1110 Bulletin 4/, U^iited States National Museum. 



482. APOGONICHTHYS, Bleeker. 



Apogotiichthijs, Bleeker, Floris, 321, 1854, {ptrdir). 



This genus differs from Apogon only in having the preopercle entire at 

 all ages ; scales very large (20 to 26) and cycloid. Small species, similar 

 in habit to those of Apogon, found in the tropical seas. The genus is 

 scarcely distinct from J^O(/OM. (Apogon; lxOi>c, ^^h.) 



a. Scales in lateral line 21 to 23; body with many dark points. 



h. Ventrals short, not reaching vent; dorsal rays VI-I, 0. alutus, l.WS. 



hh. Ventrals long, extending beyond anal; dorsal rays A'll-I, 9. stellatu.s, 1506. 



aa. Scales in lateral line 30; ventralsloug, reaching beyond front of .anal; body everywhere 



with black specks; dors.al VI-I, 9. puncticulatus, 1507. 



1 505. APOGONICHTHYS ALUTUS (Jordan & Gilbert). 



Head 2f ; depth 2f. D. VI-I, 9 ; A. II, 8; scales 21. Head much com- 

 pressed, short and high, its height at occiput f its length ; snout short 

 aud blunt, less than interorbital width, about half diameter of orbit ; 

 mouth very oblique, the maxillary reaching beyond pupil, but not to pos- 

 terior margin of orbit ; length of maxillary If in head ; teeth in narrow 

 villiform bands in each jaw, those on vomer and palatines minute; eye 

 of moderate size, 2* in head ; orbital rim elevated above and behind ; 

 interorbital width 3J in head, with a low median longitudinal ridge ; 

 both ridges of preopercle entire; opercle Avithout spine; gill rakers 

 slender, the longest rather more than half diameter of orbit, 8 or 9 

 on anterior branch of outer arch. First dorsal low, of 6 rather weak 

 spines, its base f length of head, and equal to greatest height of fin ; 

 second dorsal high, the longest ray 1^ in bead. Anal similar to second 

 dorsal; second anal spine half length of longest ray, which is contained 

 If in head ; caudal 1^; ventrals not reaching vent, If, and pectorals If , 

 in length of head. Color rusty red with silvery luster ; sides of head 

 little reddish. Body and fins everywhere much soiled and freckled with 

 dark points. First dorsal blackish, thickly punctate; second dorsal, 

 anal, and caudal yellow, smutty with dark points, the posterior half of 

 the caudal more dusky. Ventrals smutty yellow ; pectorals colorless. 

 Snapper Banks off Pensacola and Tampa; not rare; the known specimens 

 from stomachs of the Red Snapper, iVeomaws aj/a. (uAovtoc, unwashed.) 



Apogon aliilns, Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Kat. Mus., 1882, 279, and in Synojisis, 931, 1883, 

 Snapper Banks, Pensacola. (Coll. Jordan & Stearns.) 



1506. APOGONICHTHYS STELLATUS, Cope. 



D. VII-I, 9; A. II, 8; P. 10; scales 7-23. Ventral with elongate rays 

 extending beyond last anal ray. Caudal rounded. End of maxillary 

 reaching nearly to opposite posterior margin of large orbit. A delicate 

 frontal carina. Greatest depth 3 times to base of caudal. End of muzzle 

 truncate, with emargiuation to receive tubercle of mandible. Reddish 

 broAvn, with a series of dark brown spots on the edges of the scales of 

 each row (except that bearing the lateral line), each with a silver center; 



