascidians. or other submerged objects in shallow water. The zooids have a thin, transparent covering of test; their tissues are usually transparent and colorless, except for some yellowish or greenish pigment contained in branching vessels in the mantle, which, aside from the sphincters of the apertures, has only a few slender longitudinal and oblique muscle bands. The apertures have a variable number of lobes. The reproductive glands lie in the intestinal loop. The male glands are pear-shaped or cuneate; arranged in a fanlike manner about the origin of the common sperm duct with which they communicate by small in- dividual ducts. Their number varies in different individuals; in some zooids some or most of the individual glands are fused together into a large mass, though this may be incompletely divided by clefts into lobes representing the individual glands. The common sperm duct accom- panies the rectum. The ovary is situated besides the origin of the com- mon sperm duct. Distribution. — Collected at Ponce, Porto Eico, along the shore and off Point Brea, in 9I/2 fathoms. This is the most southern record for the species, M'hich ranges from Xew England to Bermuda and Florida. Ecteiiiascidia Herdman This genus differs from Peroplioni chiefly in the elongated branchial sac with many rows of stigmata, and in the larger size of the zooids. Ecteiiiascidia turbinata Herdman Plate Vr Ascidia claviformis ? Lesueur, 1823, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Vol. Ill, p. 5, PI. 1, Fig. 3. Ecteinascidia txcrhinata Herdman, 18S0. Proc. Royal Soc. Edinburgh, Vol. X. p. 724. Ecteinascidia turhinata (? part) Herdman, 1882, Rept. Voy. Challenger, Zool., Vol. VI, p. 243, PI. 36, Figs. 1-6. Ecteinascidia turbinata Van Name. 1921. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 375, Fig. 54. Diagnosis. — The colony in this species consists of a dense group or cluster of elongate, somewhat clul)-shaped zooids, each with its own separate covering of test, which are connected by their tapering bases 462 SCIEXTIFIC SUR} EY OF PORTO RICO with a network of stolons that adheres to the surface of the object on which the colony grows. Mangrove roots and turtle grass are among the most frequent bearers of such colonies ; in such cases the colony generally entirely surrounds the root or the grass, not infrequently for a length of 13 or 15 cm. The zooids ordinarily are about 20 mm. long or less, but are occa- sionally larger. They are of oblong form, truncate at the anterior end, where the two apertures are situated, and rather abruptly tapered at the other end to a narrow pedicel con- taining the vessel that connects the individual with the rest of the colony. The test is transparent and color- less, thicker on the ends of the body. Tlie mantle and internal organs are also very transparent, but in the living zooids and in specimens not too long preserved, this shades into yellow, orange or pinkish orange on the anterior part of the body, the color being largely due to pigment in cells in branching vessels in the mantle. The intestinal loop is colored yellow or orange. The reproductive organs are in the bend of the intestinal loop. The male portion consists of a C-shaped or horseshoe-shaped group of small oval or lobed glands which lie more or less concentrically with the curva- ture of the intestine. The common sperm duct accompanies the rectum almost to the anus. The ovary con- sists of a cluster of eggs in the bend of the C-shaped group of testes. No Fig. 34. — Ecteinascidia turhinata Herd- • t , i i x i man. 1880. Zooid, X 7.2. oviduct was demonstrated. VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 463 Young zooids have the hody shorter and more oval, the apertures more prominent and relatively farther apart, and the rows of stigmata less numerous than in the adult. They much resemble individuals of the genus PeropJiom in their appearance. Distribution. — Widely distributed in the West Indian region. Xo record as yet from Porto Rico, but it was collected along the shore at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, by the steamer "Albatross.'* Asridia Linnaeus (Nomen Conservandum) =^ Phallusia Saviguy These are simple ascidians, often of large size, with characters as given above for the family. Papillae are present on the internal longitudinal vessels. Dorsal lamina consists of a continuous (often more or less toothed) membrane. Ascidia nigra (Savigny) Plate III. lower fig. Phallusia iiif/ra Savigny. 1816. Mem. s. 1. animaux sans vertebres. Vol. II. Pt. 1, p. 16.3. PI. 2. Fig. 2: PI. 9. Fig. 1. AscUUa aim Lesueur. 1823. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Vol. Ill, Pt. 1, p. 2. PI. 1, Fig. 2. Phallusia nigra Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 379, Figs. 55-58. ill! Ru ilu itw Fig. 3.5. — Ascidia nigra ( Savigny K 1816. The left side of tlie body slightly reduced; the dorsal tubercles of two individuals and part of the branchial sac, X 32. Diagnosis. — The body is oval or elongate, more or less flattened from side to side. The atrial aperture is usually on a short anteriorly directed tube or prominence, a little way back from the anterior end. The whole 464 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO anterior part of the body is very commonly curved dorsally so as to bring the two apertures quite close together. This seems to be more or less characteristic of this species. Attachment by an area on the pos- terior or left posterior part of the body, sometimes by much of the left side. The test is thick and firm Init not very tough. The color is blue- black ; the surface is smooth and shiny, with the exception of a few shallow furrows. The color, which pervades many of the internal structures as well as the test, is retained in preserved specimens. Very young speci- mens are colorless, but the dark ]ugnient usually begins to appear when they are still very small. The largest specimen in the Porto Rico collection measures even in a strongly curved condition 95 mm., and 45 mm. in transverse (dorso- ventral) diameter, but usually a length of 60 mm. is not exceeded. The mantle is dark colored and is provided with many narrow longi- tudinal muscle bands that are crossed by slenderer and more closely placed transverse and oblique bands forming a fine network. On the right side the musculature extends the whole length of the body ; on the left side the muscles disappear on the region covering the stomach and intestine. Distribution. — One of the largest, commonest and most conspicuous of the West Indian ascidians, also known from the Red Sea (type locality). Reported from the Virgin Islands. In Guanica Harbor, Porto Rico, it was very common on piles and mangrove roots, often o-rowing: with other ascidians. Ascidia hygomiana (Traustedt) Ascidia interrupta ? Heller, 1878, Sitzungsber. Akad. Wiss. Wien. math.uat. Kl., Vol. LXXVII, p. 89, PI. 2. Fig. 9. Fig. 36. — Ascidia hiigomiana (Traustedt), 1882. Natural size. VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 465 Phallusia hygomiana Traustedt, 1882, Videusk. Meddel. uatur. For. Kjoben- liavn, ann. 1881, pp. 280, 286, PI. 4, Fig. 7 ; PL 5, Fig. 18. Phallusia hygomiana Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 383, Figs. 59-61. Diagnosis. — Closely related to A. nigra but lacking the blue-black pigment, the test being yellowish gray or yellowish brown, or in some specimens tinged with smoky bluish or pinkish gray, but without any decided pigmentation. Its surface is usually fairly even but generally not shiny, and is often discolored with mud, and commonly not trans- parent. In size it is usually inferior to A. nigra, at least in bulk if not also in length. Its external shape and appearance are very variable; the form is usually rather elongate, the branchial aperture terminal on the somewhat narrowed anterior part of the body, the atrial aperture rather far back (often near the middle of the dorsal border) on a short tube which usually extends out at a considerable angle from the long axis of the body. The body is usually considerably compressed laterally; in the more regularly shaped specimens the dorsal, ventral and posterior bor- ders are thick and rounded, but the body is very liable to distortion, or Fig. 37. — Ascidia hygomiana (Traustedt), 1882. The left side of the body, X 3, dor- sal tubercle, X 10, and part of branchial sac, X 36. 466 SCIEXTIFW SURVEY OF PORTO RICO to irregular depressions, folds or furrows, which often greatly disturb its symmetry and baffle all attempts to give a description which would cover all the variations. Attachment is usually by the left ventral re- gion, but individuals vary greatly in this respect. The branchial sac is usually narrow and tapering in the anterior part. The posterior part extends back a considerable distance beyond the stomach, and is also usually somewhat narrowed, its extreme posterior end being usually rounded off or extended into a rather narrow rounded apex, but there is great variation in its shape in different individuals. The mantle musculature in most respects is rather similar to that of A. nigra but the greater part of the left side is almost entirely free from muscles. Another difference distinguishing it from A. nigra is that the alimentary tract is smaller, covering in most individuals a smaller propor- tion of the left side, though the intestinal loop is bent a little more than in that species and its anteriorly extending loop is opened out somewhat more. Near the end the rectum often makes an abrupt dorsal bend, conforming to the dorsal direction of the atrial tube. Many of the specimens have the part of the intestine between the apex of the an- terior loop and the commencement of the rectum greatly distended with mud into a saccular enlargement. The stomach is small, its wall with a few obscure plications. Distrihuiion. — It was obtained in great abundance on the piles and stringpieces of the wharves in Guanica Harbor, Porto Eico, by the American Museum expeditions. Most of the specimens were growing in densely crowded clumps and clusters containing several other kinds of ascidians, mussels, worm tubes, etc., besides numbers of this species, and the individuals were much compressed and distorted, owing to this crowding and pressure. It is also recorded from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where it was observed growing on piles. Known also from the North Carolina coast, Bahamas, Cuba, etc. Ascidia curvata (Traustedt) Phallnsia curvata Traustedt. 1SS2, Vidensk. Meddel. natur. For. Kjcibenhavn, ann. 1881, pp. 281, 286, PL 4, Figs. 8-10 ; PL 5, Fig. 19. Phallusia curvata Van Name, 1921, BulL Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., VoL XLIV, p. 389, Figs. 66-68. Diagnosis. — The body is long and narrow, tapering to the branchial aperture at the anterior end and more or less truncate at the posterior end; usually attached by a large part of the left side, the tubes being turned more or less to the right or exposed side. The atrial tube far VAN XAME, FORTO RICO AXD THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 467 back, often beyond the middle of the body, usually rather short. The test very thin on the attached side, thicker on the other, pale gray or colorless, and sometimes very transparent ; markings of light orange- brown about the apertures are present in many living specimens. Some fry Fig. 38. — Ascidia curvata (Traustedt), 1S82. The left side of the body, X 2.2, dorsal tubercle, X 16, Fig. 68, and part of the branchial sac, X 42. individuals have the external surface smooth and clean ; others are wrinkled, or more or less completely covered with small shell fragments rather loosely adherent or slightly imbedded. The mantle is delicate and transparent. The body musculature is weak and mainly confined to the right side, where it consists of a deli- cate and rather open network of transverse and oblique fibers or very narrow bands crossing each other at various acute angles. The branchial sac extends a varying distance posterior to the stomach in different specimens. The alimentary loop is proportionately smaller than in A. hygomiana and considerably more bent, forming a fairly compact mass chiefly or entirely in the posterior half of the body. The stomach is small, with a few longitudinal plications. This is a smaller and more delicate species than A. hygomiana with a more transparent test. The largest specimen seen was about 50 mm. long; the usual size is not over one half or two thirds that length. Distribution. — This species was described by Traustedt from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. The American Museum collection contains a specimen from San Juan Harbor, Porto Eico. It is common at Ber- muda. 468 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Ascidia sydneiensis Stimpson Ascidia sydneiensis Stimpson, 1855, Proe. Acad. Sei. Philadelphia, Vol. VIT, p. 387. Phallusia sydneiensis Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist, Vol. XLIV, p. 386, Figs. 62-65. Fig. 39. — Ascidia