THE FRESH-WATER FISHES OF MEXICO NORTH OF THE ISTHMUS OF TEHUANTEPEC, MEEK 1904

THE

FRESH-WATER FISHES
OF

MEXICO NORTH OF THE
ISTHMUS OF TEHUANTEPEC
BY

SETH EUGENE MEEK, PH.D.
Assistant Curator of Department

ZOOLOGICAL SERIES
VOL. V.

CHICAGO, U.
I

S.

A.

^Wt/^D
SEP 23

1904



5

PREFACE

2
the

The following paper is based largely on two collections of fishes,
first being made by the writer and Mr. F. E. Lutz, of the Carnegie

Station for Experimental Evolution, Cold Spring Harbor, in the
spring of 1901, and the other by the writer during February, March,
April, and May, 1903.
Through the courtesy of Dr. Barton W.

Evermann, assistant in charge of Scientific Inquiry, United States
Bureau of Fisheries, I have had at my disposal two small collections
made by Mr. E. W. Nelson, one from the Rio Balsas and the other
from the Rio Soto la Marina. Dr. W. L. Tower, of the University
of Chicago, also placed at
disposal a collection of fishes made by
him at Rio Verde, San Luis Potosi. In January, 1903, in Washington, D. C., Dr. Richard Rathbun, Assistant Secretary of the Smith-

my

sonian Institution, and Mr. B. A. Bean, Assistant Curator of fishes
U. S. National Museum, permitted me to examine a large collection

which formed a portion of the Mexican fish exhibit at the Columbian
I have included only a small portion of this collection in
Exposition.
the following

given.

list

because of the doubtful character of the

To have included the

entire collection

localities

would have very much

confused our study of geographical distribution.
An account of the collection made by Mr. F. E. Lutz and myself
is published in Vol. III. of the Zoological Series of the Field Columbian Museum, Pub. 65, pages 63 to 128, plates 14 to 31. The results
of the second expedition are (1903) included in this paper.
For assistance while making the collection of fishes in 1903,

1 wish,
to
indebtedness
the
my
R. Hudson and Mr. A. V. Temple,

on behalf of the Museum, to acknowledge
Mr. C.
following gentlemen:

of the Mexican Central R, R.

W. Harvey, of the Mexican
M.
Ames, and Mr. A. Joy,
Pegram,
& Pacific R. R.; Mr. W. B. Ryan and Mr.
Newbury, of the Tehuantepec R. R. Mr. W. L. Morkil and
Mr. James Parkyn,
Mr. E. A. White, of the Interoceanic R. R.
Treasurer of the Motzorongo Plantation; Gaham & Hudson,
Forlon, Tamaulipas; Mr. D. W. Hedrick, Superintendent of the
Midland Bridge Company; Mr P. H. Kilpatrick, a contractor
Mr. George Greenwood,
on the Vera Cruz and Pacific R. R.
R. R.; Mr. R. B.
of the Vera Cruz

;

Mr. D.

Mr. F.

;

;

.

;

Superintendent of the Jalapa Electric Light Company; Mr. R. G.
Ransom, of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company; and the officials

Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. I would especially menWhite for the personal interest he took in this work,

of the Atchison,

tion Mr. E. A.


FIELD COLUMBIAN

vi

and

MUSEUM

ZOOLOGY, VOL. V.

which resulted in considerable substantial
mention Mr. D. W. Hedrick, who was superintending the construction of the bridges along the Vera Cruz &
Pacific R. R.
Mr. Hedrick gave me the freedom of the bridge
camps, which proved to be excellent stopping places in that country.
The superintendents of these camps were very helpful to me in my
for his

aid.

I

work while

courtesies

many

would

also

At Perez

there.

taxidermist in Chicago,
fishes at Perez, Obispo,

who

met Mr.

Julius Freisser, formerly a
assisted me in making collections of

I

In general the railroad and
other employees of the organizations mentioned above were very
courteous and helpful to me in my work.
Dr. Barton

me

and El Hule.

W. Evermann and

Mr. Barton A. Bean have assisted

examining material in the U. S. National Museum. Dr. G. A.
Boulenger and Mr. C. T. Regan have done the same in the British
in

Jordan in Stanford University, and Mr. Henry
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. Dr.
Theo. Gill, Washington, D. C., has kindly called my attention to
a few important references which I would have otherwise omitted.
Hon. Geo. M. Bowers, United States Commissioner of Fish and Fish-

Museum, Dr. D.

W. Fowler

eries,

S.

in the

kindly loaned the

Museum

for use in illustrating this work.

thirty-one original drawings of fishes
Four other drawings were kindly

To Dr. Evermann I am under
loaned by Dr. Richard Rathbun.
for
the
obligations
superintending
making of blocks from these drawthe
and
also
for
reading
proof sheets while this work was
ings,
going through the press. Dr. Wm. Owen, of the University of Chicago, and Prof. H. N. Hoffman, of Indiana University, also rendered

me
and

valuable service in correcting the misspelled names of Rafinesque
Dr. Frederick Starr, of the University of Chicago, has
others.

also kindly revised the proof sheets of this paper with regard to the
I also desire to acknowledge the
spelling of geographical names.

many

courtesies I received

from Hon. Powell Clayton, U.

