FISHERY BULLETIN; VOL. 78, NO. 2 



depths, especially where there is deep shelter. Not 

 infrequently it is encountered in small aggrega- 

 tions. Adults are wary, hence difficult to spear. 



Only three specimens were obtained from 

 Enewetak, 310-420 mm SL (0.8-1.6 kg), for testing 

 of toxicity. One was nontoxic, one was 1, and one 

 a 2. 



Five specimens, 400-445 mm SL, were collected 

 in Bikini. Four were nontoxic; the largest gave a 

 mongoose reaction of 1. 



Randall and Brock (1960) opened 32 stomachs of 

 adults of this species, of which 18 were empty. 

 Those with full stomachs all contained fishes, 

 among them Decapterus pinnulatus, Selar 

 crumenophthalmus, and Ctenochaetus striatus. 

 Hiatt and Strasburg ( 1960) found a goatfish in the 

 stomach of one of three specimens from Enewetak; 

 the other two were empty. Talbot (1960) collected 

 18 specimens off east Africa. He reported fish re- 

 mains (including a mullid and a labrid) in most 

 stomachs; penaeid prawn remains were also 

 found. Helfrich et al. (1968) examined 29 speci- 

 mens from the Line Islands. They found fishes in 

 92% of the stomachs and crustaceans (stomatopod 

 larvae and one slipper lobster) in 23%. 



For the present food-habit study 41 specimens of 

 L. monostigmus were examined from the Marshall 

 Islands, Society Islands, Line Islands, and Samoa 

 Islands. Twenty-three had empty stomachs. Of 

 those with food, 92% by volume had eaten fishes 

 (including the holocentrid Adioryx microstomas, 



acanthurids, and a balistid), and 8% crabs (includ- 

 ing a portunid). 



Macolor niger (Forsskal) (Figure 30): Although 

 not previously reported as poisonous, this lutjanid 

 fish attains moderate size, is a reef-dweller, and 

 carnivorous; this would seem to have the potential 

 for causing ciguatera. A total of 25 adults, 403-445 

 mm SL (2.3-2.95 kg), were taken, all from 

 Enewetak, and mainly from explosive stations in 

 the lagoon. Twenty-three were nontoxic and two 

 gave a reaction of 1 on the feeding of liver and 

 viscera to mongooses. 



The stomachs of eight adult specimens taken at 

 9:00 a.m. at Enewetak were examined. All were 

 empty. The large eyes of this species is suggestive 

 of nocturnal habits, and the numerous (about 72) 

 long gill rakers would seem to indicate at least 

 some feeding on zooplankton (perhaps more im- 

 portant in smaller individuals than large adults). 

 Some of the specimens were caught by hook and 

 line baited with fish. Hiatt and Strasburg (1960) 

 also reported that this species can be caught on a 

 baited hook. 



Lethrinidae (Emperors) 



Lethrinus amboinensis Bleeker (Figure 31): Fol- 

 lowing Sato (1978), this emperor is identified as 

 L. amboinensis. It lacks characteristic color mark- 

 ings, being light brownish to greenish dorsally 



Figure 30.— Macolomiger, 378 mm SL, Enewetak, Marshall Islands. 



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