96 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 122 



appeared to be developing such modifications on the anal spines, which 

 probably indicates approaching maturity. The largest specimen ex- 

 amined was a male, 73.7 mm SL, the largest female 52.5 mm. The 

 smallest specimen examined, 25.6 m.m. SL, was not an ophioblennius 

 stage. 



Color pattern of holotype (preserved). — The sides of the body 

 exhibit five pairs of irregular dark bands: the first pair, alm.ost fused, 

 is under dorsal spines 8-10; the last pair is on the caudal peduncle. 

 Anterior to these pairs are two much paler, irregular bands, the 

 posteriormost split ventrally. Each m.ember of each of the paired 

 bands consists of about three vertically arranged blotches, the ventral- 

 most blotch, the palest. The head is dusky with an irregular dark spot, 

 deeper than wide, placed posterodorsally and bounded ventro- 

 posteriorly by a narrow pale margin, below which is a large dusky area, 

 paler than the dark spot. The dorsal and ventral portions of the head 

 are uniformly dusky. The upper lip is uniformly dusky except for a 

 faint band at each corner. 



The spinous dorsal fin bears irregular light dusky spots, most con- 

 spicuous over tlie spines. The interradial membrane is unmarked 

 distally between the spines. The soft dorsal fin bears three, sometimes 

 two, dusky spots over each ray; the spots arranged in diagonal series 

 from one ray to the next. The anal fin is more or less uniformly dusky 

 over its anterior two-thirds, grading into spots, mostly over the rays, 

 posteriorly. The caudal fin bears about seven irregidar vertical rows 

 of spots which are mostly centered over the rays. The pectoral fin is 

 light dusky over the rays; the interradial membrane is imro.acidate. 

 The fleshy pectoral base is uniformly dusky. The pelvic fins are light 

 dusky. 



Other females are similar to the holotype but may be more intensely 

 m.arked. The number of rows of caudal spots is variable. 



Males differ from females in generally having the bands on the body 

 much paler, the spot on the head (pis. 16c, 176) much larger, the nar- 



TABLE 43. — Frequency distribution of number of predorsal commissural pores and 

 supraorbital cirri of specimens of Entomacwdus chapmani arranged by SL 

 classes (in mm) 



