FAMILY SCARIDAE — SCHULTZ 243 



Remarks. — This species is distinguished by its characteristic color 

 pattern; the small number of gill rakers, about 6 or 7 + 12 to 15, 

 totahng about 20 to 23; the 3 rows of teeth on each upper pharyn- 

 geal bone; the 3 rows of scales on the cheek, with 5 or 6 scales in the 

 ventral (third) row; 5 or 6 median predorsal scales, and ii,12 pectoral 

 fin rays. 



Genus SCARUS Forskal 



Scams ForskAl, Descriptiones animalium . . . , p. 25, 1775 (type species 

 designated as Scarus psittacus^^ (not of Linnaeus) Forskhl — Scarus harid 

 Forskai by Jordan and Gilbert, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 16, p. 938, 1882; and 

 by Swain, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, p. 274, 1882). 



Subgenus SCARUS Forsk&l 



SCARUS MICRORHINOS Bleeker 



Scarus microrhinos Bleeker, Nat. Tijdschr. Nederl.-Indie, vol. 6, p. 200, 1854 

 (type locality, Batavia, Java, type examined in British Museum, Cat. No. 

 1862.2,28.54, standard length 300 mm.) 



SPECIMENS STUDIED 



Bikini Atoll: 13 stations, 22 specimens, 60 to 450 mm. in standard length. 



Rongelap Atoll: 5 stations, 16 specimens, 25 to 250 mm. 



Eniwetok Atoll: 2 stations, 13 specimens, 100 to 240 mm. 



Rongerik Atoll: 3 stations, 7 specimens, 91 to 156 mm. 



Ecology. — This green parrotfish was one of the most abundant 

 species on the outer margins of the reefs and in the lagoon where it was 

 frequently taken or observed at depths of 10 to 25 feet or more. 



Remarks. — This species may be recognized by its 4 median predorsal 

 scales, 3 rows of scales on the cheek, with 3 to 8 scales in the ventral 

 row; usually ii,14 or ii,15 pectoral rays; and by its green color in con- 

 junction with a protruding forehead on the adult, lower part of the 

 head light green as contrasted with a darker coloration dorsally, and 

 the green band on head extending from mouth to pectoral fin base. 



SCARUS HARID Forsk&l 



Scarus harid ForskAl, Descriptiones animalium, pp. X,30, 1775 (type locality, 

 Arabia). 



SPECIMENS STUDIED 



Bikini Atoll: 3 stations, 4 specimens, 180 to 305 mm. in standard length. 

 Rongelap Atoll: 1 station, 1 specimen, 49 mm. 

 Arno Atoll: 1 lot, 1 specimen, 202 mm. 

 Guam: 1 lot, 1 specimen, 265 mm. 

 Saipan: 1 lot, 1 specimen, 310 mm. 



Remarks. — This species may be recognized by having 4 median 

 predorsal scales, 3 rows of scales on the cheek, with 3 to 5 scales in 



« Scarug psittacus Forsk&I from the Red Sea is a different species than Coryphaena psittacus Linnaeus, a 

 labrld from the Atlantic. Among parrotflshes Scarm paittacui Forsk&l has been confused with "Scarus 

 psittacus (Linnaeus)." 



