THE FISHES OF PORTO RICO 
157 
Mycteroperca: 
l. Gillrakers moderate, fewer in number, 6 to 18 below angle of arch. 
m. Second dorsal spine low, shorter than third, the third and fourth highest. 
v. Margin of anal fin posteriorly concave, its middle rays much exserted. 
o. Gillrakers rather numerous, 17 to 20 below angle of arch. 
p. Outer rays of caudal much produced, more than two-thirds length of head; preopercle with salient angle; 
canine teeth strong; scales small (140); gillrakers about 4 + 20. Color brownish, with small darker spots; ver- 
tical fins broadly edged with blackish. 
i]. Upper canines directed strongly forward, lower backward; coloration obscure falcata 
qq. Upper canines nearly vertical; coloration paler and brighter phenax 
mi. Margin of anal tin not concave posteriorly, outline of fin rounded or slightly angular. 
r. Gillrakers rather few, x + 12; body without dark crossbars, covered with grayish reticulations around small round 
spots, these not evident on head; anal fin rounded; preopercle with a salient angle; form rather robust; anal 
fin not angulate. 
s. Scales very small, about 20-140-37; caudal not deeply lunate; eye small bowersi , 113 
ss. Scales larger, about 90 to 100 in lateral line; caudal deeply lunate; eye larger calliura 
rr. Gillrakers very few, short, and thick, about x + 6; body olive or (var. Camelopardalis) bright red, with light and 
dark crossbars, these often becoming obsolete with age; head usually with distinct reticulations around yel- 
lowish spots; anal fin with angular margin, subtruncate posteriorly; preopercle without salient angle; scales 
rather small (lateral line 133) ; form rather robust. 
t. Ground-color dark-olive tigris 
It. Ground-color bright-red Camelopardalis 
112. Mycteroperca bonaci (Poey). Aguaji; Bonaci Acara; Black Grouper. 
Plead 2.75; depth 3.25; eye moderate, 6 in head (young); D. xi, 16 to 18; A. in, 11 or 12; 
scales 18-120 to 125-50, pores 70 to 85. Body comparatively slender, a little more robust than in M. 
rnicrolepis, its breadth 2.33 in its depth; head moderate, rather pointed, its anterior profile little curved; 
mouth rather large, maxillary reaching slightly beyond eye, 2.2 in head (in young), proportionately 
longer in adult; maxillary with cycloid scales. Teeth in rather narrow bands; two rather strong 
canines directed little forward in front of each' jaw. Interorbital space slightly convex, its width 6 in 
head. Preopercle forming a regular curve without salient angle, emargination near angle very slight. 
Nostrils small, roundish, subequal; not very close together, Gillrakers few and long, 10 to 12, besides 
rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. Scales rather small, chiefly cycloid; dorsal spines compara- 
tively slender and weak, outline of tin gently convex; tenth spine about as long as second; third and 
fourth spines longest, 3.33 in head; caudal fin truncate when spread open, its outer rays a very little 
produced, 1.6 in head; anal rather high and rounded, its longest rays 2.25 in head; pectoral reaching 
slightly beyond tips of ventrals, 1.7 in head. Ventrals short, not reaching vent. Pyloric cseca 15. 
Color in life: Deep orange-brown, more olive on back, clouded above by paler or grayish; sides 
and belly marked everywhere by reticulations of pearly gray, which surround roundish or oblong 
spots of ground-color, pale streaks being largely horizontal on sides; sides of head similarly marked, 
the spots smaller, bronze-brown, reticulations decidedly bluish; 6 or 7 spots in a straight line, between 
eye and preopercle, having nearly the diameter of the pupil; spots on body mostly covering 4 to 6 
scales, all of them larger than a scale; dorsal olive-brown, somewhat mottled; caudal similar to dorsal, 
narrowly edged with whitish; anal similar with 2 or 3 rows of bluish spots, its tip blackish, with a 
narrow whitish edge; pectorals olive-brown, plain; ventrals blackish, rays bluish. Mouth not green, 
lips olive, barred with bluish; iris reddish. Here described from a specimen 11.5 inches long, from 
Key West. A large specimen, about 2.5 feet in length, seen at Key West, retained the same general 
coloration, the bronze spots and rivulations being distinct and not smaller than in young. 
In spirits the orange-brown of the body is replaced by dark-brown, and the blue reticulations of 
the head by gray; all the markings become more faint. 
This fish ranges from Florida to Brazil. It is common at Key West, where it is called black grouper. 
Probably not uncommon about Porto Rico, though seen by us only at Puerto Real. It is one of the 
important food-fishes of Key West and is probably held in equal esteem in Porto Rico. It reaches a 
length of 2 to 3 feet and a weight of 50 pounds. The larger individuals are caught with the hook, but 
the young are often seined along the shore. 
Serranus bonaci Poey, Memorials, II, 129, 1860, Cuba. 
Serranus brunneus Poey, Memorias, II, 131, 1860, Havana. 
Seiranns dccimalis Poey, Memorias, II, 138,1860, Cuba. 
Serranus cyclopomalus Poey, Memorias, II, 353, 1861, Cuba. 
Serranus latcpicius Poey, Memorias, 11,353, 1861, Cuba. 
Trisotropis aguaji Poey, Repertorio, 229, 1868, Havana. 
Mycteroperca bonaci, Jordan & Evermann, 1. c., 1174, 1896. 
