FAMILY SCORPAENIDAE — SCHULTZ 19 



36. Upper pectoral fin rajs branched (except possibly in young) and pectoral 

 fin not extending past base of caudal fin; dorsal spines about equal 

 to length of head; dorsal rays VIII,9; anal 111,5; soft dorsal with 



two black ocellate spots Brachirus biocellatus (Fowler) 



26. Front of snout without the 3 simple barbels next to the premaxillary 



groove; dorsal spines notably shorter than length of head. 



7a. Mouth terminal, or nearly so; lower pectoral rays simple, swollen, some of 



upper pectoral rays branched but not swollen, unbranched in young 



of certain species; anal rays 111,5, rarely 111,4; branched caudal 



fin rays 6 + 5; scales ctenoid. 



8a. Palatine teeth present; dorsal rays XII, 9 (rarely 8 or 10); two post- 

 temporal spines on each side. 



9a. Vertical scale rows above lateral line from upper edge of gill opening 

 to midbase of caudal fui about 49 to 52; pectoral rays usually 

 1,4 to 6,ix to xi; no occipital pit present; postfrontal spine in 

 line or nearly so with supra- and post-oculars and parietal- 

 nuchal spines; general coloration brownish with white areas. 



Sebastapistes albobrvinnea (Giinther) 



96. Vertical scale rows above lateral line from upper edge of gill opening 



to midbase of caudal fin 40 to 45. 



10a. Second postocular spine absent; postfrontal spine in line, or nearly 



so, between postocular and parietal spines; shallow occipital 



pit present, with postfrontal spines at the anterior lateral 



corners ; anterior lower preorbital spine pointing forward and 



posterior one directed downward, curving forward with age; 



pale interspaces between vertical dark bars usually wider 



than dark bar Sebastapistes mcadamsi (Fowler) 



106. Second postocular spine present; postfrontal spine at front of 

 occipital pit and in line with parietal spines; underside of 

 head dusky with dark specks or spots; rear of spiny dorsal 

 sometimes with black blotch. 



Sebastapistes corallicola Jenkins 

 10c. Second postocular spine lacking; postfrontal spine behind post- 

 ocular not in line with parietal spines; occipital pit absent; 

 underside of head barred with dark and pale; body dark 

 with white flecks and pale areas with black specks; no 

 black blotch on dorsal fin. 



Sebastapistes bynoensis (Richardson) 

 86. Palatine teeth absent. 



11a. Each nasal spine with 2 to 6 points or, in young, grooved if points 

 are undeveloped; a deep pit below orbit; dorsal rays XII, 9, 

 pectoral rays i,4 or 5,xi to xiii; occipital pit present; post- 

 temporal spines 2, the number of points on all cranial spines 

 increasing with age; a black area on oral membrane at 

 symphysis of premaxillaries; area behind pectoral fin with 

 ocellate orange spot when alive. 



Scorpaenopsis gibbosa (P.loch and Schneider) 



116. Each nasal spine, if exposed, with a single point; no pit below 



orbit; dorsal rays XIII, 7 to 9; occipital pit lacking or only 



slightly developed on -parvipinnis; only a single posttemporal 



spine. 



