FAMILY LABRIDAE — SCHULTZ 177 



with ventral contour of head; pectoral fin reaches to opposite about 

 10th to 12th lateral line pore; distal margin of caudal fin rounded; 

 interorbital space flattish in young becoming convex in adults; lateral 

 line continuous, running a nearly straight course from upper edge of 

 operculum to midbase of caudal fin, the last lateral line pore in an 

 elongate scale, lateral line multiple branched posteriorly on each 

 scale especially last one; pel vies short, not reaching half way to 

 anus. 



Color in alcohol. — Background coloration light tan or whitish, 

 with a dark streak or a series of small spots along lateral line. 



Genus CORIS Lacepfede 



Coris LacepIide, Histoire naturelle des poissons, vol. 3, pp. 96, 97, 1802 (type 

 species, Coris aygula Lacepede). 



The following characters are useful in recognizing this genus: Pel- 

 vies 1,5; branched caudal rays 6 + 6; lateral line scales totaling 50 to 

 80; usually 4 to 7 rows above lateral line and 19 to 32 below to anal 

 origin; dorsal rays usually IX, 11 or 12, anal 111,11 or 12, and pectoral 

 ii,ll or 12; gill rakers about 5 to 7 + 1 + 10 to 12; body strongly com- 

 pressed; snout normal; dorsal profile of head convex; interorbital 

 space convex; jaws terminal, equal or nearly so; teeth short, conical, 

 uniserial, anterior ones longest, middle pair in each jaw canines, ex- 

 tending obliquely forward, lower pair fitting between upper pair, pre- 

 opercular margin free posteriorly and an equal distance ventrally; 

 gill membranes broadly joined and forming a broad free fold across 

 isthmus; preopercular edge free as much posteriorly as ventrally; head 

 naked; no sheath of scales along bases of dorsal and anal fins. 



The species of Coris from the Marianas and Marshall Islands are 

 separated by the following key: 



la. Vertical scale rows 71 to 75; pectoral rays ii,ll; 5 dark bordered pale areas 

 dorsally on young; adults purplish brown with posterior part of body 

 profusely blue spotted, these spots preserving as white or brown in alco- 

 hol; head with 3 or 4 dark lengthwise streaks. 



C. gaimardi (Quoy and Gaimard) 



16. Vertical scale rows 60 to 65; pectoral rays il,12; anterior part of body abruptly 

 paler than posterior part, and brown spotted; coloration becoming plain 

 blackish in large adults C. aygula Lacepfede 



Ic. Vertical scale rows about 52 to 53; pectoral rays ii,12; a black spot between 

 dorsal spines I and II, and a black oceilate spot on soft dorsal rays 1 to 

 3; adults brownish with dusky and pale bars dorsally; scales on lower 

 parts of body with white centers C. variegata (Riippell) 



