blenniidae: blennhnae — schultz 377 



longest dorsal spine 2.5 to 2.7 ; all in length of head. Bony interorbital 

 space 0.8 to 0.9 in eye. Eye 1.4 in snout. 



Lips without folds; lower canines greatly enlarged, those of upper 

 jaw in one pair and very small, concealed by lips; teeth of jaws firm, 

 immovable, of equal size in both jaws; dentigerous edge of both jaws 

 transversely rounded; mouth inferior, snout notably projecting; both 

 posterior and anterior pair of nostrils low tubes, distance between 

 pair on each side contained about 2.8 in eye, rear nasal pore just in 

 front of a vertical line through front of eye; vertical line through dorsal 

 fin origin passes about one pupil diameter behind eye; eighth or ninth 

 pectoral rays from dorsal edge longest; gill opening wider than di- 

 ameter of eye, and the opening extending a little farther in front of 

 bases of pectoral fin rays than above pectoral fin base; both last rays 

 of dorsal and anal fins membranously attached to caudal peduncle 

 but not to caudal fin; lateral line present, incomplete, with a few 

 irregular pores, the last about opposite tips of pectoral fin, this series 

 of pores close to base of dorsal fin. 



Color in alcohol. — The most distinctive coloration is a black lateral 

 band (sometimes faded), from under tip of snout tlu-ough eye along 

 sides to caudal fin, broadening posteriorly, this dark streak on head 

 has black edges, with paler center of light brown; ventral part of body 

 pale or light dusky; a.nterodorsal part of body pale; dorsal and anal 

 fins dusky or blackish with white edge; caudal fin blackish except 

 edges are white, including posterior edge. 



Color when alive, — The pale ventral part of head and body light 

 yellowish orange anteriorly, changing to bright bluish posteriorly; 

 the pale dorsal area hght purplish red, changing to blue posteriorly; 

 the paler central area of dark streak on head reddish brown; the dark 

 streak black; and front of base of pectoral fin at lower edge with a 

 trace of a light brownish blotch. 



Ecology. — This species was found on the lagoon and ocean reefs 

 among coral and algal growths. A female from the Philippines con- 

 tained numerous small eggs, almost mature. 



Remarks. — Jordan and Scale in their original description did not 

 compare azureus with A. taeniatus Quoy and Gaimard with which it is 

 identical. The specimens of A. taeniatus before me are alike in color- 

 ation but differ a little from the illustrations of A. taeniatus in Quoy 

 and Gaimard and in Gunther; they have a white posterior margin on 

 the caudal f^n that is lacking in both plates. The white distal edge 

 of the caudal fin becomes broader with increase in size. In the smaller 

 specimens the caudal fin is black, except the tips of the rays may be 

 white. The two plates do not show barbels imder the chin, but dis- 

 tinct barbels are present on all of our male specimens except one, which 



