FISHES OF THE PHHiIPPINE AND ADJACENT SEAS 175 



ABUDEFDUF SAPPHIRUS Jordan and Richardson 



Ahudefdnf sapphirus Jordan and Richardson, Bull. Bur. Fisher, vol. 27, 



1907 (190S), p. 264, fig. 10. Ticao, Philippines. 

 Abudefduf parasema Fowler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1918, p. 56, fig. 



22. Philippines. 



Depth 2 to 23^; head 3 to 3K, width 1% to 1%. Snout S^ to 

 3/4; eye, 2% to 3, greater than snout or interorbital; maxillary to 

 slightly beyond front eye edge, 2J4 to 3^ in head; teeth small, uni- 

 serial,ends truncate; interorbital 2}^ to 2%, convex; preorbital deeply 

 notched, but entire along edge; preopercle edge entire. Gill rakers 

 4 + 16, lanceolate. 



Tubes in lateral line 13 to 15, followed by 3 or 4 pores; pores in 

 straight section 8 or 9 to caudal base; 2 or 3 scales above lateral line 

 to spinous dorsal origin and 8 or 9 below; 15 to 19 predorsal scales. 

 Scales with 6 to 9 basal radiating striae; apical denticles 64 to 73, 

 with 1 or 2 series of basal elements; circuli fine. 



D. XIII, 11, I, fifth spine Hi to 2 m head, third ray 1% to 2; 

 A. II, 12, I, second spine 1^ to 1^, third ray 1}4 t-o 1^; caudal 

 1}4 to 13^, slightly emarginate behind; least depth of caudal peduncle 

 2 to 2yo', pectoral 1}/$ to 13^; ventral 1 to Ij/s- 



Light blue generally. In some examples caudal fin and caudal 

 peduncle pale or whitish in contrast and pale color may even extend 

 forward along abdomen to chest or head. Muzzle with 4 oblique 

 dusky streaks. Each scale on head with dusky blotch, and on trunk 

 and tail each scale with dark vertical bar. 



An exquisite little fish, brilliant blue, and abundant in the Philip- 

 pines. We have several variants in which the tail and caudal fin is 

 white and others in which the white extends well forward to the head. 



7 examples, Batan Island. June 5, 1909. Length, 22 to 29 mm. [1559.] 



2 examples, Biri Channel, Balicuatro Island. June 1, 1909. Length, 46 to 53 

 mm. [1548.] Bright bluish purple, except caudal peduncle, which yellow; 

 base of caudal orange and distal portion dusky hyaline; edges of soft dorsal 

 and anal vertically dusky hyaline; black spot on upper base of pectoral; black- 

 ish bar from eye to eye across nose and more or less blackish stripes on side of 

 head; body of spinous dorsal black, front and tips of spines blue. Black mark- 

 ings developed after some time in spirits, body scales showing vertical bar. 



1 example, Biri Channel. June 2, 1909. Length, 44 mm. 



1 example, Bolalo Bay, Palawan. December 21, 1908. Length, 45 mm. 



1 example, Bolalo Bay, Palawan. December 21, 1908. Length, 48 mm. 



4 examples, Busin Harbor, Burias Island. March 7, 1909. Length, 46 or 47 mm. 

 103, 312, 313. Busin Harbor. March 8, 1909. 9 examples. Length, 38 to 52 



mm. 



5 examples, Busin Harbor. April 23, 1908. Length, 42 to 48 mm. 

 1 example, Butauanan Island. June 13, 1909. Length, 53 mm. 



3 examples, Canimo Island, near Daet. June 15, 1909. Length, 43 to 49 mm. 



6 examples, Cataingan Bay, Masbate. April 18, 1908. Length, 38 to 47 mm, 

 [550 to 556.] Ultramine and indigo, latter post-mortem; posteriorly pale 



