178 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XVIII, April 1964 
terior spinelike extensions of the strengthening 
ribs of the opercle. The supraorbital denticula- 
tions have been reduced to one or two. 
Both the mandible and the upper jaw now 
bear small cartilaginous symphysial pads, and 
the dentition is much advanced. Besides the 
anterior pair of fangs, each dentary has 11 
slightly retrorse teeth, and 12 similar teeth are 
found along the edge of each premaxillary. 
Anteriorly the premaxillary has 3 or 4 large 
curved fangs, the posterior ones longest, and 
all larger than the fangs on the dentary. The 
vomer has a posterior tooth on each side, and 
there are about 4 slender teeth located on or 
near each palatine. Those which are merely 
near the palatines lack ossified bases. There are 
as yet no gill-rakers on the first arch. 
Pigmentation is again inconsistent between 
specimens, except for a pronounced dark spot 
between the first two dorsal spines. Well- 
marked individuals are colored as is the 9-mm 
fish; others lack the dark pigmentation of the 
head and dorsal fin base. 
At 31.0 mm (Fig. 3) many of the larval 
features have been replaced by juvenile charac- 
ters. The dorsal finlets are still interconnected 
TABLE 2 
COUNTS made ON Nealotus tripes AND Nesiarchus nasutus * 
PART 
NO. 
Nealotus 
tripes 
(No. specs.) 
Nesiarchus 
nasutus 
(No. specs.) 
First dorsal 
spines 
19 
21 
20 
62 
2 
21 
1 
Second dorsal 
spines 
1 
63 
23 
rays 
17 
26 
18 
35 
4 
19 
2 
8 
20 
10 
21 
1 
Dorsal finlets 
2 
63 
23 
Anal 
spines 
2-1 
25 
23 
rays 
15 
2 
16 
14 
4 
17 
9 
17 
18 
2 
Anal finlets 
2 
25 
23 
Pectoral 
rays 
12 
2 
13 
24 
21 
14 
1 
Pelvic 
spines 
1 
64 
21 
rays 
0 
1 
1 
5 
2 
58 
4 
3 
5 
18 
* Standard length range: Nealotus, 10.0-176 mm; Nesiarchus, 11.7-105 mm. Finlets listed as such even if attached to fins 
by persistent membranes. 