sydneiensis Stimpson, 1885. The dorsal tubercle, X 12 ; the left side of the body, x 1.6; the right side of the body showing the arrangement of the muscles in the mantle, X 1.6 ; and part of the branchial sac, X 42. Diagnosis. — At once distinguishable from A. liygomiana, when re- moved from the test, by the peculiar arrangement of the mantle muscles. The whole left side is nearly free from muscles, the mantle being thin, colorless and transparent. The greater part of the right side is in the same condition, but all round the dorsal, ventral, and posterior margins of the right side there is a wide border of short stout muscle bands extending inward from the margin for a varying distance. They lie for the most part parallel to each other and at right angles to the margin (Fig. 21). The alimentary tract is very compactly disposed and the branchial sac does not extend much, if at all, posterior to it. The test is usually transparent and colorless. The size of the largest specimen examined was 53 mm. by 37 mm. Distribution. — Though widely distributed in the Pacific and Indian oceans, this is a rare species in the West Indies. At Porto Rico two small specimens were dredged by the American Museum Expedition; in Guanica Harbor, at a depth of from 10 to 20 feet, in mud, and in Con- dado Bay, San Juan, at a depth of from 16 to 22 feet, in sand and mud. VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 469 Traustedt reported it from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (there is also a specimen from there in the U. S. National Museum, and Crab (Vieques) Island of the same group. Aseidia corelloides (Van Name) (Included as likely to be found) Phallusia corelloides Van Name. 1924. Bijdr. t. d. Dierkunde, part XXIII, p. 27, FiL'S. 2-4. Fig. 40. — Aseidia corelloides (Van Name), 1924. The left and light sides of the body, X 3.5. Diagnosis. — The body is ovate, more or less flattened; the test is transparent, nearly colorless or slightly brownish, its substance tough and permeated by branching blood vessels, thick (especially toward the anterior end) and with the surface smooth and free from foreign matter, without many folds or wrinkles. The mantle musculature is mainly confined to the right side and consists of oblique bands; the alimentary tract occupies more than half of the left side. The tentacles are few ; the dorsal tubercle is very small, with a simple orifice, which appears U-shaped in one specimen. The dorsal lamina are plain-edged, but with well developed transverse buttress membranes aris- ing from each transverse vessel ; these are higher than the dorsal lamina itself, and tho'se of opposite sides unite to form a tooth or languet where they meet over the dorsal lamina. 470 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO The branchial sac with papillae on the internal longitudinal vessels at the points of crossing the transverse vessels, and additional somewhat smaller papillae at the points midway between the transverse vessels. This is the only known West Indian Ascidia having these intermediate papillae. Fig. 41. — Ascidia corelloides (Van Name), 1924. Part of the branchial sac, X 25, and part of the circle of tenta- cles with dorsal tubercle and ante- rior end of the branchial sac, X 18. Distribution. — The type locality of this species is Caracas Bay, Cura- gao (see Van Name, 1924). A small specimen (12 mm. long) was collected bv Mr. William Beebe in Tort-au-Prince Bay, Haiti, in 1927. Ascidiella Roiile Differs from Ascidia chiefly in having no papillae on the internal longitudinal vessels of the branchial sac. Ascidiella styeloides (Traustedt) Phallusia styeloides Traustedt, 1882, Vidensk. Meddel. nat. For. Kjobenbavn, ann. 1881, p. 277, PI. 4, Fig. 5, PI. 5, Fig. 16. AseidieUa styeloides Van Name, 1021. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, pp. 391, 48.3. (No description.) Diagnosis. — This species, which I have not seen, is described by Traustedt as having the test thin, membranous, transparent and almost smooth. It may be readily distinguished from the species of Ascidia described above by the different curvature of the alimentary tract, which VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 47I is shown in the figure, as well as by the absence of papillae on the inter- nal longitudinal vessels of the branchial sac. Traustedt gives 13 by 5 mm. as the dimensions. Fig. 42. — Ascidiella styeloides (Trau- stedt), 1882. The left side of the body, X 4, and part of the branchial sac, en- larged (outlines of Trau- stedfs figure I. Distribution. — Traustedt reports it from St. Croix and St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. There are no other records. Ehodosomatidae Hartmeyer This is a small but widely distributed and varied family of simple ascidians, characterized (in many cases at least) by the course of the intestine, which bends ventrally after leaving the stomach, instead of dorsally as in most ascidians, thus coming to lie more or less on the right side of the body beside the branchial sac. Internal longitudinal ves- sels are commonly present, though sometimes rudimentary or lost ; there are no large folds in the branchial sac. Rhodosoma Ehrenberg Anterior end of the body is modified into a valve or cover which can close upon and protect the apertures. The stigmata are straight. Rhodosoma turcicuni (Savigny) Phalltma turcica Savigny, 1816, Mem. Anim. sans Vert.. Vol. I, pp. 102, 105, PI. 10, Fig. 1. Rhodosoma pellucidum Van Name, 1921. Bull. Amer. jNEus. Nat. Hist., Vol, XLIV, p. 392, Figs. 69 and 70. Rhodosoma pellucidum Van Name, 1924, Bijdr, t, d. Dierkunde, part XXIII, p. 29. 473 f^CIEXTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Diagnosis. — Body more or less irregularly oblong, not much com- pressed laterally, tapering toward the posterior end and commonly attached by an area on the posterior part of the right side. The anterior end of the body is obliquely truncated. Just behind the anterior margin mnn Fig. 43. — Rhodosoma tiirciciim (Savigny), 1816. The left and right sides of the body, X 2, and part of the branchial sac, X 38. a deep, obliquely transverse cleft partially separates the anterior wall of the body, which thus forms a hinged lid or cover, so that the two edges of the cleft may be brought together or separated. In the soft flexible test with which this cleft is lined the two apertures are situated, near together, but the branchial a little nearer the anterior end than the atrial. The former has about eight obscurely defined lobes, and is somewhat more prominent than the atrial, which has but six lobes. The test is rather transparent, usually nearly colorless in preserved specimens; free from foreign matter and smooth externally, except for numerous minute conical points or projections arising from the surface on the anterior end of the body and in the vicinity of the above-mentioned cleft. (Occa- sionally the surface is incrusted with foreign matter, or overgrown with other organisms.) The test not very thick, but firm and rigid, par- ticularly the portion constituting the lid and the margins of the cleft (which are somewhat thickened) ; the part lining the cleft is softer and quite flexible, permitting the lid to close tightly and entirely conceal the apertures. The species attains a length of 50 mm. or more but speci- mens are usually much smaller. When tightly closed, the cleft may be easily overlooked. Remarks. — This is apparently the only valid species of the genus. It is widely distributed in warm seas and has been described under many different names. VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND TEE VIRGIN ISLANDS 473 Distribution. — In most parts of the West Indies it seems to be rather uncommon, but many specimens were obtained by Dr. Van der Horst at Curasao. Only one specimen was obtained by the American Museum expedition at Porto Eico (Condado Bay, San Juan Harbor, at a depth of from 16 to 22 feet, in sand and mud). Traustedt, 1881, reported it from both St. Croix and St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Corella Alder and Hancock There is no valve or cover for the apertures. The stigmata are ar- ranged in small spirals. Corella minuta Traustedt Corella minuta Traustedt, 1882, Vidensk. Meddel. natur. For. Kjobenhavn, ann. 1881, p. 271, 285, PI. 4, Fig. 1. Corella minuta Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 395, Figs. 71 and 72. Fig. 44.— CorcHa minuta Traustedt, 1882. The left and right side of the body, X 2.5, and part of the branchial sac, X 25. ^r^^ SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Diagnosis.— The body ovate; the test thin, flexible and often quite transparent, its surface smooth and clean except for wrinkles and folds, many of which, however, are probably caused by shrinking and are not present during life. The size of the largest specimen is 28 mm. long by 18 mm. in greatest dorso-ventral diameter. The mantle is very thin and transparent, practically free from muscles. The branchial sac is divided into small square meshes by transverse and longitudinal vessels. In each mesh there is normally a slender spiral vessel making usually from two to four complete turns. In addi- tion to the above vessels there is a system of slender internal longitudinal vessels, raised on high, tapering supporting papillae which arise from the transverse vessels. DistrihutiGn. — This is a rare species confined to the West Indies and Florida. Traustedt reported it from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, but there are as yet no records from Porto Rico. Van der Horst obtained a small specimen at Curasao (see Van Name, 1924) and lately (192T) one was collected by Beebe at Haiti (Port-au-Prince Bay). Order STOLIDOBRANCHIATA Lahille [ = Ptychobranchia Seeliger] The most highly specialized order of ascidians. It contains both com- pound and simple forms. The body is never divided into a thorax and abdomen: the digestive tract and reproductive organs always lie beside, or project only slightly behind, the branchial sac, wdiich has internal longitudinal vessels and a few large longitudinal folds or plications (rudimentary or lost in a few forms). The tentacles are sometimes branched. BoTRYLLiDAE Verrill A small but widely distributed group of compound ascidians evidently belonging to the same stock as the Styelidae, and very closely related to some of the compound members of that family, in which Michaeisen, following the suggestion made by Arnback, 1923, has recently, 1928, included them as a subfamily. They differ from the compound Styelidae in having the zooids arranged in well developed systems with common cloacal canals discharging by common cloacal apertures, instead of hav- ing the atrial aperture of the zooids opening separately and directly on the surface of the colony. VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 475 The branchial sac is without folds, and with onl\- three internal longitudinal vessels on each side. The tentacles are simple. The dorsal lamina is a plain membrane. The colonies are soft, smooth and fleshy, usually thin and incrusting, but sometimes thick, and produced into lobes, or irregular, especially when growing on irregularly shaped objects. The systems in Avhich the zooids are arranged may be small circular or oval groups with a common cloacal aperture in the center of each group, or may be elongate and irregular (often branched) and composed of many zooids. Living colonies are often very strikingly and beautifully colored objects. In many of the species numerous color variations exist, but seem to be without significance as specific or even subspecific characters. The bright colors and conspicuous markings fade out after death. In preserved specimens the test is usually more or less transparent (pale grayish or purplish, or yellowish) and the zooids some shade of purple, purplish brown or brown, sometimes pale, sometimes dark, in a few species occasionally almost black. The test (as also in Sijmplegma among the Styelidae) contains branching blood vessels ending in en- larged bulbs. These are commonly most numerous and conspicuous near the margins of the colony. Until recently the classification of this family was not well under- stood. Genera were based upon ver}' superficial characters and a multi- tude of species were distinguished only by color, which is not to be relied on at all. The difficulty of determining specimens of this group is much increased by the fact that as a rule only a few colonies out of a large number of specimens contain zooids with both male and female repro- ductive organ well developed, while most of the other characters show a great deal of similarity throughout the family. The recent studies of Arnback Christie-Linde and Michaelsen have cleared up much of the uncertainty regarding the group and placed its classification on a sound basis. They recognize two genera, Botryllus and Botrylloides (syn. Metromrpa Arnback), in European waters, and the American forms, several of which are identical with those of Europe, confirm the correct- ness of this classification. In my monograph, 1921, of the West Indian ascidians two distinct forms {Botrylloides nigrum and Botryllus planus) were confused under the name B. nigrum. To prevent any misunderstanding that may arise from that cause it seems best to treat briefly all three of the species thus far reported from the West Indies and southeastern United States in the present article, although the error has already been corrected in my 476 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO article of 1924 on the ascidians of Curagao, and although but one species has as yet been reported from Porto Eico. Botryllus Gaertner and Pallas In the restricted sense in which it is employed here, Botryllus is con- fined to forms having the ovaries anterior or dorsal to the testis and no incubatory pouch, the embryos developing in the peribranchial cavity. The anterior margin of the atrial orifice, which often forms a short, wide siphon, is usually produced into a large languet. BotrjUus planus (Van Name) (Included as likely to be found) Plate VIII Botrylloides nigrum var. planum + B. n. var. concolor Van Name, 1902, Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, pp. 377, 378, PI. 53, Figs. 53. 