NO. 3582 GENUS ENTOMACRODUS — SPRINGER 51 



pelvic fins are pale to dark dusky. The caudal fin is dusky (without 

 stripes or bands) with two irregular pale spots at the base which some- 

 times extend onto the caudal peduncle. (See also: Jordan and Snyder, 

 1902, fig. 10; Schultz and Chapman, 1960, pi. 115c.) 



E. s. lighti: There are usually indications of about AYi pairs of 

 dark bands, often very irregular in shape, on the body. These are 

 in similar position to those mentioned for E. s. stellifer. There may 

 be additional bands or portions of bands anterior to these. The 

 bands are frequently darkest and broadest in their midportions, 

 palest and most slender ventrally. The pigment of the bands is 

 more or less evenly distributed and no more than a few relatively 

 large pale areas are included in them. Dorsally the bands encroach 

 on the dorsal fin, ventrally they fail to reach the anal base. The 

 sides of the head are variable, but at least three well-marked, pos- 

 teroventrally directed bands extend from the orbit at similar positions 

 to the marks described in this area for E. s. stellifer (these bands are 

 much better defined than those found in E. s. stellifer). The anterior- 

 most of these three bands may extend onto the sides of the upper lip. 

 Occasionally a third band extends from the snout onto the upper lip 

 between these two lateral bands. The upper lip is sometimes dusky 

 with numerous pale spots (spots larger than those in comparably 

 sized specimens of E. s. stellifer). The underside of the head bears 

 adumbrations of dusky chevrons. The fins are similarly marked to 

 those of E. s. stellifer except that the fleshy pectoral base may exhibit 

 a distinct dark area separated by a pale area from the base of the 

 pectoral rays. 



For geographic distribution, discussion, and material, see sub- 

 species accounts. 



Relationships. — Entomacrodus stellifer is quite distinct from all 

 other species of its genus. It is the only species in which the crenula- 

 tions of the upper lip are always restricted to the middle third of the 

 ^'entral margin, the nasal cirri arise from a broad flap, and there is 

 a dark spot between the anterior two dorsal spines. Except for 

 E. macrospilus , E. stellifer is the only species of Entomacrodus in 

 which the supraorbital cirrus is typically simple. E. stellifer is 

 unusual in that a large number of specimens lack one or both posterior 

 canines in the lower jaw. This species exhibits the greatest develop- 

 ment of any species of Entomacrodus of the "crest" on top of the 

 head of males. 



The restriction of the dorsal lip crenulae to the middle third of the 

 ventral margin (present in some juveniles of E. decussatus and E. 

 vermiculaty.s) , the lack of rugose modifications of the skin of the anal 

 spines and rays of males, the relatively small posterior canine in the 

 lower jaw, the large number of vertebrae and dorsal and anal seg- 



