00047.pdf

ATOLL RESEARCH BULLSTIN
No. 47
Fishes of the Gilbert Islands
John E. Randall -
Issued by
THE PACIFIC SCIENCE BOARD
National Academy of Sciences--National Elesearch Council
VJashington, D. C.
nugust 31, 1955

It is a pleasure to commend the far-sighted policy of the
Office of Naval Research, with its emphasis on basic research,
as a resu.1t of which a grant has made possible the continuation
of the Coral Atoll Program of the Pacific Science Board.
It is of interest to note, historically, that much of the
fundamental information on atolls of the Pacific was gath~red by
the U. S. Navy's South Pacific Exploring Expedition, over one
hundred years ago, under the command of Captain Charles Wilkes.
The continuing nature of such scientific interest by the Navy
is shown.by the support for the Pacif5.c Science Board's research
programs, CINA, SIN, acd ICCP, during the past seven years. The
Coral Atoll Program is a part of SIM.
The preparation and. issuance of this Bulletin is assisted
by funds from Contract N7onr-29154.
The sole responsibility for all staterncnts made by authors
of papers in the Atoll Research Bulletin rests with them, and
do not necessarily represent the vievrs of the Pacific Science
Board or of the editors of the Bulletin.
Editorial Staff
F; R. Fosberg, editor
M. H. Sachet, assistant editor
Correspondence concerning the Atoll Research Bulletin should
be addressed to the above
c/o Pacific Science Eoard
National Research Council
2101 Constitution Avenue, N. It?.
liasnington 25, D. C., U.S.A.

FISHES OF THE GILSERT ISLANDS
by John E. Randall
Department of Zoology and Erltnmology
University of Sawaii
IIonolulu 14, T. H.
Submitted as a report for the Office of Naval Research
Contract No. 685 (00)
. .
Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted for
any puispcse of the United States Government.

TABLE OF CONTXTS
Page nmber
Acknowled~ments . ........................ iv
Introduction ........................... v
Parnil.v
Orcctolobidae ........................ 1
Triakidae ........................... 2
Carcharhinidae ....................... 2
Kyliobatidae ......................... 3
iviobu.lidae ............................ 4
Clupeidae ............................ 4
Dussumieridae ........................ 5 .
Chanidae ............................ 6
Synodontidae ......................... 6
Kuraenidae ........................... 7
Ophichthidae ......................... 20
Moringuidae .......................... 23
Auiostom? . .dae ......................... 25
Fistulariidae ........................ 26
Syngnathidae ......................... 26
Belonidae ............................ 27
Hemiramphidae ........................ 29
Exocoetidae .......................... 31
Holocentridae ........................ 33
Nugilidae ............................ 43
Atherinidne .......................... 46
Sphvraenidae ......................... 46
Serranidae ........................... 47
Pseudochromidae ...................... 62
Apogonidae ........................... 65
Kuhilidae ............................ 79
Priacanthidae 80
. .
........................
Scombridae ............. .............. 81 .
Histiophoridae ....................... 82
Gempylidae ........................... 83
Carangidae ........................... 83
Lutjanidae ........................... 90
Leiognathidae ........................ 102
P4ullidae ............................. 103
Pempheridae .......................... 107
Pomacentridae ........... . .......... 108
Walacanthidae ........................ 132
Labridae ............................. 132
Scaridae ............................. 153
Kyphosidae ........................... 157
Chaetodontidae ....................... 158
Ephippidae ........................... 168
Zanclidae ............................ 169
Acanthuridae ......................... 171
Teuthididae (Sigan2dae) .............. 192
Cirrhitidae .......................... 193
i i

TbBLE OF CONTBNTS
.
Pas nmb e r
Scorpaenidae ........................ 199
Platycephalidae ..................... 203
Caracanchidae ....................... 203
Eiothidae 20k
............................
Pleuronectidae ...................... 205
Echeneidae .......................... 206
Gobi.idae ............................ 206
Eleotrid9.e .......................... 206
Brotulid2.e ......................... 206
Parapercidae ......................... 208
Blenniidae .......................... 208
Tripterygiidae ...................... 215
...........................
Carapidae 215
Balistidne .......................... 217
Mona-canthid-ae ....................... 227
Ostracionidae ....................... 231
Canthigasterida-e ..................... 232
Tetraodontidae ............. ; ........... 233
Antennariidae ......... .. ..... . . . .... 236
Gilbertese fish names'. ................. . . 238
Food habits (index to species '
investigated ) . ............. . . 241 .
. . .
References.... 242 .
.........................
. .
..
iii

