REVIEW OF THE PARBOTFISHES 119 



1801) and of Parra's (1787) plate 28, fig. 4, on which it was based, I 

 consider it unidentifiable. 



Probably most records in the literature to S. flavescens refer to this 

 species or to S. chrysopterum. 



This species is characterized by a rounded dorsal profile at front of 

 head, convex interorbital space; multifid cirri distally on short dermal 

 flap of anterior nostril; pectoral fin plain pale; no dark pectoral spot; 

 under side of chin usually with 2 or 3 bars. There are about 3 color 

 phases: dark brown; mottled; and striped, with several pale or white 

 spots. A brownish opercular spot usually distinct on young. Front 

 of head dorsally may have reticulated brown lines. In the young and 

 immature the caudal fin is usually barred. 



The multifid cirri on dermal flap of anterior nostril are well developed 

 at 28 mm. in standard length, but canine teeth do not develop until 

 a length of at least 100 mm. is attained. Numerous long cirri occur 

 on membrane behind tip of each dorsal spine; these are well developed 

 at a length of 35 mm. 



Longley (op. cit., pp. 214-215) considered the adult of this species 

 under the name S. rubripinnis. He stated that the single mark which 

 best distinguishes it is the yeUow caudal fin, but in a color photograph 

 the caudal fin is very light pink barred with some light brown. In 

 life, its color phases are plain, mottled, and striped, respectively. 

 In the first it is tawny olive above, lighter below, caudal fin orange 

 or ochraceous, imperfectly banded; anal fin poppy red, two drab 

 bars on lower jaw. Longley considered the young and immatiue of 

 this species under the name S. pachycephalum. It is obvious from 

 his notes that he was undecided as what to call this species, as his 

 specimens are labeled with various names, of which the most commonly 

 used was flavescens. 



Only one lot, USNM 117097, was labeled by Longley as Sparisoma 

 pachycephalum, and this must be considered as the type material. 

 This lot contained one specimen, 114 mm. in standard length, which 

 I herewith select as the lectotype. In the same jar were numerous 

 small specimens, all shorter than 56 mm. in standard length, that had 

 not been sorted carefully by either Longley or by Hildebrand, as this 

 material contained one Cryptotomus, numerous specimens of S. chry- 

 sopterum and several small ones of this species. Much of the material 

 reported upon from Panama by Meek and Hildebrand as S. flavescens 

 contained specimens of S. chrysopterum. 



Details of the color pattern of the immature of this species are as 

 follows: Color generally brownish; no trace of a dark opercular spot 

 but sometimes the young, as in certain other species of Sparisoma, 

 have whitish spots; at lengths up to 160 mm. in standard length the 

 caudal fin is barred, the basal white bar is widest, but not as wide and 



