FAMILY LABRIDAE — SCHULTZ 133 



having the scales behind the pectoral on side of body with black 

 edges. C. jordani may be distinguished from temmincki and cy- 

 anopleura by its very elongate soft dorsal and anal rays, with a blackish 

 edge on anal fin. 



The problem concerning the elongate nature of the second pelvic 

 ray cannot be solved by a study of the specimens available to me at 

 present. In temmincki the following relationship occurs: 



Length of 

 Standard tecond pelvic 

 length in mm. ray in mm. Sex 



This indicates an increase in length of the second pelvic ray with age. 

 Genus CYMOLUTES Gunther 



Cymolutes Gunther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. London, ser. 3, vol. 8, p. 387, 1861 

 (type species, Julis praetextata Quoy and Gaimard) . 



This genus deviates from most of the other labrid genera in having 



5 + 5 branched caudal fin rays instead of the usual number of 6 + 6 or 



6 + 5. Other characteristics are: Gill rakers on first gill arch 5 to 

 7_|_l_|-9 to 12; dorsal rays normally IX,12 to 15, occasionally VIII or 

 X, the first two spines flexible, others pungent; anal II or III (usually 

 III), 11 to 13, first anal spine small, sometimes absent; pectoral ii,9 to 

 11, usually 10; body compressed; lower hp with a fold of tissue on the 

 side; dorsal profile of head strongly convex; interorbital space convex; 

 nostrils small, anterior one a minute short tube; jaws equal, a pau- of 

 enlarged canines at front of each jaw, the pair in lower jaw fitting be- 

 tween those of upper jaw (canines in both jaws exposed) when mouth 

 is closed; conical teeth in a band at sides of both jaws, with the outer 

 row largest; corner of jaws without the posterior canine tooth; gill 

 membranes free from isthmus, with a wide free fold across it; posterior 

 edge of preopercle free posteriorly as much as ventrally; head naked; 

 bases of all fins, except caudal, naked. 



Only a single species in the genus Cymolutes is recognized in most 



of the general contributions on the labrid fishes of the tropical Indo- 



Pacific oceans. My present study of the specimens referable to this 



genus in the U. S. National Museum clearly indicates that, on the 



basis of the number of fin rays and color pattern, at least 3 distinct 



species are distinguishable. They are analyzed in tables 94, 95 and 



in the following key : 



la. Anal rays 111,12, rarely 11 or 13; dorsal rays IX,13 rarely 12. 



C. praetextatus (Quoy and Gaimard) 