S.

Minister

In
to Mexico, while doing field work in Mexico in 1901 and 1903.
I
wish
to
assume
for
these
responsibility
acknowledgments
making

whatever errors
list

this

volume may contain.

In the present paper it has been my purpose to give a descriptive
of the fresh -water fishes of Mexico, and keys to assist in identifying

It is impossible to draw an arbitrary line separating the
fresh-water fishes from those of the salt water. A few of the species
of Pomadasys, Achirus, Gobius, and the like, included in this work,

the same.

are properly salt-water fishes.
in fresh water.

I

have

listed

them here rather

as fishes

found

I have examined every
have had reference and access that throws light on

In the preparation of this publication

paper to which

I


PREFACE.

vii

the subject in question, and I have drawn from these material suited
In the sequence of the orders and families I have folto my purpose.
The
lowed Jordan and Evermann in Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus.

sequence of genera and species has been changed whenever, in the
I have also
of new information, it appeared necessary.
made free use of the publication above mentioned for material
A special effort has
in the characterization of orders and families.
been made to bring together, in as useful a form as possible, our present knowledge of the fresh-water fishes of Mexico north of the Isthmus
The study of this group of animals in this region
of Tehuantepec.
is of especial interest, for between these two lines is the meeting place

In this respect these bounof the northern and the tropical faunas.
in
a
measure
natural
ones, because very few species of
dary lines are
the
northern
line, and but few northern repretropical fishes reach
found
south
are
farther
than
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
sentatives
In addition the subject presents very interesting material for a study
light

in geographical distribution.



ERRATA.
Gaham

Page

v, line 33,

Page

xviii, line g,

Page
Page

xix, line 6,

Page

xxxi, line 49,

Page

xxxiii, line 14,

xix, line

Page xxxix,

5,

should read Graham.

Steindachner should read Poey.

Steindachmer should read Steindachner.

Salmonoides should read solmonoides.

Cousius should read Couesius.

line 20,

CARMAN

should read

CARMEN.

macularis should read macularius.

Gruelin should read Gmelin.

Page

Hi, line 15,

Page

Iviii,

Page

65, line 28, after 1896 .insert

Page

139, 5th line

Page

147, line 2j,formostis

Page

162, line 25,

Page

169,

Page

193, line 26, elder

line 34, after

bottom

into, insert

OR^DKRS

from bottom,

i

,

FAMILIES, FAMILIES

264.

should read

if.

should read formosa.

Sygnathus should read Syngnathus.
line, after

1900 insert

,

152.

should read older.

Page

196, line 12, Ethostotnatinae should read

Page

206, line 30,

Page

216, line 12, after

Etheostomatinae.

D. xvi should read dorsal spines

16.

depth insert of caudal peduncle.

into.



TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
Preface
Introduction
General Topography and Hydrography of Mexico
Recent Geological Changes in Mexico and their General Effect on
the Fish Fauna
List of Localities in Mexico where Collections of Fishes were Made
by F. E. Lutz and the Author in 1901
List of Localities in Mexico

the Author in

1

where Collections

of Fishes

xxviii

xxix
List of Fishes

Known from Each

.

Rio Grande System
Rio Grande and its Present Tributaries in Mexico
Rio Casas Grandes
Rio Santa Maria
Rio Carmen
Rio Sauz
Lago de Castillos
Rio Nazas
Rio Conchas System
Rio Soto la Marina System
Rio Panuco System
Rio Mezquital System
Rio Presidio System
Rio Yaqui System
Rio Sonora System

Colorado River System

Lower

xxvii

were Made by

903

The River Systems of Mexico and a

v
xxv
xxv

xxxi
xxxii
xxxiii
xxxiii
xxxiii
xxxiii

xxxiii

xxxiv
xxxiv
xxxvi
xxxvii
xxxviii

xxxviii

California

Rio Grande de Santiago System
Valley of Mexico
Rio San Francisco System
Las Lagunas near Vera Cruz
Boca del Rio System
Rio Blanco System
Rio Otopa System
Rio Papaloapam System
Rio San Geronimo System
Rio Tehuantepec System
Rio Verde System
Rio Balsas System
List of Fishes from Various Localities not Referable to any of
the River Systems Named Above
Geographical Distribution of Fresh-Water Fishes of Mexico
Shore Fishes which have Become More or Less Established in the
Fresh Waters of Mexico
Game Fishes of Mexico
v
Food Fishes qf Mexico
'

,

.

.

.

ix

xxx
xxx

xxxix
xxxix
xxxix
xxxix
xli

xli
xlii

xlii
xliii

xliii

xliv

xlv
xlv
xlv
xlv

xlvi
xlvi

lii
lii

liii


x

FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM

ZOOLOGY, VOL. V.
PAGE

Fish Culture in Mexico

Common Names

liii

Mexican Fresh-Water Fishes

of

and Explanations

Definitions

Fishes in this

Terms used

of

Work

Definition of the

Two

Iv

Classes of Fishes or Fish-like Vertebrates

Inhabiting the Fresh Waters of Mexico
Key to the Families of Mexican Fresh- Water Fishes

Artificial

CLASS
ORDER

Iv

in the Descriptions of

I.