55 ; PI. 59, Fig. 110. Botryllus (Botrylloides) niger (part) Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 399, Fig. 74. Botryllus nigcr (part) Michaelsen, 1921, Wiss. Meeresuuters. (new series), Vol. XIV (Abt. Helgoland), p. 107. Botryllus planus Van Name, 1924, Bijdr. t. d. Dierkunde, part XXIII, p. 30, Figs. 5 and 6. Botryllus namei (in part, as far as applies to B. nigrum var. planum Van Name, 1902) Michaelsen, 1928, Fauna Siidwest-Australiens, Vol. V, pp. 334, 335. Fig. 45. — Botryllus planus (Van Name I, 19 2. Zooid seen from left side, X 36. Diagnosis. — Colonies incrusting, often several centimeters in great- est diameter, but rather thin, often so thin that the zooids, which do not average over 1.5 to 1.75 in length in the more or less contracted, pre- served condition, are forced to assume either an inclined position or one somewhat parallel to the surface (the anterior end being upturned) ; VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 477 but in other cases the colony is thick enough to allow the zooids to as- sume a nearly upright position. The systems are of irregular outline, often rather extensive. The color very variable during life; in most cases the colony is dark colored, the zooids being some shade of purple, purplish-brown or black- ish with a white, pale green or golden yellow area surrounding the branchial orifice of each zooid. These light colored markings fade out after death, the zooids generally becoming some shade of purple or brownish-purple. Some specimens collected at Bermuda were bright orange when alive, this color suffusing the test as well as the zooids. In alcohol the test lost its color and the zooids became reddish brown. Not more than eight tentacles were demonstrated in the individuals studied. The number of rows of stigmata is somewhat variable, from eleven to thirteen being usual. The reproductive and digestive organs furnish the easiest means of distinguishing this species. The male organs consist of a single testis on each side of the body, situated posterior to the middle and so deeply cleft into numerous (ten to twenty) rounded lobes that it appears like a rosette-shaped mass of small separate glands. The female organs consist of a single ovary on each side, each containing a large egg situated close to and directly anterior to the testis. The stomach is oblong or barrel-shaped (though tapering somewhat more toward the pyloric end) with about 9 complete glandular folds and one incomplete one, that increase gradually in prominence toward the esophageal end, and a very long tubular curved pyloric caecum that is slightly enlarged at the extreme end. (See Fig. 49a.) Distribution. — This species will undoubtedly be found at Porto Rico, as it is known from Bermuda (the type locality), Florida and Curagao. It is very close to the Old World B. magnicoecus Hartmeyer, 1913, but even if not distinct, the name planus will have priority. The name B. chazaliei Sluiter, 1898, will, however, have priority if it belongs to this species, but the scanty information now available indicates that chazaliei is more probably a synonym of Botrylloides nigrum (see Remarks in connection with that species). Botrylius selilosseri (Pallas) (Included chiefly for comparison, though its occurrence at Porto Rico or the Virgin Islands is possible) Alcyonlum schlosseri Pallas. 1766. Elench. Zoophyt., No. 208. i78 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Botryllus schlosseri Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 398, Fig. 73. Botryllus schlosseri -'r B. namei (parti Mic-haelsen, 1928, Fauna Siidwest- Austi-aliens, Vol. V, pp. 330, 334, 33.5. Fig. 46. — Botryllus schlosseri (Pal- las). 1766. A colony, natural size. Diagnosis. — In this species the colony varies from thin and incrusting to rather thick and fleshy, and the zooids are arranged in small circular or ellipitical, well separated systems of usually from about eight to twenty zooids. The colors are very variable during life but in preserva- tion the zooids are generally rather light brownish or violet, and the test is pale grayish or nearly colorless. Fig. 47. — Botryllus schlos- seri (Pallas), 17 66. Zooid, X 36. The zooids average from 1.75 to 2 mm. in length and are of shorter, broader form than in B. planus, with fewer rows of stigmata (usually eight or nine). They often, if not usually, have sixteen tentacles. The VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 479 stomach resembles that of B. planus in many respects ; it is elliptical, but contracts more toward the pyloric end than in that species and has about nine or ten longitudinal, somewhat spirally directed, glandular folds. One of these is produced near the pyloric end into a tubular caecum which is much curved and enlarged at the distal end. The caecum is not much more than half the length of that of B. planus; it has been well described as retort-shaped. The male reproductive organs resemble those of B. planus, the testes being cleft into a large number of small lobes (often about twenty). The short sperm duct arises at or near its dorsal border. The female organs consist of from one to three ovaries containing one large egg each, on each side of the body. They form a more or less curved row dorsal to the testis (extending both anterior and posterior to the latter). There may be four or it is said, even five or six ovaries on one side, but in such cases the other side has a smaller number. Distribution and Remarks. — Special attention should be called to the fact that often but one egg on each side will be found, and that in such cases this may be situated more or less anterior or antero-dorsal to the testis, much as in B. planus. In some colonies no more than one egg on each side is present in any of the zooids. Michaelsen's conclusion that such specimens described and figured in my report on the West Indian ascidians (1921, p. 398, Fig. 73) represent a different species which he proposes (1928, p. 330) to call B. namei, cannot be accepted. No mem- ber of the family except B. schlosseri is known from the coasts of the middhi Atlantic and New England States save that in northern New England Botnjlloides aureum Sars, 1851, occurs.* The B. namei of Michaelsen is in part a synonym of schlosseri and in part of planus. B. schlosseri is a species of much more northern distribution than either Botryllus planum or Botrylloides nigrum. It is common on the European coasts and on those of southern New England and the Middle States. It lives in the shallowest water, often growing on eel grass (Zostera) in great abundance. The U. S. National and American Museums have specimens from the west coast of Florida and the dis- covery of the species at Porto Eico or other West Indian points is, there- fore, a possibility. * Regarding B. aureum I may add that the contention of Arnback Christie-Linde (Nyt. Mag. f. Naturv., LXI, p. 285) that it is a disstinct and valid species, not merely a form of BotryUus schlosseri, as Hartmeyer (1923) and Michaelsen (1928) have treated it, seems to be perfectly correct. It is in fact a Botnjlloides, not a Botryllus in the restricted sense of that genus. 480 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Botrylloides Milue-Edwards ^ (Syn. Metrocarapa Arnback) This genus is here employed in the emended sense proposed by Mich- aelsen for species having a single ovary with one large a^g on each side of the body situated posterior to the testis. The Qgg passes by means of a short oviduct into a saclike incubatory pouch that develops as an out- growth of the body wall for its reception. In these pouches, which ex- tend from the posterior lateral part of the body on each side, the de- velopment of the embryo takes place. As thus used, Botrylloides is equivalent to Metrocarpa Arnback Christie-Linde, 1923, but as the types of both genera seem to be the same, the earlier name is employed. Botrylloides nigrum Herdman Botrylloides nigrum Herdman, 1886, Rep. Voy. Challenger, Vol. XIV, p. 50, PI. 1, Fig. 8; PI. 3, Figs. 19-21. Botrylloides chazaliei ? Sluiter, 1898, Mem. Soc. Zool. France, Vol. XI, p. 10. Botrylloides nigrum (part) + B. n. var. sarcinum Van Name, 1902, Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, pp. 374, 378, PI. 52, Fig. 54. Botryllus (Botrylloides) niger Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus., Nat. Hist.. Vol. XLIV, p. 399 (part, not Fig. 74). Botryllus niger Michaelsen, 1921, Wiss. Meeresunters. (new series), Vol. Xrv% Abt. Helgoland, p. 107, Fig. 2. BotrylUos niger Van Name, 1924, Bijdr. t. d. Dierkunde, part XXIII, p. 30, Fig. 7. Botrylloides nigrum Michaelsen, 1928, Fauna Siidwest-Australiens, p. 345. Fig. 48. — Botrylloides nigrum Herdman, 1886. Zooid, X 40. ^r I VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 481 Diagnosis. — This species forms incrusting colonies with the zooids arranged in extensive, often branching systems much as in Botryllus 'planus, although in many cases the colony becomes considerably thicker than in that species. I have no color notes that certainly refer to this species when alive ; after death the test is more or less transparent so that the zooids, which are purple or brownish purple, sometimes so dark as to be almost black, show conspicuously through it. Often, however, they are so crowded, at least in parts of the colony, that the outlines and limits of the systems are not easily traceable. Of course, if the reproductive organs of the zooids are well developed, this species can be easily distinguished from i?. planus but, even if that is not the case, the stomach furnishes an easy means of identification. It usually has nine or ten glandular folds, exclusive of the narrow some- what oblique ridge from which the caecum arises. The caecum is short, enlarged toward the blind distal end and often but little curved. The stomach is, moreover, of conspicuously conical form, its cardiac end wide and truncated, the ends of the folds forming conspicuous and prominent rounded projections at that end ; it tapers rapidly toward the pyloric end. Only on the cardiac part are the folds very prominent, for at a point a little way back from the end, they decrease in height quite abruptly though they continue to the pyloric end with diminishing distinctness. Fig. 49. — Outlines of the stomach o f (a) Botryllus planus (Van Name), 1902, and (b) Botryl- liikh's nhjnnii Herd- man, 1886. Another but less constant distinguishing character is in the testis, which has a smaller number of lobes, often not more than six. Sixteen tentacles are often, perhaps usually, present in adult zooids, and the range of variation in the number of rows of stigmata seems to be even greater than in Botryllus planus; in a number of Florida and West Indian specimens it ranged between eleven and fourteen or possibly fifteen. The atrial aperture is, often, at least merely a cleftlike opening without a well developed languet, and not produced into anything ap- proaching a tube or siphon. Its zooids are of about the same size as those of B. planus, or often a lit'tie smaller. Distribution. — This is a species very widely distributed in the warm regions of both hemispheres. The American M^^cum expeditions col- lected it at Porto Eico in Guanica Harbor and east of Caribe Cayo at 483 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO a depth of from 51/^ to 8% fathoms; also in Condado Bay, San Juan Harbor, at a depth of from 16 to 22 feet. Bemarls. — Botrylloides chazaliei Sluiter, 1898, from Margarita Island, Venezeuela, listed above as a doubtful synonym, requires reexamination, but seems more likely to be the present species than Botrijllus planus, in view of information kindly supplied by Dr. Arnback-Christie-Linde, who examined a small, poorly preserved fragment of Sluiter's material. Nothing regarding the reproductive organs could be made out ; the stomach had at least eight folds (perhaps more) and the "cardiac creca bent outwards." The pyloric csecum was "large and well developed" ; the zooids were small and resembled externally those of Botrylloides leachi, a common European species. Styelidae Sluiter [ = Tethyidae Hartmeyer, 1909-1!»11, not Huntsman, 1913] This is a large family found in all parts of the world and including both compound and simple forms. Its members have both apertures square or four-lobed, simple filiform tentacles, a continuous dorsal lamina and four (or less) large curved longitudinal folds on each side of the branchial sac, which always has straight longitudinal stigmata. The compound forms do not have the zooids arranged in systems with com- mon cloacal cavities. Symplegnia Herdman [ = Diandrocarpa Van Name] These compound ascidians superficially like Botryllidae except for the absence of common cloacal canals and apertures. The branchial sac has no folds, and only four internal longitudinal vessels on each side. There is only one gonad on each side of the body. Symplegnia viride Herdman Symplegma viride Herdman, 1886, Rept. Voy. Challenger, Zool., Vol. XIV, p. 144, PI. 18, Figs. 7-14. SympJegma viride + S. i'. hrakenhielmi Van Name. 1921, Bnll. