FISHES OF HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 
149 
Genus 91. MYRIPRISTIS Cuvier. 
This genus is closely related to Holocentrus, differing externally chiefly in the absence of the large 
spine at the angle of the preopercle. The air-bladder is divided into 2 parts by a transverse constric- 
tion, the anterior, part extending to the otocrane. The plyoric caeca are rather few (9). 
Species numerous in the tropical seas; gaily colored inhabitants of reefs and rock pools. 
Myripristis Cuvier, Rfegne Animal, Ed. 2, Vol. II, 150, 1829 (jacobus) . 
Myriopristis Gill, Proe. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1863, 87; amended spelling. 
Shamphoberyx Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1863, 87 ( pcecilopus ). 
a. Scales large, 34 or more in the lateral line. 
b. Edge of opercle blackish. 
c. Dorsal rays 16 or 17; scales 40 to 43 multiradiatus , p. 149 
cc. Dorsal rays 14 or 15; scales larger, "34 to 36. 
d. Fins golden in life;- scales 34; D. x-i, 14; A. iv, 12 chrysercs, p. 150 
dd. Fins red in life; scales 36; D. x-i, 15; A. iv, 14 ..symmetricus, p. 151 
bb. Edge p|j3percle pale; scales 35 to 38 sealed, p. 151 
aa. Scales smaller, fewer than 34 in the lateral line. 
e. Edge of opercle black; axil black; scales fewer than 33. 
/.. Scales 30; vertical fins with first rays white murdjan, p. 152 
ff. Scales 32; vertical fins without white rays berndti, p. 153 
ee. Edge of opercle silvery or pale; axil merely dusky; scales 33 argyromus, p. 154 
105. Myripristis multiradiatus Gunther. 
Head 3 in length; depth 2.3; eye 2 in head; snout 7; maxillary 1.9; mandible 1.9; interorbital 3.9; 
D. x or xi-i, 16 or 17; A. iv, 15; scales 4-40 to 43-5. 
Body short, deep, and compressed; dorsal outline evenly convex from tip of snout to origin of 
soft dorsal; ventral outline nearly equally convex, somewhat flattened under ventrals; head short, 
snout blunt; mouth small, the jaws equal, the maxillary reaching posterior line of pupil, triangular, 
the posterior side concave, the end nearly straight, the anterior edge with a few blunt teeth at the 
angle; mandible smooth, without knob a‘t tip; no distinct notch in tip of upper jaw; eye moderate, 
somewhat greater than postocular part of head; interorbital space nearly flat, the 2 median ridges 
convex, close together in front, then diverging, then coming nearly together on the nape; outside of 
these on the nape o^i each side, 4 short diverging strife; suborbital rim finely serrate on both edges; 
edges of opercular bones all serrate, the seme strongest at the angles; the teeth on jaws small, in 
narrow villiform bands. Scales comparatively small, much deeper than long, the edges striate and 
finely dentate; humeral scale small; lateral line gently arched. Origin of spinous -dorsal slightly 
posterior to base of pectoral, the spines slender, the first 1.8, the second about 1.2 in eye, the others 
increasing to the fourth, the last very short; interval between dorsals very short; anterior dorsal rays 
slightly produced, their length about 2 in head, the edge of the fin somewhat concave, the last rays 
about 2.5 in first; anal similar to soft dorsal, the anterior rays rather longer than those of dorsal, anal 
spines graduated, the first very small, the second somewhat larger, the third considerably longer and 
stronger, its length about 1.3 in eye;, fourth anal spine still a little longer than the third but more 
slender; caudal fin widely forked,' the lobes equal, their length about 1.2 in head; pectoral slender, 
its length equal to that of caudal lobes, its tip reaching beyond those of ventrals; ventrals short, the 
spine slender, its length equal to diameter of orbit, the longest rays about equal to snout and orbit. 
Color of a nearly fresh specimen (No. 03163) 6.5 inches long, top of head and upper part of side 
rich rosy red; lower parts and side below lateral line pale rosy with silvery reflection; jaws rich rosy; 
cheeks and opercles rosy and whitish; upper half of edge of opercle rusty reddish brown, this 
extending to shoulder-girdle; axil of pectoral dark reddish; spinous dorsal pale rosy, anterior 
membrane and outer part of others orange; soft dorsal pale rosy, first ray white, outer half of next 6 
or 7 rays rich rosy red; caudal rich rosy red, edges paler; anal spiites white, the soft part same color 
as caudal; jiectoral pale rosy; ventrals very pale rosy, the spine and its membrane white, the second 
membrane deeper rosy; iris clouded red above, pale yellow below. 
Another example (No. 03480) was red in life, though paler than M. murdjan; side coppery 
silvery; black opercular bar covering axil; first dorsal rosy, distal half yellowish orange; soft dorsal, 
anal, and caudal deep cherry red, the edge scarcely paler; pectoral and ventral pink, a little darker on 
first rays, also on anal rays behind last spine; iris red. 
