REVIEW OF THE PARROTFISHES 103 



Figure IS.—Scarus vetula, adult males. Figure 27.— Scarus guacamaia. 



(Sketches by author.) (Sketch by author.) 



Scarus vetula Blocli and Schneider 



Figure 26; Plate 20,c 



Scarus vetula Bloch and Schneider, Sy sterna ichthyologiae . . . , p. 289, 1801 



(based on pi. 28, fig. 1, of Parra 1787).— Evermann and Marsh, Bull. U. S. 



Fish Comm., vol. 20 (1900), pi. 31, 1902 (Puerto Rico).— Winn and Bardach, 



Science, vol. 125, pp. 885-886, 1957. 

 Scarus acutus Poey, Memorias . . . , vol. 2, p. 216, 1860 (type locality: Havana). 

 Scarus superbus Poey, Memorias . . . , vol. 2, p. 218, 1860 (type locality: Cuba). 

 Pseudoscarus gnathodus Poey, Repertorio . . . , vol. 2, p. 240, 1867 (type locaUty: 



Havana), 

 Scarus cuzamilae Bean, Bull. U. S. Fish. Comm., vol. 8 (1888) p. 196, pi. 29, fig. 4, 



1890 (type locality: Cozumel, Yucatan; Holotype USNM 37128). 

 Scarus nigrescens Meek and Hildebrand, Marine fishes of Panama, vol. 3, p. 743, 



pi. 72, fig. 2, 1928 (type locality: Porto Bello, Panama; holotype USNM 



81764). 

 This species is characterized by having 7 median predorsal scales, 

 4 rows of scales on the cheek, with 3 or 4 scales in the ventral (fourth) 

 row, a character not yet found for any other species of Scaridae; 

 ii,12, occasionally ii,13 pectoral rays. As many as 3 well developed 

 canine teeth may occur at the corner of the upper jaw of adults; these 

 are lacking on the immature. 



Specimens smaller than 180 mm. in standard length may have a 

 striped color phase in which head and body is brown above mid- 

 lengthwise axis of body, with a pale streak just below lateral line; 

 pale area below eye, extending posteriorly as a pale streak along 

 midside of body. 



Those longer than 180 mm. in standard length may have a broad 

 pale band posteriorly on sides, below which is a dark brov%^n streak 



