FAMILY LABRIDAE — SCHULTZ 173 



anterior pair with raised rims, slightly tubular; lower jaw a little 

 shorter than upper; a pair of curved canines at front of upper jaw, 

 moderately spaced, and a pair of curved canines far apart at front of 

 lower jaw, concealed by lobes of lip, canines of upper jaw fitting 

 between those of lower jaw when mouth is closed; a narrow band of 

 viiliform teeth at front of both jaws; a canine tooth at rear corner of 

 mouth; preopercular margin free posteriorly but not ventrally; head 

 scaled behind eye. 



Randall says of the color: "Juveniles of all species appear to have 

 the same basic color pattern, namely black with a broad band of color 

 along the back which extends and narrows on to the head. On L. 

 dimidiatus and L. rubrolahiatus this band is brilliant deep blue; on L. 

 bicolor it is bright yellow; on L. phthirophagus it is bright purple." 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF LABROIDES « 



la. Number of pores in lateral line from upper edge of gill opening to base of 

 caudal fin 50 to 54, color light blue with a median lateral black band from 

 snout to end of caudal fin (this band broadening as it passes posteriorly 



on body) L. dimidiatus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



16. Number of pores in lateral line 25 to 28. 

 2a. Diameter of eye 2.1 to 2.5 times in the relatively long snout; caudal 

 peduncle and caudal fin pale, latter posteriorly with a prominent 

 black crescent, the attenuate ends of which extend to margins of 



caudal peduncle. (Tropical Pacific.) L. bicolor Fowler and Bean 



26. Diameter of eye 1.5 to 1.9 times in the relatively short snout; caudal 

 peduncle and caudal fin black, with upper and lower edges of fin pale. 

 3a. Median lateral black band which extends posteriorly from snout con- 

 tinuous with l)lack posterior half of body; no dusky streak on cheek 

 below eye; pale edges of caudal fin magenta in life; maximum stand- 

 ard length in excess of 80 mm. (Hawaiian Islands.) 



L. phthirophagus Randall 

 36. Median lateral black band which extends posteriorly from snout merges 

 gradually to broad pale brown (dull orange in fife) area in center 

 of body; a narrow dusky streak on cheek below eye running from 

 chin to base of pectoral (may be faint in small adults); pale edges 

 of caudal fin light lavender in life; maximum standard length about 

 55 mm. (Society Islands and Tuamotu Archipelago.) 



L. rubrolabiatus Randall 



LABROIDES DIMIDIATUS (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



Plate 98,C 



Cossyphus dimidiatus Cuvier and Valenciennes, Histoire naturelle des poissons, 



vol. 13, p. 136, 1939 (type locality, Mauritius). 

 Labroides caeruleo-lineatus Fowler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 97, 



p. 65, fig. 7, 1945 (type locality, Saipan; immature color pattern). 



SPECIMENS STUDIED 



Bikini Atoll: 14 stations, 19 specimens 24 to 74 mm. in standard length. 

 Rongelap Atoll: 4 stations, 7 specimens, 33 to 62 mm. 



" Modified from a key sent me by Dr. Randall, who has revised the genus Labrotdes. 



