164 



PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



Scorpaena calcarata Goode and Bean 



Scorpaena calcarata Goode and Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 5, 1882 (1883), p. 422 — 

 Clearwater Harbor, Florida. Longley, Carnegie Inst. Wash. Year Book No. 34, 1935, 

 p. 284. 



Scorpaena russula atlantica Nichols and Breder, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 37, 1924, 

 p. 21, pi. 7 — off Galveston, Texas. 



The type of calcarata, 55 mm. in length, is no longer perfectly preserved, but 

 deterioration has not masked its identity, as is evident from the shallow occipital 

 pit, 2 distinct longitudinal ridges in interorbital space, a short spine on ascend- 

 ing border of preopercle above long spine at angle, which extends nearly to oper- 

 cular border, and the eye lacking opaque extensions on the cornea above as in 

 inermis. 



It is clear that the original description is incorrect in stating that the pectoral 

 rays are simple in the type, as 1 or 2 simple rays above are followed by 4 or 5 

 branched ones. From comparison with better-preserved specimens there is little 

 doubt that originally the type had 6 branched rays following a single simple ray 

 above, and followed by 14 unbranched ones below. 



Neither this species nor inermis, with which it has generally been united, is in 

 the structure of its pectoral fin transitional between normal Scorpaena and 

 Pontinus, as is suggested by Jordan and Evermann (Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 

 47, pt.2, 1898, p. 1854). 



Taken rather commonly at Tortugas in 10-fathom channels within the lagoon, 

 and at depths of 12 to 15 fathoms east of Bush Key and Bird Key reefs. Speci- 

 mens 45 to 135 mm. long have been included in the catch; none were in breed- 

 ing condition. 



The proportional measurements of a specimen from Tortugas, 67 mm. long, 

 are as follows: Depth 3.1; head 2.1. Eye in head 3.0; interorbital width 2.66. 



In 1 of 6 specimens examined, the dorsal spines are n, in the others 12; the 

 soft rays are once 11, otherwise 10. The anal formula is 111,5 ' n 5 specimens, and 

 111,6 in the other one; pectoral rays 19 in 1 fish, and 20 in the others. Five times 

 the upper ray is simple, once branched, the next 5 to 7 branched, the lower 12 to 

 14 simple, fin reaching anal origin; 2d anal spine twice in depth, slightly shorter 

 and stouter than 3d, which is only a little longer than diameter of orbit; occipital 

 pit shallow, becoming almost obliterated with age; maxillary reaching vertical of 

 posterior border of pupil; teeth villiform in jaws, and in a narrow band on 

 vomer and palatines; spines on head weak; nasal, preocular, supraocular, post- 

 ocular, coronal, parietal, nuchal, tympanic, and a single humeral spine present; 

 also 2 small postorbital spines; 2 on lower border of preorbital; 2 on suborbital 

 keel; a long spine at angle of the preopercle without a supplementary one at its 

 base, extending nearly to subopercular border; below this 4 spines; several teeth 

 on preopercular border above angle, inclined upward and appearing first at the 

 length of about 65 mm.; scales cycloid; none on snout, jaws, or top of head; 

 about 48 rows between upper margin of opercular cleft and base of caudal; 25 

 with pores. 



The fish are largely red when taken. They are changeable in color, however, 



