FISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE AND ADJACENT SEAS 189 



HOLACANTHUS IMPERATOR (Bloch) 



Chaetodon imperator Bloch, Naturg. Ausl. Fische, vol. 3, 1787, p. 51, pi. 194. 

 Japan. — Gmelin, Syst. Nat. Linn., vol. 1, pt. 3, 1789, p. 1255 (Japan). — 

 Walbaum, Arted. Pise, vol. 3, 1792, p. 415 (on Bloch). — Forster, 

 Fauna Indica, 1795, p. 15. — Schneider, Syst. Ichth. Bloch, 1801, p. 217 

 (Japan). 



Chetodon imperator Bonnaterre, Tabl. Ichth., 1788, p. 92, pi. 93, fig. 384 

 (Japan). 



Holacanthus imperator Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 4, 1802, pp. 527, 534, 

 pi. 4, fig. 3 (Japan).— CuviER, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 7, 1831, p. 180 (Moluc- 

 cas, Mauritius).— GtJNTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 2, 1860, p. 52 (Cey- 

 lon, Amboina). — Playfair, Fishes of Zanzibar, 1866, p. 38 (Zanzibar). — 

 Klunzinger, Verh. zool. bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 20, 1870, p. 787 (Red Sea). — 

 GtJNTHER, Cruise of Curagoa, Brenchley, 1873, p. 410 (Misol, Molucca); 

 Journ. Mus. Godeflfroy, vol. 2-3, Heft 5-6, 1874, p. 53, pi. 41, fig. A (Soci- 

 ety Islands and Paumotus). — Bleeker, Ned. Tijds. Dierk., vol. 4, 1874, 

 p. 117 (China).— Day, Fishes of India, pt. 1, 1875, p.ll2, pi. 28, fig. 5.— 

 Klunzinger. Fische Roth. Meer., 1884, p. 61. — Meyer An. Soc. Espanola, 

 Hist. Nat. Madrid, vol. 14, 1885, p. 17 (Manado, Celebes). — Day, Fauna 

 Brit. India, vol. 2, 1889, p. 15, fig. 5. — Weber. Siboga Exp., vol. 57. Fische, 

 1913, p. 313 (Macassar). — Zttgmayer, Abh. Bayer. Akad. Wiss., Math.- 

 Phys. Kl., vol. 26, abth. 6, 1913, p. 11 (Oman). — Ogilby, Mem, Queensland 

 Mus., vol. 3, 1915, p. 108 (Raine Island). — Herre and Montalban, Phil- 

 ippine Journ. Sci., vol. 34, No. 1, Sep. 1927, p. 97, pi. 23, fig. 2 (Calapan, 

 Puerto Galera, Batangas, Basbas). 



Acanthochaetodon imperator Bleeker, Atlas Ichth. Ind. N^erland., vol. 9, 

 1877, p. 70, pi. (5) 367, fig. 2, pi. (12) 374, fig. 4 (Celebes, Amboina, New 

 Guinea). 



Holacanthas marianus Seale, Occas. Papers Bishop Mus., vol. 1, No. 3, 1900, 

 p. 140. Agaiia, Guam. — Jordan and Dickerson, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 

 vol. 34, 1908, p. 615, fig. 6 (Fiji). 



Depth 1% to 1%; head 33^ to 3%, width 1% to 14^. Snout 2j^ 

 to 2}4 in head from snout tip; eye 4 to 43^; 1^5 to 2 in snout, 1% 

 to 1% in interorbital; maxillary extends about half way in snout 

 length, not quite to front nostril, 3to to 3}/s ^ head; interorbital 3 

 to 3^, broadly convex; preopercle spine along inner edge 2j^ to 33^. 

 Gill rakers 7 + 13, short strong points, 53^ in gill filaments, which 

 equal eye. 



Scales 76 to 80 in obscure course of lateral line to caudal base; 13 

 scales above lateral line, 35 to 37 below. Scales with 2 to 4 basal 

 radiating striae; apical denticles 29 to 36, each with long slender root; 

 circuli fine. 



D. XIII or XIV, 18, 1 to 20, i, last spine 1 3^ to 1^ in total head 

 length, sixth ray 33^ to 3^; A. Ill, 18, i or 19, i, third spine 1^ to 

 23^8 ii- head, ninth ray 13^; least depth of caudal peduncle 234 to 

 2]/g', caudal convex behind, 1% to 13^; pectoral Iyq to 13^; ventral 

 1 to 1^. 



Brown generally. Side with 19 to 24 pale yellowish-brown lines, 

 inclined slightly superiorly, extending on soft dorsal and anal and on 



