THE FISHES OF PORTO RICO. 
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Genus 111. PSEUDOSCARTJS Bleeker. Guacamaias. 
This genus differs from Scarus, as here understood, chiefly in the deep green or blue color of its 
highly modified jaws and teeth. The species are mostly of large size and robust form. Five species 
of this genus are recognized by Jordan & Evermann as occurring in American waters north of Panama, 
only one of which is thus far known from Porto Rico. 
PSEUDOSCAIiUS: 
а. Upper jaw with canines; caudal fin with angles much exserted, especially in adult; soft dorsal and anal ending in 
points; 2.5 rows of scales on cheek. 
б. Upper jaw usually with 1 posterior canine. Color bright-blue, edges of scales brownish; fins dark-brown, with 
green upon external border of ventrals, which are long and pointed; forehead with a fleshy hump in adult. 
c. Tubes of lateral line considerably branched coelestinus 
cc. Tubes of lateral line not branched simplex 
bb. Upper jaw with from 3 to 6 posterior canines; jaws very convex. Color green under pectoral and along side and 
posterior part of body; head, anterior and upper part of back, and belly grayish-yellow; dorsal and anal brown, 
spotted with green along their bases; pectorals and ventrals tinted with green; caudal grayish-yellow. Size 
large pleianus 
Loro: 
aa. Upper jaw without posterior canines; teeth deep blue-green. Size large. 
d. Caudal deeply notched, angles much produced in adult (fin truncate or rounded in young); body moderately 
elongate; depth 2.5 to 3 in length; cheek with 2.5 rows of scales, those of upper row larger than those of second, 
1 scale below second row. Color olive-green, with more or less ill-defined green markings on head; lower parts 
more or less reddish; vertical fins brownish-orange, all edged with deep-blue guacamaia, 203 
203. Pseudoscarus guacamaia (Cuvier). Guacamaia; Green Parrot-fish. 
-Head 2.9; depth 2.7; eye 5; snout 2,8; interorbital 3; preorbital 5.5; D. ix, 10; A. n, 9; pectoral 
1.5; ventral 1.9; caudal 1.5; scales 1 1-25-6. No canine teeth; lower jaw included in closed mouth; 
lateral line interrupted under last dorsal rays, beginning again two rows lower, its pores scarcely 
branched; caudal slightly rounded. 
Color in life: Sides mottled blue and brown or with blue bars separated by irregular brown ones; 
under parts white, with numerous fine dark punctulations; head with a narrow pale greenish-blue bar 
under eye, extending upon lower jaw and’ fading to white, uniting with its fellow on chin; a short 
preocular blue bar; teeth green; dorsal and anal brick-reddish, with narrow blue border; a few 
indistinct bluish spots along base and through middle of tin; base of anal with pale-blue spots; caudal 
dirty-red with darkish border; ventral pale-rosy, anterior edge blue; pectoral pale. Inspirits: Pale- 
greenish, darker above; teeth greenish-blue; the green stripes on head sometimes persisting; vertical 
fins dark- edged. 
This species is known at once, by the absence of canines and the blue teeth. It ranges from 
Florida south to Rio Janeiro; it has been recorded from St. Augustine, Key West, Havana, and Porto 
Rico. Numerous specimens, all young, from 1.75 to 5.88 inches long, were seined at San Antonio 
Bridge, Puerto Real, Boqueron, Culebra, ami Fajardo. It is probably one of the most abundant of 
