272 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, VoL IX, July, 1955 
marginal light band (one-third fin depth); 
longitudinal pattern of dorsal slopes upward 
posteriorly leaving only a narrow light margin 
on soft dorsal; some individuals with sloping 
blue line in basal black zone of dorsal; juve- 
niles with only a terminal light band on 
dorsal; anal and caudal usually with narrow 
light margins; occasionally caudal with a 
faint, narrow (equal to width of lowest post- 
orbital black streak), crescentric light band 
across beginning of distal third of fin; pec- 
toral unmarked; membrane of pelvics spotted 
with black. 
The oblique blue lines on the dorsal and 
anal membranes, to which the specific name 
refers, do not occur on all individuals. Of 
those examined, only fishes from southeastern 
Luzon and Mindoro had these stripes. 
Material examined: Riu Kiu Islands: Oki- 
nawa (3). Philippine Islands: Batan (47), 
Bubuan (1), Busuanga (1), Luzon (35), Ma- 
culabo (24), Masongas (2), Mindanao (1), 
Mindoro (6), Negros (5), Pilas (3), Samar 
(1), Sirinao (1). Borneo: Pulo Bakkungaan 
Kechil (14). Karakelang Islands: Beo (1). 
Sanghir Islands (5). Morotai (1). Celebes: 
Tobea Island (1). Bum (6). Waigieu (4). New 
Hebrides: Malo (8). Solomon Islands: Bou- 
gainville (3). Samoan Islands: Tutuila (56). 
Caroline Islands: Yap (2). Mariana Islands: 
Guam (22), Saipan (12). Marshall Islands: 
Bikini (24), Eniwetok (18), Kwajalein (4), 
Rongelap (68). Madagascar (1). Red Sea (8). 
Range: From the Red Sea and east coast of 
Africa through the Indo-Pacific northwards to 
southern Japan, and eastwards to the Marshall 
Islands and Samoa. 
Plesiops cephalotaenia new species 
Figs, lb, 4 
Diagnosis: (Counts, size, and proportions 
of holotype in parentheses in diagnosis and 
description.) Dorsal spines normally XII; 
lateral line 17-21 -f- 6-12 (19 + 12); mid- 
lateral scales 21-25 (23); scales in transverse 
series 2— 3/1/8— 9 (214/1/9); two lowest pec- 
toral rays with two branches each; lower 
pectoral rays free in distal halves or at tips 
only; standard length under 70 mm.; black 
stripe from center of orbital border to end of 
opercle, but no opercular ocellus; caudal dark, 
without crescentric, light band. 
Description: XI-XII, 7 (XII, 7); pectoral 
18-20 (19); pelvic I, 4 (I, 4); anal III, 7-8 
[Only one of the 20 seen had 7 soft anal rays.] 
(Ill, 8); gill rakers 5-6 + 8-11 (5 + 9), total 
13-17; standard length 22.5-52.5 mm. (48.5 
mm.); head 2.34-2.84 (2.76) (mean 2.53 =*= 
0.03; N = 17); depth 2.43-2.94 (2.57) (mean 
2.76 ± 0.04; N - 14). 
Body oval, compressed; dorsal profile rising 
in a curved line to dorsal origin; line from 
snout to dorsal making a 35 degree angle with 
mid-lateral line; ventral profile convex; snout- 
pelvic line straight, sloping slightly; snout 
obtuse in profile, shorter than eye; mouth 
almost horizontal; maxilla reaching perpen- 
dicular from posterior border of orbit; pos- 
terior nostril close to orbit, equidistant from 
orbit and anterior, tubulated nostril; diameter 
of orbit equal to distance between orbit and 
angle of preopercle or slightly less, more than 
twice interorbital. 
Dorsal origin above base of pectoral; fin 
bluntly pointed posteriorly; base of spinous 
portion about three times base of soft dorsal; 
spines increasing in length to last; first spine 
about half length of second; second less than 
eye diameter; last spine subequal to post- 
orbital length of head; longest soft ray sub- 
equal to post-orbital part of head; membrane 
extending beyond tips of spines, incised half- 
way to base along leading edge of each of 
second to tenth spines. 
Anal origin opposite tenth dorsal spine; 
shape similar to that of dorsal; first spine half 
length of second, the latter two-thirds length 
of last spine; third spine subequal to longest 
dorsal spine; longest soft anal ray equal to 
distance between orbit and end of pectoral 
base; membrane of spinous anal more deeply 
incised than that of dorsal. 
Pectoral rounded; inserted just below mid- 
line; rays free near tips only or in distal halves; 
