Porstlarval Scombroids from the Central Pacific — Strasburg 
177 
11-1,15, with both fins showing rudimentary 
raylike structures in the membranes posterior 
to the fins. The principal caudal rays number 
9 + 8, the pectorals 13, and the pelvics 1,2. 
Each pelvic spine is long, triradiate in cross- 
section, and spinigerous on all three edges. The 
inner pelvic ray is not only much shorter than 
the outer, but is also membranously bound to 
the belly anteriorly, whereas the outer ray is 
free. Like the pelvics, the dorsal spines are tri- 
radiate and spinigerous, with the degree of 
spinulation decreasing posteriorly. The first two 
dorsal spines bear spinules on all three edges 
while the rest bear them only laterally; in ad- 
dition, the number of spinules per spine de- 
creases toward the rear of the fin. The anal 
spines are like two spiny-edged, short-handled 
spoons, attached by the bowls with the convex 
side forward, and the second nesting into the 
first. 
The preopercle bears two strong denticulate 
spines at its angle and two short smooth spines 
on its lower limb. The pterotic has two slender 
spines almost perpendicular to the body surface. 
A row of 10 denticulations above the eye com- 
pletes the head armament. 
The mandible is prognathous and its tip is 
surmounted by a small cartilaginous pad. The 
mandibular symphysis is edentulous, but there 
are two retrorse fangs on either side of it. About 
seven short upright teeth are borne on the 
dentary. There is a large fang on each side of 
the premaxillary symphysis and a larger one 
posterior and mesial to the first. About 13 other 
teeth, some little more than denticulations, occur 
on the premaxillary. The palatines lack teeth, 
while the vomer bears a single prominent tooth 
at each posterior tip. 
Pigmentation consists of a brown streak from 
the top of the head to the rear dorsal base, plus 
diffuse brown color around the dorso-anterior 
orbit and along the premaxillary. There is some 
inconsistency between specimens, probably re- 
flecting differences in chromatophore contrac- 
tion at death rather than the presence of more 
than one species. 
The 15.6-mm fish shown in Figure 4 differs 
from the 9-mm one principally in having 
achieved the adult fin complement (D XX-I, 
19 + 2; A II-1, 16 + 2). The two dorsal and anal 
finlets are connected to each other and to the 
preceding fins, being detectable only by a varia- 
tion in spacing. The pelvic spines are as before, 
but the rays are now adnate to the belly for 
about half their length. The anal spines have 
developed a keel on their previously smooth 
anterior surfaces. 
The head armament consists of the two spines 
at the angle of the preopercle (these now having 
lost their denticulations), two short spines on 
the lower limb of the preopercle, a single per- 
pendicular spine on the pterotic, and two pos- 
