44 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 02 Vol. 3 



Greatest depth 1.8; head 1,3 to 1.8; both in standard length. 

 Snout 3.7 to 3.8; eye 3.6 to 4.3; snout tip to rear edge of maxillary 

 2.0 to 2.1; postorbital length of head 1.7 to 1.8; longest dorsal spine 

 2.9 to 3.0; longest soft ray of dorsal 2.1 to 2.2, of anal 3.0 to 4.2, of 

 pectoral 2.1 to 2.2, and of caudal fin 1.4 to 1.5; least depth of caudal 

 peduncle 2.7 to 2.8; all in length of head to fleshy edge of opercle. 

 Least width of bony interorbital in eye 1.7 to 1.9. 



Body greatly compressed, everywhere profusely covered with minute 

 papillae except on fins and behind pectoral base ; profile of head steep, 

 mouth horizontal; preopercle with 5 spines, interopercle with spine; 

 preorbital ending in a strong spine, with 2 spiny knobs on its ventral 

 anterior edge; nostrils, 2 tubular, anterior one slightly longer; teeth 

 in villiform bands in both jaws; vomer and palatines toothless; gUl 

 rakers short; membrane between spiny and soft dorsal fin concave 

 but connected more than halfway out from base of first soft ray. 



Color in alcohol. — Plain brownish. 



Ecology. — This species, living largely in the coral Acroyora, is abun- 

 dant on r3efs of lagoons or ocean sides where wave action is strong or 

 surf conditions occur. Caracanthus will remain in the coral after it is 

 broken loose and may be removed on shore by cracking the coral 

 growth in fragments. 



CARACANTHUS MACULATUS (Gray) 



Plate 128,B 



Micropus maculatus Gray, ZooL Misc., p. 20, 1831 (type locality, seas of Owaihi 

 and Hao). 



SPECIMENS STUDIED 



Bikini Atoll: 3 stations, 16 specimens, 24 to 38 mm. in standard length. 

 Rongerik Atoll: 1 station, 1 specimen, 21 mm. 

 Rongelap Atoll: 1 station, 6 specimens, 30 to 40 mm. 

 Kwajalein Atoll: 1 station, 4 specimens, 21 to 28 mm. 



Description. — Dorsal rays VII or VIII, 12 or 13 usually VIII, 12; 

 anal 11,11 or 12; pectoral vi or vii+vii orviii (enlarged); branched 

 caudal usuaUy 6 or 7+7; pelvics 1,3; gill rakers about 7 + 1 + 12. 



Greatest depth 1,7; head 2.0 to 2.3; both in standard length. 

 Snout 3.6 to 4.0; eye 4.0 to 4.2; snout tip to rear edge of maxillary 2.2 

 to 2.5; postorbital length of head 1.6 to 1.7; longest dorsal spine, 

 fourth, 3.7 to 3.8; longest soft ray of dorsal 2.8 to 2.9, of anal 3.8 to 

 4.2, of pectoral 2.2 to 2.6, of caudal 1.7 to 1.9; least depth of caudal 

 peduncle 3.1 to 3.5; all in length of head to fleshy edge of opercle. 

 Least bony width of interorbital in eye 1.7 to 2.1. 



Body greatly compressed, covered profusely vsdth papillae, these 

 lacking on all fins; profile of head steep, mouth nearly horizontal; 

 preopercle with 5 spines, interopercle with a strong spine; preorbital 



