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U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 02 



Vol. 3 



fins barred with blackish; pelvic fins black, with two pale areas in 

 central part of soft rays, margins white; anal fin blackish broken by 

 a white bar across center, margin pale; posterior margin of soft 

 dorsal fin with two distinct black ocellate spots. 



Ecology.- — ^This characteristic species was taken in an abundant 

 growth of corals in about 6 to 25 feet of water where the current was 

 strong and wave action rugged. 



H.W.F.deL 



Figure 139. — Brachirus biocellatus (Fowler), holotype, USNM 98894, from the Philippines, 



after Fowler. 



Remarks. — During the course of this study we have examined 

 several specimens of Brachirus from various parts of the Indo-PacLfic 

 area and are able to present new data on certain species before us. 



Brachirus zebra as understood by us has the general color pattern 

 shown by Bleeker (Atlas ichthyologique . . ., pi. 411, fig. 1, 1862), 

 in whose figure one of the most characteristic color marks is the last 

 dark bar across the caudal peduncle, with a middle projection ex- 

 tending from it to the base of the middle caudal fin rays; the supra- 

 orbital tentacle either long and barred or short, as in some of our 

 specimens. In our specimens under USNM 26630 (Fiji Island), 

 122853 (New Hebrides), and 123367 (Okinawa), there are XIII,10 

 dorsal rays, 111,6 anal, and 16 or 17 pectoral rays. After examining 

 the two types of Dendrochirus sauselele Jordan and Scale, USNM 

 51760, and finding color pattern and fin rays the same as in zebra, we 

 are of the opinion that sauselele is a synonym of zebra and herewith 



