IWAMOTO & WIRTZ: SYNOPSIS OF EASTERN ATLANTIC SERRANUS 
15 
(fleshy) slightly less than orbit diameter; lower jaw projecting slightly beyond upper jaw; maxilla 
extending to below midorbit. Anterior nostril with raised rim, posteriorly becoming a narrow flap 
with 2—4 small fingerlike cirri or papillae at tip. Opercular spines three, the uppermost poorly 
developed and obscure, middle spine long and flat, the lowermost much smaller but evident. 
Preopercle margin serrated with flattened spines, those at angle largest. 
Premaxillary teeth in narrow band, the outer series spaced and slightly enlarged with one or 
more large canines at anterior end where tooth band is broadest. Dentary teeth in band, with a 
spaced series of slightly enlarged outer teeth flanking small inner series in band, and largest teeth 
posteriorly in an irregular series. Vomerine teeth in broadly V-shaped band; a narrow band of small 
palatine teeth following close behind each end of vomerine band. 
Small scales cover most of head (including interorbital space and fully scaled interopercle), 
body, and basal parts of all fins, but not snout, suborbital, jaws, gular and branchiostegal 
membranes, and free margin of preopercle, which are naked. 
First 4-6 spines of dorsal fin graduated, the 6 th through 8 th spines usually longest, the spines 
following subequal; the soft rays about equal to or slightly higher than longest spines. Anal-fin 
rounded posteriorly; its spines much shorter than soft rays, the first spine somewhat more than half 
length of second and third spines, the anterior and middle soft rays longest. Pectoral fin broad- 
based, its origin about on same vertical as that of pelvic and dorsal fins; the pectoral and pelvic fins 
falling far short of anus. Caudal fin slightly emarginate. 
Color (Figs. 9, 10) brownish-yellow or silvery with four or five prominent dark vertical bands; 
band below soft dorsal fin broadest and darkest, bifurcating dorsally to surround elongated black 
ocellus on soft dorsal fin, band ventrally entering basal half of anal fin. Band on nape often 
obscure; a small dark spot often present on caudal peduncle. Three or four narrow copper, gold, or 
brownish diagonal streaks on cheeks; the lowermost streak running from tip of snout to below orbit 
to lower comer of gill cover. Soft dorsal and caudal fins pale orange, peppered with small white 
spots. Pectoral fin clear. Pelvic fins black, sometimes with pale to white base and leading edge. 
Basal half of anal fin black, distal half dusky to clear. 
Size: To about 25 cm TL. 
Habitat and distribution. — Over seagrass, sand, mud, and rocks from coast to about 
100 m. Portugal to Senegal; also Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. 
Remarks. — Meisler (1987:163) reported that the nasal flap is simple, but we found one to 
four fingerlike cirri on the nasal flap of our larger specimens from CAS 20741; the small speci¬ 
mens from USNM 198923 showed little development of cirri. 
Specimens examined (10 spec.).— Mediterranean Sea: CAS-SU 20741 (6, 53.8-88.8 mm 
SL); Italy; Naples; collector E.C. Starks. USNM 198923 (4,35.4-38.0 mm SL), Lebanon, Antelias; 
coll. C. J. George, 10 July 1963. 
Serranus ( Paracentropristis ) heterurus Cadenat, 1937 
Figures 11-12 
Paracentropristis heterurus Cadenat, 1937:456—457, figs 13-14 (Guinea; 38-65 m). Cadenat and Marchal 
1963:1274 ( S. sanctaehelenae distinguished from S. heterurus ). 
Serranus heterurus'. Heemstra and Anderson 2016:241 l(in part; descr. and fig. of S. inexpectatus n.sp.; coast 
of Guinea to Congo; 25-30 m). Wirtz and Iwamoto 2016: figs 12-15 (comparison with S. pulcher; spec¬ 
imens from Senegal, Cape Verde Is., Sao Tome I, and Guinea) 
Diagnosis.— D X,12; P 14-15 (rarely 17), usually 14; A III,7; gill rakers 6-8+15-17 (21-25 
total); pored lateral-line scales 45^47; circumpeduncular scales 19-23; scales below origin of first 
dorsal fin 5-6. Caudal fin tmncate, the upper lobe slightly pointed and produced, lower lobe round- 
