242 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
A West Indian species (length 6 to 9 inches) closely resembling S. flavescens, from which it can 
best be distinguished by its rounded (or rarely truncate) caudal, and absence of whitish or snowy 
blotches on sides. It is known from Santo Domingo, Porto Rico, Jamaica, and Martinique. It is 
common about Porto Rico, the collection containing specimens from San Juan, Aguadiila, Mayaguez, 
Ensenada del Boqueron, Puerto Real, Guanica, Ponce, Arroyo, Hucares, and Fajardo. 
Scams rubripinnis Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., XIV, 199, 1839, Santo Domingo. 
Scams virens Cuv. & Val., Hist. Nat. Poiss., XIV, 203, 1839, Porto Rico (Coll. Plee), and Martinique (Coll. Achard). 
Scarus circumnotalus Poey, Memorias, II, 123, 1861, Havana. 
Scarus truncatus Poey, Synopsis, 339, 1868, Havana; Poey, Fauna Puerto-Riquena, 336, 1881; Stahl, 1. c., 78 and 164, 1883. 
? Scarus ernarginatum Poey, Synopsis, 310, 1868, Havana. 
Sparisoma rubripinne, Jordan & Evermann, I. c., 1640, 1898. 
199. Sparisoma brachiale (Poey). 
Head 3.2; depth 3.1; eye 5.6; snout 2.2; interorbital 5.3; preorbital 3.4; D. ix, 10; A. ii, 9; 
pectoral 1.4; ventral 1.7; caudal 1.3; scales 11-25-5. Body elongate, back moderately elevated, dorsal 
and ventral outlines much alike; eye about midway between tip of snout and end of opercle, very 
high in position; no canines; outer rays of caudal considerably produced, making fin rather strongly 
lunate, middle part truncate or slightly convex; lateral line interrupted near end of dorsal, beginning 
again on row below, the two ends usually overlapping. 
Color in life: Rich red above, paler below, edges of scales white; fins all rosy-red; teeth white. 
In spirits, very pale greenish, dark olive in one specimen; in some cases with rosy flushes on side; a 
large jet-black spot at base of upper rays c f pectoral, not extending into axil ; no other distinct markings. 
A West Indian species known only from Cuba, Jamaica, and Porto Rico. Seen by us at Aguadiila, 
Arroyo, and Isabel Segunda, where specimens 9 to 12.5 inches long were obtained; also collected by 
Mr. Gray at San Geronimo. 
Scarus brachialis Poey, Memorias, II, 345, 1861, Cuba. 
Scarus humeralis Poey, Memorias, II, 422, 1861, Havana; based on an old drawing; a black axillary spot, sown with 
white points. 
Sparisoma brachiale, Jordan & Evermann, 1. c.,1641, 1898. 
Genus 110. SCARUS Forskal. Loros; Parrot-fishes. 
Lower pharyngeals spoon-shaped, ovate-oblong, transversely concave; teeth in each jaw fully 
eoalescent, appearing as tessellations on the surface; jaws with distinct median sutures; edges of jaw 
even, teeth whitish or rosy in color, never green. Upper pharyngeals each with 2 rows of teeth; gill- 
membranes scarcely united to the narrow isthmus, across which they form a broad fold; dorsal 
spines flexible, scarcely different from soft rays; upper lip laterally double, interior fold becoming 
very narrow or obsolete mesially; lower jaw included in the closed mouth; lateral line interrupted 
posteriorly, commencing again on next series of scales below; tubes of lateral line scarcely branched; 
scales on cheek in 2 to 4 rows; scales in front of dorsal on median line 6 to 8. D. ix, 10; A. ii, 9 in 
all species; scales 2J-24-6. Body robust. 
Scarus: 
a. Upper jaw with from 1 to 4 posterior canines. 
b. Cheek with 2 or 3 rows of scales. 
c. Head with a longitudinal band; a yellow longitudinal stripe on body; outer rays of caudal not colored like inner; 
caudal subtruncate. 
d. Outer rays of caudal blackish or greenish, darker than median rays. 
e. Yellow stripe above pectoral about on a level with eye; outer rays of caudal deep greenish-blue; upper jaw with 1 
posterior canine (rarely duplicated) ; 2.5 rows of scales on cheek; head with 2 bluish-green stripes, interspace 
reddish or yellow; dorsal and anal each with 2 green bands and 1 orange one, anal having a roundish blue spot 
on membrane between every 2 rays. General color bluish-green mixed with orange punctulatus 
ee. Yellow stripe above pectoral, mostly below level of eye; outer rays of caudal blackish, rest of caudal green; upper 
jaw with 2 posterior canines; 2 rows of scales on cheek, upper part of head dark-green, below eye bright 
yellowish-green, with bluish markings on opercle; dorsal bright-green at base; ventrals pale; base of pectoral 
with a blue-black mark. General color in life, bright-green; darker on back, paler below bollmani 
dd. Outer rays of caudal orange, lighter than median rays, its edge blackish; yellow stripe above pectoral, below level 
of green stripes on head, which are nearly horizontal; upper jaw with 1 posterior canine (rarely duplicated); 
2.5 rows of scales on cheek; head with 2 bluish-green stripes, interspaces reddish or yellow; dorsal and anal each 
with 2 green bands and 1 orange one, the latter without blue spots; basal band of dorsal not broken into green 
spots. General color bluish-green, mixed with orange Iseniopterus 
cc. Head without longitudinal bands; posterior canines 2 to 4. 
