THE FISHES OF PORTO RICO. 
163 
117. Rypticus saponaceus (Bloch <& Schneider) . Soap-fish. 
Head 3 to 3.33 in length; depth 2.6 to 3.25; ]>. nr, 23 to 25; A. 16 or 17; scales 85 to 90 (pores). 
Body comparatively deep, young more slender; back elevated, snout rather pointed; lower jaw much 
projecting; anterior profile before eye little concave; eye 4.5 to 5 in head; maxillary reaching posterior 
edge of eye, 2.12 in head; preopercle with 2 straight spines behind; opercle with 3 spines, middle one 
largest and nearer upper than lower; first and second dorsal spines subequal, third smallest; dorsals 
slightly connected, ventrals very small, not half longer than eye; pectoral rounded; gillrakers very 
small and short, about 8 developed. Color dusky-brown, fins marked with blackish and usually with 
a narrow pale edge; sides generally with irregular pale spots; back and head usually immaculate. 
West Indies, Pensacola to West Africa and Brazil; generally common. The best known and most 
widely distributed of the soap-fishes. Though not obtained by us in Porto Rico, we include it on the 
authority of Poey. 
Jaboncillo, Parra, Dif. Piezas Hist. Nat., 51, pi. '14, fig. 2, 1787, Havana. 
Anthias saponaceus Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. , 310, 1801, Havana; after Parra. 
Rhypticus microps Castlenau, Anim. Nouv. et Rares, 6,1855, Bahia; after Perea microps Broussonet, a MS. name/ 
Rhypticus saponarius, Poey, Fauna Puerto-Riquena, 322, 1881; Stahl, 1. c.,76 and 162,1883. 
Rypticus saponaceus, Jordan & Evermann, 1. c., 1232, 1896. 
Fig. 46 . — Rypticus bistrisjnnus. 
118. Rypticus coriaceus (Cope) . Black Soap-fish. 
Head 3.3; depth 3.5; eye 5; snout 5.8; maxillary 2.4; mandible 1.7; interorbital 11.5; scales 19- 
125-32; P. in-25; A. 15; pectoral 1.5 in head; ventral 2.8; caudal 1.3. 
Body rather elongate, compressed, back little elevated; head pointed, snout small, pointed; 
mouth large, somewhat oblique, maxillary reaching beyond orbit, its fore end very broad, triangular; 
lower jaw strongly projecting; teeth rather strong; interorbital narrow; preopercular spines 2, the 
lower the larger; opercle with 2 obscure spines, partly covered with skin, the lower the stronger; 
caudal peduncle compressed, deep, least depth 2 in head, its least width about 6 in its depth. Scales 
small, more or less embedded, especially on nape and cheeks. Fins all rather large; dorsal well 
separated, spines short; last dorsal rays about 2 in head; last anal rays about 2.75 in head; caudal 
rounded, its middle rays about 1.5 in head; pectoral broadly rounded; ventrals short, 2 times eye. 
Color, plain brown, darkest on back; under parts paler; a broad white line from tip of lower lip 
to occiput; vertical fins dark, edges black; pectoral with some dark; ventrals pale. 
Two specimens obtained, one 4.75 inches long, at Mayaguez, and one 5.5 inches long at Hucares. 
This West Indian species has hitherto been known only from St. Martins and Jamaica. 
Eleutheractis coriaceus Cope, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc, 1870, 467, St. Martins. 
Rypticus coriaceus, Jordan & Evermann, 1. c., 1235, 1896. 
119. Rypticus bistrispinus (Mitcliill). 
Head 3; depth 3.6; eye 4.5; snout 4.75; maxillary 2.1; mandible 1.8; interorbital 7; T>. ii, 26; 
A 15. Body rather slender, depth considerably less than length of head; head compressed, snout 
pointed; mouth large, lower jaw strongly projecting, maxillary reaching posterior border of orbit, its 
exposed portion broadly triangular; interorbital very narrow; 3 strong, distinct, preopercular spines, 
nearly uniform in size, middle one sometimes slightly the largest; opercle with 3 flat, spines, middle 
