IWAMOTO & WIRTZ: SYNOPSIS OF EASTERN ATLANTIC SERRANUS 
23 
onal streak running from upper edge of maxillary, across lower edge of preopercle, across interop- 
ercle and branchiostegal rays, to base of pelvic fin, and enclosing white of preopercle, interopercle 
and chest. 
Description. — Body relatively slender to moderately deep and compressed, width over 
pectoral bases about half of HL, greatest body depth about 2.7-3.2 in SL and less than HL, which 
is about 2.4-2.6 in SL. Dorsal and ventral profiles gently curved from tip of snout to caudal fin. 
Snout shorter in length than orbit diameter; both substantially more than interorbital width. Lower 
jaw projecting slightly beyond upper jaw; maxilla extending to below posterior half of pupil. 
Anterior nostril tubular, the rim posteriorly elevated into a high narrow flap with 4-6 long slender 
cirri at distal tip; posterior nostril lacking raised rim. Opercular spines three, the uppermost small 
and often obscure, middle spine longest. Preopercle margin serrated with flattened spines, those at 
angle largest. 
Premaxillary teeth in narrow band, the outer series spaced and slightly enlarged; one or more 
large canines at anterior end. Dentary with a band of small teeth flanked by a series of slightly 
enlarged outer teeth that become larger posteriorly. Vomerine tooth band broadly V-shaped, each 
arm followed by narrow band of small palatine teeth. First four to five spines of dorsal fin gradu¬ 
ated, the 3 rd to 5 th spines longest, the spines following subequal; the soft rays slightly higher than 
longest spines, the 3 rd to 5 th ray longest; a slight notch in fin profile. Anal fin relatively high, its 
posterior tip somewhat pointed; spines shorter than soft rays, the first spine more than half length 
of second and third spines, the second spine longer and stouter than the others. Pectoral fin broad- 
based, its origin about on same vertical as that of dorsal and pelvic fins; the tip of pectoral fin 
extends to, or almost to, anus, that of pelvic fin falls short of anus, both fins falling well short of 
anal-fin origin. Caudal fin truncate; dorsal lobe slightly pointed, ventral lobe rounded at tip. 
Scales ctenoid, body fully covered; head naked over snout, interorbital, suborbital region, 
outer margin of preopercle and over subopercle. Small scales on interradial membranes of dorsal 
fin, mostly confined to basal one-fourth to one-half of soft rays, but a few on membrane between 
spines. Anal and caudal fms also with small scales at base, but on caudal fin, scales extending more 
distally. Scales on pectoral fin limited to immediate base of fin. 
Color highly variable : in a fresh specimen from Sao Tome Island (CAS 227751, 56.6 mm SL) 
dorsal aspects of head and body grayish brown to olive, this color extending down sides of head 
onto entire surface of opercle and most of preopercle but not interopercle and jaws; on body the 
ground color extends to mid-lateral line, below which the color becomes whitish to reddish and is 
dissected by seven or eight broad, red or brownish vertical bands that originate along dorsal 
outline of body and extend dorsally onto base of dorsal fin and ventrally to, or near, ventral 
outline. A faint brownish longitudinal stripe runs from upper lobe of opercle just above mid-later¬ 
al line to caudal fin base. Upper and lower lips deep red, but marked with dark bluish-gray bands 
and spots; lower lip with few faint bands or spots. A prominent red diagonal stripe from upper edge 
of maxillary, across interopercle, branchiostegal rays, and chest to base of pelvic fin. A short 
tapered moustache-like red streak behind end of maxilla, running across hind margin of dentary 
and almost meeting opposite streak at median-ventral line (see Fig. 18). Two other diffuse diago¬ 
nal red streaks behind lower half of opercle extend onto pectoral-fin base. Branchiostegal rays, 
gular membrane, ramus of lower jaw, chest, and antero-ventral parts of belly white except where 
marked by red streaks. Soft dorsal and anal fins dark grey-brown with small orange spots that form 
narrow, broken, diagonal to horizontal lines on fins. Pectoral fin clear with orange tint. Pelvic fins 
dusky with small orange spots; caudal fin yellow on upper and lower lobes, membrane between 
rays clear with small orange spots that form vertical lines on tail. 
In a photograph of a 35.3 mm SL specimen (CAS 227758) (Fig. 19) from Principe (Isla 