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, pp. 404, 407, Figs. 75 and 7G. Diagnosis. — The colony is normally thin and incrusting, usually not averao-ins: over 3 mm. in thickness but sometimes from 60 mm. to 90 mm. across. It is occasionally of very irregular form, owing to the irregular objects (often branching algae, corals, etc.) on which it grows. The test VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 483 usually is transparent and gelatinous in preserved specimens, darker and more opaque in living colonies. The surface of the colony is some- what raised over the position of each zooid, the small, dome-like eleva- FiG. 50. — Sijmplegma viride Herdman, 1880. A colony attached to rock. Natural size. tions thus formed sometimes being distinctly bordered and separated from adjacent ones by a furrow ; in other cases this is not noticeable. The zooids are not arranged in systems; each has two independent apertures on the surface of the colony. They lie on their ventral side ; the branchial aperture is close to the somewhat upturned anterior end of the body; the atrial is near the middle of the body. Both have slightly prominent margins, not lobed but sometimes minutely denticulate. Both are elliptical in outline (elongated longitudinally), and the atrial, when expanded, is much the larger of the two. The largest zooids are from 2.5 to 4 mm. long and from about 1.3 to 1.8 mm, wide. ilu Fig. 51. — Sympleg- ma viride Herd- man. 1886. Zooid (individual with developing eggs), X Hr.. 9 in gc St vp The zooids are oval when seen from above, broad and rounded at the posterior end, narrower in front; blackish, brownish, or purplish, or 484 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO occasionally olive or greenish in color, due chiefly to pigment cells con- tained in the mantle and vessels of the branchial sac. During life an area of light-colored pigment, greenish white, pale yellow, or pale sal- mon, surrounds the branchial aperture. The whole appearance and pig- mentation is strongly suggestive of the family Botryllidae. Branching vessels arising from the posterior ends of the zooids extend through the common test connecting the zooids and ending in the marginal regions of the colonies in bulbs containing pigmented corpuscles similar to those occurring in that family. The branchial sac is Avithout folds. There are four internal longi- tudinal vessels on each side. The oesophagus is short and curved ; in the wall of the stomach there are rather few (ten to fourteen) well-marked longitudinal folds, and a large curved caecum near the pyloric end. There is one gonad on each side of the body, each consisting of a pair of oval or pyriform testes, usually irregularly cleft at their larger ends into several lobes, and of a group of eggs representing the ovary. Distribution. — A handsomely colored incrusting species common in shallow water on stones, algffi, other ascidians, etc., throughout much of the West Indian region and represented by closely allied if distinguish- able varieties in the Indian Ocean. At Porto Rico it was found in Guanica Harbor in shallow water. Remarks. — After examining additional material I am no longer able to maintain that the West Indian specimens are a variety or subspecies {hrakenliielmi, Michaelsen) distinct from the typical form described from Bermuda. Polyandrooarpa Michaelsen The characters are practically those of Polycarpa (see p. 486), except that it produces buds and forms colonies. The gonads, though small. are similar to those of that genus. Eusynstyela Michaelsen, 190-i, to which the following species belongs, differs from Polyandrocarpa only in the smaller zooids and in the reduction of the testes to two in each gonad, and is better considered a subgenus of Polyandrocarpa. Polyandrocarpa (Eusynstyela) tincta (Van Name) (Included as likely to be found) Miehaelsenia tincta Van Name. 1902, Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, p. 381, PI. 54, Figs. 61 and 63 ; PI. 59, Fig. 109. Polyandrocarpa {Eusynstyela). tincta Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat, Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 414, Figs. 84-86. VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 485 Diagnosis. — Tlie colony ordinarly is of the flattened incrusting type and commonly of small size, often consisting only of from half a dozen to a dozen zooids. Such colonies measure from 25 to 35 mm. in greatest thickness and from 15 to 20 mm. in greatest diameter; they commonly -^f^l^m rr^^^ Fig. 52. — Polyandrocarpa (Eusynstyela) tincta (Van Name), 1902. Part of the branch- ial sac, X 45, and left (upper figure) and right (lower figure) sides of zooid, X 9. have a rather thick rounded border and uneven upper surface. The speci- mens usually found on stones, etc., along the shore are of this character. P. tincta forms, however, under favorable conditions (especially when growing in water a few feet in depth), much more extensive colonies, containing one hundred indivuals or more. AVhen these grow on some branching object, as a gorgonian, they may entirely surround the branch or two or more adjacent branches and form a much thicker mass or irregular shape, having all or nearly all its surface exposed and bearing 486 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO zooids on all its aspects, as well as in such clefts or depressions as may exist in its contour. The surface of the colony is very slightly rough and finely wrinkled; generally the number and position of the zooids is indicated chiefly by the pairs of small rough papilbv on which their apertures are situated. The test is very tough and leathery and very opaque, so that neither the zooids nor the branching vessels which ramify in the test and end in elongate club-shapc-d bulbs are visible through it. The color of the test during life varies from rose pink to carmine red, being deepest about the apertures of the zooids, but fading in many cases to pink or yellowish in the marginal and basal parts of the colony. The test substance is yellowish in the interior of the colony. The red color soon fades out in preserved material. The zooids are few in most of the colonies and not at all equal in size. In most colonies none of them exceed about 6 mm. in length and 2.4 mm. in width. They are somewhat flattened dorso-ventrally and lie parallel to the surface of the colony; both their apertures are on the dorsal surface widely separated, and prominent as minute papillae on the surface of the colony, the apertures themselves being square as is usual in this family. Distribution. — This species is common at Bermuda, and on the Florida coasts, both on stones, etc., along the shore, and in water a few fathoms deep. Polycarpa Heller [ = Pandocia auct. mult.] These are simple ascidians with the characters as given above for the family, having a number of compact sac-like or short tubular herma- phroditic gonads on each side of the body. In the typical species the gonads are small oval or oblong sacs, and are very numerous. Polycarpa obtecta Traustedt Polycarpa tumida lUeller, 1878, Sitzungsber. Akad. Wiss. Wieu., math.-uat. Kl., Vol. LXXVII, p. 103, PI. 2, Fig. 15. Polycarpa obtecta Traustedt. 1883, Vidensk. Meddel. natur. For. Kjobenhavu. aim. 1882, pp. 126, 134, PI. 5. Figs. 7, 8 ; PI. 6, Fig. 15. Polycarpa obtecta Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.. Vol. XLIV, p. 420, Fig. 90. Diagnosis. — The body is rounded-oblong, often with the dorso-ventral diameter exceeding the length; when not distended with water, the flexibility of the test permits the sides to collapse so that it is quite narrow VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 487 1^ -■M'^^ ^>^ ."^v-. .■^^^^- ' k- . -s* '■:%J»^t^ 9%'- '". * ' H ■ :.— -*f /'< Fig. 5;'.. — PoU/cariHi obtecta Traustedt, 1S8."!. Two specimens, natural size. from side to side. The apertures, Avhich may be raised on conical eleva- tions, or in contracted specimens, may be nearly flush \vith the external surface, are both conspicuously four-sided ; the branchial aperture is situated at or close to the anterior end ; the atrial is forward of the middle of the dorsal region. The body is usually attached by a small area on the posterior or ventral part of the body, where the test may l)e produced into a sort of rudimentary peduncle, or may develop some root- like processes or irregular projections to assist in the attachment. The largest specimens studied were about 50 mm. long by 45 mm. in dorso- ventral diameter, exclusive of the short tubes. Fig. 54. — Polycarpa ohtecta Trau- stedt, 1883. Tlie left and right sides of the body, natural size. The test is rather thin except in the dorsal region wliere it becomes very thick. The color of the outer surface is dirty yellowish or brownish gray, usually more or less stained with mud, darkening to red, brown or 488 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO purplish brown about the apertures in fresh specimens. Some individ- uals have the entire surface or parts of it incrusted with sand and shell fragments, but in a majority of the specimens it is practically bare, fairly smooth in some parts, but with more or less extensive areas which are rough, wrinkled and warty, or it may even develop patches of short irregular moss-like processes. Other specimens may have the entire surface wrinkled. Internally the test is grayish with a slight pearly cast. The test substance is strong, yet soft and flexible when fresh, and even in material long preserved in alcohol it has less tendency to become hard and rigid than in many other allied ascidians. The mantle is smooth and often of a somewhat gelatinous appearance, conspicuously brown in color in most individuals and provided with a rather weak musculature, semi-transparent, allowing the stomach and in- testine (which forms a small rounded loop), and the numerous small saclike hermaphroditic gonads, which are attached to its inner surface, to be distinctly seen. Somach small and rounded, nearly smooth- walled. Distribution. — P. ohtecta is one of the commonest and most widely distributed simple ascidians of the "West Indies, having also near allies in the Old World. It is perhaps commoner in water a few feet or fathoms deep than right along the shore. At Porto Rico it was collected in Guanica Harbor on piles and dredged in 18 feet. St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, is Traustedt's type locality. Polycarpa spongiabilis Traustedt Polycarpa spongialjilis Traustedt, 1SS3, Vidensk. Meddel. natur. For. Kjoben- havn, 1882, pp. 125, 134, PI. 5, Fig. 9. Polycarpa spongiabilis Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 424, Figs. 91-93. k' - ^^^^^^^^mim^^^^mi^ fig. 55. — Polycarpa spongiabilis Trau- stedt, 1883. Natural size. VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 489 Diagnosis. — In internal structure this species corresponds closely with P. ohteda, with which it may eventually have to be united, although its external characters and appearance seem sufficiently to separate it. The spongelike appearance of the test readily explains its specific name. It is due to the rough fibrous surface of those parts of the body free from foreign matter, the rigid yet easily broken test and the non-contractile character of the tubes and apertures, which gives them, in the alcoholic specimens at least, a resemblance to the oscula of sponges. The shape of the body is very variable in the specimens available for study, which were collected at Porto Eico; strongly compressed fi'om side to side in the small ones, but tumid in the larger ones. The tubes are of varying length, mere conical eminences in two of the individuals, large, cylindrical and very long in other cases. The orifices are some- what square, not contracted in any of the specimens. The tubes arise near together on the dorsal part of the body, but curve apart so as to form a widely diverging angle (in once case nearly 180 degrees). The largest specimen is 40 mm. long, 35 mm. in dorso-ventral diameter and about 28 mm. wide, exclusive of the tubes. The color of the test is yellowish or brownish, becoming reddish or purplish on the tubes; opaque in the alcoholic specimens ; its surface rough, uneven and fibrous, but not greatly incrusted with foreign matter on the upper half of the body or on the tubes, though in the two larger specimens some minute bivalve mollusks are imbedded in its substance. Upon the ventral half of the body there may, however, be a tangled growth of hair-like pro- cesses to which sand, shell fragments, mud, etc., adhere, and which evi- dently serve to anchor the animal. Distnhidion. — Traustedt, 1883, gives the localities of his specimens as West Indies and Brazil. A total of six specimens were dredged by the American Museum expeditions at Porto Rico, as follows: entrance to Guanica Harbor, 10-25 feet, mud, 1 specimen; Condado Bay, San Juan Harbor, 16-22 feet, sand and mud, 3 specimens (large) ; Salinas Cove (east of Parguera) off Don Luis Cayo, 1:14-5 fathoms, coral, mud, 2 specimens. Styela Fleming- Simple ascidians with characters as given above for the family, hav- ing but few elongate gonads (often only one or two on each side) com- posed of a tubular ovary with the male glands arranged along each side of it. 490 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Styela partita (Stimpson) Cynthia partita Stimpson. 