1941 CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS 2II 



Sparisoma aurofrenatum (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



This fish is not common at Tortugas. 



It was seen in three color phases, plain, striped, and mottled. The first term is 

 not strictly accurate, for this pattern includes several permanent marks in con- 

 trastive color, namely a scarlet bridle, red and yellow opercular spot, dark post- 

 humeral spot, and black-tipped caudal lobes. This is the phase commonly shown 

 by the swimming fish, though it may swim, too, in stripes. It changes to stripes 

 when coming half to rest in the pecking motions of feeding. I have observed the 

 mottled phase only in a fish which had come quite to rest. 



West Indies to Florida. W. H. L. 



Sparisoma viride (Bonnaterre) 



Scams viridis Bonnaterre, Tab. encyc, Ichth., vol. 6, 1788, p. 96 — Bahamas (after Catesby). 



Scams catesby Lacepede, Hist. nat. poiss., vol. 4, 1803, p. 16 (after Catesby). 



Scams catesbaci Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. nat. poiss., vol. 14, 1839, p. 183. Giinther, 



Cat. fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 4, 1862, p. 210. 

 Callyodon psittacus Gronow (not of Linnaeus), Cat. fishes (ed. Gray), 1854, p. 84. 

 Scams melanotis Bleeker, Versl. Akad. Amsterdam, vol. 14, 1862, p. 126 — St. Croix. 



Rather common in the coral-gorgonian belt, usually feeding, but going occa- 

 sionally into the coral stacks and remaining for an indefinite period. It some- 

 times serves as host to young Echeneis naucrates, whose presence irritates it. 



In coloration this species is decidedly changeable. It appears most commonly 

 on the reef in a brownish phase, with red lines on the head, a yellow spot on the 

 tip of the opercle, and an orange one on the base of the caudal. From under coral 

 heads it comes out duskier. It has a spotted phase like that of Sparisoma abild- 

 gaardi, in which it is not infrequently seen. Individuals may also be seen some- 

 times at night, resting beside or on corals, in a blotched pattern. 



West Indies to Florida. W. H. L. 



Sparisoma spinidens (Guichenot) 



Scams spinidens Guichenot, Mem. Soc. sci. nat. Cherbourg, vol. 11, 1865, p. 15 — Bahia. 

 Sparisoma rhomaleum Meek and Hildebrand, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser., vol. 15, 



pt. 3, 1928, p. 754, pi. 74, fig. 1 — Colon, Panama. 

 Sparisoma spinidens Longley, Carnegie Inst. Wash. Year Book No. 32, 1933, p. 294. 



The type (in Paris) is 460 mm. long, head 113 mm., eye 20 mm., interorbital 

 width 22 mm., depth at dorsal origin 130 mm., length of pectoral 77 mm. The 

 head is characteristically rounded, the caudal lobes greatly elongated, the upper 

 slightly more, the exserted part equaling the remainder. Nothing remains of the 

 natural color, but diagnostic details are still visible. The pectoral is opaque, ex- 

 cept for its pale posterior border as broad as eye; a dark saddle-shaped blotch on 

 upper part of pectoral base, extending down both before and behind into axil; 

 caudal dusky except for a lighter crescent, originally pink, mesially wider than 

 pupil, at posterior margin. Several rather weak teeth, interlocking at symphysis 

 of upper jaw, 3 on one side, 2 on the other; seven rows on right side, and five on 

 left, with projecting canines, often 3 to the row, erupting, standing, broken, or 



