A new genus and new species of Sciaenidae from the Gulf of Panama (Perciformes: Sciaenidae)

Paranebris bauchotae, a new genus and species of sciaenid from the Gulf of Panama is described from three specimens (138-212 mm SL). It is distinguished from all other sciaenids by having granulated tooth plates on the jaws and the premaxillary tooth plates that are exposed laterally of the lower jaw when the mouth is closed. The new genus shares the following characters with the New World genus Nebris: a thick fleshy and cartilage gap present between premaxillary bones where the ascending processes form an A-frame arch; gas bladder with a pair of long U-shaped appendages; and a thick, oval-shaped sagitta with deeply grooved caudal section of the sulcus. Paranebris bauchotae is distinct from all Nebris species in having a firmer interorbital skin and scale cover (spongy to the touch in Nebris), a larger eye (6-7 vs. 8-12 times in head length) and large ctenoid scales (vs. small and cycloid in Nebris).

Two new species of Stellifer from inshore waters of the eastern Pacific, with a redescription of S. ephelis (Perciformes: Sciaenidae)

Two new species of Stellifer from the eastern Pacific coast are described. Stellifer walkeri n. sp. and S. wintersteenorum n. sp. are both found in coastal waters off southern Mexico. They are distinguished from other species of Stellifer by having two sharp spines at the lower margin of the preopercle and four sensory pores at the tip of the lower jaw. Stellifer wintersteenorum can be distinguished from S. walkeri by having jet black pigment on the roof of the mouth and pharyngeal cavity. Stellifer wintersteenorum can be further distinguished from S. furthii (Steindachner), which also has a black mouth lining, by having a pair of short diverticula on the anterior chamber of the gas bladder compared with those of S. furthii, which are extended posteriorly as long, narrow tubes. Stellifer walkeri is further distinguished from S. pizarroensis Hildebrand by having fewer gill rakers (36-38 vs. 51-55) and soft anal-fin rays (9 vs. 10-11), and from S. zestocarus Gilbert by having two, instead of one preopercular spines, more gill rakers (36-38 vs. 29-32) and a smaller eye (4.5-4.8 vs. 3.6-4.2 in head length). Stellifer ephelis Chirichigno, which was incompletely described when named, is redescribed based on materials from throughout the species' range. A key to the eastern Pacific species of Stellifer is also included.