MARSIPOBRANCHII

Ix
Ix
i

HYPEROARTII

i

Family I. Petromyzontidac
Genus I. Lampetra Gray
1. spadicea Bean

i

I.

i

2

CLASS
ORDER

II.

PISCES

II.

RHOMBOGANOIDEA

4

Family II. Lepidosteidae
Genus 2. Lepidosteus Lacepede
Subgenus Lepidosteus Lac6pede

4
5
5

osseus (Linnaeus)

2.

5

[Subgenus Cylindrosteus Rafinesquc]
[platystomus Rafinesque]
Subgenus Atractosteus Rafinesque
'

tristcechus (Bloch

3.

&

Schneider)

[tropicus (Gill)]

ORDER

III.

.'

NEMATOGNATHI

Family III. Siluridae
Subfamily Tachysurinae
Genus 3. Galeichthys Cuvier
.

6
6
6

6
7

8

8
9

&

Valenciennes

aguadulce Meek
Subfamily Ichthyaelurinae

9

9
10

4.

Genus

3

Ichthyaelurus Rafinesque
furcatus (Le Sueur)

10

punctatus (Rafinesque)
7. meridionalis (Gunther)
Genus 5. Amiurus Rafinesque
Subgenus Haustor Jordan & Evermann

1 1

4.

5.

6.

.

.

Meek

10

u
12

13

8.

australis

9.

14

10.

lupus (Girard)
dugesi Bean

1 1

mexicanus Meek

15

.

12.

pricei (Rtitter)

Subgenus Amiurus Rafinesque
13. natalis

(Le Sueur)

Jordan & Snyder
14. balsanus Jordan & Snyder
Genus 7. Leptops Rafinesque

Genus

6.

Istlarius

15. olivaris (Rafinesque)

Subfamily Pimelodinaa
[Genus Conorhynchus Bleeker]
[nelsoni Evermann & Goldsborough]

13

14
15
16

16
17
17

18
18

19

19
19


TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Genus
1

xi
PAGE
20

Rhamdia Bleeker
Meek

8.

oaxacae

6.

20

,

17.

laticauda (Heckel)

21

18.

brachyptera (Cope)

21

22

[wagneri (Gunther)]
19. hypselura (Gunther)

22

ORDER

IV. PLECTOSPONDYLI
Family IV. Catostomidas

24
24

Subfamily Ichthyobinae
Genus 9. Carpiodes Rafinesque

25
25
26

.

20. meridionalis

(Gunther)
21. tumidus Baird & Girard
22

.

26

microstomus Meek

27
28

Meek
Meek

elongatus

23.

24. labiosus

29

Subfamily Catostominas
Genus 10. Pantosteus Cope
1 1

.

&

(Baird

25. plebeius

Genus

31

Meek

32
32
33
33
33
34
34
35
36
40
40

sonorensis

27.

bernardini Girard

28.

conchos Meek

12.

29.

Genus

Xyrauchen Eigenmann
cypho (Lockington)

13.

30.
3

Girard)

Catostomus Le Sueur

26.

Genus

1

.

30
30
30

&

Kirsch

Myzostoma Rafinesque

&

congestum (Baird
austrinum Bean

Girard)

Family V. Cyprinidae
Subfamily Campostomatinae
Genus 14. Campostoma Agassiz
32. ornatum Girard

41

.

33.

anomalum

(Rafinesque)

:

34. formosulum Girard
Subfamily Chondrostomatinas
Genus 15. Xystrosus Jordan & Snyder
35. popoche Jordan & Snyder

Genus 16. Algansea Girard
36. tincella (Cuvier
37. dugesi

38.

Genus

& Valenciennes)

rubescens Meek
Steindachner

17.

Hybognathus Agassiz

40. episcopus (Girard)

41

Genus

.

& Snyder)
Pimelocephales Rafinesque

rasconis (Jordan

18.

42. confertus (Girard)

.

signifer

Garman

.

.

Subfamily Leuciscinas

Genus

20.

.'

44
45
46
47
48
48
50
50

51

Subfamily Mylopharodontinag
Genus 19. Stypodon Garman
43

43
43
43
44

Bean

39. lacustris

42
42

Ptychocheilus Agassiz

51
51
5*

52
52


MUSEUM

FIELD COLUMBIAN

xii

ZOOLOGY, VOL. V.
PAGE

44. lucius Girard

Genus

52

& Girard
elegans Baird & Girard

21

45.

.

Gila Baird

53

53

46. minaca? Meek
Genus 22. Leuciscus Cuvier

54
55

47. nigrescens (Girard)

55

[intermedius (Girard)]
Genus 23. Abramis Cuvier

56

48. chrysoleucus (Mitchill)

57

56

Cochlognathus Baird & Girard
49. ornatus Baird & Girard
Genus 25. Falcula Jordan & Snyder
50. chapalae Jordan & Snyder
Genus 26. Aztecula Jordan & Everma'nn

Genus

24.

