166 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
caudal. Dorsal fin continuous, x, 9 to 15, spines depressible in a groove; anal rays in, 9 to 15, soft 
part long, similar to soft dorsal, spines strong; ventrals very large, thoracic, i, 5, close together, in 
advance of base of pectoral, joined to belly by a membrane which incloses a groove; no axillary process; 
spine strong; pectoral small, pointed, not symmetrical, of 19 or 20 rays, upper longest; caudal fin 
truncate or lunate. Spines of fins generally rough, with small seme. Air-bladder large. Pyloric 
cseca few. Vertebrae in reduced number, 9 or 10 -j- 13 = 22 or 23, first vertebrae being very small or 
absent; transverse process beginning on seventh (sixth) vertebra, last two precaudal bridged across; 
ribs attached to transverse processes; epipleurals absent on last three precaudal vertebrae. Supra- 
occipital crest very low, continued forward to over front of orbit, where it is joined by parietal crests; 
processes of premaxillaries moderate. 
Carnivorous fishes of the tropical seas, chiefly in deep waters; mostly rose-colored in life. 
a. Scales very small, 80 to 100 in lateral line; body oblong, its depth not half its length; preopercle with a flat spine; 
dorsal and anal each with 12 to 15 soft rays Priacanthus, 76 
aa. Scales large and very rough, 35 to 50 in lateral line; body ovate, its depth more than half its length; preopercle 
without spines; dorsal and anal each with 9 to 11 soft rays Pseudopriacanthus 
Genus 76. PRIACANTHUS Cuvier. 
Scales very small, 80 to 100 in lateral line; body oblong, more than twice as long as deep; pre- 
opercle with a spine at angle; interorbital area externally transversely convex, cranium itself trans- 
versely concave, elevation being formed of flesh; a conspicuous foramen in interorbital area; lateral 
line extending upward and backward from upper angle of gill-opening toward second dorsal spine, 
below which it changes its course, following outline of back to end of dorsal fin, thence direct to middle 
of caudal; anal fin rather long, its rays about hi, 14; dorsal rays about x, 13. 
Species rather numerous, in the tropical seas. 
a. Preopercular spine obsolete or nearly so; depth about equal to length of head; dorsal unspotted; dorsal rays x, 14; 
anal in, 15 arenatus, 121 
aa. Preopercular spine well developed; depth of body greater than length of head; dorsal spotted; dorsal rays x, 12 or 
x, 13, anal m, 13 or 14 cruentatus, 122 
121. Priacanthus arenatus (Cuvier & Valenciennes) . “ Toro “Comico”; Catalufa. 
(Plate 16.) 
Head 3.25; depth 2.8; eye 2.7; snout 3; maxillary 2; mandible 1.6; interorbital 4.6; D. x, 14, 
rarely 13; A. in, 15, rarely 16; pectoral 1.9; ventral 1.1; caudal 1.2; scales about 94. 
Body oblong-ovate, compressed, covered with small, very firm, and slightly ctenoid scales; head 
almost entirely scaled; eye very large; mouth extremely oblique; lower jaw strong and prominent; 
maxillary very broad posteriorly, reaching slightly beyond front of eye; opercle and angle of pre- 
opercle each with a weak fiat spine; dorsal spines slightly roughened; caudal slightly lunate. 
Color in life: Body and fins nearly everywhere bright-red, ventrals and caudal deepest; base of 
pectoral yellow; ventral spine pale-blue, rays black-tipped, most of membrane dusky; soft dorsal and 
anal with a few small dusky spots, and faintly edged with dark; caudal distinctly dark-edged; upper 
edge of caudal peduncle dusky; a series of about 12 indistinct dark round blotches along and just above 
lateral line; inside of mouth red behind; iris chiefly bright-red, a narrow yellow circle about pupil. 
This fish occurs in the tropical Atlantic south to Brazil, occasionally northward in the Gulf Stream 
to Newport and Woods Hole; also known from Jamaica, Key West, and Madeira; probably common 
about Porto Rico. Our collection contains six examples, 6 to 12 inches long, from Aguadilla, Mayaguez, 
and Arroyo. It does not usually exceed a foot or 15 inches in length, but is a food-fish of some 
importance. Its flesh is firm and flaky and of good flavor. Nothing is known as to its game qualities. 
The brilliant red color and large eye make this a very striking fish. 
Catalufa , Parra, Dif. Piezas Hist. Nat., pi. 20, 1787, Havana. 
Priacanthus arenatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Ill, 97, 1829, Brazil and Atlantic; Jordan & Everniann, 
l.c., 1237, 1896. 
Priacanthus fulgens Lowe, Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond., II, 1839, 174, Madeira. 
Priacanthus catalufa Poey, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1863, 182, Havana. 
