Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1587 



Clepticus genizara, CUVIEE, Kegne Animal, Ed. n, Vol. 2, 261, 1829, Havana; after PARRA; 

 CUVIER & VALENCIENNES, Hist. Nat. Poiss., xm, 367, pi. 377, 1839; GUNTHER, Cat., iv 

 112,1862; POEY, Synopsis, 332, 1868; JORDAN, Proc.U. S. Nat. Mus. 1886, 45; JORDAN. 

 Review Labroid Fishes, 635, 1890. 



635. IRIDIO, .Jordan & Evermann. 



(DONCETXAS.) 



Tchthijcallus, JORDAN, Review Labroid Fishes, 638, 1890 (dimidiata) not of SWAINSON, as 



properly restricted = Coris. 

 Iridio, JORDAN & EVERMANN, Check-List, 412, 1896 (radiatus). 



Body oblong, compressed, not elevated, covered witli large scales, there 

 being 25 to 30 in the course of the lateral line, which is not interrupted, 

 but abruptly bent posteriorly. Scales on breast rather smaller. Head 

 naked, compressed, conic. Preopercle entire. Teeth large, the upper jaw 

 with 2 strong canines in front, none of them bent backward; lower jaw 

 with 4 anterior canines, a posterior canine tooth directed forward on each 

 side of the upper jaw. Dorsal spines 9; anal spines 3, graduated; ven- 

 trals inserted under axil of pectoral. Gill rakers short and feeble; gill 

 membranes slightly joined to a narrow isthmus. Vertebras 10 + 15=25. 

 Species numerous, most of them brilliantly colored, abounding in kelp in 

 the tropical seas. All of them are American. The genus is very close to 

 the Old World genus //a/ic/mrr*, * differing chiefly in the dentition and in 

 the presence of 3 anal spines instead of 2. (Iris, ipi$, the rainbow.) 



a. Caudal fin very slightly concave, truncate when spread open, the outer rays longer 

 than the middle ones; body deep and compressed, the depth about 2J in length; 

 ventral tins lilai'icntous, the outer ray produced, more than twice as long as inner 

 ray; scales before dorsal not crossing the middle lino, in about 5 series. 

 b Side below spinous dorsal without dark cross bar; general color bluish (cf ), or 

 bronze (?), with many sky-blue spots, most distinct posteriorly; sky-blue 

 spots ami streaks on head; a stripe passing through the upper part of eye; 

 fins with blue stripes ; a dark axillary spot ; end of pectoral dusky. 



RADIATUS, 1995. 



* Halichoeres, RI'TPELL, Neue Wirbelthiere, Fisehe, 16, 1835 (bimaculatus, etc.), not 



Halichcerux, NILSSON. 1820, a genus of seals. 



Choerojidis, GILL, Proc. Ac, Nat. Sci, Phila. 1862, 142 ; substitute for Halichceres. 



The American species hitherto referred to Halichceres or to Platyglossus seem to consti- 

 tute a distinct genus (Iridio) characterized by the incisors , and the presence of 3 anal 

 spines. The numerous species are all American, those of Halichoeres being confined to 

 the East Indies. 



We also recognize as a genus distinct from Halichoeres, the group called Platyglossus by 

 Bleeker (type marginatuts) . 



The dorsal in Piatyglottui has a scaly sheath at its base somewhat as in the genus 

 Harpe. The anterior canines in Platyglossus are f . In Guntheria Bleeker (coeruleovit- 

 tata), Hemitautoga Bleeker (centiquadra) , there are 2 rows of small scales on the cheeks, 

 as well as on the opercles above. In Macropharyngodon Bleeker (geoffroyi), the strongest 

 marked of the various genera of Bleeker, which Giinther has united with Platyglossus 

 and Halichoeres, the lower pharyngeuls are very small, provided with but 3 teeth, of which 

 the middle one is quite large, 'in Macropharyngodon the canines are small, f in number. 

 All the American species here referred to Iridio have the anterior canines |. The East 



In Hali- 



sidered as synonyms of Thalassoma and bom, respectively, although several genera are 

 represented in each." 



