Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of N'ort/i America. 1585 



633. PIMELOMETOPON, Gill. 



(Fat-heads.) 



Pimelometopon, Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1864, 58 (pulcher). 



Body robust, covered with small scales, about 60 in lateral line; both 

 limbs of the preopcrclc naked; caudal subtruncate, with the angles more 

 or less produced. Posterior canines present; anterior canines 1; dorsal 

 spines 12 ; adult male with the forehead greatly elevated, covered with a 

 thick pad of fat. This genus is clo.se to Harpe, differing chiefly in the 

 naked dorsal and smaller scales. The small size of its scales distinguishes 

 it from Trochocopus, and the presence of posterior canines from Semicossy- 

 plmn. Robust species, of large size and bright colors. {Tti/.iEXi), fat; 

 UETooTtov, forehead.) 



a. Color (males), head, dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, also the posterior part of the body 

 as far forward as the vent, purplish black; lower jaw white; the rest of the 

 body varying in tint from clear crimson to blackish, with coppery or purplish 

 luster; females dusky rose-colored, with black areas ill defined or obsolete; pre- 

 opercle serrulate in young, becoming entire. pulchee, 1992. 



aa. Color red; a large yellow blotch above the pectoral, and a black one antei'iorly on 

 the spinous dorsal ; preopercle entire. darwinii, 1993. 



1992. PIMELOMETOPON PULCHER (Ayres). 

 (California Eedfish; Fat-head.) 



Head 3 ; depth 3. D. XII, 10 ; A. Ill, 12 ; eye 5 in head ; snout 2i ; scales 

 60, 11 above lateral line; vertebrje ll-f-17=28. Body somewhat deep and 

 compressed; forehead in the adult with a very prominent fatty hump; 

 snout rather blunt ; caudal truncate, its lobes being produced and pointed 

 in the adult; gill rakers short and thickish; scales on breast small; cheeks, 

 opercles, and interopcrcles with scales; fins naked; preopercle serrulate 

 in young. Color (males), head, dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, also the 

 posterior part of the body as far forward as vent, purplish black, lower 

 jaw white; the rest of the body varying in tint from clear crimson to 

 blackish, Avith coppery or purplish luster; females dusky rose-colored, 

 with the black areas ill defined or obsolete. Length 3 feet. Coast of 

 southern California, from Point Concepcion to Ascension Island in Lower 

 California. This large and handsome fish is very common on the coast 

 of southern California, and is taken in enormous numbers in the kelp off 

 the shore. It is taken chiefly by the Chinese, with hook and line. It is 

 salted and dried by them. It reaches a weight of 12 to 15 pounds. The 

 male is quite different in color from the female, and the old individuals, 

 as usual with large Labroids, have the forehead surmounted by a mass of 

 fat. The specimens described are from San Diego. (2>"?c/)e>-, beautiful.) 



Lahrus pulcher, Ayres, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci., i, 1854, 3, San Diego. 



SnnicossypMis pulcher, GUnther, Cat., iv, 99, 1862. 



Pimelometopon p^dcher. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1864, 59; Jordan, Proc. F. S. Nat. 



Mus. 1880, 29 and 455. 

 Harpe pulchra, Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1881, 278; Jordan & Gilbert, 



Synopsis, 602, 1883. 

 Trochocopiis pulcher, EosA Smith, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1883, 233; Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. 



Am., 98, 1885 ; Jordan, in Goode, Nat . Hi.st. Aqnat. Anim., 275, 1884 ; Jordan, Review 



Labroid Fishes, 633, 1890. 