1852. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. IV, p. 231. Styela partita Vau Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., p. 431, Figs. 98-101. . ^iK ' Fig. 5G. — Sti/ela partita (Stimpson), 1852. Specimens natural size. Diagnosis. — The form of the body is hirgely dependent on whether the animal is attached singly or in a crowded group of several or many individuals. In the former case, the body may be attached by much of the ventral surface and the branchial aperture situated on the dorsal surface slightly back from the anterior end; in the latter case, the body is often attached by only a small area near the posteror end and the branchial aperture is situated at the anterior end. The atrial aperture is on the dorsal surface, rather near tlie branchial aperture in either case. When so situated as to grow symmetrically, the body is ovoid, smaller at the anterior end and not much compressed laterally ; the apertures are on conical papillae. The body surface is more or less rough and wrinkled, and raised into minute irregular elevations toward the anterior end of the body, and especially on and immediately about the papillae bearing the apertures, the surface becomes rougher and the small eleva- tions larger and more conspicuous, giving the surface a characteristic nodular appearance by which the species can often be recognized. The color is dirty yellowish or grayish brown, more or less tinged during life with red, red-brown or purplish, especially toward the an- terior end and about the apertures, which may exhibit radial white mark- ings; some specimens are red or reddish all over. The test is coriaceous, VAN NAME, PORTO RIGO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 491 Fig. 57. — Styela partita (Stimpson), 1852. The left and right sides of the body, X 2. The dorsal tubercle, X 12. A gonad of a small individual, X 20, and part of the branchial sac, X 14. 492 SCIEXTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO usually of a somewhat fibrous texture, rather thin on the posterior part of the body, thicker on the anterior part. On the Xew England coast it reaches a length of 30 mm., but the speci- mens from southern localities (Florida and Porto Eico) appear to average smaller, rarely exceeding 20 mm. in length. The best distinguishing character of the species is furnished by the gonads, which, owing to the thinness of the mantle, are usually distinctly visible when the animal is removed from its test. There are two on each side, each consisting of a tubular, more or less sinuous ovary, nar- rowed to a neck at its dorsal end. where the opening for the discharge of the eggs is situated. Each ovary is surrounded by a varying number of small male glands, which are distributed around the ventral end of the ovary and along its sides, except toward the dorsal end. The male glands lie attached to the mantle a little way removed from the ovary. Distribution. — This is a well-known and widely distributed form which has been described under several different names. On the Ameri- can coast it ranges from Massachusetts Bay to Florida and the West Indies (Cuba and Porto Rico) ; its distribution in the Old AYorld is also extensive. It was collected by the American Museum expeditions to Porto Eico from the piles of wharves and mangrove roots in Guanica Harbor, where it was growing in large clumps with mussels, barnacles, bryozoans, ascidians of other species, etc. It was also obtained at Santurce near San Juan and off Tallaboa Bay, where it was dredged at a depth of from 6 to 11 fathoms (one small specimen). Styela plicata (Lesueur) Ascidia plicata Lesueur, 182.3, Jouni. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Vol. Ill, p. 5, PI. 3, Fig. t>. Styela plicata Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 435, Figs. 102-105. Diagnosis. — This is a much larger species than S. partita and is very variable in external appearance. Sometimes the body is broader in the anterior part or near the middle and narrowed toward the posterior and by which it is attached ; the test at this end of the body may be so pro- duced as to form a short stout pedicel. Some specimens are strongly compressed laterally, others scarcely at all. In other examples the general outline of the body is merely oval or rounded and attached by one side or near the posterior end. VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 493 Fig. 58. — Styela plicata (Lesueur), 1823. Four specimens, natural size. The branchial orifice is terminal or nearly so, the atrial a little way back on the dorsal side; both are usually surrounded by four rounded eminences corresponding to the four sides of the square aperture, which lies in the depression between them. In many individuals there is a conspicuous curvature of the long axis of the body by which the aper- tures are brought towards each other and the ventral side of the body becomes more con\ex. 494 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO The most conspicuous external characters of the species are furnished by the test and the body surface. The test when not discolored is of a dull white color, quite opaque in alcoholic material, but more or less translucent in formaldehyde. It is said to be whitish also in living Fig. 50. — Stuela plicnfa (Lesueur). 1823. Upper figures: lei't and right sides of body, slightly enlarged, and terminal part of a gonad of an individual having the gonads compact and the testes of simple form, x 10. Lower figures : dorsal tubercle, X 6, and terminal part of the gonad of an individual with highly developed branching testes, X 12. specimens. Except for a trifling amount of mud, frequently no more than sufficient to discolor the surface, the latter is usually free from foreign matter, though ascidians of the same or other species and other organisms sometimes grow upon it. In some individuals the surface is merely irregiilarly furrowed ; or there are a few conspicuous, rather widely separated furrows whose direction is longitudinal and Avhich are sepa- rated by broad, rounded ridges running toward the apertures and ending VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 495 in the eminences surrounding the latter, which have already been men- tioned. In many individuals the ridges are broken, especially in the anterior part of the body, into low but rather large dome-shaped eleva- tions, giving the body surface, or parts of it, an appearance suggesting a coarse unevenly laid cobblestone pavement. Such specimens are very characteristic and easily recognized. A number of the largest specimens measured ranged from 45 to 72 mm. in length and from 25 to 38 mm. in greatest dorso-ventral diameter. There are also several conspicuous differences in the internal structure separating it from S. partita. Though there are usually but two gonads on the left side, as in that species, on the right side there are as a rule from four to seven ; the internal longitudinal vessels are more numerous and the stomach more elongate and less conspicuousl}' plicated. The testes lie closer to the ovaries, often overlapped or, when small and short, almost covered by the latter instead of a little removed from the ovary as in S. partita. Distribution. — This is an even more vridely distributed form than S. partita in the warm parts of the world. It is known from the Virgin Islands (St. Croix and St. Thomas) and at Porto Eico was found abun- dant at Guanica Harbor on wharf piles in clusters with other ascidians, Pyukjdae Hartmeyer [^Cynthiidae^ Halocynthiidae auct. plur. and Tethyidae Hunts- man] These are simple ascidians having the branchial sac with longitudinal folds (usually five to eight or more on each side) and generally with branching tentacles and straight stigmata. Dorsal lamina variable, usually replaced by a row of languets. A liver consisting of masses of tubules opening into the stomach is present, but there is no kidney. Pyura Molina [ = Ci/nthia s. Halofijnih'Kt (part) auct. plur.] This is the largest genus of the family, having elongate, longitudinally placed gonads, usually one (less often two) on each side of the body. Dorsal lamina replaced by a row of languets. The stomach is elongate. The external body surface is rough but usually not spiny. 496 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Pyura vittata (Stimpson) Cynthia vittata Stimpson, 1852, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. IV, p. 230. Cynthia laevigata Heller, 1878, Sitzungsber. Akad. Wiss. Wien. math.-nat. Kl., Vol. LXXVII, p. 93, PI. 2, Fig. 11. Pyura vittata Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 446, Figs. 112-122. Fig. 60. — Pyura vittata (Stimpson), 1852. The body removed from the test, X 1.5. L. Fig. 61. — Pyura vittata (Stimpson), 1852. The left and right sides of two individuals. The large one is only slightly enlarged ; the small one is 1.6 times the natural size. VAN XAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 497 Diagnosis. — The external form and characters are so varied that it is practically impossible to give any description covering them; often the species can be recognized only on dissection. The body is more or less oval, but often very irregularly so, sometimes laterally compressed, some- times not. The attachment is variable, occasionally by the whole of the ventral surface, in other examples by a larger or smaller area at or near the posterior end (which may be produced into a very short extension or Fig. 62. — Pyura viitata (Stimpson), 1S52. Fpppr figures: dorsal tubercles and tenta- cles of different individuals to show variation. X 12 to 20 times. Lower figures : genital sacs from gonads of two individuals, one sac fully, the other partly, filled by the reproductive glands, X 14 ; also (in center) part of the liver, X 18. peduncle), or by an area one one side. The apeitui'es are square, gen- erally rather far apart, and raised on papilke, which in some specimens are produced into more or less elongate tubes. The test, especially in old specimens, is tough and opaque, sometimes remarkably so, and often much wrinkled. The wrinkles and folds, though separated by narrow, sharply defined furrows, generally have the upper \^\ 498 HVIEXTIFW iel<)\v /), DistaitJia hcnniiiloisin ; opposite c, Dhlemniim vatnliiliiiii. Fig. 66. — Microcosmus claudicans exasperatus (Heller), 1878. The hody removed from the test and slightly enlarged : the right-hand specimen is transversely sectioned to show the folds of the branchial sac. Fia. 67. — Microcosmus claudicans exasperatus (Fleller), 1878. The left and right sidea of the body, X 1.2. 503 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO -^^ Fig. 68.^ — Mii rorosmiis (■himUcnns cxaspcratus (Heller). 