248 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 02 Vol. 2 



dorsal spines III or IV may be lacking on large adults; the blackish 

 pectoral base darker dorsally; the pale line from middle of snout to 

 lower edge of eye, thence posteriorly, separates the pale color of lower 

 part of head from the darker color dorsally; another pale streak 

 forward from middle of eye to middle of snout. 



Ecology. — This rare species was taken on the ocean reef. 



SCARUS BKEVIFILIS (Gunther) 



Pseudoscarus brevifilis Gunther, Journ. Mus. Godeffroy, vol. 8, pt. 16, p. 327, 

 pi. 161, 1909 (type locality, Tahiti, and Apamana, Gilljert Islands; type 

 from Apamana examined in British Museum, Cat. No. 1873.4.3.106, standard 

 length 215 mm.). 



SPECIMENS STUDIED 



Bikini Atoll: 13 stations, 28 specimens, 30 to 315 mm. in standard length. 

 Eniwetok Atoll: 1 station, 1 specimen, 175 mm. 

 Rongerik Atoll: 1 station, 2 specimens, 84 to 87 mm. 

 Rongelap Atoll: 3 stations, 18 specimens, 15 to 118 mm. 

 Arno Atoll: 1 lot, 5 specimens, 23 to 150 mm. 



Remarks. — This species is characterized by having 5 to 7 median 

 predorsal scales, 3 rows of scales on the cheek, v^dth 1 to 3 scales in 

 the ventral row; usually ii,13 pectoral fin rays; green teeth. In the 

 young, the color pattern is mottled or almost barred, but in 

 adults the background coloration is reddish brown, with a few scat- 

 tered white spots posteriorly, and usually the first soft dorsal ray is 

 a little elongate. 



Ecology. — This species was abundant on the reef in the intertidal 

 zone and in the deeper waters along the edges of reefs. 



SCARUS GHOBBAN Forsk&l 



Scarus ghobban ForskAl, Descriptions animalium . . . , p. 28, 1775 (type 

 locality, Djedda, Red Sea). 



SPECIMENS STUDIED 



Marianas Islands: Saipan, August 14, 1952, School of Tropical and Preventive 

 Medicine, 1 specimen, 131 mm. 



Remarks. — This species is characterized by having 5 or 6 median 

 predorsal scales, 3 rows of scales on the cheek, with 1 to 3 scales in 

 ventral row; usually ii,13 pectoral rays; the background coloration 

 very light orange or yellowish, marked with bright blue spots in 

 center of scales, these blue-spotted scales arranged to form 5 bars 

 that are 2 or 3 scales wide; base and outer margins of dorsal and anal 

 fins blue edged; dorsal and ventral margins of caudal fin blue edged; 

 edge of upper lip pale, then dorsally a blue blotch; lateral edge of 

 lower lip blue, this color continues as a blue band to lower edge of 

 eye; a blue band joins both eyes across interorbital space and other 



