THE FISHES OF l'ORTO RICO. 
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above axis of body; small cirri above eye and a small nuchal fringe of filaments somewhat longer than 
ocular ones; scales moderate, lateral line arched above pectoral, strongly decurved posteriorly; belly 
naked anteriorly; first dorsal spine a little longer than second, which in turn is much longer than third, 
which is shorter than fourth; from the fifth to about the fourteenth increasing slightly in length, then 
regularly decreasing to the last but two, which is scarcely half as long as longest spines; last but one 
a little longer, and last about as long as fourth; soft dorsal considerably higher than spinous part; anal 
long, lower than soft dorsal, membrane deeply notched except among last 4 rays, which are longest. 
Color, olivaceous-gray, darkest above; side crossed by about 6 irregular, broad vertical bars, first 
at base of pectoral, last at base of caudal fin, each of these bars consisting really of 3 large brownish 
blotches, middle one largest and plainest, the lower least distinct; belly and breast pale; head olivaceous; 
cheek and opercles crossed by darker bands; under side of head crossed by about 4 distinct dark bands 
separated by white of somewhat greater width; fins all uniform pale, except spinous dorsal, which has 
a dark blotch upon first 3 spines. 
This species ranges from the West Indies to Brazil, and is also found on the west coast of Mexico 
north to Mazatlan, where it is the most abundant species occurring in the rock pools, if Clinus zonifer 
Jordan & Gilbert be the same species. We have compared specimens from the west coast with ours 
from Porto Rico and can detect no tangible differences. From Porto Rico we have 3 specimens, each 
about 1.75 inches long, from Ponce and Hucares. 
Clinus delalancU Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., XI, 378, 1836, Brazil. 
Clinus zonifer Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. N. M. 1881, 361, Mazatlan, Mexico. 
Malacodenus delalandi, Jordan & Evermann, 1. c., 2358, 1898. 
Genus 149. LABRISOMUS Swainson. 
Body oblong, robust; head naked, short, compressed above; mouth rather large, with a row of 
stout, bluntish teeth in front of each jaw, behind which is a band of smaller teeth, broadest in lower 
jaw; teeth on vomer, no teeth on palatines; a tentacle above eye; side of neck with a tuft or series of 
fine filaments; dorsal fin continuous, with numerous slender spines and many soft rays, spines not very 
unequal; pectoral long; lateral line continuous; scales moderate or small, cycloid; shoulder-girdle 
without upturned hook-like process on its inner edge. Intestinal canal short, shorter than body. 
The limits of this genus are not well defined. It differs from Clinus chiefly in the absence of an 
upturned spine-like process on inner edge of shoulder-girdle. This process is found on Clinus 
acuniinatus, the type of the genus Clinus. 
This genus has five American species, only one of which is yet known from Porto Rico. 
a. Scales moderate, about 70 in lateral line (so far as known) ; soft dorsal with 11 to 13 rays. 
b. Dorsal spines 16; anal rays 20; tentacles on nape herminier 
bb. Dorsal spines 18; no teeth on palatines; first ray of dorsal not longest; orbital tentacle well developed; nape with a 
conspicuous comb of fringes. 
c. Vomer with a cluster of small teeth nuchipinnis, 264 
bbb. Dorsal spines 20; teeth on palatines (?); first dorsal spine longest , bucciferus 
aa. Scales very small, about 110; a comb of fringes at nape; first dorsal spines low; head with yellow spots. 
microlepidotus 
264. Labrisomus nuchipinnis (Quoy & Gaimard). 
(Plate 46.) 
Head 3.5; depth 3.5; D. xviii, 12; A. ii, 17; scales 70. Body oblong, rather robust; head 
naked, thick, short, not very obtuse anteriorly, compressed above; mouth rather large, the maxillaries 
not prolonged backward, extending to opposite posterior part of eye, 2.5 in head; front teeth of jaws 
conic, strong, behind them a band of villiform teeth, broadest in lower jaw; vomer with a patch of 
smallish teeth; eye large; interorbital space very narrow; each side of neck with a long series of 
hair-like filaments, nearly as long as eye; orbital tentacle short and broad, multifid; nostril with a 
tufted barbel; lower jaw slightly projecting, its posterior teeth sometimes recurved; pectoral a little 
shorter than head, reaching vent. Dorsal spines rather slender, the 3 anterior spines scarcely shorter 
than the others, all the spines lower than soft rays; dorsal fin commencing near nape, spinous portion 
long; soft rays higher than the spines;- caudal small; pectoral rather large; ventrals moderate; gill- 
membranes broadly united, free from isthmus; lateral line complete, high anteriorly, then abruptly 
decurved; membranes of vertical fins scaly; scales not very small, cycloid. 