57

58
58

58
59
59
60
61
62

51. vittata (Girard)

52. lermas

(Evermann
mexicana Meek

53.

&

Goldsborough)

Genus 27. Nototropis Rafinesque
Subgenus Alburnops Girard
54. calientis Jordan & Snyder
.55. braytoni (Jordan & Evermann)

65

65
65
66

Meek

56.

robustus

57.

chihuahua Woolman

67
67
68
68

boucardi (Gunther)
Subgenus Codoma Girard
59. ornatus (Girard)
58.

Subgenus Orcella Jordan
60. orca
61.
>

& Evermann

69
69
70
70
70

Woolman

nazas Meek

Subgenus Moniana Girard
62. forlonensis

Meek

63. lutrensis (Baird

64.

&

65.
66. santamarias

Subgenus Nototropis Rafinesque
69. santarosaliae Meek
28. Phenacobius Cope

Genus

70. scopifer (Cope)

7

1

Evarra Woolman
eigenmanni Woolman

29.
.

72. tlahuacensis

Genus

Meek

Rhinichthys Agassiz
73. simus Garman
Genus 31. Agosia Girard
30.

74. oscula (Girard)
75. chrysogaster

Genus

72

73

Evermann & Goldsborough

67. formosus (Girard)
68. frigidus (Girard)

Genus

71

Girard)

macrostomus (Girard)
garmani (Jordan)

Girard

32. Hybopsis Agassiz
76. aestivalis (Girard)

74
74
'

75
75

75

76
76
77
77

78
79

79
79
80
80
80
81


TABLE OF CONTENTS.

xiii

PAGE
77. altus (Jordan)

Genus

33. Couesius

adustus

78.

81

82
82

Jordan

Woolman

Subfamily Plagopterinae
Genus 34. Plagopterus Cope

83
83

79. argentissimus Cope
Family VI. Characinidae
Subfamily Tetragonopterinae
Genus 35. Tetragonopterus Cuvier
80. mexicanus Filippi
81. aeneus Gunther
Genus 36. Hemigrammus Gill

82.

83
83

.

84
84
85
86
87

compressus Meek

87

Subfamily Characinag
Genus 37. Roeboides Gunther
83.

ORDER

V.

88
88
88

guatemalensis (Gunther)

SYMBRANCHIA

89
89
89

89

Family VII. Symbranchidas
Genus 38. Symbranchus Bloch
84. marmoratus Bloch

ORDER
.

VI.

APODES

90
90
90
90

Family VIII. Anguillidas
Genus 39. Anguilla Shaw
85. chrysypa Rafmesque
.

.

ORDER

.

VII. ISOSPONDYLI

92

Family IX. Dorosomatidae
Genus 40. Dorosoma Rafinesque
.

.

*

92
92

.

t

86. anale

Meek

87. exile

Jordan

Genus

41. Signalosa

88.

93

&

Gilbert

Evermann & Kendall

VIII.

94
94

mexicana (Gunther)

Family X. Salmonidae
Subfamily Salmoninas
Genus 42. Salmo (Artedi) Linnaeus
89. irideus Gibbons

ORDER

'94

95
95
95
96

:

HAPLOMI

Family XI. Pceciliidas
Subfamily Fundulinae
Genus 43. Cynodonichthys Meek
90. tenuis

Meek

[guatemalensis Gunther]
[punctatus Gunther]
9 1 oaxacag Meek
92. vinctus Jordan & Gilbert
.

(Baird

&

Girard)

heteroclitus (Linnasus)

grandis Baird

101

101
i

Genus 44. Fundulus Lacpede
Subgenus Fundulus

93. similis

98
98

'.

&

Girard

oi

102

103
103
104
104
105
105
106
107

xiv

MUSEUM

FIELD COLUMBIAN

ZOOLOGY, VOL. V.
PAGE

Gunther]
Subgenus Fontinus Jordan & Evermann
96. extensus Jordan & Gilbert
[labialis

&

97. zebrinus (Jordan

Genus

107
108
108
108

Gilbert)

Lucania Girard
venusta (Girard)

45.

98.

109
109
109

Zoogoneticus Meek
Bean)
100. dugesi (Bean)
[pachycephalus (Giinther)]
101 robustus (Bean)

Genus

46.

no
in

99. cuitzeoensis (B. A.

112
112

.

maculatus Regan

102.

113
114

Meek
miniatus Meek

103. diazi
104.

Genus

115
115
116

47. Girardinichthys Bleeker

innominatus Bleeker

105.

Subfamily

118

Oristiinae

48. Characodon Gunther
106. multiradiatus Meek

Genus

1

107. eiseni Rutter
108. variatus Bean
109. lateralis

119
1

Gunther

112. encaustus (Jordan
50.

