394 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ]VIUSEUM vol. in 



Isobuna is apparently known from one specimen of a single species, 

 japonica Steindachner (for a description, see species account below), 

 which was deposited in the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale in Milan, 

 Italy; M. Torchio of this institution has \vritten that he is unable to 

 locate the type and is certain that it was destroyed as a result of 

 bombardment during World War II. It has not been illustrated. 



Of this genus, Smith (1951, p. 626) stated, "If it is a cirrhitid, Isobuna 

 would merit subfamily rank." It is here considered as a subfamily of 

 the Cu'rhitidae, but not with assurance. With its ctenoid scales, three 

 opercular spines, large mouth, and lower pectoral rays unbranched but 

 not thickened, it may represent primitive stock of the family, and it 

 seems to link the CuThitidae with the Serranidae. 



Isobuna japonica (Steindachner) 



Paracirrhites japonicus Steindachner, in Steindachner and Doderlein, 1884, 

 Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, vol. 48, p. 25 (type locality, Japan). 



Description. — Dorsal rays X,15; anal rays 111,7; lower 6 or 7 

 pectoral rays unbranched; lateral-line scales 33 or 34; 2 scales above 

 lateral hne; 10 scales below lateral hne. 



Head length shghtly more than 2}^ and body depth almost 2% in 

 body length. Eye 5, interorbital 8, and snout including lower jaw 

 nearly 4 in head length. 



Body compressed; upper profile of head and body moderately 

 arched; snout pointed, the lower jaw projecting slightly; ventral 

 outline to anal fin nearly straight. Mouth large, oblique, the maxil- 

 lary extending a little beyond posterior edge of eye; teeth in jaws 

 slender, pointed, those of outer row slightly longer and stouter than 

 those of inner row; a small canine on each side at front of premaxillary; 

 teeth on vomer and palatines; free preopercular margin rounded and 

 finely serrate; operculum terminates in 3 short spines, the middle 

 one the sharpest; lateral line almost parallel to base of dorsal fin; 

 scales ctenoid; head scaled except for lips and a narrow band on snout 

 to nostrils; scales on cheek and operculum large, those on top of head 

 small; basal part of fins scaled; dorsal fin deeply notched between 

 spinous and soft portions; fifth and sixth dorsal spines the highest, 

 then length two-sevenths head length; last dorsal spine equal in 

 height to fii'st and about half diameter of eye; fii'st soft ray as long as 

 longest dorsal spine; the following rays up to the eighth increase 

 gradually in length, the eighth 2K in head length; remaining rays 

 decrease gradually in length, the last 3 times in head; caudal fin weakly 

 concave, its length 1% head length. Second anal spine longer and 

 stouter than other spines, its length slight!}'' longer than longest 

 dorsal spine; fourth soft ray of anal fin the longest, its length half 

 the head length; pelvic fins not quite reaching anus, their origin in 



