REVIEW OF THE PARROTFISHES 105 



I have not seen specimens from the East Atlantic, but I have 

 examined numerous lots in the national collections from the following 

 locahties: Florida, 23 lots; Bermuda, 1; Panama, 2; Jamaica, 1; 

 Curacao, 2; Haiti, 1; St. Thomas, 1; and Bahia, Brazil, 2; also 5 lots 

 from Bermuda, loaned by the Chicago Natural History Museum; and 

 3 from the Bahamas, loaned by Dr. Bohlke. 



Scarus coelestinus Cuvier and Valenciennes 



Plate 21, b 



Scarus coelestinus Cuvier and Valenciennes, Histoire naturelle des poissons, vol. 



14, p. 180, 1839 (type locality: St. Thomas). 

 Scarus rostratus Poey, Memorias . . . , vol. 2, p. 221, 1860 (type locality: Cuba). 

 Pseudoscarus simplex Poey, Repertorio . . . , vol. 1, p. 185, 1865 (type locality: 



Punta de Maya, Matanzas, Cuba). 

 Pseudoscarus plumbeus Bean, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 25, p. 125, 1912 



(type locality: Bermuda). 



This species is characterized by having ii,13 to ii,15, usually ii,13 

 or 14 pectoral fin rays; 5 or 6 median predorsal scales, 3 rows of scales 

 on the cheek wdth 1 or 2 scales in the ventral row; and green teeth in 

 the adult. It is so close to S. guacamaia that most authors do not 

 recognize it as a distinct species. The scales on the cheeks are blackish 

 or dark brown and the naked area around them is green or blue-green; 

 distal edges of dorsal and anal fins bright blue-green or green, pale 

 in alcohol, remainder of fin brownish green; background color dark 

 green, with edges of scales dark reddish brown; pectoral fin dark 

 brown, with dorsal edge green; edge of lips brown or dusky, then 

 submargiiially green; middle of chin with brown bar; dorsal surface 

 of snout with large dark-brown squarish blotch. 



The color pattern of S. coelestinus, in alcohol, has white distal 

 margins on dorsal and anal fins, sharply contrasting with a dark- 

 brown body; edges of both lips are brown, then pale submarginally, 

 canine teeth at rear sides of jaws seldom present. Longley and 

 Hildebrand (1941, p. 221) describe the color of live specimens as 

 follows: Slate color above, ashy gray on sides and belly; most scales 

 with light blue marks in center, larger and more intensely blue on 

 sides; dorsal, anal, anterior margin of pelvic and posterior margin of 

 caudal fins edged with bright blue; jaws dark blue, narrowly white on 

 cutting edge; lips narrowly dark-margined, snout and throat light 

 blue, with a slate-colored strap under chin; irregular blue markings 

 on occipital region. Parr's (Bull. Bingham Oceanogr. Coll., vol. 3, 

 art. 4, p. 110, 1927) description of the color of live specimens are as 

 follows: General coloration of fins deep brownish black, leaving only 

 narrow blue distal margins on dorsal and anal fins; blue anterior rays 

 of pel vies and upper rays of pectorals; and narrow, blue, upper and 

 lower edges on caudal. Bright blue spots on some of the horizontal 



