1110 Bulletin 47, United States National Museum. 



482. APOGONICHTHYS, Bleeker. 



Apogonwhthys, BLEEKER, Floris, 321, 1854, (perdix). 



This genus differs from Apogon only in having the preopercle entire at 

 all ages ; scales very large (20 to 26) and cycloid. Small species, similar 

 in habit to those of Apogon, found in the tropical seas. The genus is 

 scarcely distinct from Apogon. (Apogon] IxOvc, fish.) 



a. Scales in lateral line 21 to 23; body with many dark points. 



6. Ventrals short, not reaching vent; dorsal rays VI-I, 9. ALTJTUS, 1505. 



LI. Ventrals long, extending beyond anal; dorsal rays VII-I, 9. STELLATUS, 1506. 



aa. Scales in lateral line 30; ventralslong, reaching beyond front of anal; body everywhere 



with black specks; dorsal VI-I, 9. PUNCTICULATUS, 1507. 



1505. APOGONICHTHYS ALTJTUS (Jordan & Gilbert). 



Head 2| ; depth 2|. D. VI-I, 9 ; A. II, 8 ; scales 21. Head much com- 

 pressed, short and high, its height at occiput f its length; snout short 

 and blunt, less than interorbital width, about half diameter of orbit ; 

 mouth very oblique, the maxillary reaching beyond pupil, but not to pos- 

 terior margin of orbit ; length of maxillary If in head ; teeth in narrow 

 villiform bands in each jaw, those on vomer and palatines minute; eye 

 of moderate size, 2f in head : orbital rim elevated above and behind ; 

 interorbital width 3 in head, with a low median longitudinal ridge ; 

 both ridges of preopercle entire ; opercle without spine ; gill rakers 

 slender, the longest rather more than half diameter of orbit, 8 or 9 

 on anterior branch of outer arch. First dorsal low, of 6 rather weak 

 spines, its base f length of head, and equal to greatest height of fin : 

 second dorsal high, the longest ray 1| in head. Anal similar to second 

 dorsal ; second anal spine half length of longest ray, which is contained 

 If in head; caudal 1J; ventrals not reaching vent, If, and pectorals If , 

 in length of head. Color rusty red with silvery luster ; sides of head 

 little reddish. Body and fins everywhere'much soiled and freckled with 

 dark points. First dorsal blackish, thickly punctate; second dorsal, 

 anal, and caudal yellow, smutty with dark points, the posterior half of 

 the caudal more dusky. Ventrals smutty yellow; pectorals colorless. 

 Snapper Banks off Pensacola and Tampa; not rare; the known specimens 

 from stomachs of the Red Snapper, Neomcenis ay a. (ahovToe, unwashed.) 



Apogon alutm, JORDAN & GILBERT, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1882, 279, and in Synopsis, 931, 1883, 

 Snapper Banks, Pensacola. (Coll. Jordan & Stearns.) 



1506. APOGONICHTHYS STELLATUS, Cope. 



D. VII-I, 9; A. II, 8; P. 10; scales 7-23. Ventral with elongate rays 

 extending beyond last anal ray. Caudal rounded. End of maxillary 

 reaching nearly to opposite posterior margin of large orbit. A delicate 

 frontal carina. Greatest depth 3 times to base of caudal. End of muzzle 

 truncate, with emargination to receive tubercle of mandible. Reddish 

 brown, with a series of dark brown spots on the edges of the scales of 

 each row (except that bearing the lateral line), each with a silver center; 



