THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 105 
~ RED GrouPeER, (Epinephelus morio). This species has many 
phases of coloration: 
1. A common swimming phase, uniformly rich fawn color, 
with small irregular specklings of white on sides, which frequently 
disappear. 
2. Pale olive brown, white bands of head and body distinct. 
3. Pale olive brown, dorsal, caudal and anal fins narrowly 
black-edged, with faint margin of white (plate 1, figure 1). 
4. Still paler, with a broad reddish brown band from snout 
through eye to near first dorsal, fins narrowly black-edged. No 
other marks. 
5. White-banded phase: Body rich fawn color, the white bands 
of head and body thrown out sharply, fins narrowly dark-edged, 
with faint margin of white (plate 1, figure 2). 
6. Dark-banded phase: Body pale olive, the fawn color becom- 
ing dusky, so that the fish appears light-colored with dark bands. 
It amounts almost to a reversal of phase 5. 
“Nassau Grouper, (Epinephelus striatus). Six phases of col- 
oration are commonly observed in a tank containing several speci- 
mens of this species: 
t. Uniform dark plumbeous, without markings of white (fig. 
i, plate.2)). 
2. Uniformly creamy-white, without dark markings. 
3. Dark plumbeous above, with pure white under parts up to 
the level of the pectoral fins. 
4. Upper half of body sharply banded, lower half creamy- 
white. 
5. In this phase the uniform dark coloration is deeply suffused 
with red, most noticeable in old and large specimens, and most 
distinct on head, but still subject to instant and complete suppres- 
sion. Very large specimens often take on a rich fawn color, 
which suffuses the entire body. 
6. Uniform dark plumbeous, the body irregularly banded and 
mottled with white. This is the phase shown in the colored plate 
by Hudson from life (plate 12, Fishes of Porto Rico), and in the 
photograph by Dugmore (American Food and Game Fishes, page 
384). All photographs of this fish made in the photographic 
tank show this phase only (fig 2, plate 2). It is the phase 
usually assumed by the fish when at rest among the rockwork of 
the large exhibition tank, and can be produced in all the speci- 
mens instantly by frightening them. It is, however, no more the 
normal! appearance of the fish than the uniformly dark, the uni- 
formly white, or any other phase. 