The present systematic vrork' constitutes the final report
for a part of the research conducted under Contrect 695(00)
between the Office of Naval Research of tile Navy Deywtment
and the University'of Hawaii; '~t . is based largely on a
collection'of fishes made by the author while a member of
an expedition to the Gilbert Is!.ands in 1951, the second in
a series of five in connection vith the Coral Atoll Research
Project.of the Pacific Science Board of the National Research
Council. The field vork in the Gilberts VJ~S supported 3y
Contract N7onr-29101+ (MR 089 001.) Setveen the Office of Naval
Research of the Navy Depart~ment and the Xational Academy of
Sciences.
The study of the fishes has been undertaken at both the'
University cf Hawaii and the United St?.tes National Nuseum.
I am very gi.a.tefW for the guidance of Dr. Villiam A. Gosline
of the University of Hawaii who has supervised much of this
w . Dr. Leonard P. Schultz, the Curator of Fishes of the
United States National Pluseum, Dr. Ernest A. Lachner and"
others of the National. Museum have been most cooperative.
Dr. Schultz has nade the extensive collections of fishes of
the northern Marshall Islands and the manuscripts of his
work and that of his collaborators on these fishes freely
available to me. The identifications of Gilbert Islands.
parrot fishes (Scaridae) and frog fishes (Antennariidae) ,
difficult taxonomic goup, were made Fy Dr. Schultz who is
monographing these families. The gobies and eleotrids from
the Gilberts will be worked up by Dr. Lachner and the results
incor?orated. with Bikini material for volume 2 of ..----.- Fishes - of
-
the P!Iarshall and Marianas Islands. Dr. Lachner kindly con-
firmed my ide?kt?fGiios 3-ihTgoatfishes (family Nullidae)
for this report. Dr. Earl S. Herald identified the seven
specimens of pipefishes from Onotoa. The identifications
and meristic data of the blennioid fishes (families Blenniidae
and Tripterygiidae) were made by Dr. D. 1. Strasburg.
I wish to express thanks to the former director, A. B.
Walkom and the ichthyologist, Gilbert P. Whitley of the
Australian hsewn for the loan of a collection of fishes ma-de
in the Gilbert Islands by Dr. R. Catala.
My associates in the field, Dr. Preston E. Cloud Jr.! the
leader of the expedition, Dr. Albert H. Banner, the senlor
marine zoologist, Dr. D. !". Strasburg, Dr. 1'. H. Goodenough,
and Dr. E. T. iYoul were most helpful. in innumerable ways.
Special thanks are due Mr. Harold. Coolidge, Miss Ernestine
Akers, and Mrs. Lenore Smith of the Pacific Science Boa.rd
who worked tirelessly organizing and equiping the expedition.
Assistance was also provided by personnel bf the Armed Forces.
In the Gilbert Islends the Colony Lands Commissioner B?.
Richard Turpin and his wife at Onotoa and the British officials
at Tarawa were exceedingly cooperative.

The Gilbert Islands are 8 part- of the Gilbert and Ellice
Islands Crown Colony of Great 3ritain. They lie in the
Pacific Ocean directly southeastof the Marshall 1slan.d~
and straddle the equator from 3 decrees North Latitude to
3 degrees South Latitude. All are low islands and nost are
atolls. They are densely inhcbited by Nicroneslan people
who are greatly dependent on the sea for food.
In 1951 e research tea10 of six men was sent by th.e Pacific
Science Board of the National Research Council to the Gilbert
Islands, specifically Onotoa (lo 4.7'3. , 175' 32' e. ) , where
froa June 2L to August 30 a general study of the geology,
biology, nnd anthropology of the atoll wa:; made. The author
was given the task of studying the fishes and native fishing
methods. In view of the paucity of records of fishex from
the Gilbert Islands, the necessary first step was tho
collection and identification of the fishes of the area.
The limited time in the field did not permit much investige-
.,tion beyond this approach: therefore the present report is
largely systematic. A preliminary report on the marine
biology -of Onotoa hus been published (&.nner and Randall,
1952). The' section of fishes was devoted mainly to fishing
ffiethods of the. GilbNr$€se .'j: An approx.j.ma te breakdown of the
number of species of fishes taken in each fagily was given,
end the metho&@ of. collecting fishes' were Bescr'ibed .
. .. :.
. , .
This constitutes the final ' report on the ichthyofauna of
the Gilbert Islands. The majority of the s,peciruons reported
'on are from Onotoa. A: few were taken at Tarawa and Uutaritari
(kiaicin). Specimens of 98 species of fishes (excluding gobies
and eleotrids) were collected in 1951 by R. Oatala at Tarawa,
Abeo~ama (I;ydrogra,bhic Of ?ice chart spelling, Aparsama) , i\lulcun~u,
and Maralrei (t;ee Figure -1). The Catala col1ectio.n wws losned
by G. P. Whitley of the Austyhlian ?~Iuseura in order that 11;
might be combined with the: crjll.ections made by the author.
.. . ,
"I: WAS h to. report sn error which appeared on page tc3. ,The
Resident Comlissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Colony, through Mr. R. Davies, informe'd me that the outrigger
canoes on Onotoa are not built of .kustraliaa plunk lumber
but Canadian re& wood which is irnrorted. both by way of Ocenn
Islanfi and T~raWn.. Also it was felt that my stateraent on
page 57 conceyning the short tins required by the Onotoan
fisherman for his del.1~ catch of fish should be qualified by
adding lrwhen tides, weather, etc. are suitable". I concur
. .
in thin.

