POMACENTRID^] OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



By HERACLIO R. MONTALBAN 

 INTRODUCTION 



This paper deals with the Pomacentridae, as represented in 

 the waters of the Philippine Archipelago. It contains a sys- 

 tematic record of their characteristics, relationships, and present 

 distribution, based largely upon the material collected under 

 the authority of the Philippine Bureau of Science. It is the 

 result of research performed at Stanford University, and con- 

 tinued in the Bureau of Science laboratory. Since my return 

 to Government service many changes became necessary and 

 they have been incorporated in the present paper based largely 

 on new material, and on additional information concerning 

 the habits and distribution of the fish. I have had the oppor- 

 tunity of examining in the Stanford University museum speci- 

 mens from other regions for comparative study, and have 

 availed myself of the privilege of using its working library. Al- 

 most all the illustrations were made in the Bureau of Science, 

 and were drawn mostly from fresh and from living specimens. 



The Philippine Archipelago is composed of over seven thou- 

 sand islands lying wholly north of latitude 4 30' north. The 

 coast line is very irregular, presenting every conceivable variety 

 of topography, and is more or less fringed with growing coral 

 reefs which afford favorable haunts for fishes. 



Of the approximately one hundred twenty known species 

 of the family, seventy-eight are represented in Philippine waters. 

 Three of them, believed to be new to science, are here described. 



The Pomacentridse, or damsel fishes, belong with those fishes 

 which from their habits may be termed coral fishes. They are 

 found in greatest abundance in company with other small fishes, 

 such as chsetodonts and Apogonichthyidae, feeding chiefly upon 

 very small marine animals and upon algae. Many of them are 

 brilliantly colored, the development and distribution of color 

 being apparently dependent upon the agencies of climate and 

 environment, and varying much with age in some species. 



In spite of their bright coloration, many species of this family, 

 because of their small size, escape from their enemies by hiding 