1878. Upper figures: intes- tinal loop and gonad of left side, seen from side next to the branchial sac. X C, and tentacle. X 15. Lower figures : dorsal tubercles of two in- dividuals. X 7. and part of liver, X 10, and minute spines from the linin-- of the distal part of the branchial tube, X 280. papillae, which, however, are sometimes produced into tithes of con- spicuous length. The size of the largest specimen is about 55 mm. l)y 35 mm. by 27 mm. The body surface is very rough and uneven Avith irregular folds, furrows and ridges, tlte latter often with rough angular edges, which are sharper and more prominent than usual in other AYest Indian forms. Though often overgrown to some extent with alg-a>, com- pound ascidians or other organisms, it is generally not much incrusted by sand or shell fragments. The color of the test in life is some shade of red or pink externally and pearly gray or whitish internally. The test is fairly thick and tough, often becoming hard and rigid in alcoliolic specimens. Branchial sac with al)out nine (sometimes eight or ten ) folds on each side ; the folds diminish in height, and in the number of internal longi- tudinal vessels they bear, fairly regularly from the dorsal to the ventral region, the ninth fold being often much reduced and fading out before fche posterior end of tlie l;)ody is reached, or it may be wanting entirely. When removed from tlie test, the characteristic arrangement of the intestinal loop and tlie gonads is usually visible (the mantle being thin, VAN XAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 503 except for stout muscle bands radiating from the bases of the siphons), and at once serves to identify the species. Distribution. — It is one of the hirgest and commonest of the West Indian ascidians and is found also in parts of the Old World. Traustedt (1883) records it under the name variegatus from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Many specimens were collected by the American Museum expeditions in the vicinity of Guanica Harbor and Parguera, Porto Eico, mostly in very shallow water, attached to piles, mangrove roots or stones along the shore, but several were dredged in water of from 3 to 7 fathoms in depth. Remarks. — In the present paper I am following Michaelsen (1928, pp. 401-404) in regarding this as a subspecies of the European M. daudicans Savigny, which seems to be distinguished mainly by not hav- ing the gonads broken up into several segments as is usual in the American specimens. However the segments may be more or less con- fluent in the American form also. [Microcosnuis anelijiodeirus Traustedt] (Doubtful Species) Microcosmus michijlodeirus Traustedt, 1883, Yidensk. Meddel. uaturf. For. KjiVbeiihavn. 1882, p. 121, PI. 6, Fig. 18. Microcosmus anchylodelrus Van Name. 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, pp. 466, 485 (no description). Microcosmus ancliylodelrus Micbaelsen, 1919, Denk. Acad. Wiss. Wien. inatli.- nat. Kl.. Vol. XCV, pp. 58, 62. Diagnosis. — Traustedt in 1883 briefly described this species from a single specimen from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. The only figure he gave shows a small piece of the branchial sac. The species is distin- guished by having a branchial sac with seven folds on each side. Aside from this there does not appear to be anything in the description or figure to prevent us from considering it an example of M. c. exasperatus, and in spite of the above discrepancy I would be more inclined to adopt that hypothesis than the suggestion of Michaelsen (1919) that it is identical witli M. pupa Savigny, 1810, a species described from the Red Sea but never reported from American waters. Microcosmus helleri Herdman Text Figs. 69 and 70 Microcosmus hcllerl Herdman. 1881, Proc. Royal Soc. Eldinburg, Vol. XI, p. .54. Microcosmus helleri Van Name, 1921, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, p. 46.3, Figs. 145 and 146. 504 SCI i:\TIFK' SUR\'EY OF I'OliTO UIVO Fig. 69. — iliuocomii im hcllcri Ilerdman, 1881. Four specimens, natural size. Dmgnosis. — The body is irregularly splieroidal, longer than broad, and usually not laterally compressed, though sometimes slightly compressed in a dorso-ventral direction. The tubes arise from the dorsal surface at a varying distance apart; they are long, narrow and diverging in most specimens, and often very crooked. In some specimens, however, they are quite short, perhaps because of contraction. The size of the largest specimen is 45 mm. in length, 32 mm. in dorso-ventral and 29 mm. in lateral diameter, exclusive of the tubes. These arise more than 10 mm. apart; the branchial tube is about IG mm. long, the atrial a])Out 11 mm. long. Fig. 70.^ — MUrocoHiHiis liclleri Herdman, 1881. The left and right sides of the body, X 1.5. VAN NAME, PORTO RICO AXD THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 505 The surface is rough and raised into small, sharp, irregular ridges and small irregular processes. It is so completely incrusted with sand grains, shell and coral fragments, etc. (which are imbedded in the test, and in the substance of the processes, as well as firmly attached to their surfaces) and so plastered with loosely adherent mud that the surface is generally entirely concealed and the animal often looks like a ball of mud and debris. In its internal structure it differs conspicuously from M. c. exaspera- tiis in having but six branchial folds, and in having the intestinal loop much less bent, while the gonads are ]iot distinctly broken up into sep- arate lobes or masses. Distribution. — The specimens of this species were all dredged off the coast of Porto Rico in the vicinity of Guanica and Tallaboa by the American Museum ex]ieditions. Their localities are as follows: East of Caribe Islands, 514 to 8% fathoms, 27 specimens; off Guanica Playa, 18 feet, sand and algs, 1 specimen; between Eatones and Caribe islands, 6 to 11 fathoms, 1 specimen. This species is widely distributed in the warm parts of the Old AYorld. 1 MoLGULiDAE Lacaze-Duthiers [=Caesiridae auct. fnult.] These are simple ascidians, usually having the tentacles compound and the branchial sac with longitudinal folds, more or less curved and sometimes spirally arranged stigmata, and a kidney (in the form of a single completely closed sac in which concretions form) situated on the right side of the body. The dorsal lamina is continuous but often toothed. Molgula Forbes and Hanley [ = Caesira auct, mult.] This is the largest genus of the family Molgulidae. The branchial sac is provided with folds (usually six or seven on each side), each bear- ing a number of internal longitudinal vessels and usually a row of in- fundibula with spiral stigmata along its summit ; the spirals are more or less imperfect and interrupted. A gonad is usually present on each side of the bodv. 506 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Molgaila oceulentalis Traustedt Molgula occidentalis Traustedt, 1883. Vidensk. Meddel. natur. For. Kjoben- havn, 1882. pp. 113. 128, Tl. 5, Figs. 4 and 5 : PI. 6. Fig. 14. MoJffula occidentalis Van Name, 1921. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.. Vol. XLIV, p. 467, Figs. 147-152. Fig. 71. — Moljjula occidentalis Trau- stedt, 188.3. Natural size. Diagnosis. — The body i.s of rounded or oval outline; the depth may or may not exceed the length. It is not nmeli compressed laterally. The apertures are on the dorsal side, usually situated not far apart, some- times sunk in the depressions between rounded prominences of the test that are present on that part of the body, in other cases raised on low papillae. The size of the largest specimen examined was 4-i mm. in length, 45 mm. in dorso-ventral diameter and nearly 25 mm. in width from side to side when distended. The test is rather tiiin, though tough, on most ])arts of the body; on the dorsal region it becomes quite abruptly very thick and hard. The surface is sometimes roughened by rather fine Avrinkles and much in- crusted Avith mud. sand, shell fragments, etc., these materials being in Fig. 72. — Molgula occidentalis Traustedt. 1SS3. The left and right sides of the body, X 1.5. I'.-LV XMIE. PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 507 part imbedded in the test and in part adherent to sliort fibrous processes with which parts of the surface are provided, but some specimens have much of the bod}^ bare of forei^rn matter and are fairly smooth. The color is usuallv that of the incrustinw sand or mud : where the surface is iLMitaMAsL- Fio. 73. — Mohjiila occideiitalis Traustedt, 1S83. On the left, large tentacle, X 9, the dorsal tubercle. X 12, part of the liver, x 6, and the closed end of the left gonad, x l-'i. On the right, part of the branchial sac, X 12. 508 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO exposed, it is of a dingy yellowish or gray color. The mantle is thin and semi-transparent, sometimes dark colored. The branchial sac has six well-developed folds on each side. The stig- mata are short and small and for the most part very little curved. The intestinal loop is very narrow (its branches in contact for practi- cally the whole length). It is bent into about three quarters of a circle. The stomach has a large greenish hepatic gland consisting of an im- mense number of very minute, short, sparingly branched tubules. The kidney is a large elongate-oblong sac on the right side of the body, visible through the mantle. A large gonad is present on each side of the body. Each gonad con- sists of an elongate curved tubular ovary bordered along its sides with clusters of small oval or pear-shaped male glands. The right gonad is verv long and narrow, and bent around the kidney so as to surround all except the posterior part of it. Tlie left gonad is situated dorsal to the intestinal loop and is bent into a U-shaped curve conforming to that of the intestine. The gonads are visible through the mantle when the animal is removed from the test, and furnish the easiest means for recognizing the species. Distribution. — Collected at Porto Eico in Guanica and San Juan harbors, and off Guanica Playa at a depth of 18 fathoms. Traustedt's type was from the West Indies, probably from the Virgin Islands. The species is common on the coast of the mainland from North Carolina to Florida inclusive. Xot known to occur in the Old World. BIBLIOGRAPHY 111 addition to works of special importance regarding tlie ascidians of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and those containing orignal descriptions of species dealt with, works referring specifically to the ascidians of the West Indian and neighboring regions that were published since the preparation of the list in the writer's monograph of 1921 are included here, to bring that list up to date. Agassiz, L. 1880. Report on the Florida Reefs. Mem. Mus. Com. Zool., Vol. VII, pp. 1-61, Pis. I-XXII. ARNBACK ChRISTIE-LiNDE, A. 1925. Contributions to the tunicate fauna of Norway, with notes on Polycitor giganteus Sluiter. Ark. f. Zoologi, Vol. XVIIIa, No. 1, pp. 1-22. PI. I. 1926. The genus Tylohranchion Herdman, with supplementary notes on Rhopalaea norvegica Arnb. Ark. f. Zoologi, Vol. XVIIIa, No. 35, pp. l-2t), PI. 1.. VAN XAME, PORTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 50!J 1925. Northern and Arctic invertebrates in the collection of the Swedish State Mnseiiin ( Riksmuseum i . I't. IX, Tunicata, No. 3, Mol- gvilidae and Pyuridae. Kunj;. Svensk. Veteiisk.-Akad. Handl. (3), Vol. IV, No. 9, pp. 1-101, Figs. 1-14, Pis. I-III. Beers, C. D. 1923. Some points in the hud formation of a simple ascidian Eetein- ascidla turbmata Herdman. Journ. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. Vol. XXXIX. pp. 92-94, Figs. 1. 2. George, W. C. 1926. The histology of the blood of Perophora vtridis (ascidian). Journ. Mcnph. and Physiol., Vol. XLI, pp. 313-328, Pis. I, II. Grave, C, 1922. Amarouchim constcUatnm (Verrill). The structure and organiza- tion of the tadpole larva. Journ. Morph. and Physiol., Vol. XXXVI. pp. 71-91, 4 figs., 4 pis. 1922. The ascidian Amarouclum conslcUatnm a valid species. Occ. Papers Boston Soc. Nat. Hist.. Vol. V, pp. 27-33. PI. III. 1925. Preliminary report on the development and behavior of larval ascidians. Yearltook Carnegie Institution of Washington for 192.5. pp. 224-225. Grave, C. and "WooDBRinoE, H. 1924. Botnjllus schlosscri (Pallas). The behaviour and morphology of the freeswimming larva. Journ. Morph. XXXIX, pp. 207-247. 10 text-figs., Pis. I-V. Harant, H. 1929. Ascidit's provenant des croisieres du Prince Albert ler de Monaco. Res. Camp. Sci. Pr. Monaco, Fasc. LXXV, pp. 1-110, Pis. I, II. Haktmeyer. R. 1901. Zur Kenntniss des Genus Rhodosoma Ehi-bg., Arch. f. Naturge- schichte, Vol. XLVII, suppl., pp. 151-168, PI. IV. 1920. Ascidien von Juan Fernandez. Skottsberg. Nat. Hist. Juan Fer- nandez. Vol. III. pp. 131-136, Fig. 1. 1922. Miscellanea Ascidiologica. Mitt. Zool. Mus. Berlin, Vol. X, pp. .301- 323, Figs. 1-17. 1923-4 Ascidiacea. Zugleich eine Febersicht iilier die arktische und boreale Ascidienfauna auf tiergeographi.scher Grundlage. Dan- ish Ingolf Expedition. Vol. II, Pt. 1. pp. 1-365. Figs. 1-35; PL I. map: Pt. 2 (1924). pp. 1-275. Figs. .36-45. map. 1927. Zur Kenntniss phlebobranchiater und dikt.vobranchiater Ascidien. Mitt. Zool. Mns. Berlin. Vol. XIII. pp. 159-196. Figs. 1-18. (Edited by W. Mlchaelsen.) Hartmeyer. R. and Michaelsen, W. 1925. Ascidiae Diktyobranchiae und Ptychobranchiae. in Fauna Siid- west-Australiens, Vol. V, pp. 251-460, Figs. 1-61. 510 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Hellek, C. 1S7S. Beitrii.uc zur iiiUiern Kenntiiiss der Timk-ateu. Sitzuiigsber. Akad. Wiss. Wien, math.