162 Hawaiian Fishes 



"The ono was said by the ancient Hawaiians to be the parent of 

 the Opelu (mackerel)." 



The ono is a circumtropical species and is pelagic in all warm seas. 



THE ESCOLAR OR OIL FISH FAMILY 



Also known as the Snake Mackerels 



76 Family Gempylidae 



The escolars are mackerel-like fishes with elongated, band-shaped 

 bodies which arc covered by minute scales. Like the mackerels they have 

 a brilliant metallic color. The surface species are silvery in color while 

 the deep water forms are a violet black color. The mouth is set with 

 very large and sharp teeth. 



The escolars are fishes of the high seas. They are widely distributed 

 and may be either pelagic or descend to considerable depths. They are 

 reported to breed about rocky islands. Most of the species are used as food. 



Of more than fifteen known species, only three are known from the 

 Hawaiian Islands. 



Snake Mackerel or Hauliuli Puhi 



76-1 Gempylus serpens Cuvier 

 The snake mackerel is slender in shape, of a dark metallic blue color, 

 and reaches a length of about three feet. It is a voracious fish of the deep 

 sea and is widely distributed. It has a firm flesh. 



Rabbit Fish or Conejo 



76-2 Promethichthys prometheus (Cuvier) 



Drawn from Jordan & Evermann 



The rabbit fish has an elongated slender body and head. It is of a 

 steel blue color and is marked with black. It will reach a length of 

 almost two feet. It is circumtropical in its distribution. 



