FISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE AND ADJACENT SEAS 195 



HOLACANTHUS MELANOSOMA Bleeker 



Holacanthus melanosoma Bleeker, Nat. Tijds. Ned. Indie, vol. 5, 1853, p. 78. 

 Lawajong, Solor. — Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mas., vol. 2, 1860, p. 55 

 (copied); Cruise of Curagoa, Brenchley, 1873, p. 410 (Misol, Moluccas). 



Chaetodontoplus melanosoma Bleeker, Atlas Ichth. Ind. N^erland., vol. 9, 

 1877, p. 57, pi. (9) 369. fig. 1 (not 3) (Solor example). 



Depth 1% to 2; head ?>% to 3%, width 1^/^ to li^. Snout 2% to 

 33-^ m head from snout tip; eye 2% to 3%, 1^ in snout to little 

 onger than snout in young, equals interorbital to little greater in 

 young; maxillary 3^ to 3^ in head, reaches at least to front nostril; 

 interorbital 33^ to 3^, broadly convex; preopercle with upper edge 

 3 3^ to 43^. Gill rakers 4 + 11, lanceolate, }/i of gill filaments, which 

 13^ in eye. 



Scales 60 to 70 in median lateral series from gill opening to caudal 

 base; 18 or 19 scales above lateral line, 48 to 50 below. Scales with 

 1 to 3 basal radiating striae; apical denticles 15 to 20, each with long 

 slender rootlet; circuli very fine. 



D. XIII, 17, I or 18, I, last spine 1% to \% in total head length, 

 fifth ray 13^ to 1%; A. Ill, 18, i, third spine 133 to 1^, seventh ray 

 1% to 11/^; least depth of caudal peduncle 23^^ to 2%; caudal rounded 

 convexly behind, \Ji; pectoral 1%; ventral ly^, to 13^. 



Largely deep dusky brown. Occiput, front of head, muzzle above 

 and interorbital with slightly paler ground color, marked with dark 

 vermiculating lines. Iris dull yellowish. Dorsals and anals nearly 

 blackish, except hind edges of soft fins v/hich bordered whitish. 

 Caudal white, with large median semicircular blackish blotch, its 

 straight edge vertical and posterior. Paired fins blackish. 



East Indies. Previously known only from Bleeker's type, which 

 120 mm. and Giinther's record. 



One example. Doc Can Island. January 7, 1910. Length 80 mm. 

 One example from stomach of Variola loidi (A1527, length 450 mm.). 

 4349 [133] D. 5139. Jolo Island. February 14, 1908. Length 61 mm. 

 5147. Jolo market. March 6, 1908. Length 130 mm. 



HOLACANTHUS DIMIDIATUS Bleeker 



Holacanthus dimidiatus Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sci. Ind. N^erland. (Elfd. Viss. 



Amboina), vol. 8, 1860, p. 11. Amboina. 

 ChaetodoTitoplus dimidiatus Bleeker, Atlas Ichth. Ind. Neerland., vol. 9, 



1877, p. 57, pi. (7) 369, fig. 4 (Amboina). 



Very similar to Holacanthus melanosoma but differs slightly in color, 

 the back lighter than the contrasted dark lower half of the body, 

 also the caudal uniformly yellow. Reaches 166 mm. according to 

 Bleeker, who mentions 5 examples. 



Family ZANCLIDAE 



Body deep, elevated, strongly compressed. Caudal peduncle 

 unarmed. Mouth small. Teeth in jaws long, slender and brush-like; 

 palate edentulous. Solid, thick bones on top of head form median 



