FISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS AND ADJACENT WATERS 



9 



Lethrinus acuius Klunzinger, Fische Roth. Meer., p. 39, pi. 7, fig. 1, 1884 

 (type locality: Koseir). — Steindachner, Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, 

 math.-nat. Kl., vol. 71, pt. 1, p. 133, 1907 (Tamarida, Sokotra). — Fowler, 

 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1925, p. 242 (Delagoa Bay). 



Depth 2% to 3%; head 2% to 2%, width 2% to 3. Snout 1% to 3% 

 in head; eye 3% to 7%, 1% to 4% in snout, greater than interorbital 

 in young to 1 to 2 with age; maxillary reaches K to % to eye, not to 

 front nostril, length 2% to 3 in head; lips broad, fleshy, coriaceous; 

 teeth in broad villiform bands anteriorly in jaws, outer row enlarged 

 and conic with 4 front ones in each jaw slight canines, all laterals 

 strongly conic; interorbital 4 to 5% in head, broadly and slightly convex 

 in young, nearly level to slightly concave with age; naked region of 

 head with fine striae or sldn finely rugose. Gill rakers 4 + 5, short low 

 tubercles, about }^ of gill filaments. 



Figure 1.— Lethrinus miniatus (Schneider), young; upper figure, head; lower, detail 



Scales 44 to 48 in lateral line to caudal base and 1 or 2 more on 

 latter; 6 above, 15 or 16 below, 9 predorsal; caudal and pectoral bases 

 finely scaled. Scales with 12 to 18 basal radiating striae, with 2 to 23 

 incomplete auxiliaries; 110 to 244 apical denticles, with 5 to 8 trans- 

 verse series of basal elements; circuU fine. 



D. X, 9, 1, fourth spine 2% to 3^ in head, fourth ray 3 to 3K; A. Ill, 

 8, I, third spine 3K to 4}^, first ray 3}i to 3%; caudal 1% to 1%, deeply 

 emarginate; least depth of caudal peduncle 3% to 3%; pectoral \% to 

 1%) ventral \% to 1%. 



Brown generally, paler to whitish below. Head deeper or drab- 

 brown, pale below. Each scale on body with slightly darker margin. 

 Iris golden brown. Fins brown, vertical ones mottled or obscurely 

 spotted with deeper brown. 



