FISHES OF HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 
163 
interorbital space broad, flattened; a small, fleshy axillary flap; gill-opening large, filaments moderately 
long; gillrakers much shorter than filaments, compressed, few in number; pseudobranchise large; 
spinous dorsal long, spines very sharp, first 3 in head, second 2.1, third 1.8, last 7.5; anterior dorsal 
rays longest, second ray 1.7, last 5.5; anal with third spine longest, reaching beyond tip of anterior 
rays, 1.5 in head, fourth spine 2.25; soft anal similar to soft dorsal; caudal small, forked, lobes pointed; 
caudal peduncle elongate, compressed, its length 1.6, depth 3.7; pectoral 1.25; ventral pointed, 1.4, 
spine 2. 
Color in life, upper part of side bright rosy red with a silvery gleam, deeper and lighter lines 
alternating; lower two-thirds of side with alternating lines of silvery white and very pale rosy; belly 
plain white; top of head and nape rich rosy, snout paler; humeral region rich rosy; body at base 
of soft dorsal rich rosy; side of head silvery white, an obscure rosy line across cheek from lower level of 
Fig. 60. — Holocentrus punctatissimus Cuvier & Valenciennes; after Gunther. 
eye; spinous dorsal silvery white with a large blood-red blotch on distal part of each membrane 
becoming smaller posteriorly; similar but smaller and paler spots on bases of fourth to ninth mem- 
branes; spines all white, soft dorsal and pectoral very pale rosy; caudal pale rosy; anal white except 
first and second rays, which are pale rosy; ventral white; iris yellowish silvery. Another example 
(No. 03202) was rosy when fresh, with silvery below; about 9 faint white streaks along side; a deep 
blood-red blotch on opercle behind eye, spinous dorsal with a row of faint white spots on the 
membranes, these near the base of the first 2 spines, toward the tips of the others; no white shade on 
back of tail; no shade on anal; fins all pale, probably light red in life. 
Color in alcohol, very pale brown or brownish white, more or less brassy; fins all pale. Young 
individuals are rather dark brown, with dark brown longitudinal bands; spots on spinous dorsal black 
brown; many show a pale area on middle of back like that in Gunther’s figure. 
Described from an example (No. 02982) taken at Honolulu. A small species, and one of the most 
common fishes among the Hawaiian Islands. Common also at Samoa. Our collections contain no 
