Fig. 4. Plesiops cephalotaenia new species. Holotype CNHM 44708 (X 2). 
two lowest rays with two branches each; 
fifth ray above ventral edge with four branches ; 
ail higher rays with two to fo.ur branches each. 
Pelvics inserted before pectoral base; spine 
equal to or slightly shorter than last anal 
spine; first ray thickened, bifid beyond distal 
half of spine, elongated, reaching first or 
second soft anal ray; three inner rays bifid, 
not thickened. 
Caudal rounded. 
Head naked to level of preopercle; cycloid 
scales covering nape, preopercle, and opercle; 
scales of preopercle in five to seven forwardly 
sloping oblique rows; three or four scales in 
horizontal series across widest part of pre- 
opercle; opercle with six large scales, each 
about twice depth of preopercular series; 
scales above upper lateral line cycloid at least 
to tenth or twelfth lateral line scale; scales 
before line connecting third or fifth lateral 
line scale with top of pectoral base cycloid; 
scales before line connecting bottom of pec- 
toral base with pelvic insertion cycloid; pos- 
terior limit of cycloid breast scalation occa- 
sionally one or two scale rows behind pelvic 
insertion; all other body scales ctenoid; six 
or seven predorsals; anal and soft dorsal with 
low sheath of scales, those of anal mostly 
ctenoid. 
Coloration (in alcohol) dark brown or 
black, body with six to nine obscure dark 
longitudinal stripes, each covering peripheral 
thirds of two adjacent scale rows; post-orbital 
part of head with three black stripes; one 
from upper corner of orbit, interrupted above 
preopercle, continuing as a bar near upper 
border of opercle; middle stripe horizontal, 
continuous from center of orbit to end of 
opercle; lower stripe sloping slightly, usually 
continuous from lower corner of orbit to 
angle of preopercle; gill membranes black; 
fins blackish; spinous dorsal with marginal 
white band narrower than post-orbital stripes, 
bordered proximally by intense black band; 
caudal with very narrow white margin; pelvics 
blackish with small dark spots. 
The markings of the head are faded in sev- 
eral of the paratypes. 
A female (USNM 146466), swollen with 
ripe ova, measures only 35.0 mm. 
