FISHEIS OF THE PHOENIX AND SAMOAN ISLANDS 91 



Family APOGONIDAE 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF APOGONIDAE FOUND IN THE PHOENIX AND SAMOAN 



ISLANDS 



la. No canine teeth in jaws even at symphysis of lower or upper jaws ; if teeth 



are present they are villiform and in narrow to wide bauds ; anal rays II, 



7 to 17 ; preoperculum with double edge, the posterior not produced ; anus 



just in front of origin of anal fin or as far distant as diameter of pupil. 



2a. Margin of anterior edge of preopercle serrated or strongly toothed ; margin 



of posterior edge of preopercle strongly serrated or toothed. 



3a. Dorsal fin rays VI-I, 9 or 10; second spine of dorsal fin longest, so that 



first, which is about equal to pupil, is contained 3.8 times in second ; 



black saddles or vertical color bars as follows: One below origin of 



spinous dorsal fin ; second below origin of soft dorsal fin ; third below 



last third of soft dorsal fin, and this extends to the rear base of the 



anal fin ; caudal peduncle with a blackish spot one-half size of pupil on 



end of lateral line ; dark spot on opercle about size of pupil ; pectoral 



fin rays about 14; gill rakers 5 or G+IT; scales 2+24+5; anal rays II, 



8 Apogon trimaculatus Cuvier 



3&. Dorsal fin rays VII-I, 9; third dorsal spine longest; palatines usually 

 with teeth though sometimes toothless ; suborbitals usually with spines ; 

 first dorsal spine 2% to 3 times in second; second 1.9 to 2l^ In third; 

 color as follows : Streak of black across soft dorsal and anal one-fourth 

 up from base of fins and ending at tips of last rays ; a black blotch, 

 variable in size just in front of base of caudal fin rays on end of caudal 

 peduncle, the most intense black above lateral line, but in some speci- 

 mens this black blotch extends toward ventral side of iieduncle where 

 pigment fades out ; dorsal and ventral edges of caudal fin with white 

 margin inside of which is a narrow blackish streak ; tip of snout to 

 middle of eye with blackish streak sometimes continuing to end of 

 caudal peduncle ; membranes from first to fourth dorsal spines blackish ; 

 sometimes there is a distinct blackish blotch under soft dorsal reaching 

 lateral line ; peritoneum and intestine whitish, the stomach sometimes 

 dusky ; anal rays II, 8 or 9 ; pectoral 12 or 13 ; scales 2+25 or 26+5 to 7 ; 



gill rakers 4 or 5+14 to 17 Apogon frenatus Valenciennes 



2&. Margin of anterior edge of preopercle not serrated. 



4a. Margin of posterior edge of preopercle with some serrations, portion 



below angle not flexible but stiff and serrated ; lateral line complete. 



5a. Anal fin rays II, 14-16 ; at base of caudal fin and on caudal i)eduncle 



occurs a large blackish blotch; (in large adults an opercular spot is 



apparent) ; dorsal fin rays VI-I, 9; pectoral 13; gill rakers 5+15; 



scales 2+25+6; palatine teeth present; peritoneum silvery; intestine 



with black spots Archamia lineolata (Ehrenberg) 



5&. Anal fin rays II, 8 or 9. 

 6a. Dorsal rays VI-I, 9. 



7a. Second and third dorsal spines very elongate and flexible, first 

 spine 414 times in second ; second longest ; pupil is contained 

 2y2 times in first dorsal spine; gill rakers about 7+1+23; anal 

 rays II, 9; pectoral about 14; scales about 2+25+5 or 6; color 

 of body plain, no spots or streaks; spinous dorsal black edged. 



Apogon graeffei Giinther 



7&. Dorsal spines stiff, not elongate; first dorsal spine SVj, in second, 



second longest ; first dorsal spine equal to or longer than pupil ; 



gill rakers about 6+18; anal rays II, 8; pectoral abo'at 14; 



