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PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
Series 4, Volume 65, 28 Sept. 2018, No. 1 
dorsal fin 6-8. Rim of anterior nostril elevated posteriorly forming a narrow flap bearing 1-4 
fingerlike cirri at tip. Caudal fin emarginate, upper and lower lobes about equal. Interradial 
membranes of dorsal and anal fins scaled on basal one-half to one-third. Nape, interorbital, 
opercle (except outer margin), preopercle, interopercle, pectoral-fin base, and chest scaled. 
A prominent, ocellated black oval spot anteriorly on soft dorsal fin; pelvic fins black. 
Description.— Body compressed, width across pectoral fin base about 2 in HL; greatest 
body depth about 2.8-3.0 in SL; head about 2.5-2.6 in SL. Dorsal profile from tip of snout to 
dorsal fin almost straight, thereafter broadly curved to caudal peduncle where it levels off; ventral 
profile moderately inclined from lower jaw to chest, leveling off on belly to origin of anal fin, then 
gently rising to caudal fin. Snout about equal in length to diameter of orbit; interorbital width 
Figure 9. Serranus hepatus. From near Portimao, Algarve, Portugal. Photograph by Nuno Vasco Rodrigues. 
Figure 10. Serranus hepatus from Croatia, Adriatic Sea. Photo by Robert A. Patzner. 
