10 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 02 Vol. 2 



Populational divergence on a racial level is evident in three wide- 

 ranging species, P. cyclostomus, P. trifasciatus, and P. bifasciatus. 

 The East Indies and Philippine populations of these species have a 

 lower number of gill rakers than specimens from Oceania (see tables 

 68, 71, and 78 in descriptive accounts). No other meristic, propor- 

 tional or color character showed any perceptible divergence in the 

 various subfaunal areas of the Indo-Pacific region, but larger and 

 more adequately distributed collections are needed for many of the 

 species. 



KEY TO SPECIES OF PARUPENEUS FROM OCEANIA, INCLUDING CLOSELY REL.\TED 



EXTRALIMITAL FORMS 



la. Body with dark or light horizontal stripes; total number of gill rakers range 

 from 26 to 36, fewer than 34 in all but one species. 

 2a. Peritoneum dark brown to black; second dorsal spine flexible near tip, not 

 pungent; gill rakers range from 26 to 31; a conspicuous, black hori- 

 zontal stripe passing from snout through eye, on dorsolateral portion 

 of body, and ending on upper portion of caudal peduncle; a large, 

 circular black spot at base of caudal fin, its diameter more than % 

 that of eye, with the lateral line passing nearly through its center. 



P. barberinus (LacepMe) 

 2b. Peritoneum pale, light to silvery. 



3o. Second dorsal spine flexible near tip in the adults, not pungent; gill 

 rakers fewer, range from 29 to 31; barbel of average length, extend- 

 ing to margin of preopercle; a median and a dorsolateral light 

 stripe on body; a light or pale saddle posterior to dorsal fin, followed 

 by a dark brown saddle, which is occasionally divided into two 

 dorsolateral spots; body depth in standard length about 3.1 to 3.3 

 in adults _P. pleurotaenia » (Playfair) 



* Alullns pleurotaenia Playfair, in Playfair and Giiuther, Fishes of Zanzibar, p. 41, pi. 6, fig. 3 (not fig. 4), 

 1866 (type locality, Zanzibar). 

 MuUus dispilurus Playfair, in Playfair and Giinther, Fishes of Zanzibar, p. 41, pi. fl, flg. 4 (not fig. 3) , 1866 



type locality, Zanzibar, Island of Pemba) (questionable allocation). 

 Upeneus dispilurus Day, Fishes of India, p. 125, pi. 31, fig. 3, 1878 (questionable allocation). 

 Pseudupeneus fralercutus Fowler, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 100, vol. 12, p. 302, flg. 25, 1933. 



Five specimens (USNM 138602 to 138005 and 138651, Albatross) taken at Cataingan Bay and Jolo Market. 

 Philippine Islands, were examined. 



The nomenelatorial problems concerning this species are complicated, and the application of Mnllus 

 pleurotaenia Playfair, is tentative. Playfair (1866) confused his descriptions of pleurotaenia and dispilurus 

 with his figures, probably by assigning the incorrect figm-e numbers. Day (1878) examined Playfair's 

 tJT^es and remarked that faint light horizontal stripes were visible on disp'lurus a? well as pleurotaenia. On 

 the strength of Day's observation I have placed Mullus dispilurus Playfair in the above synonymy, but as 

 a questionable allocation. The color description that Day gave for his specimens from "Sind," such as 

 the small spots on the scales and the absence of light horizontal stripes, suggests that he had still another 

 species. 



Sauvage (Histoire naturelle des poissons, in Grandidicr, Histoire . . . de Madagascar, vol. 16, p. 225, 

 pi. 27, flg. 3, 1891) placed Mullus pleurotaenia Playfair in the synonymy of Upeneus fraterculus Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes (Histoire naturelle des poissons, vol. 7, p. 524, 1831, type locality, Mah6 Island, Seychelles 

 Island, Indian Ocean) and Fowler (U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 100, vol. 12, p. 302, fig. 25, 1933) followed this 

 procedure. However Saiivage's figure 3 shows 2 dark dorsal saddles on the body which is totally unlike 

 the species in question. His figure closely resembles P. bifasciatus (I^accpede). Fowler's figure 25 is fairly 

 characteristic of our specimens. The collections listed above represent those reported on by Fowler from 

 Cataingan Bay and Jolo Market. The inclusion of Upeneus fraterculus Sauvage in the synonymy of P. 

 fraterculus by Fowler is certainly erroneous. Further, there is no validity in applying the name Upeneus 

 fraterculus Cuvier and Valenciennes to our specimens, as no evidence is presented by them that their speci- 

 mens possessed light stripes on the body. 



Pseudupeneus ischyrus Snyder (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 32, p. 90, flg. 2, 1907, type locality, Tokyo, 

 Japan) may also represent this species. Snyder's specimen was undoubtedly considerably faded for he 

 indicates and illustrates remanents of a dark and light dorsolateral body stripe. 



