90 U-S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 202 Vol. 3 



peduncle longer, more slender, some antrorse; short branched cu-ri on 

 body; dorsal and anal fins slightly elevated anteriorly, second dorsal 

 ray of 36 mm. specimen greatly prolonged and filamentous; caudal 

 fin rounded, 36 mm. specimen with two dorsal rays much shorter, 

 giving notched appearance to fin, none of caudal rays prolonged or 

 filamentous. 



Color in alcohol. — Ground color of head and body light tan; throat 

 crossed by 2 or 3 indistinct bars; 2 large brown square shaped spots 

 on back, one at base of anterior, one at base of posterior parts of 

 dorsal fin, similar fainter spots at base of anal fin; series of white 

 dots running obliquely posteroventrally from eye, behind insertion of 

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

 small white spots on sides; ventral flap with very dark brown or 

 black margin; dorsal spine with three dark brown bars, dorsal spine 

 membrane dusky, dorsal and anal tins colorless, transparent; caudal 

 fin pale or dusky at base, series of transverse spots and bars on middle 

 of fin giving appearance of large blackish transverse spot, barring 

 fainter distally, fading on margin. 



Ecology. — This species was collected in a dredge hauled in lagoon 

 at 120 feet. It is possible that the specimens entered the dredge on 

 their way to the surface. 



Remarks. — We believe these specimens are immature representa- 

 tives of Paramonacanthus oblongus since they agree with that species 

 in shape, number of fin rays, and certain points of color and pattern. 

 Our Marshall Island specimens, however, lack the prolonged fila- 

 mentous rays of the caudal fin, characteristic of P. oblongvs. The 

 only other specimens of P. oblongus in the U.S. National Museum 

 are 65 and 84 mm. in standard length. 



PARAMONACANTHUS CRYPTODON (Bleeker) 



Plate 133, A 



Monacanthus cnjptodon Bleeker, Nat. Tijdschr. Nederl.-Indie, vol. 8, p. 439, 

 1855 (type locality, Amboina). 



SPECIMENS STUDIED 



Bikini Atoll: Bikini lagoon, 4 miles south of western end of Bikini Island, 

 dredge in 168 feet, April 24-25, S-46-115, Morrison and Ladd, I specimen, 39.5 

 mm. 



Rongelap Atoll: Lagoon, 2 miles west of Bush Island, dredge at depth of 120 

 feet, June 21, S-46-232, Taylor, 1 specimen, 26 mm. 



Description. — Dorsal rays 1,26 ; anal rays 26 ; pectoral rays 10 or 11 ; 

 branched caudal rays 5+5; gill rakers and teeth not counted. 



Depth of body 1 .5 to 2.3 ; length of head 2.6 to 2.9 ; both in standard 

 length. Snout 1.3 to 1.7; diameter of eye 2.7 to 3.0; least depth of 



