268 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 202 Vol. 2 



Genus PARAPERCIS Bleeker 



Percis Block and Schneider, Systema ichthyologiae . . . , p. 179, pi. 38, 1801 



(type species, Percis maculata Bloch and Schneider; preoccupied). 

 Parapercis Bleeker, Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk., vol. 1, p. 236, 1863 (type species, 



Percis cylindrica Cuvier and Valenciennes «= Sciaena cylindrica Bloch). 

 Parapercis (non Bleeker) Steindachner, Sitzber. Akad. Wiss. Wien, vol. 88, No. 



1, p. 1071, 1884 (type species, Parapercis ramsayi Steindachner). 

 Neopercis Steindachner, Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, vol. 49, No. 1, p. 212, pi. 6, 



figs. 2, 2a, 1885 (type species, Neopercis multifasciatus Steindachner; on 



plate, Neopercis proposed to replace Parapercis Steindachner). 

 Chilias Ogilby, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland, vol. 23, p. 40, 1910 (type species, 



Percis stricticeps De Vis). 

 Osurus Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm., vol. 22 (1902), p. 206, 



1903 (type species, Parapercis schauinslandi Steindachner). 



Although several species of sand perches have been described from 

 the central and western tropical Pacific ocean onl}^ three species were 

 collected in the Northern Marshall Islands. These are found in the 

 Philippines and were reviewed by Martin and Montalban (Philippine 

 Journ. Sci., vol. 56, No. 2, pp. 215-227, pis. 1-3, 1935). In that 

 review the plates numbered 2 and 3 are interchanged. 



The following key identifies the species of Parapercis taken in the 

 Northern Marshall Islands: 



la. Dorsal spines IV; pectoral rays usually 1,16; scale rows above lateral line 58 



to 60, in a vertical row from anal origin to dorsal fin base 12 to 14+ 1 + 7 



or 8; no dark bar across breast 



2a. Side of body below the lateral line with 9 distinct small roundish black spots, 



an additional one at lower edge of pectoral fin base; caudal fin with 



several small dark spots but never with a central dark blotch; middle 



ray of caudal fin white; gill rakers 4 or 5 + 1 + 11 or 12. 



P. clathrata Ogilby 



26. Sides of body with 9 brownish bars and a large dark brown blotch below 



pectoral base; side of head with 2 dark brown blotches below eye; 



lips with two brown blotches; caudal fin with a central blackish blotch, 



mostly in lower half of fin rays, followed posteriorly with a white 



blotch. Gill rakers 4 or 5+1 + 9 P. cephalopunctatus (Scale) 



16. Dorsal spines V; pectoral rays usually i,14; scales 54 or 55; scales in a vertical 

 row from anal origin to dorsal fin base 14 or 15+1 + 4; gill rakers in 

 one count 4 + + 6; a dark bar across breast; 9 or 10 dark bars on sides 

 meeting their fellow along mid ventral line; tip of snout with two white 

 streaks bordered by brown lines; tip of chin with 3 dark spots on lower 

 lip P. cylindrica (Bloch) 



PARAPERCIS CLATHRATA OgrUby 



Plate 112, A 



Parapercis clathrata Ogilbt, Proc. Royal Soc. Queensland, vol. 23, p. 41, 1910 

 (substitute name for Percis tetracanthus Lacepfede 1803; for synonymy see 

 Martin and Montalban, Philippine Journ. Sci., vol. 56, No. 2, p. 222, and 

 pi. 2 (=3), fig. 1, as printed, 1935). 



