THE FISHES OF SAMOA. 



397 



1445. Parag-obiodon echinocephalus (Riippell). Tonga; Samoa; Tahiti. 



Oobius echinocephalus Riippell, Atlas Fische, 136, 1828, Red Sea. Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., xn, 134, 

 1839, Massuah, Red Sea. Klunzinger, Fische Roth. Meer., 475, Red Sea. Gunther, Fische der Sudsee, 175, taf. 

 108, fig. D, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Mertnro, Port Bowcn, China Sea, Red Sea. 



Oobius amiciensis Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., xn, 133, 1839, Tonga. Sauvage, Poiss. Madagascar, 

 352, pi. XLI, Madagascar (figure bad, scales given by error as 38 in text). 



Of this remarkable species we have 11 specimens from the coral reef at Apia, and 3 from Pago 

 Pago. The fish is not rare in the crevices of the coral reefs. It reaches a length of little more than 

 an inch, but all our specimens are less than an inch in length. 



The genua Paragobiodon is separated from Rhinogobius by the short plump body, the globular 

 head, the presence of papilla? on the skin of the head, by the short, cup-shaped ventrals, and by the 

 short oblique mouth, with two small canines. The scales are large, the fins short, the first dorsal 

 with 6 spines, and the sides of the head are without scales. 



Life colors of a specimen from Pago Pago, all fins and body up to base of dorsal and pectoral 

 black; in front of that smoky red or flesh color; finely rugose and punctate; ventrals fused to form a 

 fleshy rugose and papillate pad. 



Another specimen from Apia was in life golden-yellcw, with the (ins all deep brownish black, 

 mouth very small, lips black, iris red, head more brownish. 



A third specimen from this locality differs in the yellow pectoral and ventral, the pectoral dusky 

 at tip. (This may be a female. ) A faint pale edge to anal, etc. ; vertical fins deep blue-black. 



1446. Parag'obiodon xanthosomus (Bleeker. ) Samoa. 



Gobius xanthosoma Bleeker, Ceram, n, 103, Ceram, Buru, Celebes. Amboina. 



t Oobius waitei Garman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., XXXIX, 1903, 234, pi. 3, fig. 3, Great Barrier Reef of Australia. 



Other specimens which we identify as Paragobiodon xanthosomus are yellowish brown throughout, 

 the fins scarcely darker. Twenty-two specimens were all taken in the reef at Apia in company with- 

 Pseud 'ogoldodon citrinus, which they much resemble in color. 



Gobius waitei is a species of Paragobiodon closely resembling the present species. 



ZONOGOBIUS Bleeker. 



Zonogobius Bleeker, Arch. Neerl. 1875, 323 (semifaseiatus=semidoliatus.) . 

 This genus includes diminutive gobies of varied coloration, similar to Rhinogobius but with the 

 nape and whole head naked, the head large, and the mouth almost vertical. Tongue pointed; pecto- 

 ral without silk-like rays; teeth moderate; preopercle with a slight fringe of papillae. 



1447. Zonogobius semidoliatus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Mano'o.. Yanicolo; Samoa; Tonga; 



Huahine; East Indies. 



Fig. 86. — Zonogobius semidoliatus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). 



This dainty little fish is rather common in the coral reefs about Apia and Pago Pago. It reaches 

 a length of less than an inch. We have IS specimens from Pago Pago and 4 specimens from Apia. 