-uat. Klasse, Vol. LXXVII, Pt. 1, pp. 83- 110, 6 pis. Hekdmax, W. a. 1880. Preliminary report ou the Tunicata of the Challenger Expedition, I't. 1, Aseidiadae. Proc. Roy. See. Edinburgh, Vol. X. pp. 4.58-472. 1880. Preliminary report on the Tunicata of the Challenger Expedition, Pt. 2. I'roe. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh, Vol. X, pp. 714-726. ISSl. I'reliminary report on the Tunicata of the Challenger Expedition, Pt. 3, Cynthiadae. I'roc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh, Vol. XI, pp. 52-88, 1 fig. 1882. Report on the Tunicata collected during the voyage of "H. M. S. Challenger" during the j-ears 1873-76, Pt. 1, Ascidiae Simplices. Rep. Voy. Challenger, Zool., Vol. VI, 296 pp., 13 text figs., 37 pis. 1886. Report on the Tunicata collected during the voyage of "H. M. S. Challenger" during the years 187376, Pt. II, Ascidiae Com- positae. Rep. Voy. Challenger, Zool., Vol. XIV, 432 pp., r> text figs., 49 pis., 1 map. Huntsman. A. G. 1922. The ascidian family Caesiridae. Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada (3), Vol. XVI, pp. 211-234. Hcjus, I. 1927. rel>er die Ausbreitungshindernisse der Meerestiefen und die geo- graphische Verbreitung der Ascidien. Nyt. Mag. f. Naturh., Vol. LXV, pp. 155-174. IvESUEUR, C. A. 1823. Descriptions of several new species of Ascidia. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Vol. III. pp, 2-8, Pis. I-III. MlCIIAEI.SEX, W. 1904. Revision der kompositen Styeliden oder I'olyzoinen. .lahrbuch Wiss. Anstalten, Hamburg, Vol. XXI, suppl. 2, pp. 1-124, Pis. III. 1921. Die Botrylliden und Didemnideu der Nordsee und der zur Ostsee fiihrenden Meeresgebiete. Wiss. Meeresunters, new series, ^'ol. XIV, Abt. Helgoland, pp. 99-124, Figs. 1-7. 1922. Ascidiae Ptychobranchiae und Diktyobranchiae von Neusselaud und den Chatham-Insehi. Vidensk. Medel. Dausk. naturh. Foren.. Vol. LXXIIl. pp. 359-498, Figs. 1-35. 1923. Siidafrikanische Ascidien. Goteborgs Kung. Vet. Vit.-Samh. Hand., Vol. XXVI, No. S, pp. 1-2.3, Figs. 1-.3. VAN NAME, PORTO HI CO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 51 1 192'! Xene uud altbekaiuite Aseidieu an deui Reicbsmuseiun zu Stock- holm. Mifr. Zool. Mils. Haiiilnu-g, Vol. XL, pp. l-6(». Figs. 1-VI. (I'olycUiiuni bntsUicn.sv and LeptocUiiidcs hraxilicHsi!^, new species, also Molgiola koiihumeli Micbaelsen, from Brazil.) 1924. Ascidiae Krikobranchiae von Neuseeland. der CliatUam, und den Aucklaud-Inseln. Vid. Meddel. Dansk. naturli. Foren., Vol. LXXVII, pp. 263-434. Figs. 1-30. (See also Hartmeyer and Miehaelsen.) Pallas. P. S. ]"<;(). Klenclms Zoopliytornni. Franc(»fnrti. 451 iip. Salfi, M. 1927. Kicerclie snlla hiologia delle ascidie del (Jolfo di Napoli. Ricer. Morf. Biol. Anim., I, pp. 275-370, Figs. 1-14, Pis. XII-XV. Savigxy, J. C. 1S1(J. Memoires sur les animaux sans vertebrates. Pt. 2. pp. l-2'3!». Pis. I-XXIV, Paris. (Also German translation, by I>. Oken. witb plates, in I sis, 1820.) Schmidt, O. 1S70. Grundziige einer Spongienfauna des Atlantiscben (iebietes, pp. iv -f 88, Pis. I-VI. Leipzig. SiMKIXS. C. S. 1924. Origin of the germ cells in Ecteinascidia. .b)nrn. of :M(irpb. and I'bysioL, Vol. XXXIX, pp. 295-318. Pis. 1, 2. 1924. Origin of the pigment in Ecteinascidia. Acta Zoologica. ^'ol. ^^ pp. 425-438, Pis. 1, XL SniTi;!!. G. I'll. l'.)27. Les Ascidies de la cote atlanticine du Maroc. Bull. Soc. Sci. Nat. du Maroc, A^ol. A'll, pp. 50-99. Figs. 1-11, Pis. VI, VII. Stimpsox, W. 1S52. Several new ascidians from the coast of the United States. I'roc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. IV, pp. 228-232. 1855. Descriptions of some of the new marine Invertebrata from the Ghinese and .Tapanese Seas. Proc. Philadelphia Acad. Sci., Vol. VII, ]>]). 375-3S4. Tbaustedt, M. p. a. 1882. Vestindiske Ascidiae Simplices. Forste Afdeling. Phallusiadae. Vidensk. Meddel. natnrhist. For. Kjc'ibenbavn. 1881. pp. 257-288, Pis. IV, V. 1883. Vestindiske Ascidiae Simplices. Anden Afdeling. Molgulidae og Gyiithiiid.ic. X'idensk. Meddel. natnrhist. For. Kjobenhavn. 1882, lip. 108-130. Pis. V. VI. 512 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Van Name, W. G. 1902. The ascidians of the Bermiula Ishimls. Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, pp. 325-412, Pis. XLVI-LXIV. 1921. Ascidians of the West Indian region and southeastern United States. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XLIV, pp. 283-494, Figs. 1-159. 1924. A.scidians from Curagao. Bijdr. t. d. Dierkuude, part XXIII, pp. 23-32, Figs. 1-7. Verrill, a. E. 1871. On the distribution of marine animals on the southern coast of New England. Amer. Journ. Sci., (3) Vol. II, pp. 357-362. INDEX FOR VOLUME X Amphibians and Land Reptiles Acris, 43 acutus, Anolis, 26, 27, 151, 152, 154 aenea, Mabouia, 121 agilis, Gongylus (Eumeces), 121 albifrons, Leptotyphlops, 23 albilabris, Cystignathus, 37 albilabris, Leptodactylus, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 26, 29, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 151, 153 alboguttata, Ameiva, 8, 108, 115, 116 Allen, Glover M., 7 alligator, Anolis, 88 Alsophis, 14, 22, 23, 24, 124, 133, 134, 139 Alsophis anegadae, 139, 141 Alsophis antillensin, 8, 9, 10, 11, 24, 26, 139, 140, 141, 151, 153, 155 Alsophis melanichnus, 29 Alsophis portoricensis, 8, 9, 10, 26, 29, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145. 146 Alsophis sancti-crucis, 26, 27, 151, 153, 155 Alsophis variegatus, 8, 117, 134, 144, 145 Amblyrhynchus, 17 Ameiva, 14, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 28, 69, 108 Ameiva alboguttata, 8, 108, 115, 116 Am.eiva ameiva, 108 ameiva, Ameiva, 108 Ameiva bifrontata, 108 Ameira exsul, 8, 9. 10, 26, 29, 108, 111, 112, 114, 115, 151, 153, 155 Ameiva festiva, 108 Ameiva lineolata, 29, 108 Ameiva plei, 112, 113 Ameiva plei var. exsul, 112 Ameiva polops, 26, 27, 151, 153, 155 Ameiva riisei, 112 Ameiva riisi, 112 Ameiva undulata, 108 Am,eiva vittipunctata, 29, 112 Ameiva wetmorei, 8, 9, 10, 11, 23, 26, 29, 108, 109, 110, 153 Amphibia, 30 Amphisbaena, 14, 18, 19, 24, 69, 117, 119, 120 Amphisbaena bakeri, 8, 10, 117, 119, 120, 121 Amphisbaena caeca, 8, 10,26,27,29, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121 Amphisbaena fencstrata, 26, 27, 151, 153, 155 Amphisbaena oxyura, 118 Amphisbaena vermicularis, 118 Amphisbaena weinlandi, 29 Amphisbaenidae, 69, 117 Anegada, 151 anegadae, Alsophis, 139, 141 Anguidae, 69 Anolis, 14, 16, 17, 22, 23, 26, 29, 68, 74, 85, 92 Anolis acutus, 26, 27, 151, 152, 154 Anolis alligator, 88 Anolis brugii, 96 Anolia cristatellus, 8, 9, 10, 26, 29, 74, 75, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 87, 88, 89, 93, 96, 98, 101, 114, 117, 133, 151, 152, 154 Anolis cuvieri, 8, 10, 11, 26, 27, 29, 74, 76, 77, 78, 80, 151, 152, 154 Anolis cybotes, 29, 77 Anolis dorsomaculatus, 88 Anolis evermanni, 8, 10, 75, 76, 90, 92 Anolis gundlachi, 8, 10, 27, 74, 76, 78, 84, 85, 98 Anolis krugi, 8, 10, 27, 75, 76, 85, 87, 94, 95, 96, 98, 100 Anolis monensis, 80 Anolis pensensis, 99 Anolis poncensis, 8, 10, 11, 26, 75, 76, 94, 99, 152 Anolis pulchellus, 8, 9, 10, 26, 29, 75, 76, 92, 93, 94, 96, 98, 100, 101, 136, 151, 152, 154 Anolis richardii, 152 Anolis ricordii, 29, 77, 79, 81 Anolis sagrei, 17, 74 Anolis semilineatus, 29 Anolis stratulus, 8, 10, 26, 75, 76, 87, 89, 91, 96, 151, 152, 154 Anolis striatulus, 87 Anolis velifer, 77 Anomalepis, 19 Anthony, H. E., 3, 7 antillensis, Alsophis, 8, 9, 10, 11, 24, 26, 139, 140, 141, 151, 153, 155 antillensis, Dromicus, 139 antillensis, Eleutherodactylus, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 24, 26, 48, 56, 58, 59, 60, 151, 153 antillensis, Hylodes, 56 antillensis, Psammophis, 139 Aristelliger, 14, 17, 28 Arrhyton, 14, 15 auriculatoides, Eleutherodactylus, 29, 50 auriculatus, Eleutherodactylus, 44, 47, 49, 50, 52 bakeri, Amphisbaena, 8, 10, 117, 119, 120, 121 Barbour, Thomas, 6 Beata, 15 Beutenmuller, Mrs. E. L., 5 bifrontata, Ameiva, 108 bilineatus, Leptotyphlops, 22 Bipes, 18 Boa inornata, 130 boettgeri, Piesigaster, 131 Boidae, 130 Boyd, Superintendent, 4 Brachylophus, 17 Britten, N. L., 3 brittoni, Eleutherodactylus, 8, 10, 59, 60 hrookii, Hemidactylus, 70 Brown, W. W., 6 (513) 514 iSClENTIFW SURVEY OF PORTO RICO brugii, Anolis, 96 Bruner, E. M., 4, 6 Bufo, 14, 16, 21, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31 Bufo guUurosus, 29, 31 Bufo lemur, 7, 10, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33 Bufo marinus, 7, 34, 35, 36, 37 Bufo paracnemis, 37 Bufo peltacephalus, 31 Bufo (Peltaphryne) gutturosus, 31 Bufo turpis, 26, 31, 151, 153 Bufonidae, 30 Cadea, 14, 18, 19 caeca, Amphishaena, 8, 10, 26, 27, 29, 117, 118, 119, 120. 121 Caja de Muertos Island, 9 Cayman Islands, 15 Celestus, 14, 17, 18, 20, 26, 27, 28, 69. 105 Celestus pleii, 8, 10, 29, 105, 106 Celestus sp., 29 Chamaeleolis, 14, 15, 17, 22 Chamaelinorops, 14, 15, 17, 28 Chilabothrus inoTnatus, 130 Chilobothrus inornatus, 130 Chipojo, 77 Clemmys decussata, 147 clelia, Cloelia, 22 Cloelia clelia, 22 Cnemidophorus, 18, 20 Cochran, Miss Doris, 6 Colubridae, 133 Conolophus, 17 Coqui, 44, 56 cornuta, Cyclura, 29, 102 cornutus, Melopoceros, 102 Crampton, Henry C, 3, 5 cramptoni, Eleutherodactylus, 7, 10, 12, 55 Cricosaura, 14, 15, 16, 18 cristalellus, Anolis, 8, 9, 10, 26, 29, 74, 75, 76, 78, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 93, 96, 98, 101, 1 14, 117. 133, 151, 152, 154 cristalellus, Xiphosurus, 80 Crocodylus, 14, 19, 28 Crocodylus acutus, 16, 19 Crocodylus moreletii, 16, 19 Crocodylus rhombifer, 16, 19 cruentus, Eleutherodactylus, 49 Ctenosaura, 17, 18, 20 Cuba, 14, 15 Culebra, 134, 142 Culebra oiega, 117, 125 Culebra de cuatro patas, 105 Culebra Island, 9, 151 Culebron, 130 cuprescens, Mahuia, 121 cursor, Dromicus, 133 cuvieri, Anolis, 8, 10, 11, 26, 27. 29. 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 151. 152, 154 cybotes, Anolis, 29, 74 Cyclura, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 23, 26, 68, 101 Cyclura cornuta, 29, 102, 105 Cyclura mattea, 102, 153 Cyclura nigerrima, 105 Cyclura pinguis, 26, 102, 151, 153, 155 Cyclura portoricensis, 8, 26, 29, 102 Cyclura stejneyeri, 8, 29, 102, 103 Cystignathus albilabris, 37 Cystignathus typhonius, 37 Danforth, Stuart T., 4, 6, 7 decussata, Clemmys, 147 Deiroptyx, 14, 15, 17, 22 Desecheo Island, 8 Dickerson, Mary C, 3 difficilis, Sphaerodactylus, 29 Diploglossus, 18 Diploglossus {Celestus) pleii, 106 Diploglossus plei, 106 Diploglossus pleii, 105 Diploglossus sagrae, 107 dominicensis, Leptodactylus, 24, 29, 38, 39, 40 dorsomaculatus, Anolis, 88 Dromica, 134 Dromicus, 14, 16, 22, 24, 124, 133, 134 Dromicus antillensis, 139 Dromicus cursor, 133 Dromicus exiguus, 9, 26, 27, 137, 151, 153, 155 Dromicus parvifrons, 29, 134 Dromicus portoricensis, 145 Dromicus sanctae-crucis, 144 Dromicus sanctae-crucis var. portoricensis, 144 Dromicus stahli, 8, 10, 26, 29, 134, 136, 137 Dromicus variegatus, 145 Dunn, Emmett Reid, 6 Eleutherodactylus, 14, 16, 26, 29, 30, 31, 43, 50, 54, 55 Eleutherodactylus antillensis, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 24, 26, 48, 56, 58, 59, 60, 151, 153 Eleutherodactylus auriculatoides, 29, 50 Eleutherodactylus auriculatus, 44, 47, 49, 50, 52 Eleutherodactylus brittoni, 8, 10, 59, 60 Eleutherodactylus cramptoni, 7, 10, 12, 55 Eleutherodactylus cruentus, 49 Eleutherodactylus gryllus, 7, 10, 12. 48. 51. 54, 60 Eleutherodactylus jamaicensis, 64 Eleutherodactylus lentus, 26, 27, 64, 151, 153 Eleutherodactylus locustus, 7, 10, 53, 54 Eleutherodactylus luteolus, 64 Eleutherodactylus martinicensis, 23, 50 Eleutherodactylus monensis, 8, 44, 64, 65 Eleutherodactylus portoricensis, 7, 10, 11, 12, 29, 44, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 64 Eleutherodactylus richmondi, 8, 10, 12, 26, 29, 44, 62, 63 Eleutherodactylus unicolor, 8, 10, 12, 44, 66, 67 Eleutherodactylus weinlandi, 29, 64 Eleutherodactylus wightmanae, 8, 10, 12, 60, 61 Emys rugosa, 147 Epicrates, 14, 19, 22, 26. 28, 124, 130 Epicrates fordii, 133 Epicrates fordii var. monensis, 132 Epicrates inornatus, 8, 10, 29, 130, 131 Epicrates monensis, 8, 29, 130, 131, 132 INDEX FOR VOLUME X 515 Epicratzs striatus, 29 Eumeces, 18, 20 Eumeces sloanii, 121 Euprepes semitaeniatus, 121, 123 Euprepes spilonottis, 121 evermanni, Anolis, 8, 10, 75, 76, 90, 92 exiguus, Dromicus, 9, 26, 27, 137, 151, 153, 155 exiguus, Leimadophis, 137, 138 exsul, Ameiva, 8, 9, 10. 