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PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



Furthermore, I have checked the description and drawing of Vieja Parra 

 (Desc. dif. piezas hist, nat., 1787, p. 58, pi. 28, fig. 4), on which Bloch and 

 Schneider (see reference above) based S. chrysopterum, against the specimens in 

 hand. Parra did not show in his figure, or mention in his description, a prom- 

 inent black spot at base of upper rays of pectoral, nor a dark blotch on and 

 behind margin of opercle on the second row of scales above base of pectoral. 

 Neither did he mention canine teeth. The black spot at base of pectoral is prom- 

 inent in the Tortugas material, and the spot on and behind opercular margin, 

 which often has a light margin posteriorly, is always present also, though some- 

 what obscure in a few of the larger specimens. These dark spots also remain in 

 the Panama and Cuba specimens. The black spot on the pectoral is mentioned 

 in current descriptions of S. chrysopterum, but I find no mention of the spot or 

 blotch above base of pectoral. Poey mentioned it, however, in his description of 

 Scar us squalid us (Repertorio, vol. 2, 1868, p. 338). Nevertheless, it is present in 

 Sparisoma chrysopterum if Dr. Longley is correct in assigning S. lorito to the 

 synonymy of that species. 



It has been suggested that the shape of the caudal is different. I fail to find a 

 difference, however, in the specimens with and without canines. In each group 

 the angles, involving 2 or 3 of the outside (upper and lower) rays, are produced, 

 and the rest of the rays are of about equal length. The angles of the caudal be- 

 come acute at a length of about 150 mm., increasing in length with age, but even 

 in young of a length of about 80 mm., the fin already is much less strongly 

 rounded than in S. pachycephalum, for example. 



The results of my study of specimens and the literature indicate, therefore, 

 that the only difference remaining is the absence or presence of canine teeth. If 

 the specimens studied consist of two species, as differentiated by the presence or 

 absence of canine teeth, it must be assumed that the teeth develop at widely 

 variable sizes. As Dr. Longley evidently considered all Tortugas specimens 

 S. chrysopterum , the largest preserved being 285 mm. long, none of which have 

 canines, it would appear that such teeth at least sometimes appear quite late 

 in life. 



Atlantic coast of tropical America northward to Florida. S. F. H. 



Sparisoma rubripinne (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



Scarus rubripinnis Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. nat. poiss., vol. 14, 1839, p. 199 — Santo 



Domingo. 

 Scarus virens Cuvier and Valenciennes, ibid., p. 203 — Puerto Rico; Martinique. 

 Scarus circumnotatus Poey, Memorias, vol. 2, 1861, p. 423 — Cuba. 

 Scarus chloris Guichenot (not of Bloch and Schneider), Mem. Soc. sci. nat. Cherbourg, 



vol. n, 1865, p. 14. 

 Scarus truncatus Poey, Repertorio, vol. 2, 1868, p. 339 — Cuba. 

 Scarus emarginatus Poey, ibid., p. 340 — Cuba. 

 Sparisoma jrondosum Gudger (not of Cuvier), Carnegie Inst. Wash. Pub. 391, 1929, 



p. 191 — Tortugas, Florida. 



Not uncommon at Tortugas; usually found along the beach rocks west of 

 Loggerhead Key; occurring also on the reef. 