&

121
122

123

Snyder)

123
24

Cyprinodon Lac6pdde

1

113. eximius Girard
Girard
114. elegans Baird

125
125
126

&

&

Girard
115. macularius Baird
16. latifasciatus Garman

126

1

Subfamily Gambusiinae
Genus 51. Pseudoxiphophorus Bleeker
117. bimaculatus (Heckel)

Genus

52.

1 18.

Gambusia Poey
fasciata Meek

20.

affinis

(Baird

&

Girard)

Woolman
122. bonita Meek
Genus 53. Paragambusia Meek
121. infans

.-

123. nicaraguensis (Gunther)

Genus

54. Glaridichthys

Garman

124. latidens

Genus

55.

(Garman)
Belonesox Kner

125. belizanus

Kner

Subfamily Anablepinae
Genus 56. Anableps (Artedi) Bloch
1

26. dovii Gill

Subfamily Goodinae

Genus

57.

Goodea Jordan

127
127

127
128
*

119. gracilis (Heckel)
1

20

121

no. garmani Jordan & Evermann
in. furcidens Jordan & Gilbert
Genus 49. Chapalichthys Meek
Genus

18

119

129
130
130
131

132
133

133
134
134
135
135
135
135
136
136
136


TABLE OF CONTENTS.

xv
PAGE

127. whitei
128. toweri

Meek
Meek

137
138
139
140

129. luitpoldi (Steindachner)
130. atripinnis Jordan

58. Skiffia Meek

Genus

141

multipunctata (Pellegrin)

131.

141
142

Meek
variegata Meek

132. lermae
133.

'

134. bilineata (Bean)

Subfamily

Genus

Poeciliinas

135.

144
144

Platypoecilus Gunther

59.

maculatus Gunther

145
146

Meek
Meek

136. variatus

137. nelsoni
60. Heterandria Agassiz

147
147
148
148

Genus

138. pleurospilus (Gunther)
139. lutzi Meek

Genus

61. Poecilia

Bloch

&

143
144

Schneider

143. presidionis

149
150
150
151
152

144.

152

140. occidentalis (Baird

&

Girard)

141. latipunctata Meek
142. butleri Jordan

Jordan & Culver
couchiana (Girard)
145. sphenops Cuvier & Valenciennes
Genus 62. Mollienesia Le Sueur
146. formosa (Girard)
147. latipinna Le Sueur
Genus 63. Xiphophorus Heckel
148. lalapas
149. helleri
1

50.

153
154
155
155
156

Meek

156
157
158

Heckel

montezumas Jordan

&

Snyder

ORDER IX. SYNENTOGNATHI
Family XII. Belonidag
Genus

64.

151.

160

160
160
160

Tylosurus Cocco

marinus (Walbaum)

ORDER X. LOPHOBRANCHII
Family XIII. Syngnathidae
Genus 65. Siphostoma Rafmesque
152. brevicaudum Meek

1

53. starksi

Jordan

& Culver

ORDER XI. ACANTHOPTERI

'

162
162
162
163
163

164

Family XIV. Atherinida;
Genus 66. Chirostoma Swainson

165
166

Subgenus Eslopsarum Jordan

169
169

170

154. jordani

Woolman

155. mezquital

Meek

arge (Jordan & Snyder)
157. bartoni Jordan & Evermann
56.

171

158.

172
172

1

attenuatum Meek

159. labarcse

Meek

1

73


xvi

MUSEUM

FIELD COLUMBIAN

ZOOLOGY, VOL. V.
PAGE

160. patzcuaro Meek
161. zirahuen Meek

Subgenus Chirostoma Swainson
162. humboldtianum (Cuv. &
163. chapalae

Jordan

&

Val.)

Snyder

164. grandocule Steindachner

165. promelas Jordan & Snyder
Subgenus Lethostole Jordan & Evermann
166. sphyraena

Boulenger
Boulenger
Jordan & Snyder
169. ocotlanae Jordan & Snyder
170. estor Jordan
Genus 67. Menidia Bonaparte
171. sallei (Regan)
167. lucius
1 68. lermae

.

.

172. lisa Meek
68. Melaniris

Genus

173.

69. Thyrina Jordan & Culver
[evermanni Jordan & Culver]
174. crystallina (Jordan & Culver)

Genus

Family XV. Mugilidae
Subfamily Mugilinae
Genus 70. Mugil (Artedi) Linnaeus.
175. cephalus Linnaeus

Subfamily Agonostominae

Genus

71. Agonostomus Bennet
Subgenus Dajaus Cuvier & Valenciennes

Genus

72.

monticola (Bancroft)

Neomugil Vaillant

73.

Poey

Family XVI. Centrarchidae
Subfamily Lepidopominas
Genus 74. Lepidopomus Rafinesque
Subgenus Apomotis Rafinesque
179. cyanellus Rafinesque

181.

Meek

haplognathus Cope

75.

Eupomotis

183. heros (Baird

Gill

&

&

Jordan

Girard)

Subfamily Micropterinae

Genus

189
190
190

191

192
192

192

182. pallidus (Mitchill)

Genus

186
186

191

Subgenus Lepidopomus Rafinesque
180. occidentalis

185
185
185
186
186
186

188
188

Joturus Poey

178. pichardi

183
183
184
184
184

187
188

177. digueti Vaillant

Genus

181

181

182

Meek
balsanus Meek

176.

