FAMILY POMACENTRIDAE — WOODS AND SCHTJLTZ 119 



from upper edge of gill opening to base of caudal fin 28 or 29 (usually 

 28), with 3 scales from lateral line to dorsal origin, 8 or 9 (usually 9) 

 from lateral line to anal fin origin ; gill rakers 6 + 1 + 14 or 15 (2 counts) ; 

 pores in lateral line 17 or 18, usually 17. 



Depth of body 2.5 to 2.8; length of head 2.9 to 3.4; both in standard 

 length. Snout 4.0 to 4.3; eye 2.8 to 3.0; least preorbital width 14 to 

 15; snout tip to rear edge of maxillary 2.9 to 3.0; postorbital part of 

 head 2.1 to 2.2; interorbital width 3.2 to 3.3; depth of caudal peduncle, 

 2.1 to 2.5; length of pectoral fin 1.2 to 1.3, of pelvic fin 1.2 to 1.3, 

 of last dorsal spine 1.8 to 2.2, of longest upper caudal ray 0.8 to 1.1, 

 of lower caudal ray 0.8 to 1.1; all in length of head. Least depth of 

 caudal peduncle in its length 1.1; angle of snout profile with length- 

 wise axis of body 50 to 55°. 



Teeth of jaws biserial forward, conical, compressed, the mner row 

 represented by small teeth between the larger ones; scales extend for- 

 ward to a line between front of orbits; orbital ring naked, suborbital 

 and preorbital smooth-edged, no spines; preopercular margin scaled 

 ventrally, probably naked posteriorly; dorsal spines gradually in- 

 creasing in length to last. 



Color in alcohol. — Background coloration dark brown dorsally from 

 rear of base of soft dorsal anteriorly (including head) and ventrally 

 to about level of lower edge of pectoral base; this dark brown colora- 

 tion may contain very indistinct pale spots, about one on each scale; 

 below the dark brown coloration lower sides and body ventrally are 

 abruptly white or pale, this extending posterodorsally to include caudal 

 peduncle, caudal fin and soft dorsal fin distally; a small black spot on 

 opercle, sometimes indistinct on blackish brown specimens; spmy 

 dorsal dark brown; anal fin white or pale with distal margin edged 

 with black line; pectoral pale or white, basally dark brown; pel vies 

 light dusky or whitish. No blue or white lines on head. 



Remarks. — This species is closest to Fomacentrus caeruleus, which 

 has naked orbital ring, no spines on preorbital or suborbital, and an 

 elongate body (depth about 2.5 to 3.0 in standard length). In colora- 

 tion coelestis is dark brown anterodorsaliy and white posteroventrally, 

 these colors contrasting distinctly; whereas, in caeruleus the ventral 

 parts are dusky and on the head there are numerous blue or white 

 reticulated lines absent in coelestis. The soft rays of both dorsal and 

 anal fins average about one ray more in coelestis than in caeruleus, 

 see table 89. 



422142— 6C 



