144 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Genus 64. APOGONICHTHYS Bleeker. 
This genus differs from Apogon only in having the preoperele entire at all ages; scales very large 
(20 to 26) and cycloid. Small species, similar in habit to those of Apogon, found in the tropical seas. 
The genus is scarcely distinct from Apogon. 
a. Scales in lateral line 21 to 23; body with many dark points. 
b. Venturis short, not reaching; vent; dorsal rays vi-i, 9 alutus, 101 
hi). Ventrals long, extending beyond anal; dorsal rays vii-i, 9 stellahis 
aa. Scales in lateral line 30; ventrals long, reaching beyond front of anal; body everywhere with black specks; dorsal 
Vi-i, 9 puncticulatus 
101. Apogonichthys alutus (Jordan & Gilbert). 
Head 2.4; depth 2.75; eye 3; snout 4.75; maxillary 2; mandible 1.8; interorbital 4; D. vi-i, 9; 
A. ii, 9; scales 1-22-7. Body short and deep; head compressed, short and high, its height at occiput 
six-sevenths its length; snout short and blunt, less than interorbital width, about half diameter of 
orbit; mouth very oblique, maxillary reaching beyond pupil, but not to posterior margin of orbit; 
length of maxillary 1.75 in head; teeth in narrow villiform bands in each jaw, those on vomer and 
palatines minute; eye of moderate size, 2.8 in head; orbital rim elevated above and behind; interorbital 
width 3.33 in head, with a low median longitudinal ridge; both ridges of preoperele entire; opercle 
without spine; gillrakers slender, longest rather more than half diameter of orbit, 8 or 9 on anterior 
branch of outer arch. First dorsal low, of 6 rather weak spines, its base two-fifths length of head, and 
equal to greatest height of fin; second dorsal high, longest ray 1.5 in head. Anal similar to second 
dorsal; second anal spine half length of longest ray, which is contained 1.75 in head; caudal 1.33; 
ventrals not reaching vent, 1.66, and pectorals 1.75 in length of head. 
Color, rusty-red, with silvery luster; sides of head little reddish; body and fins everywhere 
much soiled and freckled with dark points; first dorsal blackish, thickly punctate; second dorsal, 
anal, and caudal yellow, smutty, with dark points, posterior half of the caudal more dusky; ventrals 
smutty-yellow; pectorals colorless. 
Found on the Snapper Banks off Pensacola and Tampa and at Porto Rico, where one specimen 2 
inches long was seined in Guanica Bay January 28. Until now the only specimens known had been 
obtained from the stomachs of red snappers, Neomtenis aya, which probably all came from depths of 20 
to 50 fathoms. The finding of this species in shallow water near the shore is therefore an interesting 
addition to our knowledge of its habits. 
Apogon alutus Jordan & Gilbert, Proe. U. S. N. M. 1882, 279, Snapper Banks oft west coast of Florida. 
Apogonichthys alutus , Jordan & Evermann, 1. c., 1110, 1896. 
