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



bordered, running downward from lower orbital rim along anterior 

 margin of opercular opening and pectoral base; middle of side with 

 large black patch, broad band extending from this patch to anterior 

 part of dorsal base, broad line extending ventrally from black patch 

 to anus, then a narrow line not as long extending posteriorly to first 

 line, then a second broad black Ime reaching almost to middle third 

 of anal fin base, then a short narrow black line becoming pale yel- 

 lowish; posteriorly the black patch widens, dorsal part reaching 

 posterior part of dorsal fin, ventral part extending toward caudal 

 peduncle; caudal peduncle spines jet black; spiny dorsal membrane 

 greyish black; soft dorsal pale, anal fin pale yellow; caudal fin dusky, 

 its dorsal and ventral margins darker, distal margin pale; pectoral fin 

 pale yellow, transluscent. 



Color in life. — Pattern as described in preserved specimen; lips and 

 anterior part of snout bright yellow, the yellow extending posteriorly 

 along cheek in tapering band ending just below and posterior to 

 pectoral fin insertion; top of snout, head, and back light greyish brown; 

 blue line over top of snout just behind lips; 4 blue lines running from 

 eye across interorbital to join fellows, blue line curving downward to 

 lower edge of pectoral insertion, black subocular band bordered with 

 blue lines, lower sides white; area around anal opening black; area 

 around caudal spines white; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins yellow with 

 faint orange color on basal half; pectoral fin yellow; black patch and 

 markings on sides as described in preserved specimen. 



Family OSTRACIONTIDAE 

 By Loren p. Woods 



Genus OSTRACION Linnaeus 



Ostracion Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, ed. 10, p. 330, 1758 (type species, Oslracion 

 cubicus Linnaeus). 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF OSTRACION AND LACTORIA FROM THE MARSHALL ISLANDS 



la. Carapace smooth, without spines. 



2a. Body pale yellowish brown to dark bluish brown; back with black or 

 dark-bordered white spots, one in the middle of each scute (young 

 with large round black dots scattered, not in center of each scute) ; sides 

 and belly plain or with a few scattered small brown dots or dark- 

 ringed white spots; dorsal and caudal fins with round brown dots or 

 plain; gill rakers on first arch 12 to 15. Ostracion cubicus Linnaeus 



26. Body dark brown to dark bluish gray; back and sides with close-set small 

 white dots. Males with immaculate convex snout; white spots on 

 sides either larger than those on back or absent. Females with 

 evenly spaced white spots on concave snout, back, sides, and belly. 

 Caudal peduncle and base of caudal fin of both sexes white spotted; 



gill rakers on first arch 9 to 11 Ostracion meleagris Shaw 



16. Carapace with prominent spines Lactoria fornasina (Bianconi) 



