1335. 
Depth 2 7/8 to 3; head 3 3/5 to 3 4/5* width 3 4/5 to 4. Snout 
to lower orbit 4 l/3 to 4 4/5 in head from snout tip; lower orbit 2 2/3 
to 3 l/8* greatly exceeds snout, opposite or advanced l/5 from upper or¬ 
bit; maxillary reaches l/5 to l/4 below lower orbit, expansion 3 to 3 3/4 
in lower orbit, length 2 2/3 to 2 7/8 in head from snout tip; innerorbital 
narrow bony keel. Gill rakers 1*7 short feeble rudimentary points, 2/5 
of gill filaments, which l/3 of lower orbit. 
Scales 60 to 64 in lateral line to caudal base and 4 or 5 more 
on latter; 18 above, 19 below# Caudal base scaly, fins othervd.se naked. 
Scales with 9 to 11 basal radiating striae, edge scalloped; 13 to 15 
slender apical denticles, with 3 transverse series of basal elements; 
circuli fine. Lateral line axial, only on right side. 
D. 67 to 70, fin height 1 l/2 to 2 in total head length; A. 53 
to 55, fin height 1 2/3 to 1 7/8; least depth of caudal peduncle 1 7/8 to 
2; ventral 1 l/2 to 2; caudal 3 l/o to 3 7/8 in combined head and body to 
caudal base; pectoral 2 l/4 to 3 3/5. 
Light brown on right side, with 5 blackish brown blotches 
along upper edge of body below dorsal base and 4 along lower edge of body 
above anal base# Obscure or paler blotches may also be present along 
axial region of body# Orbits dark gray or slate# Vertical fins pale or 
whitish, with dark or brown specks on rays, mostly terminal. Pectoral 
variously spotted with dark brown, sometimes largely neutral black# 
Ceylon, Sect Indies, Philippines# Samariscus sunieri Yfeber and 
Beaufort appears to be synonymous. 
