REVIEW OF THE PARROTFISHES 33 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF SCARUS OF THE TROPICAL PACIFIC AND 



INDIAN OCEANS 



la. Median predorsal scales 3; scale rows on cheek 2; pectoral rays ii,13; teeth 

 pale; general background coloration in alcohol plain chocolate brown 

 or blackish brown, when alive plain bluish black or plain purplish black; 

 adults may have a ball-like swelling on forehead above eyes; plate 8,d. 

 Ypsiscarus, new subgenus. (Philippines and Okinawa.) 



oedema (Snyder) 

 16. Median predorsal scales 4 to 9; figure 5,6. 

 2a. Median predorsal scales 4. Subgenus Scarus. 



3a. Scale rows on cheek 3, ventral (third) row may be represented by 1 or 



more scales. 



4a. Pectoral rays usually ii,13 to 15; third, or ventral, row of scales on 



cheek usually with 3 to 8 scales. 



5a. Pectoral rays ii,14 or 15; ventral (third) row of scales on cheek 



usually with 4 to 8 scales; teeth not covered by lips, angle 



between lips 80 to 110 degrees; lower part of head, below a 



line from lower jaw to ventral part of pectoral base, abruptly 



pale or light brownish, the area dorsal to this is dark brownish; 



teeth gray, sometimes with a greenish tinge; when alive, lower 



part of head light greenish; edges of lips reddish, submarginally 



green; figure 4 and plate 9, a. (Central and West Pacific, 



Indian Ocean.) microrhinos Sleeker 



Figure 4. — Scarus microrhinos, color pattern of a specimen, 155 mm. in standard length. 



(Sketch by author.) 



56. Pectoral rays ii,13 rarely ii,14; ventral (tnird) row of scales on 

 cheek with 3 to 5 scales; teeth usually covered by the lips; 

 background coloration light brownisa to grayish white, center 

 of lower scales whitish; posterior edges brownish; preorbital 

 space wide, the width contained about 2}^ to 3>^ times in head 

 length, wider than in all other species with 4 median predorsal 

 scales; figure 5 and plate 9,b. (Central and West Pacific, 



Indian Ocean harid Forsk&l 



46. Pectoral rays usually ii,12; ventral (third) row of scales on cheek 

 with 1 to 3 scales; teeth white or yellowish white. 



6a. Dorsal edge of pectoral base with a blackish spot, which may be 

 faded in long preserved specimens. 



