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PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 



The largest specimen of E. t. thalassinus examined was a male, 

 39.7 mm SL; the largest female was 34.4 mm. Males were relatively 

 common over 35.0 mm, but females occurred rarely at sizes larger 

 than 28.0 mm. In general, males were more numerous than females 

 in collections. The smallest nonophioblennius stage was 13.4 mm 

 SL and the largest ophioblennius larva was 13.7 mm. The larvae 

 had five anterior canines, two directed posterolaterally on each side 

 of the lower jaw and one directed posteriorly at the symphysis of 

 that jaw. There were no posterior canines in specimens below 14.1 

 mm, but vomerine teeth were visible in nonlarvae 13.4 mm. Head 

 cirri were well developed in a larva 13.7 mm. 



There was no apparent sexual dimorphism of meristic characters 

 among specimens of E. t. thalassinus. 



The largest specimen of E. t. longicirrus examined was a male, 

 49.7 mm; the largest female was 39.0 mm. Males are common at 

 lengths over 40.0 mm ; below this size the sexes occur with relatively 

 equal frequency. In general, males were much more numerous than 

 females in collections. The smallest specimen examined, 18.5 mm, 

 was not an ophioblennius larva. 



Males tend to have a higher average number of segmented dorsal 

 rays than females. Of 44 males examined, 4 had 13 rays, 38 had 14 

 rays, and 2 had 15 ravs. Of 40 females examined, 15 had 13 rays, 23 



TABLE 67. --Frequency distribution of number of segmented dorsal and anal fin 

 rays and vertebrae of specimens of subspecies of Entomacrodus thalassinus 

 arranged geographically 



