1941 CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS 2 6l 



and Tee-Van's collection from Port-au-Prince Bay, Haiti, Cretnnobates fajardo 

 (Zoologica, vol. 10, 1928, p. 239) ; 2 specimens from Barbados (1 is like A. nigri- 

 pinnis, for which this is the type locality) ; and Metzelaar's specimens from 

 Curacao. All have the compound opercular spine, which is diagnostic. Thirteen 

 specimens in the U. S. National Museum in respect to fin formulas fall within the 

 limits of the Tortugas sample, except that one Cuban specimen has no soft ray. 

 Auchenopterus fasciatus Jordan and Thompson from their description appears 

 to be this species. Of the occurrence of Auchenopterus fasciatus (Steindachner) 

 at Tortugas I have no supporting evidence. W. H. L. 



The collection contains 26 specimens, 27 to 48 mm. long. The following pro- 

 portions and enumerations are based on 6 specimens, 27 to 48 mm. long: Head 

 3.5 to 3.9; depth 4.1 to 4.8. Eye in head 4.0 to 4.8; snout 4.3 to 5.0; maxillary 1.65 

 to 2.8 (produced in adult males); pectoral 1.3 to 1.6. D. XXIX,i to XXXI,o; A. 

 II,i7 or J 8; P- I2 or 13; scales 32 to 35. 



The color in alcohol is very variable, some specimens being almost wholly pale 

 and others brownish with distinct crossbars extending on the dorsal and anal 

 fins. The dorsal ocellus remains visible in every specimen. 



West Indies to the Bahamas and Florida and probably to Brazil. S. F. H. 



Auchenopterus marmoratus (Steindachner) 



Rare locally, only 3 specimens having been collected, consisting of 1 small one 

 taken in the seine, and 2 small ones secured by breaking up clumps of coral from 

 the inner edge of Bird Key reef. 



Fin formulas in Tortugas specimens, D. III-XXIV or XXV,i ; A. 11,19 or 20. 

 Four specimens in the U. S. National Museum and 1 in the British Museum have 

 D. III-XXIV to XXVI,i; A. II,i8 to 20. Steindachner (Ichthyol. Beitr., No. 5, 

 1876, p. 174) wrote D. 3/27; A. 2/20. The 3d dorsal spine is more widely sepa- 

 rated from the 4th than in other species of the genus, but its membrane joins the 

 4th spine a short distance above its base. The spine at angle of opercle is simple. 



Upper side of head from snout to dorsal origin, throat, and side of head below 

 level of eye pale and finely mottled; a stripe of pupillary width from tip of snout 

 through eye and broadening on operculum; six blocks of solid color on dorsal, 

 four on anal, uniting with a lateral stripe defined obscurely above but more 

 sharply below; shade of fish changeable; fins with blue spots ocellated with 

 orange and brown in concentric circles; usually three, rarely four, dorsal ocelli, 

 within last three blocks of solid color; anal ocellus single, situated in last dark 

 bar crossing fin, sometimes wanting. Acquiring at first a distinctly red color in 

 alcohol, which soon fades. W. H. L. 



The collection contains 2 specimens, 37 and 38 mm. long, on which the follow- 

 ing proportions and enumerations are based: Head 3.0, 3.2; depth 3.8, 3.9. Eye in 

 head 4.4, 4.5; snout 3.9, 4.25; maxillary 2.4, 2.6; pectoral 1.4, 1.5. D. III-XXIV,i, 

 III-XXVI,i; A. 11,19, II,2o; P. 14, 15; scales 36, 38. 



West Indies to Florida. S. F. H. 



