IDENTIFICATION Head Pores - Cephalic head canal with pores B',C,D,E,F,H and posterior oculoscapular pores K',L'; preopercle pores M',N,O' Scales - Small patch of ctenoid scales on caudal peduncle extending anteriorly along midline to under last 1/3 of 2nd dorsal fin.

Fins - D1 - VII(rarely 8), not filamentous; D2 - 12(11-13); anal 10(9-11); pectoral 21-22; pelvic I,5

Head - Maxillae reaching to near middle of eye; very small barbule present in front of eye on upper lip; upper jaw with 3-4 rows of teeth,outer row enlarged; lower jaw with 3-4 rows of teeth, outer and inner not enlarged, larger teeth interspersed with smaller teeth in jaw.

Papillae - Three rows in front of row b; row 5i/6i continuous and under the middle of row b, extending below the level of row d;

Color - Body cross barred with 9 broad dark bands, alternated with narrower light interspaces; the bands and interspaces fairly well delimited, but boundries not clear-cut; the bands not uniformly pigmented, mottled with lighter and darker; an incomplete, sinuous, diffuse, vertical, light colored streak, faintly dividing band into two parts; a transverse dark streak at base of caudal usually prominent; specimens often light colored, and cross barred pattern quite faint; a medium row of small dark spots often present, but not especially prominent, frequently very faint or absent (Ginsburg, 1933)

Distribution - Southern Brazil, Uraguay, and northern Argentina

Habitat - Coastal estuaries.

Notes -