396 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XIV, October I960 
Fig. 1. Distinguishing features of Hawaiian en- 
graulid fishes. Compare head length, maxillary length, 
and pectoral— pelvic interspace, a, Stolephorus purpu- 
reus; b, Stolephorus buccaneeri. 
snout tip and the most posterior portion of the 
maxillary. 
In a recent paper on the scientific name of 
the nehu, Gosline (1951) mentioned several 
problems incidental to the use of the term 
Stolephorus, and pointed out the need for a 
comparison between this genus and the related 
Anchoviella. Although both species of Hawaiian 
engraulids are referable to Stolephorus (Gos- 
line, 1951; Weber and de Beaufort, 1913; Jor- 
dan and Seale, 1925, 1926), it is desirable to 
define this genus as exclusively as possible,' for 
it has not been possible to undertake the needed 
study of the several engraulid genera. As it is 
here understood, Stolephorus includes those en- 
graulid fishes having separate anal and caudal 
fins, the dorsal origin anterior to that of the 
anal, normal upper pectoral rays, bony scutes on 
the mid-ventral line, maxillaries not extending 
posterior of the gill opening, and a silvery stripe 
lengthwise on the body. The genus lacks canine 
teeth and free spines preceding the dorsal fin 
(spines are sometimes present in S. tri and S . 
haganensis (Hardenberg, 1933^) ). As far as is 
known, the species of Stolephorus are Indo- 
Pacific in distribution. The Hawaiian forms can 
be distinguished from each other by characteris- 
tics presented in the following key, Figure 1, 
and Table 1. Differences between the new spe- 
cies and its congeners are mentioned in the 
species diagnosis. 
KEY TO THE HAWAIIAN ENGRAULID AE 
1. Pectoral and pelvic fins far apart, distance 
between tip of depressed pectoral fin and 
pelvic base equal to twice eye diameter; 
maxillary short, failing to reach anterior 
edge of preopercle by a distance equal to 
V:i to % pupil diameter, maxillary length 
contained in head length 1. 4-1.7 (usually 
1.6) times; head short, its length con- 
tained 4.1-4.7 (usually 4,1-4 5) times in 
standard length Roundhead. 
Stolephorus buccaneeri , new species 
2. Pectoral and pelvic fins dose together, dis- 
tance between tip of depressed pectoral 
and pelvic base equal to M to 1 eye 
diameter; maxillary long, just reaching 
anterior edge of preopercle, its length 
contained in head length 1. 0-1.3 (usually 
1.3) times; head long, its length con- 
tained 3.4— 4.0 (usually 3. 5-3.8) times in 
standard length .Nehu. 
Stolephorus pmpmeus Fowler 
Stolephorus buccaneeri , new species 
Figs. 1, 2 
holotype : USNM no. 177742, a male, 53.3 
mm. in standard length, taken by seine 200 yd. 
west of Lehua Island, Niihau, Hawaiian Islands, 
on September 15, 1958, by Captain Noboru Tsue 
and crew of M/V "Buccaneer” of Honolulu. 
PARATYPES: USNM no. 177743, 19' speci- 
mens, males and females, 44.7-58.9 mm. in 
standard length, taken with holotype; USNM 
no. 177744, 8 specimens, 40.5-51.5 mm. in 
standard length, taken from stomach of Eu- 
thynnus yaito captured 1 mi. off Makua, Oahu, 
Hawaiian Islands, on September 10, 1958, by 
Territorial Division of Fish and Game biolo- 
gists aboard the M/V "Makua” of Honolulu. 
DESCRIPTION: Counts made on S. buccaneeri 
are recorded in Table 1, and detailed measure- 
ments of the holotype and two paratypes appear 
In Table 2. Dorsal rays 13 or 14; anal 14-16, 
the last base usually with 2 rays; pectoral 14-17; 
pelvic 7; principal caudal rays 9+1 + 9; 
branchiostegal rays 11-13; gill rakers 16 or 
17 + 2 or 3 + 23 or 24 (total 41-43); scales 
in a longitudinal series 41-44, in a transverse 
series 9 ( ? ) or 10 (?) ; scutes on mid-ventral line 
