122 BULLETIN 214, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Sparus aureoruber Lacepede, Histoire naturelle des poissons, vol. 4, pp. 55, 163, 



1803 (type locality: Martinique; based on Plumier 1695). 

 Scarus frondosus Cuvier in Spix and Agassiz, Selecta genera et species piscium 



quos in itinere per Brasilian annis 1817-20 . . . , peracto collegit . . . , p. 



98, pi. 54, 1829 (type locality: Brazil; type^examined in Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. 



Paris, Cat. No. 1764). 

 Scarus atnplus Ranzani, Novi Comment. Acad. Sci. Inst. Bonon., vol. 5, p. 324, 



pi. 25, 1842 (type locality: Brazil). 



This species is characterized by its coloration, which consists of 

 dark brown edges to scales in dorsal % of body, these scales with pale 

 or white centers; the 16 scales with white centers are usually arranged 

 in 6 vertical rows; posterior margin of gill cover black edged (reddish 

 brown when alive), but not on small juvenile specimens; head with 

 reticulated brown lines dorsally, mottled brown and white on sides 

 and ventraily; lower part of body below level of pectoral fin base 

 whitish (blood red when alive); caudal fin red except basally; dermal 

 flap of anterior nostril with multifid cirri in adults, that may reach 

 posterior nasal opening, this dermal flap ribbonlike in young; inter- 

 orbital space a little convex or almost flat; an especially distinct pale 

 or white bar on underside of head below corners of mouth on specimens 

 shorter than 130 mm; pectoral fin base pale; caudal fin distally chang- 

 ing from truncate to forked on large adults; greatest depth of body 

 2.4 to 2.5 times in standard length. 



In the young the white spots on side are fewer than 16; nasal 

 tentacle has only 1 to 5 cirri at standard lengths of 80 to 100 mm.; 

 and no cirri occur on membraneous edge of spiny dorsal fin. 



Longley (in Longley and Hildebrand, 1941, pp. 207-208) describes 

 this "red parrotfish" as having, when alive, a highly variable colora- 

 tion: brown, changing to red ventraily, head washed with yellow; 16 

 white spots, one to each scale, on sides; creamy band crossing the 

 caudal fin; in an unspotted phase, both dark and light, margins of 

 scales are darker; a blotched phase also occurs. 



The most characteristic color mark on the young is the dark brown 

 coloration with a broad white bar across basal tliird of caudal fin, 

 whereas the distal two-thirds is barred; on specimens 20 to 30 mm. in 

 standard length the distal two-thirds of caudal fin is only partially 

 barred, and on those shorter than 20 mm. the caudal fin is white. Speci- 

 mens longer than 30 to 40 mm. have the distal edge of caudal fin very 

 narrowly edged with white. The blackish edge of the opercular mem- 

 brane begins to appear at about 60 mm. and is strongly developed at 

 80 mm. A dark brown or blackish round spot occurs opposite upper 

 edge of opercular opening, most prominent on those up to 50 mm. 



This species might be confused with S. radians, because a prominent 

 canine tooth develops on the midside of the upper dental plate at 

 lengths of 30 to 35 mm. This canine tooth is located a little more 



