FAMILY SCORPAENIDAE — SCHULTZ 



31 



This species is covered with ctenoid scales except the head and 

 fins, which are naked; in general, cirri or dermal flaps are feebly 

 developed, though some occur on a few of the cranial spines (supra- 

 ocular, preorbital, preopercular) and sometimes along lateral line; 

 symphysis of upper jaw without concavity and no symphyseal knob 

 developed at tip of lower jaw; palatine teeth present; longest dorsal 

 spines about equal to length of longest soft rays of that fin; usually 

 no spine is exposed at base of caudal fin. 







Figure 140.— Sebastapistes corallicola Jenkins, holotype, USNM 50611, after Jenkins. 



Color in alcohol. — Dorsal fin in a large percentage of specimens has 

 a black blotch distally on membranes between the seventh and tenth 

 dorsal spines; this is a characteristic mark. The general color pattern 

 consists of 7 or 8 irregular bars consisting of blotches of varying 

 intensity; first blotch at origin of spiny dorsal, next two from below 

 base of spiny dorsal, fourth bar usually complete and extends from 

 anterior part of dorsal fin rays to near anal origin, fifth, sometimes 

 lacking, extends from posterior tips of dorsal fin across caudal pe- 

 duncle and includes part of anal fin, sixth most prominent at base of 

 caudal fin rays and includes a little of the caudal peduncle, seventh 

 and eighth occur on caudal fin, one across the central part and one 

 distally, leaving tips of rays white; sides and under parts of head 

 barred or blotched; breast plain pale; paired fins with small blotches 

 more or less forming 2 to 4 bars. 



Ecology. — This small scorpaenid appears to prefer the more exposed 

 ocean reef and the lagoon reefs where conditions are more rugged. 



Remarks. — In my report on the fishes of the Phoenix and Samoa 

 Islands (U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 180, p. 174, 1943), I identified this 



