FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 72, NO. 4 



Table 23. — Food of Mulloidichthys auriflamma. 



forages on the reef, it being replaced by a black 

 spot on the fish's side, below the dorsal fin (Figure 

 23b). 



At nightfall, those individuals of M. samoensis 

 that had been hovering over the reef in quiet 

 schools disperse. After dark the species not only 

 continues the activity that some members had 

 pursued over reef sand patches in daylight, but 

 also extends this activity in some areas farther out 

 over the more extensive sandy areas adjacent to 

 the reef. When illuminated by a light at night, M. 

 samoensis frequently displays a color pattern of 

 red blotches that seems to be a response to the 

 light, rather than being a nocturnal color feature. 

 Its coloration at night is as described above for 

 foraging individuals in daylight. After a night of 

 foraging, many individuals regroup in the morn- 

 ing, forming schools that reappear in the same 

 locations each day. 



Twenty-three specimens (182: 136-283 mm) 

 were speared during day and night. Of four taken 

 during afternoons as they probed sand patches on 

 the reef, swimming in small groups or as indi- 

 viduals, two had full stomachs that included rela- 

 tively fresh prey; the other two contained only 

 debris. Of three individuals taken while they hov- 

 ered in schools over the reef during the after- 

 noon, one had an empty stomach, and the other 

 two contained only well-digested fragments. Con- 

 trasting data were provided by 16 specimens 

 speared as they actively probed in sand patches on 

 the reef during the 2 h immediately before first 

 morning light, and during the first 30 min of 

 morning twihght. Of these, 11 had full stomachs, 

 including much fresh material, 2 contained only 

 bits of debris, and only 3 were empty. Items in the 



13 individuals containing identifiable prey are 

 listed in Table 24. 



No obvious difference was noted between prey 

 taken during day and night although pertinent 

 data are too few for meaningful comparison. Hiatt 

 and Strasburg (1960) reported that fishes are an 

 important food of this goatfish in the Marshall 

 Islands. Otherwise, they listed foods similar to 

 those taken by the species in Kona. 



CO^CUJSIO^ .—Mulloidichthys samoensis 

 preys on sand-dwelling invertebrates, mostly at 

 night, but to some extent during the day. 



Panipeneus niultifasciatiis (Quoy and Gaimard) 

 — moano 



This is the most numerous and widespread 

 goatfish on Kona reefs. During the day solitary 

 individuals and groups of two or three actively 

 probe with their barbels among cracks and crev- 

 ices on the reef, especially in pockets where sand 

 and debris have accumulated. This species is ac- 

 tive through twilight, but generally appears inac- 

 tive after dark, when solitary individuals rest in 

 exposed locations on the reef. To some extent these 

 immobile nocturnal attitudes may be influenced 

 by the diving light, but not to the extent indicated 

 for P. bifasciatus, below; certainly the blotched 

 red color pattern often displayed at this time is a 

 reaction to the light. On nights of bright moon- 

 light, at least some individuals of P. multifas- 

 ciatus swim over the reef 



Thirty specimens (162: 125-212 mm) were 

 speared during day and night. Of 14 collected dur- 

 ing the hour immediately before first morning 



958 



