Groupers of Tahiti — Randall 
zoo 
Fig. 1. Gracila albomarginata (Fowler and Bean). Photograph by Charles E. Cutress of a color painting 
from the "Albatross” Philippine Expedition, through the courtesy of Leonard P. Schultz of the U.S. National 
Museum. 
deep blue lines ( dark brown in preservative ) on 
head as in Figure 1 of an Indo-Malayan speci- 
men, except three upper lines not continuous 
(uppermost line broken into two long sections 
and a spot; second line, from beneath eye, into 
a long section and two spots; and the third 
from maxillary groove into three spots). In 
preservative the edges of the fins were noted to 
have become white. They may have been reddish 
in life, as was described from African specimens 
by Smith ( 1954) . . 
The single specimen was collected with a 
spear at a depth of 60 ft on the seaward side of 
the atoll of Tetiaroa. When seen underwater, G. 
albomarginata has two large white saddle-like 
areas on the back which are its most striking 
color markings. Before the speared specimen 
was brought to the surface, however, the white 
areas had disappeared and did not reappear. 
The species was observed but not collected at 
the atolls of Takaroa, Takapoto, and Tikahau 
in the Tuamotu Archipelago. It was seen outside 
reefs and in passes, usually at depths of about 
40 to at least 120 ft, but was never sighted in 
lagoons. Only once was it observed in water less 
than 30 ft deep, and- when this individual was 
pursued it retreated into deeper water. 
The largest specimen examined is the holo- 
type (USNM 89985), 295 mm in standard length. 
TAHITI RECORD OF Epinephelus truncatus 
Two groupers bearing some resemblance to 
Epinephelus fasciatus were purchased in the 
market in Papeete, Tahiti, in 1957. They differ 
from fasciatus notably in having a shorter max- 
illary ( maxillary of fasciatus extends to beneath 
posterior edge of eye), broader lips, and an 
opercular flap with an angularly rounded upper 
margin ( nearly straight on fasciatus ) . The two 
fish were caught by Tahitian fishermen with 
hook and line at an unknown depth, but prob- 
ably in excess of 100 ft, judging from the de- 
gree of distension of the stomach into the 
mouth from an expanded air bladder. The speci- 
mens were believed to represent an undescribed 
species. In the same year that they were collected 
a paper by Katayama appeared that described 
the species from islands near Japan as Epi- 
nephelus truncatus . 
Epinephelus truncatus 
Fig. 3 
Epinephelus truncatus Katayama, 1957. Jap. 
