HYPORHAMPHUS-MEEKI, A NEW SPECIES OF HALFBEAK (TELEOSTEI, HEMIRAMPHIDAE) FROM THE ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTS OF THE UNITED-STATES

Hyporhamphus meeki is described from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico c oasts of the United States. It has been confused previously with H. un ifasciatus (Ranzani) which occurs from southern Florida, Bermuda, the West Indies, and Mexico south to southern Brazil. Hyporhamphus meeki h as more gill rakers, usually 33-39 on the first gill arch and 26-29 on the second arch compared to 28-32 on the first arch and 19-25 on the second arch in H. unifascialus. Pectoral-fin rays are usually 11 or 12 vs. 10 or 11 in H. unifasciatus. The ratio of preorbital length to or bit diameter is usually greater than 0.70 in H. meeki, less than 0.70 in H. unifasciatus.