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U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 02 



Vol, 2 



posteriorly and an equal distance ventrally; gill membranes attached 

 to isthmus with a narrow free fold across it. 



In order to identify the specimens forming the basis of this study 

 it was necessary to examine numerous exotic species. During these 

 investigations, it was noted that Schmidt (Trans. Pacific Comm. 

 Acad. Sci. U. S. S. R., vol. 1, p. 83, pi. 6, fig. 1, 1930) illustrated 

 Halichoeres prosopeion (not of Bleeker), which is an excellent repre- 

 sentation of Halichoeres melanochir Fowler and Bean, Herre (Field 

 Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser,, vol. 18, No. 12, p. 410, 1935, and vol. 21, 

 p. 313, fig. 14, 1936) described Halichoeres jijiensis from the Fiji 

 Islands, which is a synonym of Halichoeres leparensis (Bleeker), as 

 based on Herre's figure 14 and two paratypes (USNM 117326-7). 



I am convinced after stud^^ing a series of Halichoeres nigrescens 

 (Block and Schneider) as illustrated by Bleeker (Atlas ichthyologique 

 . . . , vol. 1, pi. 37, fig. 4, 1862) that Halichoeres leucostigma Fowler 

 and Bean, (U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 100, vol. 7, p. 299, pi. 40, 1928) 

 is a synonym of nigrescens. The white spots mentioned by Fowler 

 and Bean are faint to distinct and the color marks on the sides of the 

 head are the same. The genus Halinanodes proposed by Whitley 

 (Rec. Australian Mus., vol. 18, No. 3, p. 113, 1931), with H. leucostigma 

 Fowler and Bean as its type species, lacks valid characters. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF HALICHOERES FROM THE MARSHALL ISLANDS) 

 AND TO ALLIED SPECIES FROM OTHER AREAS 



la. 



Patch of scales on upper part of opercle; dorsal rays usually IX,11; anal 



111,11; pectoral ii,12 or 13 (occasionally ii,13). 



2a. A small patch of scales above and behind eye and another behind and 



below eye, or if these scales have not developed in young, a large 



dark ocellate spot occupies almost all the first 4 or 5 soft dorsal rays. 



3a. Adults: Background coloration pale; dorsally each scale with two small 



black dots (sometimes connected with blackish pigment) and lower 



