FISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS AND ADJACENT WATERS 119 

 Subgenus Dentex Cuvier 



DENTEX RUPESTRIS Valenciennes 



Dentex rupestris Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 6, p. 231, 1830 (type 

 locality: Cape of Good Hope). — Smith, lUustr. Zool. South Africa, Fishes, 

 pi. 14, 1849 (southern Africa). — Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, 

 p. 370, 1859 (Cape Seas). — Bleeker, Nat. Tijds. Nederland. Indie, 

 vol. 21, p. (49, 52), 59, 1860 (Cape of Good Hope). — Thompson, Marine 

 Biol. Rep. South Africa, No. 4, p. 82, 1918. — B.\rnard, Ann. South African 

 Mus., vol. 21, pt. 2, p. 713, 1927 (Table and False Bays, Agulhas Bank, 

 Natal). 



Dentex brevis Kner, Reise Novara, Fische, p. 61, 1865 (type locality: Cape of 

 Good Hope). — Thompson, Marine Biol. Rep. South Africa, No. 4, p. 82, 1918. 



Depth 3; head 3, profile sloping, front orbital ridges prominent, 

 especially with age. Eye 4 to 7 in head, 2}i to 2% in snout, Iji to 1% in 

 interorbital, 1% to 2 in preorbital depth; canines strong; hind nostril 

 oval. Gill rakers 8 or 9 below, short and stout. 



Scales 58 to 62 in lateral line; 11 above, 28 to 30 below, 17 or 18 

 rows on cheek inclusive of ones on preopercle flange; predorsal scales 

 forward to hind nostril; scales above lateral line smaller than those 

 below. 



D. XI, 10 or 11, spines moderate, fifth longest or 2)2 to 3 in head; 

 A. Ill, 8, second spine stronger but shorter than third. 



Reddish or brownish, becoming paler, pinkish or orange or whitish 

 below. Back with bluish, greenish or bronzy reflections. Jaws 

 yellowish, dark patch or band between eyes. Fins grayish or reddish. 

 Pectoral axil often dark. Ventral pale. Reaches 1,500 mm. 

 (Barnard.) 



Cape of Good Hope, Natal. 



DENTEX PRAEORBITALIS Gunther 



Dentex praeorbitalis Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 368, 1859 (t3'pe 

 locality: Cape Seas). (Figure not published.) — Gilchrist and Thompson, 

 Ann. South African Mus., vol. 6, p. 157, 1908-1911 (Natal); Ann. Durban 

 Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 356, 1917 (references). — Thompson, Marine Biol. Rep. 

 South Africa, No. 4, p. 82, 1918. — Barnard, Ann. South African Mus., vol. 

 21, pt. 2, p. 714, 1927 (Natal coast in 40 fathoms). 



Dentex preorbitalis Fowler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1925, p. 235 

 (Natal coast). 



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

 eye 4^, 2 to 2% in snout, equals interorbital; maxillary reaches 

 opposite eye, expansion 1% to 1% in eye, length 2% to 2% in head; 4 

 canines in front of each jaw, single row of outer conic teeth, inner 

 band of fine granular ones; interorbital 3% to 4^, evenly convex. 

 Gill rakers 10 to 12 + 15, lanceolate. 



Scales 59 or 60 in lateral line to caudal base and 3 to 10 more on 

 latter; 12 or 13 above, 13 to 16 below, 11 or 12 rows on cheek to 

 preopercle ridge and 4 more transversely on flange, 62 to 66 predorsal 

 forward to front nostril. Scales with 9 to 13 basal radiating striae; 



