FAMILY LABRIDAE — SCHULTZ 175 



Description. — Certain counts are recorded in table 99. 



Head 2.6 to 2.9; greatest depth 3.5 to 4.9; longest pectoral ray 4.2 to 

 5.6; snout tip to anus 1.6 to 1.7; snout to dorsal origin 2.6 to 2.9; all in 

 standard length. Snout 3.0 to 3.3; eye 4.5 to 6.5; postorbital length 

 of head 1.9 to 2.1; interorbital space 3.7 to 4.5; longest pectoral ray 

 1.6 to 2.1; least depth of body 2.0 to 2.6; all in length of head. Eye 

 in fleshy interorbital space 1.0 to 1.6. Dorsal profile of head forming 

 an angle of 38 to 43 degrees with ventral contour of head ; pectoral fin 

 reaches to opposite the eighth or ninth lateral line pore; outer soft 

 pelvic ray longest reaching about half to two-thirds the way to anus; 

 distal margin of caudal fin a little rounded. 



Color in alcohol. — Anterior half of body and head of adults dark 

 brown, posteriorly whitish; dorsal and anal fins blackish or dark 

 brownish basally, distally whitish; caudal fin with a submarginal 

 blackish crescentric band, distal edges of fin whitish; pectoral rays 

 edged with a dark Hne ; pel vies a little dusky. 



The color pattern of young specimens, 24 to 48 mm., gradually 

 change to that of the adult as originally figured by Fowler. The 24 

 and 29 mm. specimens have a dark brown streak along the back that 

 begins at snout tip, passes through interorbital space thence along 

 each side of dorsal fin base ending at rear of dorsal base; dorsal fin 

 dark brown basally, distally white edged. A white streak or band 

 begins on snout tip and passes through upper part of eye and a little of 

 the interorbital space, thence along upper side, including lateral line 

 anteriorly, meeting its fellow on caudal peduncle and continuing to 

 rear tips of upper part of caudal fin rays. A brown band begins on 

 lips, passes through lower three quarters of eye to rear of opercle, 

 thence expands to cover all the body below the white streak except 

 distal tips of anal rays and lower rays of caudal fin, and extending to 

 tips of middle caudal rays. Under side of head light tan. 



The 33.5 mm. specimen has the dark streak along the back and the 

 white one through upper part of eye, but the dark brown band through 

 eye and on side of body fades out on caudal peduncle; the caudal fin 

 is white except for a trace of dusky pigment distally. Anal fin edged 

 with white distally. Lower part of body lighter brown on level with 

 upper edge of pectoral base. 



The 48 mm. specimen has the middorsal dark streak distinct, the 

 light streak below it light brown, and the lateral dark brown band 

 distinct but ending just a little behind a line through anal fin origin; 

 caudal fin whitish with the crescentric-shaped submarginal dark 

 band on distal part of caudal fin well formed; on the 66 mm. specimen 

 the light streak through upper part of eye is still visible on the head 

 and less so behind the head; otherwise the adult color pattern is fully 

 developed. 



