80 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
In this letter Mr. Taylor points out the striking differentiating characters 
which may he noted by a surface examination of the two species. 
For the purpose of making a direct comparison of specimens the bureau has 
received, through the courtesy of the Warren Fish Co., a specimen of the common 
Pensacola red snapper of about the same size. We also had for study a specimen 
of red snapper caught at Rebecca Shoals, near Key West. The following descrip- 
tions and comparisons are based on these specimens. 
Lutianus blackfordii Goode and Bean 
Pensacola Red Snapper 
Lutjanus blackfordii Goode and Bean, Proc., U. S. National Museum, I, 1879, p. 176. Pensacola, Fla. 
Formulas: D. X, 14. A. Ill, 9. Scales 58-63^. Gill rakers 9. 
Upper profile rounded, somewhat gibbous, turning gradually downward at 
about origin of dorsal and making a broad, somewhat convex curve to the caudal 
peduncle; lower profile a nearly straight oblique line to the ventrals and in a nearly 
horizontal line from there to the anus. 
Body comparatively deep, the depth (measured at origin of ventral fins) 2.57 
to 2.61 in length; least height of caudal peduncle 3.03 to 3.32 in the head; head 
2.77 to 2.80 in length (measured to end of bony part of opercle) ; margin of pre- 
opercle finely but distinctly denticulate, the denticles at angle coarser; upper limb 
with a broad emargination, into which fits the feebly developed knob of the inter- 
opercle; snout medium (measured to the free margin of the eye), 2.34 to 2.40 in 
head and 2.85 to 2.86 as long as the eye, very slightly longer than maxillary (the 
snout, when measured from edge of orbit, about 2.48 to 2.54 in head) ; mouth 
medium, the maxillary 2.40 to 2.43 in head, reaching almost but not quite to vertical 
through anterior margin of eye; articulation of mandible on vertical through about 
the middle of eye; eye (measured between the free margins of the skin) 6.71 to 
6.85 in head (the orbit about 5.20 to 5.25 in head). 
Upper jaw with a row of small canines in front, larger anteriorly, and gradually 
growing smaller posteriorly; a narrow band of smaller teeth behind the canines, 
extending to the angle of mouth and interrupted in middle; lower jaw with a row of 
small, subequal canines in front and with a narrow band of smaller teeth behind, 
interrupted at the symphysis and extending only a short distance at the sides; 
teeth on the vomer comparatively strong, in a somewhat anchor-shaped patch, 
rounded in front, tapering to a point behind, and with a pointed projection on either 
side, a little back of the anterior edge; teeth on tongue comparatively well developed, 
divided by a straight, narrow, transverse, bare streak into two parts; the anterior 
part of the Key West specimen consisting of a broad patch, nearly as broad as long, 
rounded in front, square behind, and with nearly straight sides; the Pensacola speci- 
men differing in having an indentation on each side of the broad patch and with 
smaller patches of teeth projecting into the indentations, the posterior patch only a 
little longer than the anterior one, tapering behind nearly to a point. 
Gill rakers on lower limb of anterior arch well developed, gradually growing 
smaller anteriorly, 9 in number and 3 tubercles in front; upper limb with two rather 
long gill rakers at the angle and with five short stumpy ones above these. 