174
174
175

175
176
176
177
177
177
178
179
180
180

Micropterus Lacpede
184. salmonoides (Lac6p6de)
76.

Family XVII. Percidae
Subfamily Etheostomatinae
Genus 77. Etheostoma Rafinesque

Subgenus Torrentaria Jordan

& Evermann

193
193
194

194
194
195

196
196
196
197


TABLE OF CONTENTS.

xvii
PAGE

185. australe (Jordan)

Subgenus Rafinesquiellus Jordan
1

& Evermann

86. pottsii (Girard)

Subgenus Oligocephalus Girard
187. lepidum (Baird & Girard)
Family XVIII. Centropomidse
Genus 78. Centropomus Lacep6de
188. mexicanus Bocourt

.

Family XIX. Haemulidae

Genus 79. -Pomadasys Lac6pede
Subgenus Rhonciscus Jordan & Evermann
189. starri

Meek

& Evermann

bayanus Jordan

190.

191. templei Meek
XX. Sciaenidas

Family
Subfamily Haploidonotinas
Genus 80. Haploidonotus Rafinesque
1

192. grunniens Rafinesque

mento

&

(Vaillant

Pellegrin)

194. salvini (Gunther)

Meek
pavonaceum (Garman)

195. hedricki
196.

197. beani (Jordan)
198. steindachneri

Jordan

199. bartoni (Bean)
200. istlanum (Jordan

&

&

Snyder

Snyder)

202.

evermanni Meek
heterodontum (Vaillant

203.

cyanoguttatum (Baird

201.

&

Pellegrin)

Girard)

205. mojarra Meek
206. octofasciatum (Regan)

209.

parma (Gunther)
melanurum (Gunther)
eigenmanni Meek

2 10.

nebulifer (Gunther)

.

208.

Genus

82.

Neetroplus Gunther

Jordan & Snyder
Thorichthys Meek

211. carpintis

Genus

83.

212. helleri (Steindachner)

213. ellioti

Meek

.

.

Family XXII. Gobiidas
Subfamily Eleotridinas
Genus 84. Philypnus Cuvier

& Valenciennes

214. dormitor (Lac6p6de)

Genus

85.

Dormitator

Gill

215. maculatus (Bloch)
Schneider
Genus 86. Eleotris Bloch

&

216. pisonis (Gmelin)

207
207
208

209
210
210
211
212

214

&

204. rectangulare (Steindachner)

207

201
201
102
202
202
203
204
204

Family XXI. Cichlidas
Genus 81. Cichlasoma Swainson
193.

197
197
197
198
198
198
199
199
199
200
200
200

215
215
216
217
218
218

219
220
220
221
221
222

223
223
225
226
226
226
227
227
228
228


xviii

MUSEUM

FIELD COLUMBIAN
217. pictus

Kner

&

Steindachner

Subfamily Gobiinae
Genus 87. Gobius Linnasus

Subgenus Ctenogobius Gill
218. parvus Meek
Subgenus Gobionellus Girard
219. claytoni Meek
220. microdon Gilbert

Genus

88.

221.

231
23

222. taiasica (Lichtenstein)

mexicanus (Gunther)
Genus 89. Gillicththys Cooper
223.

&

PAGB
229
229
229
230
230
231

Chonophorus Steindachner
nelsoni (Evermann)

224. detrusus Gilbert

ZOOLOGY, VOL. V.

Scofield

Family XXIII. Soleidae
Subfamily Achirinae
Genus 90. Achirus Lac6pde
Subgenus Baiostoma Bean
225. mazatlanus (Steindachner)
226. fonsecensis (Gunther)

Subgenus Achirus Lace'pdde]
227. fasciatus Lac6p6de

1

232
232

233
233
234
234
234
235
235
235
235
236
236
236


LIST

OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

PLATE

PAGE
xlvii

showing Fish Faunal Areas.
Goodea luitpoldi (Steindachner) .Photograph by C. H. Carpenter
1
Ovary of Goodea luitpoldi (Stein1
dachmer)
Photograph by C. H. Carpenter
Large-mouth Black Bass, (Micropterus Salmonoides Lac6pede)
Ivi
showing parts referred to in descriptions of fishes
Galeichthys aguadulce Meek
Photograph by C. H. Carpenter
9
Rhamdia oaxacas Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ... 20
Catostomus sonorensis Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ... 32
Catostomus conchos Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ... 33
Skiffia lermae Meek (Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ... 142
Skiffia lermag Meek (?)
142
Drawing by W. D. Douglas.
Platypcecilus maculatus Gunther .Photograph by C. H. Carpenter 145
Platypoecilus variatus Meek
Photograph by C. H. Carpenter 146
Xiphophorus helleri Heckel
Photograph by C. H. Carpenter 157

Map

I.

.

II.

III.

IV.

V.
VI.
VII.

VIII

\
<

IX.
(

-v-

of Mexico,

(

.

