PISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND ADJACENT SEAS 105 



p. 781 (Negros) ; Bull. Bur. Fisher., vol. 26, 1906 (1907), p. 21 (Manila).— 

 EVEEMANN and Seale, Bull. Bur. Fisber., vol. 26, 1906 (1907), p. 79 

 (Bacon). — Fowlek, Copeia, No. 58, June 18, 1918, p. 63 (Philippines). 



Lutjanus dccussatus Bleeker, Atlas Ichth. Ind. N^erlaud., vol. 8, 1876-1877, 

 p. 72, pi. (60)338, fig. 4 (Sumatra, Nias, BiUton, Java, Duizend Islands, 

 Bali, Celebes, Flores, Timor, Ceram, Amboina, Aru, Philippines). — Day, 

 Fauna Brit. India, Fishes, vol. 1, 1889, p. 481. — Peaeson, Ceylon Administr. 

 Rep., 1912-1913, p. E15 (Gulf of Manaar).— Webeb, Siboga Exp., vol. 57, 

 Fische, 1913, p. 251 (Manado; Saleyer ; Pepela Bay, Rotti). — Fowlee and 

 Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 62, 1922, p. 31 ( Cebu ) .—Fowlee, Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1927, p. 277 (Calapan) ; 1929, p. 635 (Padang). 



Mesoprion therapon Day, Proc. Soc. Zool. Soc. Loudon, 1869, p. 514. Andaman 

 Islands. 



Depth 23/5 to 2%; head 2% to 21/2, width 21/3 to 21/2. Snout 2% 

 to 3 in head; eye 4l^ to 4:%, 1% to 1% in snout, subequal with 

 interorbital ; maxillary reaches 14 ^^ eye, expansion I34 to 1% in eye, 

 length 2% to 21/2 in head ; band of villiform teeth in each jaw, outer 

 row strong, sharp, enlarged, conic teeth; 2 wide set large, upper 

 canines, none in front of mandible though each ramus with 2 to 5 

 enlarged lateral teeth; bands of villiform teeth on vomer, palatines 

 and tongue, on first in wide angular band; interorbital 4% to 51/2, 

 hardly elevated, flattened ; preopercle edge rough, not serrated, with 

 rather wide emargination. Gill rakers 6 + 10, compressed, lanceolate, 

 little less than gill filaments, which I/2 of eye. 



Scales 45 to 47 in lateral line to caudal base and 4 or 5 more on 

 latter; 7 or 8 scales above lateral line, 15 to 17 below, 12 predorsal, 

 6 to 8 rows on cheek. Suprascapula entire. Scales with 16 to 18 

 basal radiating striae ; apical denticles 88 to 90, with 4 or 5 transverse 

 series of basal elements ; circuli fine. 



D. X, 13, I, third spine 23/5 to 3 in head, third ray 31/3 to 3%; 

 A. Ill, 8, I, third spine 31/5 to 33^, second ray 2% to 3; caudal ly^ 

 to 1%, emarginate; least depth of caudal peduncle 3 to 314 ; pectoral 

 11/4 to 11/3 ; ventral I34 to 2. 



Brown, with brassy paler sides and lower surfaces. Five longi- 

 tudinal dark bands, parallel, 2 uppermost wide as paler interspaces, 

 others all narrower than pale interspaces; connecting 3 or 4 upper- 

 most dark bands from edge of back 6 transverse dark bands, though 

 these often variable or as well separated dark spots. Rounded 

 dusky blotch, at least little larger than eye, at caudal base and 

 medially, good part also on adjoining caudal peduncle. Head and 

 vertical fins all more or less darker brown than general body color. 

 Iris yellowish brown. Paired fins paler. 



India, Ceylon, Andamans, East Indies, Philippines. A very 

 strongly marked species and readily distinguished by its dark verti- 

 cal and horizontal bands, together with the large dark blotch at the 

 caudal base. The upper pair of canines extend over the lower lips 

 as the jaws are closed. 



