18 BULLETIN 214, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Subfamily Scarinae 



This subfamily is characterized by having the teeth fully coalesced 

 into plates with a median suture, and the tip of lower jaw enclosed in 

 upper jaw when mouth is closed; rows of scales on the cheek number 

 2 to 4, ventral row may include one to several scales; upper pha- 

 ryngeal bones with 1 to 3 row^s of teeth, the outer or third row if 

 present, rudimentary; lower pharyngeals with dentigerous surface 

 notably longer than broad, with concave or flat surface; number of 

 teeth in middle rows of lower pharyngeals 5, usually with outer tooth 

 on one side reduced in size; if canines are present at side of jaws they 

 are always behind middle of side of dental plate; anterior nostril 

 without a dermal cutus, or at most only a slightly raised rim; lateral 

 line interrupted below rear end of base of dorsal fin, beginning again 

 on second scale row below and extending along midbase of caudal 

 peduncle; gill rakers on first gill arch vary from about 4 to 30 + 11 to 

 50; pectoral rays normally'j,ii,llfto ii,15; dorsal spines flexible; median 

 predorsal scales 3 to 8; abdominal vertebrae 10 to 12 and caudal 

 13 to 15, always totaUng 25. 



Scarops, new genus and new subgenus 



Genotype: Scarus rubroviolaceous Bleeker. 



The characteristically colored species, S. rubroviolaceous, represents 

 a distinct phyletic line previously referred to the catchall genus 

 Scarus. The single row of teeth on each upper pharyngeal bone 

 distinguishes Scarops from the other two closely related genera, 

 Scarus and Chlorurus, in the subfamily Scarinae. So far only 3 

 species are referable to Scarops. 



Parra in 1787 (Descripcion . . . de Historia Natural , . ., p. 54, 

 pi. 26) figured a parrotfish that he called guacamaya. He shows a 

 single row of teeth on each upper pharyngeal bone. If he did not 

 overlook the outer rudimentary row (which he probably did) this 

 indicates that the genus may be represented in the Western Atlantic, 

 but so far I have not yet located a specimen from that locality. 

 Scarus guacamaia Cuvier with two rows of teeth on each upper 

 pharygeal bone belongs to the genus Scarus and is different from that 

 figured by Parra. 



The two species so far referred to the subgenus Scarops have the 

 following characters in common: The lower pharyngeal plate has a 

 concave dental surface notably longer than broad, and the teeth 

 number 5 in each row; the gill rakers vary from 6 to 21 + 21 to 38; and 

 there are 3 rows of scales on the cheek and 6 or 7 median predorsal 

 scales. 