.

.

XI. Xiphophorus jalapae Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
XII. Lepidopomus occidentalis Meek. .Drawing by W. D. Douglas.
XIII. Pomadasys starri Meek
Photograph by C. H. Carpenter
XIV. Pomadasys templei Meek
Photograph by C. H. Carpenter
XV. Cichlasoma parma (Gunther)
.Photograph by C. H. Carpenter
XVI. Cichlasoma eigenmanni Meek
.Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Gobius parvus Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas.
"X"VTT \
( Gobius
Drawing by W. D. Douglas.
claytoni Meek
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

'

156
192
200
201
218
220

230
230



LIST

OF TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE

FIG.

Lampetra spadicea Bean

.

Istlarius balsanus

2.

&

Jordan

Snyder

Conorhynchus nelsoni Evermann
Goldsborough
Embryo of Conorhynchus nelsoni
Carpiodes microstomus Meek

.

Drawing by A. H. Baldwin. ...
.Drawing by A. H. Baldwin. ...
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Snyder. Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks.
Drawing by A. H. Baldwin. ...

]
'

4.
5.

6.
7.

8.
9.

10.

2

17

.

&

f

3.

.

Drawing by H. L. Todd
.Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks.

Carpiodes elongatus Meek
Carpiodes labiosus Meek
Xystrosus popoche Jordan &
Algansea dugesi Bean
Algansea rubescens Meek.
Hybognathus rasconis (Jordan

.

19
19

.

.

27
28

.

.

29
43

.

.

Drawing by W. D. Douglas.

&

46
46

...

Sny-

Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks
minacas Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Falcula chapalse Jordan & Snyder.. .Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks.
Aztecula vittata (Girard)
Drawing by A. H. Baldwin ....
Aztecula lermae (Evermann & Goldsborough)

Drawing by A. H. Baldwin ....
Aztecula mexicana Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
der)

:

.

.

.

50
54
58
60

.

.

11. Gila
12.
13.
14.

15.
1

6.

17.
18.
19.

20.
21.

.

Nototropis
Nototropis
Nototropis
Nototropis
Nototropis
Nototropis

.

&

6

Snyder Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks.
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
chihuahua Woolman
Drawing by A. H. Baldwin. ...
nazas Meek
Drawing by 'Howard Stebbins.

forlonensis Meek
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
calientis

Jordan

robustus

Meek

65
66

.

67

70

.

santamariae

71

.

.

Evermann &

Drawing by A. H. Baldwin ....
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Evarra eigenmanni Woolman
Drawing by A. H. Baldwin. ...
Evarra tlahuacensis Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Hemigrammus compressus Meek
Dorosoma anale Meek
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Cynodonichthys tenuis Meek
Fundulus oaxacse Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Zoogoneticus cuitzeoensis (B. A. Bean) Drawing by A. H. Baldwin
Drawing by H. L. Todd
Zoogoneticus dugesi (Bean)
Drawing by A. H. Baldwin. ...
Zoogoneticus robustus (Bean)
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Zoogoneticus diazi Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Zoogoneticus miniatus Meek
Characodon variatus Bean $
Drawing by H. L. Todd
Characodon variatus Bean 5
Drawing by H. L. Todd
Goldsborough

22.

23.
24.
25.
26.

27.
28.
29.

30.
31.

32.
33.
34.

35.
36.

37.
38.
39.
40.

Nototropis santarosaliae

1

62

Meek

.

.

.-.

.

.

Chapalichthys encaustus
Snyder)

Gambusia fasciata Meek
Gambusia infans Woolman
Gambusia bonita Meek
Goodea whitei Meek

(Jordan

74
76
77

78
87

93
102

104
1 1 1

112
113
114
115
120
120

&
Drawing by
Drawing by
Drawing by
Drawing by
Drawing by

Mrs. C. L. Starks
Howard Stebbins.
.

A. H. Baldwin.
Stebbins
Stebbins
.

Howard
Howard

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

123
129
132
132
137


xxii

FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM

ZOOLOGY, VOL. V.
PAGE

FIG.

41.

42.

43.
44.

Goodea toweri Meek
Goodea luitpoldi (Steindachner)
Goodea atripinnis Jordan
Skiffia variegata Meek
.

45. Skiffia bilineata

(Bean)

46. Platypoecilus nelsoni Meek
47. Heterandria lutzi Meek
48. Poecilia latipunctata Meek
Poecilia sphenops Cuvier

49.

50.

51.

52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.

58.
59.
60.

61.
62.
63.
64.

65.
66.
67.

&

.

.

.,

Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks.
Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks.
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Drawing by W. S. Haines
Photograph by C. H. Carpenter
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
.

.

.

.

69.

70.
7

1

.

72.

