FISHES OF THE PHOEXIX AND SAMOAN ISLANDS 61 



2a. Posterior margins of soft rays of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with a 

 wide blackish band ; dorsal rays X-I, 14 or 15 ; anal IV, 13 ; gill rakers 

 on first gill arch 12 or 13+1+25 or 2G=38 to 40; scales 31 to 34; outer 

 membrane of spinous dorsal blackish; upper half of axil of pectoral 

 blackish; around opercular spine a black blotch; no black on shoulder 



girdle Myripristis adustus Bleeker 



26. Posterior margin of caudal fin plain in color without a wide black band. 

 3a. Anterior border of soft dorsal and anal fins white, then a blackish area 

 subniarginally, pigment more intense distally on first few rays ; gill 

 rakers on first gill arch totaling 43 to 48; gill raker formula 14 or 

 15+1+28 to 31; dorsal rays X-I, 14; anal IV, 12; scale rows between 

 upper gill opening and base of caudal fin 33 to 35 ; rear margin of 

 opercle blackish ; axil of pectoral blackish ; upper and lower edges of 

 caudal fin not pigmented ; two or three upper rows of scales lack 

 brownish-black pigment around their posterior margins. 



Myripristis murdjan (Forskfil) 

 3&. Anterior border of soft dorsal and anal with blackish margin, but very 

 front edge of fin not white as in murdjan; gill rakers on first gill 

 arch usually 13 or fewer+1+29 or fewer. 

 4o. Anterior border of soft dorsal and anal fins not white as in murdjan 

 and sharply contrasting with blackish next few rays, but in this 

 species the black extends to front edges of fins and is of about equal 

 intensity on outer % of fins; outer two or three rays, dorsally and 

 ventrally, of caudal fin blackish, more intense distally (the black 

 pigment in some specimens is very pale and in certain old ones 

 entirely faded) ; margin of opercle blackish to upper edge of pectoral 

 base; axil of pectoral black with lower half of axil white in con- 

 trast to upper ; spinous dorsal pale ; gill rakers on first gill arch 

 11 to 13 (rarely 13) +1+22 to 27 (rarely 26 or 27) =34 to 40 

 (rarely 40) ; dorsal rays X-I, 14 or 15; anal IV, 12 or 13; scales 



31 to 34 Myripristis berndti Jordan and Evermann 



46. Anterior edges of soft dorsal and anal fins not white as in murdjan 

 and sharply contrasting with blackish next few rays, but black 

 pigment extends to front edges of fins and is of about equal intensity 

 on outer % of fins ; upper dorsal and lower ventral rays of caudal 

 fln pigmented, this grayish pigment extending farther posteriorly 

 than in 'berndti; the blackish pigment appears to be more intense 

 in 2- or 3-iuch specimens than in those 6 or 8 inches long; and in 

 the type of M. argyromus the color has faded altogether ; margin of 

 opercle blackish ; axil of pectoral blackish ; spinous dorsal pale ; gill 

 rakers on first gill arch 10 or 11+1+24 to 26=36 to 39; dorsal rays 

 X-I, 15; anal IV, 13 or 14 (rarely 14) ; scales 35 to 37. 



Myripristis argyromus Jordan and Evermann 

 4c. Anterior edges of soft dorsal and anal fins not white as in murdjan 

 and sharply contrasting with blackish next few rays, but blackish 

 pigment extends to front edges of fins and is of about equal intensity 

 on outer % of fins ; upper and lower rays of caudal fin without 

 blackish pigment; large specimens appear to be paler than those 

 2 to 4 inches long; roar margin of opercle blackish around spine and 

 dorsally but pigment does not extend down to pectoral fin base; 

 axil of pectoral blackish, lower half of axil paler; gill rakers 11 or 

 12+1+24 or 25=.37 or 38; dorsal rays X-I, 15, anal IV, 14 or 15; 

 scales 39 to 43 Myripristis sanguineus Jordan and Seale 



