128 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 122 



The smaller canines are either lost first during transformation or fail 

 to develop in some specimens, as several specimens had only the larger 

 canines. The posterolaterally directed canines occur internal to the 

 salarine type dentition. In some specimens the posterior recurved 

 canine of the adult (not included in the canines just discussed) is just 

 noticeable; vomerine teeth have not been noted in the ophioblennius 

 stage. The ophioblennius stage specimens are either uniformly 

 pale or have some indications of paired vertical stripes on the sides 

 of the body. 



Color pattern of preserved speclmens. — In specimens with the 

 most developed color pattern there are 6 to Qji pairs of dark bands 

 on the sides of the body (fusion between the midportion of the members 

 of a pair, as in E. chiostictus, were not noted). The posteriormost 

 two pairs of body bands are usually less intense than the others and 

 may be absent. The anteriormost half-pair band is frequently broken 

 into irregular markings or may be absent altogether. The interspaces 

 between the bands may be marked with pale or pearly white spots. 

 The anterodorsal portion of the sides, in the region below the spinous 

 dorsal, frequently bears a variable number of small dark spots. 



The head is pale to deep dusky with a dark spot just posterior to the 

 eye. The upper lip of most specimens bears 7-10 dark, narrow stripes 

 alternating with broader, paler bands. The basic number of stripes is 

 seven, but three of these stripes may divide, usually dorsally only, and 

 be interpreted as two stripes each. The stripes may be fewer in number 

 in small or occasional specimens. The underside of the head usually 

 exhibits a pattern of dark chevrons, which are extensions from some 

 of the lip stripes. 



Portions of the dorsal fin above and between the body bands are 

 marked with a variable number of diffuse dusky spots. These spots 

 sometimes coalesce, especially on the posterior soft dorsal fin, and the 

 markings thus formed alternate with pale spots. The anal fin is 

 variably dusky, always darker and more extensively pigmented in 



TABLE 61. --Frequency distribution of number of predorsal commissural pores of specimens of 

 Entomacrodus nigricans arranged by SL classes (in mm) 



15-19.9 



20 



25 



30 



35 



AO 



'i5 



50 



55 



60 



Number of pores 



2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 lA 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Average 



116 24---------- 3.4 



-4352733-1 6.1 



-1-79576 1142 11-1 ------- 8.3 



---2479 13 10 5341--1------ 9.2 



---146 10 14 12 5 13 5 3 3 1 - - - - - - - 10.1 



14 12 18 10 11 6 4 2 2 - 1 - 1 - - - 11.2 



----24375574121111---- 11.0 



------3243 1551- ---1-11 12.7 



--------1311--1 12.0 



........ 11- .-l-l-..-.. 13.2 



