FAMILY MULLIDAE — LACHNER 



39 



Table SO.— Measurements of several characters in four species of Mulloidichthys — 



Continued 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF MULLOIDICHTHYS FROM OCEANIA 



la. Peritoneum dark, dark brown to black. 



2a. Black spot on side of body below spinous dorsal fin sometimes present; 

 black blotch or spot on inner side of operculum bordering pseudo- 

 branchiae usually present; fins pale or transparent; total number of 

 gill rakers range from 24 to 31, modally 28; snout long and moderately 

 rounded, 38 to 58, eye small 21 to 30, barbel intermediate in length 55 

 to 72, all in percent of head length; head length 29 to 36 in percent of 

 standard length; vertical line touching end of jaw clearly in front of 

 margin of orbit M. samoensis (Gunther) 



2b. No black spot on bod}' nor on inner side of operculum; fins pale to trans- 

 parent; total number of gill rakers range from 29 to 35, modally 33; 

 snout short and round, 33 to 48, eye large, 25 to 33, barbel long, 65 to 

 80, all in percent of head length ; head 28 to 34 in percent of standard 

 length; vertical line touching end of jaw nearly touches orbit. 



M. auriflamma (Forsk&l) 



2c. No black spot on body nor on inner side of operculum; striations on soft 

 dorsal and anal fins usually blackish, creating a net-like appearance; 

 total number of gill rakers 27 to 30, modally 29; snout short and 

 pointed, 35 to 39, eye 23 to 28, barbel short, 48 to 55, all in percent 

 of head length; head short, 26 to 29 in percent of standard length. 

 M. vanicolensis (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



1&. Peritoneum light, transparent to silvery -white; body and fins with uniform 

 coloration, lacking prominent pigmentation; total number of gill rakers 



422142—60- 



