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U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 02 



Vol. 3 



second and tip of caudal rays; scattered over entire head, body, and 

 vertical fins are numerous minute brown or black dots of varying sizes 

 but few as large as smallest white dots; white spotting of body con- 

 tinued onto bases of vertical fins; pectorals with black dots on rays, 

 forming more or less transverse bars; under surface (right side) pale 

 yellowish white, not pigmented, except that some specimens have 

 scattered small brown dots on jaws, chin, and anterior part of cheek. 



Color when alive. — Pale spots light cream color, sometimes tinted 

 light blue; dark blotches purplish black; general lighter areas light 

 grayish yellow, with numerous light orange-yellow blotches scattered 

 about in an irregular manner. 



Ecology. — This species is common on the flat, pavementlike sections 

 of the reef and in big surge channels with sandy bottoms. 



Table 127. — Fin ray counts for two species of Bothus 



BOTHUS PANTHERINUS (Ruppell) 



Rhombus pantherinus Ruppell, Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen Afrika . . ., 

 Fische des rothen Meers, p. 121, pi. 3, fig. 1, 1828 (type locality, Red Sea). 



SPECIMENS STUDIED 



Bikini Atoll: 2 stations, 2 specimens, 44 to 71 mm. standard length. 

 Eniwetok Atoll: 1 station, 1 specimen, 82 mm. 

 Rongelap Atoll: 2 stations, 2 specimens, 36 to 64mm. 

 Rongerik Atoll: 1 station, 3 specimens, 33 to 43 mm. 

 Guam: 7 lots, 46 specimens, 27 to 89 mm. 



Desc7'iption.—T)oTssl fin rays 86 to 94 ; anal rays 65 to 72 ; pectoral 

 rays 10 or 11; pelvic rays 6; branched caudal rays 7 in upper half, 

 6 in lower; scales in lengthwise series about 76 to 82; gill rakers lower 

 half of first gill arch 6 to 9. 



Depth of body 1.75 to 1.87; length of head 3.31 to 3.41; both in 

 standard length. Length of snout 3.74 to 4.17; diameter of upper 

 eye 3.9 to 4.63; least interorbital width 3.9 to 6.18; postorbital part 

 of head 1.81 to 3.3; length of upper jaw 2.95 to 4.58; least depth of 



