158 
BULLETIN OF THE UNTIED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
113. Mycteroperca bowersi Evennann & Marsh, new species. 
“Rock-hind” ; “Rock-fish” ; “ Mero Cabrilla.” 
Head 2.8 measured from tip of upper jaw; depth 3.4; eye 7.5; snout 3.7; maxillary 2.1; mandible 
1.7; interorbital 4.6; preorbital 8.4; scales about 20-140-37; D. xi, 16; A. in, 11; P. 17; gillrakers x+10. 
Body rather long, compressed, the dorsal and ventral outlines each gently and regularly arched; 
head long and pointed, the greatest width 2.25 in its length; snout long; mouth large, lower jaw strongly 
projecting and entering in profile of snout; maxillary reaching far beyond the orbit; supplemental 
maxillary bone evident ; eye small, high up; preopercle very finely serrate, slightly concave at its angle; 
opercle ending in a long flat point upon base of which is a broad, flat spine; nostrils close together, 
posterior much the larger, with an anterior horizontal cross-partition at base. Fins rather low; origin 
of dorsal over end of opercular flap; first, dorsal spine short, equal to diameter of orbit; second spine 
somewhat exceeding twice length of first; third, fourth, and fifth spines longest, subequal, about a third 
longer than second, or 3.35 in head; soft dorsal rounded, its longest rays about 3 in head; caudal slightly 
lunate, outer rays 1.7 in head; anal rounded, spines slender and weak , longest (third) 2.6 in head, 
longest ray 2.6; pectoral rounded, middle rays longest, 2.2 in head; ventral 2.4. Scales small, thin, 
and cycloid, those on head and nape very small and embedded. 
Color in life: Body dark reddish-brown, covered with many small, round, blood-red spots, these 
also on head, lower jaw, and base of pectoral and anal, especially numerous on anal, and a few on 
spinous dorsal; soft dorsal mottled with white and black, bordered with a very narrow white edge 
inside of which is a broad black band; tip of caudal narrowly white, then a broad black band, rest of 
tin mottled with white and black; anal similar to soft dorsal, but with more red spots; pectoral crossed 
by two broad dark bars, outer end of tin yellow; inside of mouth pale red. In alcohol the general 
color becomes dark-grayish, paler below; red spots' changing to black or dark-brown. 
Judging from descriptions this species appears to be related to M. caUiunt Poey, hut differs in a 
number of important particulars, among which are the smaller scales, smaller eye, and very different 
coloration. According to Poey, 47. cctllmra, in life, was dark brownish-olive; with rounded yellowish 
spots; fins dark-brown, darker on edges of vertical fins; eight narrow, dusky crossbands on body; caudal 
with a beautiful green crossband; pectoral yellowish toward the center, the posterior margin green. 
Only a single specimen (type No. 49530, U.S.N.M.) of this important species was obtained. This is 
21.5 inches long and was purchased from a Tortola fisherman at Culehra Island, February 10. It was 
called by him “rock-hind,” “rock-fish,” or “mero cabrilla,” and was caught, along with the tangs, 
angel-fish, and other species, in a fish-trap of the style in common use about Culehra Island. Though 
no others were seen, the species seems to lie well known to the fishermen about Culehra and Vieques 
islands, and is held in high esteem as a valuable food-fish. 
We name this species for the Hon. < ienrge M. Bowers, U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 
