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PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 



and was not an ophioblennius stage. Specimens less than 20 mm 

 SL had vomerine teeth but lacked posterior canines in the lower jaw. 

 Color pattern of preserved specimens. — There is considerable 

 variation in color pattern of specimens, including individual, onto- 

 genetic, and geographic variations. Specimens of 16-45 mm show 

 indications of 5K to Gji pairs of irregular bands on the side of the 

 body. The bands are usually broken into three portions: dorsal, 

 middle, and ventral. The midportions of each pair of bands are 

 usually fused (see Schultz and Chapman, 1960, plate 116 F and H) 

 and sometimes appear ringlike. At about 50 mm SL specimens 

 begin to exhibit indications of irregular undulating stripes that over- 

 lay, incorporate, and frequently obscure the bands. The striping is 

 least obvious in specimens from the New Hebrides, which are marked 

 with a sprinkling of fine dark spots and dashes covering the sides. 

 Large specimens from all localities except the Gulf of Thailand, South 

 China Sea, Montebello, and Tahiti (only one specimen from each of 

 the last two localities) have less than five diffuse dark spots dorso- 



TABLE 7. — Frequency distribution of number of gill-rakers of specimens of 

 EntomacTodus decussatus arranged by SL classes (in mm) 



