2356 Bulletin 4.7, United States National Museum. 



872. MALACOCTENUS, Gill. 



Malacoctenus, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1860, 103 (delalandi). 



This genus is very close to Labrisomns, differing in the dentition, the 

 teeth in the jaws being in single series; vomer with a few teeth or with 

 none, none on palatines. The form of the dorsal fin in some species is 

 different, there being usually a notch behind the fourth dorsal spine as 

 well as at front of soft dorsal. Most of the species are not well known, 

 and perhaps more than 1 genus is here included. (//aAa^d?, soft; KTSIS, 

 comb, in reference to the comb of filaments at the nape in the typical 

 species.) 



a. Nape without filaments. 



6. Orbital tentacle present. 



c. D. XXI, 8; spinous dorsal not notched, the first rays shortest; body elon- 

 gate; snout pointed ; scales large, about 38. OCELLATUS, 2693. 

 cc. D. XX, 12; spinous dorsal weakly notched; body rather robust. 



VAEIUS, 2694. 



bb. Orbital tentacle wanting; dorsal rays XXI, 11 ; spinous dorsal weakly notched ; 



ventrals long. MACEOPUS, 2695. 



aa. Nape with a single tentacle. D. XVIII, 9 ; a tentacle above eye. LUGUBBIS, 2696. 



aaa. Nape with a comb of slender tentacles; spinous dorsal more or less notched 



behind fourth or fifth spine. 



d. Orbital tentacle present. D. XVIII to XX, 11 or 12 vomer with teeth. 

 . Scales 43 or 44. 



/. Highest soft ray of dorsal Ifc in head ; dorsal without ocelli. 



GILLII, 2697. 



/. Soft rays of dorsal 1J in head ; dorsal fin with 2 large black ocelli ; 



ventral fins long, as long as head. BIMACULATUS, 2698. 



ee. Scales 55; ventrals moderate, shorter than head. DELALANDI, 2699. 



dd. Orbital tentacle wanting; (no vomerine teeth?). VERSICOLOR, 2700. 



aaaa. Nuchal and other filaments undescribed; a black ocellus on front of dorsal. 



D. XX, 11 ; scales 46. BIQUTTATUS, 2701. 



2693. MALACOCTENTS OCELLATUS (Steindachner). 



Head 4 to 4J; depth 5 to 5. D. XXI, 8; A. II, 8; scales 38; eye 4| to 5 

 in head; snout 5|; interorbital width 10. Body elongate; the snout 

 short; profile not steep; tentacle above eye very slender, none on nape. 

 Maxillary \ long as head, reaching posterior margin of eye. Teeth on 

 jaws and vomer in 1 row, none on palatines. Dorsal with a notch 

 between the spines and soft rays; spines all short, the longest not 

 head, the anterior shortest; the longest soft rays 1| in head; dorsal 

 slightly joined to base of caudal; ventral and caudal each 1 in head; 

 pectoral almost as long as head. Lateral line complete, strongly arched 

 anteriorly. Color brownish ; 8 pairs of narrow dark-brown cross bands 

 on the body, most distinct above, sometimes broken up into cross spots ; 

 first membrane of the dorsal fin with black spot behind, sometimes a sim- 

 ilar one, oval and indigo, behind eye ; numerous sky-blue spots bordered 

 with darker on sides of head and part of body ; anal pale violet, edged 

 with white, sometimes spotted; caudal gray, with darker spots in cross 

 rows. Bahama Islands. Length 2 inches. (Steindachner.) Not seen by 



