LEIS: SYSTEMATICS AND ZOOGEOGRAPHY OF THE PORCUPINEFISHES 



scription that D. atinga is a Chiloniycterus Isensu 

 lato). 



Diodon plumicni Lacepede is included in the 

 synonomy of D. hystrlx with some doubt. The de- 

 scription is not very helpful, but the illustration by 

 Plumier (Lacepede 1790, plate 30), while not im- 

 mediately recognizable as D. hystrix, is probably 

 of that species. The relatively elongate body, short 

 spines, and the three spines on the dorsal surface 

 of the peduncle all indicate Z). hystri.x . The descrip- 

 tion stated that the fish was blue with white spots; 

 this coloration is not found in any known species of 

 Diodon. Lacepede's description was based solely 

 on Plumier's illustration. 



Diodonnbrachiatus Bloch and Schneider is 

 based at least in part on the "Erizo" of Parra ( 1787 ) 

 whose illustration is clearly of D. hystrix. 



Cuvier's D. punctatus is attributable to D. hys- 

 trix on the basis of his description, and examina- 

 tion of the syntypes (MNHN A.8369, A.8373, and 

 A. 8367) by M.L. Bauchot (pers. commun. MNHN, 

 20 May 1975). 



Diodon spinosissimus Cuvier has been a source 

 of confusion. This stems at least in part from the 

 presence of two species in Cuvier's syntypic series 

 (M. L. Bauchot, pers. commun., MNHN, 20 May 

 1975). The larger specimen (MNHN B.1294) is a 

 D. hystnx from Brazil,. while the smaller syntype 

 (MNHN B.1294) is a D. liturosus from Vanikoro, 

 Santa Cruz Islands, in the western Pacific. Le 

 Danois ( 1961) referred to the above specimen of D. 

 hystrix as the holotype, while there is no evidence 

 that Cuvier recognized it as such. I follow Le 

 Danois' lead and designate MNHN B.1294 as the 

 lectotype of D. spinossisimus. 



Since the publication of Gvinther (1870), rela- 

 tive unanimity has prevailed, with most authors 

 applying only the name D. hystrix to this species. 

 The three exceptions, barring misidentification of 

 D. holocanthus, are D. nudifrons Jenkins, D. ar- 

 millatus Whitley, and D. totara Curtiss. These are 

 easily referred to D. hystrix solely on the basis of 

 the published descriptions (S. Karnella, pers. 

 commun., USNM, 28 January 1976, reports that 

 Jenkins' holotype cannot be located at USNM 

 even though it was cataloged as USNM 50854). 



The apparent long pelagic stage of D. hystrix has 

 undoubtedly contributed to its wide distribution 

 and to the relative uniformity among populations 

 (Table 1). 



Little is known of the ecology of D. hystrix. Ran- 

 dall ( 1967) and Hobson ( 1974) gave information on 



feeding and diel activity patterns. Diodon hystrix 

 is a nocturnal predator on hard-shelled inverte- 

 brates such as gastropods, hermit crabs, and sea 

 urchins. Eger ( 1963) reported toxic dermal secre- 

 tions in D. hystrix. This species is eaten by people 

 in Hawaii ( pers. observ. ) and Tahiti ( Curtiss 1938; 

 Bagnis et al. 1972) without apparent ill effect, 

 although it is frequently classified as poisonous 

 (e.g., Halstead 1967). 



Material examined. — 43 specimens, 5.5-571 mm. 



EASTERN PACIFIC: SIO 64-214 (1:128) 7°47'N, 85°45'W; 

 SIO H52-415 (1:180) 2°50..5'N, 10r28'W; UA 73-83-21 (1:236) 

 Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico; UA 68-59-11 

 1:199) Punta Mai Paso. Manta. Ecuador; CAS 1244 ( 1:209) Clar- 

 ion I., Revillagigedos; CAS H46-241(2:191-202) Acapulco, Guer- 

 rero, Mexico: CAS uncat. (1:215) La Paz, Baja California Sur, 

 Mexico; NMFS LJ N-49, 67-2 (1:5.5) 18°N, 107°W. CENTRAL 

 and WESTERN PACIFIC: HAWAIIAN IS.— HIMB (1:311) 

 Kaneohe Bay, Oahu; NMFS H-243 (1:135) off Kailua, Hawaii; 

 NMFS H-241 (1:142) 10 mi. W. Keahole Pt., Hawaii; BPBM 

 11656 (1:272.5) Moku Mana, Oahu. LINE IS.— BPBM 9798 

 ( 1:338) Washington I. MARQUESAS IS.— BPBM 12139 1 1:290) 

 Nuku Hiva. PITCAIRN I.— BPBM 16821 ( 1:278), 16717 ( 1:282). 

 SOCIETY IS.— GVF stn 22 (1:211) Maiao I. COOK IS— GVF 

 M-37 (1:327) Mangaia I. MARCUS I.— BPBM 8403 (1:403). 

 MARIANA IS.— BPBM 5122 (1:200) Guam. SOLOMON IS.— 

 CAS 6003 ( 1 : 107) Bellona I. CAROLINE IS.— GVF stn 29 ( 1 :258) 

 Ifaluk Atoll; GVF stn 12 (1:220) Palau Is,; GVF 176 (1:571) 

 Kapingamarangi Atoll. PHILIPPINE IS.: CAS 26419 ( 1:199) 

 Jolo I.; CAS 26418 (1:286) Culion I. SOUTH CHINA SEA: SIO 

 70-342 (1:49.5) 18°14.4'N, 119°45.2'E; GVF 1748 (1:196) 

 20°46'N, 116°53'W. JAPANESE WATERS: SIO 73-106 (l:ca. 

 10) 33°17'N, 138°08'E. AUSTRALIA: AMS IA.6105 (1:263) 

 Hayman I., Queensland. INDIAN OCEAN: RED SEA— CAS 

 HV-1661 (1:235) Eyiath, Gulf of Aqaba. WESTERN ATLAN- 

 TIC: CAS BMN-7526 ( 1:465) Vitoria, Brazil; CAS 23805 (1:307) 

 Harbour I., Bahamas; GCRL V66: 1703 ( 1:328) St. Thomas, Vir- 

 gin Is.; CAS 19210 ( 1:335) Key West, Fla., USA; NMFS M Bow- 

 ers 1-10 ( 1:29.2) 26°00'N, 70°30'W; NMFS M Oregon II 72-39-58 

 (1:30.0) 2r01'N, 80°14'W; NMFS M Oregon II 72-43-146 

 (2:16.0-18.9) Caribbean; NMFS M Oregon II 72-39-36 (1:26.2) 

 17°08'N, 69°58'W; NMFS M Oregon II 72-39-136 (1:25.0) 

 23°45'N, 84°20'W; NMFS M Oregon II 76-66-19791 (1:40.0) 

 17°50'N, 74°47'W. 



In addition, a number of specimens (CAS, NMFS M, material) 

 were identified, but not examined in detail. These fish form the 

 basis for some of the points plotted in Figure 8. 



DIODON NICTHEMERUS CUVIER 



Globefish (Figures 4, 13) 



Diodon nicthemerus Cuvier 1818:135 pi. 2 (Aus- 

 tralia). 



Diodon nycthemerus: Kaup 1855:228 (no locality 

 given). 



Diodon nichtemerus: Dumeril 1855:278 (no lo- 



cality given). 



549 



