THE FISHES OF EASTER ISLAND 6t 



Acanthistius fusctis Regan, related to A.cinctus Giinth., Norfolk L. 



Gircllops nebulosa Kend. & Radcl., related to TephrcEops richardsonii 

 Giinth., coasts of N. S. Wales to W. Australia. 



Labrichthys fucntesi Regan, related to L. luculenta Richards., S. and W. 

 coasts of Australia, Norfolk I. 



. Labrichthys scmifasciatus Rendahl, relations? 



GymnotJiorax obsciirirostris Rendahl, related to G. ihyi'soidea Rich. Samoa, 

 Tonga, etc. to Ea. Indies. 



Pseudomonacanthus paschalis Regan, related to P. ayraudi Quoy & Gaim. 

 Australia. 



Osiracion paschce Rendahl, related to 0. diapJianns Bl. Schn., Indo- 

 Pacific. 



The total number of species listed here is 29. Eleven of these are widely 

 distributed Indo-Pacific forms, and two [Osiracion paschce and Gymnothorax 

 obscurirostris) are very nearly related to Indo-Pacific species. Thus an impor- 

 tant part of the fish fauna or about 37 % is Indo-Pacific — taken in a wide sense — 

 in character. Another group is of Polynesian distribution, or found in Poly- 

 nesia and at Hawaii. This group includes about 17 % of the Easter Island 

 fishes. Three species are known only from Piaster Island and Hawaii. Many 

 parts of the Pacific are not so well explored as Hawaii, and it is quite possible 

 that the species in question have a wider distribution. I think that the record 

 of one species only from Easter Island and Norfolk Island may be explained 

 in the same way. 



If we examine the relations of the species possibly restricted to Easter 

 Island, we find that two are related to Indo-Pacific forms, one to a Polynesian, 

 three to Australian species and two to species only known from Norfolk Island. 

 For one species I do not venture to presume any relationship of genetic im- 

 portance. 



Considering our incomplete knowledge of the distribution of the South 

 Sea fishes, I do not think that we are entitled to draw any zoogeographical 

 conclusions from the fact that some species outside the coasts of Easter Island 

 have been found only at Norfolk Island or at Hawaii, or are represented by 

 allied species there. This point of view is strengthened by the fact that the- 

 fishes in question either belong to families with species of usually wide distri- 

 bution (Serranidie, Teuthidae, Gobiidae and Balistidae), or have such a systematic 

 position that their » nearest relative » belongs to another genus [Girellops- 

 TepJir(Bops)\ in one case [Labrichtys fuentesi) the degree of genetic affinity is 

 questionable. 



According to my opinion the fish fauna of Easter Island shows the 

 closest resemblance to that of Polynesia, but it contains several species of 

 apparently endemic character. 



'A second species of the genus Girellops — G. Jiinbriaius — has recently been described 

 by A. R. McCuLLOCH from a single specimen, which was collected at the Kermadec Islands 

 (Rec. Austr. Mus., XIII, 1920, p. 66). 



