516 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.42. 



Family PTEROPSARID^. 



PARAPERCIS HEXOPHTHALMA (Ehrenberg). 



Six specimens of this species were secured in the market at Naha. 

 A description of one measuring 180 millimeters follows. 



Head 3.5 in the length; depth 6.2; depth caudal peduncle 3 in 

 head; eye 4.5; snout 2.5; interorbital space 8.6; D, V., 21; A. 17; 

 scales lateral series 64; between lateral line and origin of dorsal 18. . 



The snout is pointed, the mouth large, maxillary reaching a verti- 

 cal through anterior edge of pupil. Teeth simple, occurring in narrow 

 bands on jaws and vomer, the palatines being naked; outer side of 

 upper jaw with a row of enlarged, simple teeth that curve backward; 

 front of lower jaw with similar teeth which are followed by a short 

 space in which small teeth only are present; these in turn followed by 

 3 large curved, canines and then a smgle row of smaller teeth. There 

 are 13 very short gill-rakers, 9 of which are on the lower lunb of the 

 arch. Of the dorsal spines, the third and fourth are highest. The 

 highest rays of the dorsal are located near the middle of the fin; their 

 length contained 2 times m the head. The anal is inserted directly 

 beneath the fourth dorsal ray. The posterior rays of dorsal and anal 

 do not reach the base of caudal. The caudal is somewhat rounded 

 or truncate posteriorly except for one or two of the upper rays which 

 project in a sharp point. Pectoral rounded, reaching a vertical 

 through anal opening. Ventral rays broadened and much thickened 

 near tips; the next to iimer ray longest. 



The number of dorsal spines does not vary from 5 in the 6 specimens. 

 There are from 19 to 21 dorsal rays and 17 or 18 anal rays. 



Color in life, brownish gray above, gi-ayish white beneath; upper 

 two-thu-ds of body with many small spots with brown centers and 

 lighter margms; head greenish gray, bluish white beneath; snout 

 with ocelli, the centers of which are light brown, the margins orange; 

 sides of head with orange spots; sides of body above middle of anal 

 with three conspicuous ocelli with brownish black centers and lemon 

 3^eUow rings. Dorsal lemon yellow, narrowly edged with white; 

 with three rows of dark brown spots surrounded with transparent 

 rings. Anal similar to dorsal except that the spots are surrounded 

 by a pearly white area. Caudal with a large median, brownish black 

 area, above and back of which are many smaller spots; black area 

 with a posterior margin of dead white. 



In spirits the brownish black figures only persist. 



Young examples have 6 or 7 ocelli in line with the 3 large ones 

 above anal fin, the anterior ones disappearing with age. 



PARAPERCIS TETRACANTHA (Lacepede). 



There are no teeth on the palatines. The posterior middle of 

 caudal has a large, square, dead white spot. 