26, 29, 108, 111, 112, 114, 115, 151, 153, 155 exsul, Amelia plei, var., 112 exul, Ameiva, 112 fenestrata, Amphisbaena, 26, 27, 151, 153, 155 /t stiva, Ameiva, 108 fordii, Epicrates, 133 fulgida, Mabuya, 121 Gecko mabouia, 69 Gekkonidae, 68, 69 Gerrhonotus, 18, 20 Gonaives, 15 Gonatodes, 14, 16, 28 Gongylus (Eumeces) agilis, 121 Goodwin, G. G., 3 grandisquamis, Sphaerodactylus, 71, 73 Greater Porto Rico, 29 Green anolis, 90 gryllus, Eleutherodactylus, 7, 10, 12, 48, 51, 54, 60 gundlachi, Anolis, 8, 10, 27, 74, 76, 78, 84, 85, 98 guttuTosus, Bufo, 29, 31 Hemidactylus, 14, 16, 68, 69 Hemidactylus brookii, 70 Heinidactylus mabouia, 8, 10, 16, 26, 28, 68,69 70, 151, 152, 154 Hemidactylus m,abuia, 69 Hemidactylus turcicus, 70 henshawi, Xantusia, 18 Hispaniola, 14, 15, 29 Hispaniolus, 14, 15, 17, 28 Hyla, 14, 16,21,22,28,50 Hylodes antillensis, 56 Hylodes lentus, 65 Hylodes martinicensis, 44, 50, 56 Hylodes moyiensis, 65 Hypsirhynchus, 14, 28 laltris, 14, 15, 28 Iguana, 112 Iguana, 14, 15, 17, 22 Iguana iguana, 23, 151, 152, 155 Iguana iguana rhinolopha, 26 iguana. Iguana, 23, 151, 152, 155 Iguanidae, 68, 74 infuscatus, Oedipus, 27 inornata, Boa, 130 inornatus, Chilabothrus, 130 inornatus, Chilabothrus, 130 ,• nornatus, Epicrates, 8, 10, 29, 130, 131 Jamaica, 14 jamaicensis, Eleutherodactylus, 64 jamaicensis, Typhlops, 125, 126 Jones, T. H., 3 Jost Van Dyke, 151 krugi, Anolis, 8, 10, 27, 75, 76, 85, 87, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 100 labialis, Leptodactylus, 38 Lagartija, 99 Lagartija cabeza de muerte, 70 Lagartija comun, 80 Lagartija manchada, 87 Lagartija rayon, 92 Lagartija verde, 90 Lagarto, 77 Leimadophis, 119, 127, 134 Leimadophis exiguus, 137, 138 Leimadophis stahli, 134, 138 Leiocephalus, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 28 Lejeune, Marc, 6 lemur, Bufo, 7, 10, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33 lemur, Peltaphryne, 31 lentus, Eleutherodactylus, 26, 27, 64, 151, 153 lentus, Hylodes, 65 Lepidophyma, 18 Leptodactylus, 14, 15, 16, 22, 30, 31, 37 Leptodactylus albilabris, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 26, 29, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 151, 153 Leptodactylus dominicensis, 24, 29, 38, 39, 40 Leptodactylus labialis. 38 Leptodactylus pentadactylus, 23 Leptotyphlops albifrons, 23 Leptotyphlops bilineatus, 22 Lesser Antilles, fauna, 22 lineolata, Ameiva, 29, 108 locustus, Eleutherodactylus, 7, 10, S3, 54 Loveridge, Arthur, 6 Lucia, 70, 121 lumbricalis, Typhlops, 19, 125, 128, 129 luteolus, Eleutherodactylus, 64 Lutz, F. E., 3 Mabouia aenea, 121 mabouia. Gecko, 69 mabouia, Hemidactylus, 8, 10, 16, 26, 28, 68, 69, 70, 151, 152, 154 Mabouya sloanei, 121 Mabuia cuprescens, 121 mabuia, Hemidactylus, 69 Mabuia nitida, 121, 122 Mabuia sloanii, 121 Mabuya, 14, 19, 20, 69, 71, 121 Mabuya fulgida, 121 mabuya, Hemidactylus, 69 Mabuya sloanii, 8, 9, 10, 26, 28, 121, 122, 123, 151, 153, 155 McCIure, W. C. F., 4 macrolepis, Sphaerodactylus, 8, 10, 26, 29, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 151, 152, 154 mari7ia, Rana, 34 516 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO marinus, Bufo, 7, 34, 35, 36, 37 martinicensis, Eleutherodactylus, 50 martinicensis, Hylodes, 44, 50, 56 mattea, Cyclura, 102 May, D. W., 37 melanichnus, Alsophis, 29 Metopoceros cornutus, 102 Miner, R. W., 3 Mona Island, 8, 15 monensis, Anolis, 80 monensis, Eleutherodactylus, 8, 44, 64, 65 monensis, Epicrates, 8, 29, 130, 131, 132 monensis, Epicrates fordii var., 132 monensis, Hylodes, 65 m.onensis, Sphaerodaclylus, 71, 72, 73 monensis, Sphaerodactylus macrolepis, 71 monensis, Typhlops, 8, 124, 127, 129 m.oniliger, Psammophis, 139 Navas a, 15 Nichols, J. T., 3 nigerrima, Cyclura, 105 nitida, Mabuia, 121, 122 Noble, G. K., 6 Norops, 14, 15, 17, 22 Psammophis moniliger, 139 Pseudemys, 14, 19, 26, 147 Pseudemys palustris, 29, 147 Pseudemys stejnegeri, 8, 10, 29, 147, 148, 150 pulchellus, Anolis, 8, 9, 10, 26, 29, 75, 76, 85, 92, 93, 94, 96, 98, 99, 100. 101, 151, 152, 154 Ramos, Mendndez, 37 Rana m.arina, 34 Ranita, 70 rapicaudus, Thecadactylus, 23, 26, 151, 152, 151 Reptilia, 68 richmondi, Eleutherodactylus, 8, 10, 12, 26, 29, 44, 62, 63 Rhineura, 19 rhinolopha. Iguana iguana richardi, Tiliqua, 121 richardii, Anolis, 152 richardii, Typhlops, 26, 125, 126, 151, 153, 155 jricordii, Anolis, 29, 77, 79, 81 riisei, Ameiva, 112, 113 riisi, Ameiva, 112 Rock iguana, 102 rostellatus, Typhlops,8, 10, 11, 124, 126, 127. 128 rugosa, Emys, 147 Oedipus, 27 Oedipus infuscatus, 27 oxyura, Am.phisbaena, 118 palustris, Pseudemys, 29, 147 paracnemis, Bufo, 37 Parker, H. W., 6 parvifrons, Dromicus, 29, 134 peltacephalus, Bufo, 31 Peltaphryne lemur, 31 pensensis, Anolis, 99 pentadactylus, Leptodactylus, 23 Peters, James Lee, 7 Piesigaster boettgeri, 131 pinguis, Cyclura, 26, 102, 151, 153, 155 platycephalus, Typhlops, 8, 10, 11, 26, 125, 126, 127, 128 plei, Ameiva, 112, 113 plei, Diplojlossus, 106 pleii, Celestus, 8, 10, 29, 105, 106 pleii, Diploglossus, 105, 106 polops, Ameiva, 26, 27, 151, 153, 155 pcncensis, Anolis, 8, 10, 11, 26, 75, 76, 94, 99 Pope, Clifford H., 6 portoricensis, Alsophis, 8, 9, 10, 26, 29, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146 portoricensis, Cyclura, 8, 26, 29, 102 port iricen sis, Dromicus, 145 por'.oricensis, Dromicus sanctae-crucis var., 144 portoricensis, Eleutherodactylus, 7, 10, 11, 12, 29, 44, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 64 Porto Rico, 15, 151 Porto Rico, list of amphibians and land reptiles, 7, 14 Psammophis, 139 Psammophis antillensis, 139 sagrae, Diploglossus, 107 St. Croix, 151 St. John, 151 St. Thomas, 151 Salamandra, 70 Salamandrita, 70 Salamanqua, 70 Salamanquita, 70 Salientia, 30 sanctae-crucis, Dromicus, 144 sancti-crucis, Alsophis, 26, 27, 151, 153, 155 Santa lucia. 121 Sapo Concho Sauresia, 14, 15, 17, 28 Sauria, 68 Sceloporus, 17, 18, 20, 44 Schwarz, Herbert F., 6 Scincidae, 69, 121 Scincus sloanii, 121 semilineatus, Anolis, 29 semitaeniatus, Euprepes, 121, 123 Shanton, George A., 6 Silvester, Charles F., 7 sloanei, Mabouya, 121 sloanii, Eumeces, 121 sloanii, Mabuia, 121 sloanii, Mabuya, 8, 9, 10, 26, 28, 121, 122, 123, 151, 153, 155 sloanii, Scincus, 121 Sminthillus, 14, 15, 16 Smyth, E. Graywood, 7 Sphaerodactylus, 14, 16, 22, 23, 28, 68, 70, 73 Sphaerodactylus difficilis, 29 Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis, 71, 73 Sphaerodactylus macrolepis, 8, 10, 26, 29, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 151, 152, 154 INDEX FOR VOLUME X 517 Sphaerodactylus macrolepis monensis, 71 Sphaerodactylus monensis, 71, 72, 73 spilonotus, Euprepes, 121 Squamata, 68 stahli, Dromicus, 8, 10, 26, 29, 134, 135, 136, 137 stahli, Leirnadophis, 134, 138 Stejneger, Leonhard, 5, 6 stejnegeri, Cyclura, 8, 29, 102, 103, 105 stejnegeri, Pseudemys, 8, 10, 147, 148, 150 stratulus, Anolis, 8, 10, 26, 75, 76, 87, 89, 91, 96 striatulus, Anolis, 87 striatus, Epicrates, 29 Tarentola, 14, 15, 16 Teiidae, 69, 108 Thecadactylus, 14, 15, 16 Thecadactylus rapicaudus, 23, 26, 151, 152, 154 Tiliqua richardi, 121 Tortola, 151 Tortuga Island, 15 Tower, Ralph W., 3 Tretanorhinus, 14, 15, 19 Tropidophis, 14, 19, 22, 28 turcicus, Hemidactylus, 70 lurpis. Bufo, 26, 31, 151 Typhlops, 14, 23, 24, 124, 127, 129 Typhlops jamaicensis, 125, 126 Typhlops lumbricalis, 19, 125, 128, 129 Typhlops monensis, 8, 124, 127, 129 Typhlops platycephalus, 8, 10, 11, 26, 29, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128 Typhlops richardii, 26, 125, 126, 151, 153, 155 Typhlops rostellatus, 8, 10, 11, 124, 126, 127, 128 Typhlops sp., 29 typhonius, Cystignathus, 37 undulata, Ameiva, 108 unicoloT, Eleutherodactylus, 8, 10, 12, 44, 66, 67 Uromacer, 14, 15, 22, 28 variegatus, Alsophis, 8, 117, 144, 145 variegatus, Dromicus, 145 velifer, Anolis, 77 velifer, Xiphosurus, 77 vermicularis, Amphisbaena, 118 Vibora, 117 Vieques Island, 8, 151 vigilis, Xantusia, 18 Virgin Gorda, 151 Virgin Islands, 14, 15, 26, 150 vittipunctata, Ameiva, 29, 112 Wall, B. A., 4, 6 weinlandi, Amphisbaena, 29 iveinlandi, Eleutherodactylus, 29, 64 West Indian fauna, origin of, 12 Wetmore, Alexander, 7 wetmorei, Ameiva, 8, 9, 10, 11, 26, 29, 108, 109, 110 Wetmorena, 14, 15, 17, 28 wightmanae, Eleutherodactylus, 8, 10, 12, 60, 61 Wolcott, George N., 7 abildgaardi, Sparisoma, 320 Scarus, 320 Abudefduf analogus, 309 marginatus, 308 saxatilis, 308 Acanthurus bahianus, 335 caeruleus, 334 coeruleus, 334 hepatus, 334 Achirus inscript^is, 390 linealus, 390 Acteis moorei, 375 aculeatus, Halieutichthys, 397 Lophius, 397 acuminata, Muraena, 194 acuminatus, Eques, 293 Grammistes, 293 Myrichthys, 194 ocus, Sphyraena, 213 Strongylura, 213 Tylosurus, 213 adscensionis, Epinephelus, 249 Trachinus, 249 adusta, Sciaena, 292 adustus, Ophioscion, 292 Aeto6atu« narinari, 188 Xantusia, 18 Xantusia henshawi, 18 Xantusia vigilis, 18 Xiphocereus, 14, 15, 17 Xiphosurus cristatellus, 80 Xiphosurus velifer, 77 Fishes a/er, Alphestes, 252 ^ffonosiomMS monticola, 223 Aguaji, 252 Aguavina, 255 Agujon, 211, 212, 213 Albacora, 229 albicaudus, Auchenopterus, 377 albifimbria, Scorpaena, 352 albimentis, Gymnothorax, 197 Lycodontis, 197 Albula vulpes, 200 album, Haemulon, 269 Alphestes afer, 252 chloropterus, 252 Aiutera scripta, 342 oiutus, Apoffon, 245 Apogonichthys, 245 americano, Dasyatis, 186 Amio conklini, 244 amphioxys, Catherines, 339 Monacanthus, 339 Pseudomonacanthus, 339 onaZi's, Eupomacentrus, 306 Lutianus, 265 Mesoprion, 265 Neomaenis, 265 518 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Pomacentrus, 306 analogus, Abudefduf, 309 Euc.histodus, 309 Anchovia broivnii, 205 choerostoma, 205 cubana, 204 lyolepis, 206 perfasciata, 204 producta, 206 anchovia, Sardinella, 201 Anchoviella epsetus, 205 Anchovy, Bermuda, 205 broad-head, 206 Cuban, 204 flat, 204 loose-scaled, 206 striped, 205 whalebone, 206 Angel-fish, black, 331 blue, 333 queen, 333 silver, 239 Angelichthys ciliaris, 333 Anguilla, 189 Anguilla chrysypa, 189 rostrata, 189 Anisotremus surinamensis, 276 virginicus, 277 Anlennarius inops, 393 multiocellatus, 395 nuttingii, 394 scaber, 393 antennatus, Chilomycterus, 350 Diodon, 350 Anthias jocu, 262 saponaceus, 257 striatus, 250 antillarum, Sicydium,' 362 Aphthalmichthys caribbeus, 191 apoda, Perca, 263 apodus, Lutianus, 263 Neomaenis, 263 Apogon alutus, 245 conklini, 244 sellicauda, 243 Apogonichthys alutus, 245 stellatus, 245 Apsiius dentatus, 268 araea, Atherina, 221 Archosargus unimaculatus, 282 orcticus, Galeocerdo, 182 arctifrons. Calamus, 281 orcuaius, C/iaetodon, ^331 Pomacanthus, 331 ardeola, Belone, 211 Tylosurus, 211 orenaceus, Citharichthys, 388 arenatus, Priacanthus, 259 argenteus, Diplodus, 282 Sargus, 282 Arnillo, 268 arnillus, Lutjanus, 268 Array ado, 271 aacensionis, Holocentrus, 228 Perco, 226 Aaymmetron lucayanum, 180 Atherina araea, 221 fcrotunii, 205 harringtonensis, 221 /aticeps, 220 8 524 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PORTO RICO Guacamaia, 327 guacamaia, Pseudoacarus, 327 Scarus, 327 Guachanche, 224 guachancho, Sphyraena, 224 Guapena, 295 Guaseta, 252 Guativere, black, 249 red, 248 Guavina, 359, 367 Guavina guavina, 361 guavina, Eleotris, 361 Guavina, 361 gula, Eucinostomus, 283 Gerres, 283 Gulf-weed fish, 392 Gurnard, flying, 357 slender deep-water, 357 guttata, Perca, 251 guttatus, Epinephelus, 251 guttavarium, Plectropoma, 254 guttavarius, Hypoplectrus u., 254 Gymnocephalus ruber, 248 Gymnothorax albimentis, 197 catenatus, 198 funebris, 196 jordani, 197 moringa, 195 Haemulon album, 269 aurolineatum, 275 bonariense, 271 carbonarium, 272 coTvinaeforme, 278 flavolineatum, 274 macrostomum, 270 melanurum, 273 parra, 271 plumieri, 274 rimatOT, 275 sciurus, 273 Half-beak, 213, 214 Halichoeres bivittatus, 315 garnoti, 313 kirschii, 315 radiatus, 314 Halieutichthys aculeatus, 397 smithii, 398 Harengula macrophthalma, 202 sardina, 202 pensacolae, 202 harengulus, Eucinostomus, 283 fforpe rM/a, 312 harringtonensis, Atherina, 221 Harvest-fish, 243 hastata, Dasyatis, 186 Trygon, 186 hastatus, Dasybatus, 186 Havana, Gerres, 284 Xystaema, 284 Hechudo, 206 Hemiramphus brasiliensis, 214 Hemirhamphus unifasciatus, 213 hepatus, Acanthurus, 334 Teuthis, 334 Hepsetia stipes, 220 Herring, big-eyed, 199 silverside, 201 thread, 203 Hind, brown, 248 red, 247, 251 rock-, 249 Hippichthys cayorum, 218 ensenadae, 219 Hippocampus punctulatus, 220 hippos, Caranx, 235 scomber, 235 hispidus, Balistes, 341 Monacanthus, 341 Histrio gibbus, 392 histrio, 392 histrio, Histrio, 392 Hogfish, 311 Spanish, 312 Holacanthus, tricolor, 332 holacanthus, Diodon, 350 Holocentrum. vexillarium, 227 Holocentrus ascensionis, 226 surinamensis, 259 vexillarius, 227 hoplomystax, Sparisoma, 318 Hound-fish, 212, 213 humeralia, Sardinella, 202 Hyphalonedrus chalybeius, 208 Hypoplectrus unicolor, 254 u. chlorurus, 254 u. ffu«o»arius, 254 Hyporhamphus unifasciatus, 213 hystrix, Diodon, 349 Ilisha bleekeriana, 204 incisor, Kyphosus, 288 Pimelepterus, 288 inops, Antennarius, 393 inscriptus, Achirus, 390 intermedius, Saurus, 207 Synodus, 207 Iridio bivittatus, 315 garnoti, 313 kirschii, 315 radiatus, 314 Isabelita, 333 Jaboncillo, 251 Jack, common, 235 hardtail, 236 high-finned amber-, 232 horse-eyed, 236 leather, 232 skip-, 234 yellow, 234 jacobus, Myripristis, 226 jamaicensia, Cynoscion, 289 Otolithus, 289 JXDEJC FOR VOLT- ME X 525 Janissary, 313 Jeniguana, 275 Jenkinsia lamprotaenia, 201 stolifera, 201 Jocu, 262 jocu, Anthias, 262 Lutianus, 262 Neomaenis, 262 Johniua batabanus, 291 jonesi, Siphostoma, 218 Syngnathus, 218 jordani, Gillias, 374 Gymnothorax, 197 Lycodontis, 197 Jorobado, 239 Josea, 222 Julis garnoti, 313 nitida, 316 Jurel, 236 keckii, Myrichthys, 194 kendalli. Calamus, 280 Kilh'fish, Porto Rican, 209 Kingfish, 230 kirschii, Halichoeres, 315 Iridio, 315 Kyphosus incisoT, 288 secta