143
144

14^
149
150

Valenciennes

Drawing by W. S. Atkinson ....
Xiphophorus montezumae Jordan &
Snyder
Drawing by W. S. Atkinson ....
Siphostoma brevicaudum Meek
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Chirostoma jordani Woolman
Drawing by A. H. Baldwin. ...
Chirostoma mezquital Meek
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Chirostoma arge (Jordan & Snyder) ..Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks.
Chirostoma attenuatum Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Chirostoma patzcuaro Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Chirostoma zirahuen Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas ....
Chirostoma chapalae Jordan & Snyder Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks.
Chirostoma sphyraena Boulenger
Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks.
Chirostoma lucius Boulenger
Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks.
Chirostoma lermae Jordan & Snyder ..Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks.

Chirostoma ocotlanae Jordan & Snyder Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks
Menidia lisa Meek
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Melaniris balsanus Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Haploidonotus grunniens Rafinesque .Drawing by Miss J. Gloetzner..
Cichlasoma hedricki Meek
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Cichlasoma steindachneri Jordan &
Drawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks
Snyder
Cichlasoma bartoni (Bean)
Drawing by A. H. Baldwin. ...
Cichlasoma istlanum (Jordan & SnyDrawing by Mrs. C. L. Starks ...
der)
Cichlasoma evermanni Meek
Drawing by W. D. Douglas. ...
Cichlasoma mojarra Meek
Drawing by Howard Stebbins
Drawing by Howard Stebbins.
Thorichthys ellioti Meek
.

163

170

170
171

.

173
174
174
176
178
179
179

.

.

.

.

.

158

.

.

.

153

.

.

.

68.

138
139
140

.

.

.

180
182
183
203
209
211
212

213
214
217
224

LIST

OF GENERA AND SPECIES WHICH APPEAR AS NEW
IN THE PRESENT WORK.
NEW

GENERA.

P AGE
101

Cynodonichthys
Paragambusia
Thorichthys

133
222

NEW

SPECIES.

Galeichthys aguadulce

9

Amiurus australis
Amiurus mexicanus

13
15

Carpiodes microstomus
Carpiodes elongatus
Carpiodes labiosus
Nototropis nazas
Nototropis forlonensis
Hemigramnrus compressus
Dorosoma anale

27
28

~.

^93

Cynodonichthys tennis
Characodon multiradiatus

Gambusia fasciata
Gambusia bonita
Goodea whitei
Goodea toweri

101
'

119
129
132
137

Platypoecilus variatus
Platypoecilus nelsoni
Poecilia latipunctata

Siphostoma brevicaudum
Chirostoma mezquital
Menidia lisa

Pomadasys starri
Pomadasys templei
.

29
70
70
87

.

.-

Cichlasoma hedricki
Cichlasoma evermanni
Cichlasoma mojarra
Thorichthys ellioti

138
146
147
150
160
170
182
200
201
208

214
217
223



NTRODUCTION.
GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY AND HYDROGRAPHY OF MEXICO.
The greater portion of Mexico is a plateau ranging in elevation
from 3,000 to 8,000 feet above the sea. The northern portion is the
lower, and the slope to the northeast, especially of that portion drained
by the Rio Grande and its tributaries, is more gentle than of any other

The eastern border of this plateau is formedjby the eastern
portion.
range of the Sierra Madre Mountains, leaving to the east a plain varying in width from about 150 miles east of Monterey to less than 50
Tampico and Vera Cruz. This plain north of Tampico
by three rivers the Rio Conchas and the Rio Soto

Marina, which flow into the Gulf; and the Rio Forlon, a tributary
the Rio Panuco.
None of these streams drain any portion of the

miles west of
is

la

of

chiefly drained

:

Two of the tributaries of the Rio Panuco, the Rio
San Juan and the Rio Tula, have their origin on the central plateau,
and reach the main river through a gap in the mountains by a series
of cascades and falls.
South of Tampico this narrow plain is drained
a
number
of
small
streams
which are wholly confined to the eastern
by
of
in the southern portion of the State
South

Vera
and
Cruz
slope.
of Oaxaca this eastern range of the Sierra Madre meets the southern
range, the Sierra Madre del Sur, the two forming the low water shed
of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The northern portion of this Isthmus
is drained by the Rio Coatzacoalcos.
Between this river and the City
of Vera Cruz is a rather broad, low plain on which from 10 to 15 feet
of rain falls each year.
This plain is mostly drained by the Rio
and
its
tributaries, the Rio Tonto, the Rio Quiotepec,
Papaloapam
the Rio Tesechoacan, and the Rio San Juan Evangelista.
Owing to
the great rainfall in this region, these rivers are very large as compared with the area they drain. The Sierra Madre del Sur extends
parallel to the coast as far as Colima, where it becomes the western
range of the Sierra Madre. Between the Sierra Madre del Sur and
the zone of recent volcanoes which extends west -of Puebla and forms
the watershed between the Rio Balsas and the Rio Lerma is a considerable plateau drained by the Rio Balsas, the second largest river
North of the Rio
in Mexico, which flows into the Pacific Ocean.
Balsas basin the central plateau is drained by the Rio Lerma, which,
after it leaves Lago de Chapala, is known as the Rio Grande de Santiago, the two forming the longest river wholly within the republic.
The Rio Santiago reaches the sea by a series of cascades and falls.
central plateau.