LEIS: SYSTEMATICS AND ZOOGEOCJKAPHV OK THE POKCUPINEFISHES 



round blotch around the base of the dorsal fin, 2) 

 one middorsal blotch of variable shape about mid- 

 way between the dorsal fin and pectoral base, 3) a 

 round to squarish blotch above each pectoral fin 

 along the dorsolateral surface just posterior to the 

 fin base, 4) a broad transverse bar across the occip- 

 ital region, 5) a bar beginning below each eye and 

 extending on to the interorbital (in Indo-Pacific 

 specimens this bar is usually continuous across 

 the interorbital, but in Atlantic specimens it is 

 often not), 6) occasionally, a rather diffuse lateral 

 bar between eye and gill opening. The dorsal and 

 lateral surface with scattered small ( <pupil 

 diameter) spots the same color as the blotches; 

 these are variable in number and size and rarely 

 may be entirely lacking; they are not associated 

 with the spine axils. Ventral surfaces white, but 

 may be marked with spots which tend to be larger 

 than the dorsal spots. This "pelagic spotting" 

 (Figure 19) of the belly (see section on Eggs, lar- 

 vae, and pelagic stages) is always found on speci- 

 mens taken pelagically, but is often retained on 

 specimens collected inshore (60-200 mm); this 

 seems to be the case particularly with eastern 



Pacific specimens. Pelagic spotting may extend 

 dorsally to the level of the pectoral fin. No dark 

 band on the underside of the head. Fins unspotted, 

 except for some small clusters of melanophores 

 associated with the fin rays. Color in life essen- 

 tially the same as above, but fins may be yellowish 

 and there may be yellowish areas around the spine 

 bases. 



The largest specimen examined was 289 mm. 

 There are literature reports of much larger speci- 

 mens, but these may be based on misidentifica- 

 tions. However, it is clear that/), holocanthiis does 

 not reach the size of Z). hystrix. 



Eggs, larvae, and pelagic stages. — The eggs and 

 larvae of D. holocanthiis were initially identified 

 by rearing eggs from plankton tows. Three larvae 

 were successfully reared through metamorphosis. 

 These fish lived 25-33 days after hatching before 

 being preserved. One was cleared and stained. 



The eggs of D. holocanthiis are spherical, with 

 10-30 clear, yellowish oil droplets of 0.05-0.25 mm 

 in diameter. The eggs are pelagic, with a narrow 

 perivitelline space, unsegmented yolk, and a 



Figure 18. — Dorsal view of Diodon holocanthus, note interorbital bar. Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, 150 mm 



SL IHIMB, uncataloged). 



557 



