FISHES OF THE PHH,IPFINB ISLANDS AND ADJACENT SEAS 29 



Pseudochromis (Pseudochromis) adustus Bleekeb, Verh. Kon. Akad. Wet. Am- 

 sterdam, No. 5. vol. 15, 1875, p. 18 (copied). 



Onar neubulosum De Vis, Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales, vol. 9, 1885, p. 875. 

 Murray Island. 



Pseudochromis nebiilosus McCuixoch, Mem. Queensland Mus., vol. 3, Jan. 28, 

 1915, p. 49, pi. 16, fig. 2 (paratype; Duke of York Island, New Britain). 



Psetidochrovm wildii Ogilbt, Annals Queensland Mus., No. 9, pt. 1, 1908, p. 34. 

 Moreton Bay, Queensland. 



Depth 2% to 31/8 ; head 2% to Si/g, width 21/3 to 22/5. Snout 41/5 

 to 4l^ in head from snout tip; eye 31/5 to 4, greater than snout in 

 young to subequal with age, greater than interorbital ; maxillary 

 reaches l^ to % in eye, expansion 1% to 2% in eye, length 2% to 2% 

 in head from snout tip : teeth small, conic, in narrow bands in 

 jaws, with 4 large canines in front of each jaw, above median pair 

 much smaller and close together, below median well separated; 

 interorbital 44^ to 5, little convex. Gill rakers 5 + 12, lanceolate, 

 little less than gill filaments or 2% in eye. 



Scales 37 or 38 in median lateral series to caudal base and 7 or 

 8 more on latter; tubular scales 24 to 34 in upper section of lateral 

 line and 8 to 10 more in lower section to caudal base also followed 

 by 1 or 2 more on latter; 3 scales above lateral line, 12 to 14 below, 

 18 to 26 predorsal forward till above nostril, 4 rows on cheek to pre- 

 opercle ridge and preopercle flange naked. Scales with 15 basal 

 radiating striae ; apical denticles 80 ; circuli very fine. 



D. Ill, 27, I or 26, i, third spine 2% to 3% in total head length, 

 twenty-third ray 1% to 2 ; A. Ill, 14, i, vary 16, i, third spine 27s to 

 3. fourth ray 1% to 21/^ ; caudal 1% to I14, rounded, convex behind : 

 least depth of caudal peduncle 2 to 214 1 pectoral 1% to 1% ; ventral 

 IxVtoli/g. ■ 



Brown, each scale usually with slightly paler median shade. 

 Lower surface of head and abdomen often slightly paler than above. 

 Iris dull neutral gray. Caudal light yellowish to dusky. Dorsals, 

 anals and ventrals all more or less duskj'^, variably little paler. Dor- 

 sals and anals with 6 or 7 longitudinal pale lines extending usually 

 whole length of fin, often variously broken as spots or bars. Pec- 

 toral pale, uniform, usually with black basal blotch transversely cov- 

 ering whole base and with whitish or gray adjoining shade on outer 

 border; blotch very variable, from almost black to nearly absent. 



India, Andamans, East Indies, Philippines, Queensland, Mela- 

 nesia, Micronesia. The best known species of the family, very well 

 marked, but variable. Chiefly distinguished by the blackish blotch 

 at the pectoral base and the blackish ventrals at all ages. The caudal 

 as well as the general body coloration is subject to considerable 

 variation in shades of brown, often the former may even be yellow- 

 ish or variously white bordered with a darker center. 



