Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North Atnerica. 1157 



1552. EPINEPHELCS STRIATUS (Bloch). 

 (Nassau Grouper; Hamlet; Cherna Criolla.) 



Head 2f ; depth 2\; eye rather large, 5i in head (young). D. XI, 17; 

 A. Ill, 8; scales 13 to 18-110 to 125-45 to 55, pores 55 to 65. Body rather 

 deep, not strongly compressed, its greatest width 2? in depth. Head 

 somewhat pointed; the anterior profile nearly straight to the front of the 

 dorsal. Mouth moderate, the lower Jaw little projecting; the maxillary 

 reaching posterior border of eye, 2\ in head. Teeth in moderate bands; 

 2 moderate canines in front of each jaw, the lower smallest. Nostrils 

 close together, the posterior a little the larger, ovate. Interorbital space 

 narrow, flattish, or somewhat concave, %l in head. Angle of preopercle 

 slightly salient, a shallow notch above it ; the teeth at the angle some- 

 what larger. Gill rakers slender, about 16 below the angle. Scales mod- 

 erate, strongly ctenoid. Dorsal spines of moderate strength, higher than 

 in most species, the second much higher than tenth, the third highest, 2^ 

 in head ; soft dorsal rather high ; caudal rounded, 1-^ in head ; soft anal 

 rounded, the largest ray 2^ in head; second anal spine stronger than third 

 and about as long, 4 in head; pectorals reaching tips of ventrals, 1?, in 

 head. Ventrals short, barely reaching vent. Color in life: Rather pale 

 olivaceous gray, paler below, and with obscure whitish clouds along sides ; 

 body with about 4 vertical bars, very irregular and undulating, of an 

 olive brown color, darker on the back, and all extending on the dorsal 

 fin ; a square blotch of jet black on back of tail ; a band of dark olive 

 through eye and on snout, meeting its fellow on shoulder just before 

 dorsal ; another on median line of snout, forking opposite front of 

 eye, the 2 bauds extending backward parallel and ceasing abruptly on 

 occiput without reaching the other band ; dark shades radiating from eye 

 below ; a ring of deep brown or blackish points around eye, the upper 

 ones on eye ; a deep orange-red stripe on lower edge of preorbital ; mouth 

 within partly orange ; lower parts of head and breast tinged with orange 

 and with coppery cloudings ; vertical fins colored like the parts of the 

 body nearest them ; edge of both dorsals yellow ; caudal and anal tipped 

 with orange yellow ; ventrals blackish, faintly yellowish at tips ; pectorals 

 chieily light orange, dusky at base ; bands and dark markings of body 

 becoming fainter in old examples of this species, and almost disappearing 

 in alcoholic specimens. West Indies, Key West to Brazil ; very common ; 

 a well-marked species and a food-fish of importance. Length 3 feet ; those 

 usually found in the markets much smaller, (striatus, striped.) 



Cherna, Parua, Dif. Piezas Hist. Nat., 1787, 50, lam. 24, Havana. 



Anlhinx strialit.t, Bloch, Icbtbyologia, IX, 109, pi. 324, 1792, Martinique; on a figure by Plumier. 



Antliids cherna, Block & ScHNEinER, Syst. Ichth., 310, 1801, Cuba; after Pauua. 



Spantx chrysoriielaiiums, LAclipEDE, Hist. Nat. PoiSB., IV, 100,1803, Martinique; mi a copy of 



Plumier's figure. 

 Serranus striatus, Cuvier &. Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., ii, 288. 1828; GCntmeu, Cat., i,18.'>9, 



110. 

 Epinephelus striatus, J o&i> AH & Eigenmann, /. c, 356, 1890; Boulenuer, Cat., i, 2.35. 



