308 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Genus 148. MALACOCTENUS Gill. 
This genus is very -close to Labrisomus, differing in dentition, the teeth in the jaws being in single 
series; vomer with a few teeth or with none, and none on palatines. The dorsal tin has usually a notch 
behind the fourth dorsal spine as well as at front of soft dorsal, but in some species the notch is obscure. 
Most of the species are not well known, and perhaps more than one genus is here included. About a 
dozen species are recognized, only four of which are as yet known from Porto Rico, though several 
others may occur there. 
a. Nape without filaments. 
b. Orbital filament present. 
e. D. xxi, 8; spinous dorsal not notched, first rays shortest; body elongate: snout pointed; scales large, about 38. 
ocellattia 
cc. D. xx, 12; spinous dorsal weakly notched; body rather robust varius 
bb. Orbital filament wanting; dorsal rays xxi, 11; spinous dorsal weakly notched; ventrals long macropus 
aa. Nape with a single filament; a tentacle above eye. 
d. D. xvm, 9 lugubris 
dd. D. xxi, 8; scales 35 . culebr x ,260 
ddd. D. xxi, 11; scales 45 moorei, 261 
a aa. Nape with a comb of slender filaments; spinous dorsal more or less notched, behind fourth or fifth spine. 
e. Orbital filament present. D. xvm to xx, 10 to 12; vomer with teeth. 
/. Scales 43 or 44. 
g. Highest soft ray of dorsal 1.5 to 1.9 in head; dorsal without ocelli. 
h. A. ii, 17; first 3 dorsal spines wider apart than the others, the first longest; anal edged with dark gitti 
hh. A. II, 19; first 3 dorsal spines not wider apart than the others, the second longer than the first; anal not edged with 
dark puertoricensis, 262 
gg. Soft rays of dorsal 1.2 in head; dorsal fin with 2 large black ocelli; ventral fins long, as long as head bimaculatus 
ff. Scales about 55; ventrals moderate, shorter than head delalandi, 263 
ee. Orbital filament wanting (no vomerine teeth?) versicolor 
aaaa. Nuchal and other filaments undescribed; a black oeelius on front of dorsal. D. xx, 11; scales 46 bigutldtus 
260. Malacoctenus culebrae Evermann & Marsh. 
Head 3.35; depth 5; eye 4.2; snout 4.5; maxillary 2.2; mandible 1.8; interorbital 6.5; scales 2-35- 
11; D. xxi, 8; A. ii, 18; pectoral 1.3; ventral 1.3; caudal 1.4. Body slender, compressed; head rather 
long, pointed, upper profile convex; mouth large, maxillary nearly reaching posterior border of orbit; 
lips thick, jaws equal; teeth very small, conical, a single row in each jaw; a single nasal, ocular, and 
nuchal filament; dorsal Hn moderately high, originating above origin of lateral line, a shallow notch 
in front of last two dorsal spines, membrane free from caudal; anal origin under about tenth dorsal 
spine; caudal somewhat pointed; pectoral large, reaching anal ; ventrals moderate, not reaching anus, 
of two rays, no spine evident; lateral line distinct throughout, running high anteriorly, where it is 
slightly curved, turning abruptly downward over origin of anal, thence median to base of caudal. 
Color in spirits: Body everywhere mottled with dark brown, in somewhat regularly arranged 
blotches, a series of about nine of these at base of dorsal, barely extending upon fin; a similar series of 
much smaller ones at base of anal, not evident on all specimens; below the series at base of dorsal are 
two other series of the same blotches, less deep in color and not so well defined, extending the length 
of body and sometimes forming, with the upper series, more or less broken vertical bars; between the 
blotches a lighter shade of brown is interwoven with pale streaks of the ground-color; head nearly pale 
below, save some dark on chin and isthmus; two wide streaks from eye across cheek; opercle dark 
