Volume 32, Plate XXIII / Ichthyology (Fish)

Ocellated Xiphostoma

Xiphostoma ocellatum

Common in the Essequibo and Rios Negro and Branco, where its yellow well-flavoured though bony flesh is much used for food, this long-bodied fish has a pointed head, sharp teeth, and an elongated snout protruding over the lower jaw. Of a lead colour lighter on the belly, with fins variegated in light red and a forked tail of red, it bears a black spot ringed by bright yellow at the tail’s base, like a peacock’s eye, reaching two feet long.