FAMILY ALUTERIDAE — WOODS 81 



4a. Gill opening enclosed in a distinct black spot or blotch, plate 132, C. 

 Pervagor melanocephalus melanocephalus (Bleeker) 

 46. Gill opening not enclosed in a black area or spot or at most only a 

 trace of brownish pigment around gill opening. 

 5a. Distal half of caudal fin with blackish cross band. (Marshall 

 Islands.) 

 Pervagor melanocephalus marshallensis, new subspecies 

 56. Only distal fourth of caudal fin with blackish cross band. (Johnston 

 Island.) 

 Pervagor melanocephalus johnstonensis, new subspecies 

 36. First dorsal spine inserted behind middle of eye; barbs on postero- 

 lateral edges very short; pelvic spine slender, tapering; no caudal 

 bristles; spinules on scales arising directly from basal plate, not 

 on pedicle. 

 6o. Soft dorsal fin rays 27, second ray sometimes long and filamentous; 

 upper and middle caudal rays sometimes prolonged and fila- 

 mentous; profile straight, pelvic spine not extending beyond 

 pelvic membrane in small specimens, slightly beyond in large; 

 scale spinules on caudal peduncle, some antrorse, longer, more 

 slender than those of body. Color of head and body light tan, 

 throat crossed by 2 or 3 indistinct bars ; two large brown square- 

 shaped spots on back just under dorsal fin; series of white dots 

 running obliquely posteroventrally from eye, behind insertion 

 of pectoral fin to belly; 4 or 5 broken incomplete lengthwise 

 white or dark spots on sides; pelvic flap margin black; dorsal 

 spine barred; dorsal and anal fins pale, hyaline; caudal fin pale 

 on base and margin, its middle crossed by series of transverse 

 spots and bars. Anal rays 26, pectoral 11. 



Paramonacanthus oblongus (Temminck and Schlegel) 

 66. Soft dorsal fin rays 26, dorsal and anal fins elevated anteriorly; profile 

 straight or convex; pelvic spine extending beyond pelvic mem- 

 brane; scale spinules of caudal peduncle not enlarged. Color of 

 head and body hght brown; snout, back, and upper sides slightly 

 darker; lips pale; three faint bars crossing throat; upper third of 

 eye dark brown ; dark brown oval spot about size of eye containing 

 several blackish dots or lengthwise streaks on upper sides below 

 anterior third of dorsal fin; a fainter oval spot, larger and nar- 

 rower than upper on middle of sides below and shghtly posterior 

 to upper; dorsal spine barred; dorsal and anal fins pale, hyaUne; 

 caudal fin with 3 faint double transverse bars, two on basal half, 

 one submarginal. Anal rays 26, pectoral 10 or 11. 



Paramonacanthus cryptodon (Bleeker) 

 26. Pelvic spine not movable; dorsal spine long, slender, sometimes armed 

 with posterolateral barbs, inserted over middle of orbit, fitting into 

 a groove when depressed. 

 la. Snout not produced, mouth terminal, angle of snout profile with length- 

 wise axis of body 39 to 50 degrees. 

 8a. Patch of strong simple long spines (in males) or brush of numerous 

 shorter more slender spines (in females) on middle of sides below 

 posterior half of dorsal fin; caudal peduncle armed with about 

 12 rows of short heavy spines directed posteriorly. Color of head 

 and body liglit greyisli brown to dark reddish brown; margin of 

 lips pale, area around mouth blackish, spines on sides and those of 



