FAMILY ALUTERIDAE — WOODS 85 



Schultz and Herald, 1 specimen, 40.3 mm.; USNM 140749, Rongerik 

 Atoll, Eniwetak Island, ocean reef in sui-f, June 29, 8^6-241, 3 

 specimens, 40.7 to 41 mm.; [no catalogue no.], Rongerik Atoll, Bock 

 Pass, surface light at night, June 2, 1946, N-3, Marr, 1 specimen, 

 40.5 mm.; USNM 140751, Marshall Islands, March-August, 1946, 

 Schultz, 1 specimen, 55 mm.; USNM 140730, Bikini Atoll, Eman 

 Island, channel reef at western end, July 17, S-46-405, Schultz, 

 Brock, Myers, and Hiatt, 5 specimens, 47 to 54 mm.; USNM 140731, 

 Bikini Atoll, Namu Island, lagoon reef, August 6, S-46-508, Schultz, 

 Brock, and Hiatt, 1 specimen, 48 mm.; Bikini Atoll, July 24, 1947, 

 Univ. Washington, 1 specimen, 63 mm. 



Description. — 'Counts or proportion of type given first, range of 

 variation noted in paratypes in parenthesis. Dorsal fin rays 1,33 

 (1,30 to 1,34); anal rays 29 (27 to 30); pectoral rays 13 (11 to 14); 

 branched caudal rays 5 + 5 (always 5 + 5); gill rakers on first arch 22 

 (20 to 23); teeth 8 upper, 6 lower jaw. 



Depth of body 2.1 (1.8 to 2.2); length of head 2.9 (2.7 to 3.1); 

 both in standard length. Snout 1.3 (1.3 to 1.4); diameter of eye 3.8 

 (3.5 to 4.3); least depth of caudal peduncle 1.8 (1.8 to 2.7); length of 

 pectoral fin 2.1 (2.2 to 2.8) ; length of longest dorsal ray 3.1 (2.6 to 4.0) ; 

 length of longest anal rays 3.3 (2.8 to 4.7); length of middle caudal 

 fin rays 1.7 (1.5 to 1.9); length of soft dorsal fin base 0.9 (0.9 to 1.2); 

 length of anal base 1.1 (1.1 to 1.4); length of dorsal spine 1.3 (1.1 to 

 1.3); interorbital width 3.3 (3.4 to 3.6); all in length of head. Angle 

 of snout profile 37 (34 to 37) degrees, snout profile concave. 



Interorbital area elevated, roimded; mouth terminal; dorsal spine 

 shghtly bent at base, almost straight distally, with about 9 rows of 

 smaU tubercles on anterior face basally, tubercles of 2 rows more 

 prominent than ones continuing to distal tip; 2 rows of long strong 

 spines pointing outward and bent downward on posterior lateral edges 

 6 to 17 spines per row; pelvic spine prominent, 2 points at tip, only 

 the posterior one moveable, second joint with about 8 outward point- 

 ing spines around its edge; pelvic flap moderately developed; scales of 

 head and sides with a row of 3 to 5 retrorse spines, middle spine 

 largest, on caudal peduncle spines much longer, slender, directed 

 posteriorly with tips bent anteriorly, forming hooks; middle teeth 

 broad, pointed in median line, second tooth narrow rounded, third and 

 fourth teeth broad, flat, rounded; dorsal and anal fins low in smallest 

 specimens (40 mm.); elevated anteriorly in larger specimens (50 to 

 80 mm.); caudal fin rounded, fan shaped. 



Color in alcohol. — Ground color of head and body light reddish 

 brown to dark blackish brown ; sides of body plain or with numerous 

 dark reddish brown irregular fine lines running lengthwise; tip of 



