282 



BULLETIN 10 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



interorbital 7 to 9}i, nearly level; hind preopercle edge with very 

 minute serrae; opercular spines 3, median nearer lower. Gill rakers 

 9+15, rather clavate, little less than gill filaments or }/$ of eye; 8 

 above and 5 below rudimentary. 



Scales 96 to 98 in lateral line to caudal base and 15 to 18 more on 

 latter; tubes 33 to 38 in lateral line to caudal base and 4 or 5 more 

 on latter; 14 to 16 scales above lateral line, 33 to 38 below, 60 to 87 

 predorsal, 25 to 33 rows across cheek; body scales all with numerous 

 fine basal auxiliary scales; fins all more or less finely scaled basally; 

 maxillary naked or with small patch of scales on expansion above. 

 Scales with 7 to 9 basal radiating striae; 27 to 35 apical denticles, 

 with 5 to 6 transverse series; circuli fine. 



Figure 21.— Serranus summana (Forskal), variation 



D. XI, 15,1 or 14, i, third spine 2% to 3 in total head length, 

 first ray 2% to 3; A. Ill, 8, i, second spine 33^ to 4, fourth ray 2}4 

 to 23^; caudal 1% to 2, convex behind; least depth of caudal pedun- 

 cle 3% to 3%; pectoral 1% to \%; ventral 2 to 2%. 



Body brown, marked with numerous small, grayish white spots, 

 rounded and on head, back, sides and tail usually formed as slightly 

 undulated and often slightly inclined series of pale streaks, very 

 variable. Often large pale blotches present. All vertical fins and 

 ventral basally, often pectoral less conspicuously, finely spotted with 

 gray white; especially contrasted on soft vertical fins, which darker 

 or dusky subterminally and with narrow whitish edges. Iris yellow- 

 ish. Dusky or blackish streak in groove of maxillary. 



