FAMILY CLmiDAE — SCHULTZ 



291 



ish, but sometimes with very faint dusky bars; no dark spots on 

 pectoral fins. Females are everywhere plain pale, with no dark spots 

 on pectoral fin. 



Ecology. — This reef-inhabiting species was taken in areas of 

 strong wave action, down to a depth of 18 feet and in high isolated 

 shallow tidal pools. Our longest specimen measures 19 mm. Mature 

 females measure about 14 to 19 mm. in standard length and contain 

 about a dozen eggs rather large for such a tiny species. 



Remarks. — This new species is most closely related to T. minutus 

 but differs in coloration and in other characters. T. minuius has a 

 few brown pigment spots on the pectoral fins of females whereas the 

 females of nanus have plain unspotted pectoral fins. The males of 

 nanus have the lower parts of the head with dark pigment (ending 

 on base of pel vies), whereas in minutus the entire body may have 

 numerous scattered pigment cells. Pectoral fins of males of nanus are 

 unpigmented, whereas those of minutus have dark pigment usually 

 arranged to form spots or transverse bars. 



The females of nanus at lengths of 14 to 19 mm. have about a 

 dozen mature eggs, whereas females of minutus mature at a larger 

 size and contain 2 or 3 dozen much smaller mature eggs. 



Named nanus in reference to the dwarf size of this species. 



/ Vy/ ', 



Figure 113. — Tripterygion brachylepis, new specieS; holotype, USNAl 142253. Drawn by 



A. M. Awl. 



TRIPTERYGION BRACHYLEPIS, new species 



Figure 113 



Holotype. — USNM 142253 Bikini Atoll, lagoon at eastern end, 

 coral head at depth of 20 to 25 feet, March 26, S-46-42, Brock and 

 Schultz, 1 specimen, 25.5 mm., female. 



Dcscriftion. — The following measurements, made on the holotype, 

 are expressed in thousandths of the standard length, which is 25.5 mm.: 

 Length of head 333 ; greatest depth 180; least depth of caudal peduncle 

 71 ; length of snout 82; diameter of eye 110; tip of snout to rear edge of 



