Revision of Plesiops — INGER 
265 
Fig. 3. Differences in head shape, scalation, and coloration in four species of Plesiops. a , P. coeruleolineatus (X 3); 
b, P. oxycephalus (X 1.5); c, P. corallicola (X 1.5); d, P. nigricans (X 3). 
not (?) reaching beyond tips of spines, feebly 
notched. 
Pectorals rounded; inserted just below mid- 
line of side; lowest seven to ten rays free from 
membrane in distal halves or three-quarters; 
lowest four rays with at least three branches 
each and usually six or more; next four rays 
above with eight to twelve branches. 
Pel vies inserted below pectoral base; spine 
slightly shorter than longest dorsal spine, 
first ray thickened, bifid, reaching anal origin 
or beyond; inner rays not thickened. 
Head naked laterally before preopercle and 
dorsally before the opercle; preopercle with 
4 or 5 vertical rows of scales; 5 to 7 scales in 
horizontal series across widest part of pre- 
opercle; anterior body scales cycloid, becom- 
ing ctenoid below fifth dorsal spine (approx- 
imately tenth lateral line scale); scales above 
posterior half of upper lateral line ctenoid; 
six or seven predorsals; dorsal and anal with 
low sheath of cycloid scales. 
Color of body and fins blackish, slightly 
lighter on belly; indistinct darker area at 
origin of upper lateral line; small blue spots 
scattered over head, body, and fins. 
Remarks: The specimens identified by Gil- 
christ and Thompson (1911, 1917), Barnard 
(1927), and Smith (1949, 1952) as nigricans 
are all from the Natal coast. They differ 
sharply from true nigricans in scale counts as 
the following comparison shows. 
