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



Length of head 2.3 to 2.8; length of middle caudal rays 2.5 to 2.9; 

 both m standard length. Snout 2.2 or 2.3; diameter of eye 3.1 to 3.9; 

 least depth of caudal peduncle 2.5 to 3.4; length of pectoral fin 2.4 to 

 2.7; height of dorsal fin 2.0 to 2.2; height of anal fin 2.1 to 2.4; post- 

 orbital part of head 2.9 to 3.3; interorbital width 2.8 to 3.2; all in 

 length of head. Angle of snout profile with axis of body 34 to 40 

 degrees, snout straight to slightly convex. 



Back smoothly rounded, dermal spines present in all specimens 

 examined, short and imbedded in adults, more prominent in young, 

 evenly distributed over head and body except for naked ring around 

 mouth and posterior two-thirds of caudal peduncle; nostril tentacle 

 prominent, forked; interorbital concave; anal fin originates under 

 insertion of last dorsal ray; distal margin of caudal fin very much 

 rounded, almost semicircular. 



Color in alcohol. — Back, upper parts of head, and upper sides dark 

 greyish brown; dark ring around mouth not meeting on chin; lower 

 parts of head, sides, and belly whitish; back and sides with 16 to 18 

 continuous lengthwise black lines, broader on back and sides, narrower 

 on belly; three median dorsal lines running from region of nostrils 

 posteriorly and converging around base of dorsal fin, next line lateral 

 to these meets its fellow, forming a V on the dorsal part of the caudal 

 peduncle; two lines of the side form a ring around the anterior margin 

 of gill opening, 5 thin lines originate on cheek and curve postero- 

 ventrally onto belly where they are sometimes interrupted or obscure, 

 fourth line of cheek may have a branch that curves around posterior 

 and dorsal rim of orbit; nasal tentacles pale; pectoral fin dark at base, 

 rest of fin pale; dorsal fin dusky basally and on anterior rays; anal fin 

 pale; caudal fin dusky mesially, outer rays and narrow distal sub- 

 marginal area intensely black, tips of rays white. 



AROTHRON NIGROPUNCTATUS (Bloch and Schneider) 



Plate 136,C,D 



Tetrodon nigropunctatus Bloch and Schneider, Systema ichthyologiae . , ., 

 p. 507, 1801 (type locality, Tranquebar). 



SPECIMENS STUDIED 



Bikini Atoll: 13 stations, 19 specimens, 49 to 157 mm. in standard length. 



Eniwetok Atoll: 2 stations, 4 specimens, 108 to 145 mm. 



Rongelap Atoll: 3 stations, 10 specimens, 118 to 150 mm. 



Rongerik Atoll: 2 stations, 2 specimens, 88 to 107 mm. 



Guam: 3 lots, 9 specimens, 63 to 171 mm. 



Saipan: 1 lot, 3 specimens, 180 to 230 mm. 



Description. — 'Dorsal rays i,9 or 10; anal i,9 to 11; pectoral rays 

 i,16 or 17; branched caudal rays 4+4; gill rakers on anterior side of 

 first arch 15 to 26 in 2 or 3 irregular rows. 