'Ilso inchded are all records of ~ilbert'"fs1ands fishes
fro% the i.iter,t~;rs vrlhich ny,pear to be valiil. Those with
insufficient descripti.ve in.fol-mtion which could be confused
with closely releted forms a.re excluded. In. spite of my
caution, some misidentifict.,tions probably occur among the
I.iteiaature records I. haw chosen to in.cor.~or&e.
A list of ~rorlts in which .Giihert Islands fishes are cited
is given et tie end of this ~e9or.t. Only three of these
cptain mcre than a few records of f ishas from the Gilberts:
Gunl;hert s Andrew Garrett1 s Fische dgr &clue (1873-1910),
Fowlert s FEsh=-'of
. --- ~'Clc-6,?nia -.- -. -- , .-- mYTjT- and i:'ni.tl.ey arxl Colef ax'
F's&es£~o~?Iz~~y, Gilbe~t - - . . . .- - Islanc's - . . . -- -, - .j" rkeania -.-a (1938). Like
dhher, Fowler based his Gilbert ;!ail s Tish records on
the specimens collected by Gar~ett. He examined many of
these a-t the Nuseum of Compa.rati~e Zoology, Harvard College.
Although he duplicat.ed many of Gunther s references to fishes
from the G$lberts;. some..'original records are to be credited
.to him. Gunther. oi"ten'ge$~eralized on the range of wid.ely
distrib~ted species wher,eas Fo@.er Listed most of the localities
by island kroups. 'Both Gunther and Fovrler often employed
the 10c.al.ity nmk Kingsmill Islands. This is probably
equivalent to the Gilbert Islands as a whole; however
the nme Kingsmills 1ia.s 'also been ap~lied to Tabiteuea and
subordinate islands t-rithin the Gilberts. Therefore all.
locality records of Kingsmill Islands are cited as such.
Whitley and Colefax added new records to those already ltnown
for DIa.uru 2nd reviewed the literature for reportsof -collections
of fishes from this island and Ocean Island. The most
important prior work was that of Waite (1903). Although ,
Nauru and Ocean lie about 370 and 220 miles, respectively,
from the nearest of the Gilbert Islands proper, they are often
treated as oart of the Gilbert Islands. Therefore I am
including hkrein the seemin~ly authentic records from IJhitley
and Colefax. These should be regarded with even more suspicion
than records from Fowler, however, for most are mere
listings of the scientific names of fishes without any descriptive
d.ata. Kr. Whitley has informed me by letter that
the majority of the specimefis of the Australian Museum upon
which theNauru-Ocean study was based are no longer in
existence.
When specimens 0f.a species reported in the literature
were availeble to me, the previous records are not included,
generally, unless there is a disparity in nomenclature to
which I wish to call attention.
No new syecies are described in this report.
A total of 396 species of inshore marine and pelagic fishes
are here recorded from the Gilbert Islends. !n estimated 16
more in the families, Gobiidne and Eleotridae will be reported
on by E. A. Lachner in volwne 2 of .- F5 shes - of -- the - Narshall

and I'tai-j. anas I sl-nds . It should 'be 'emphasized that this is
- -.-
not even a near-definitive Xis-&of.all the snecies ufnich
occur in the Gilberts, a fa& rd1ic6 is readily apparent u~hen
the number of species in alnogt ariy.family of fishes from the
northern PIarshall Islands trea-ted by SCliul'cz and collaborators
(1953) is comj;ared wLth the same family i.n this report'.
The fish fauna of the oceanic islancls of the tropical Paci.f
ic is .particularly uniform (.the Hawaiian Islands excepted)
for so vast an area. It is therkfore not surpsisin~ that the
fishes of the Gilbert Islamds are'very pimilar to those of
the I'rial-shall Islanc'.s, espen,i$.lly since only about 170 miles
separate the northern Gilberts from th:: southern ?.krshalls.
The similarity was evident from underwater observation by the
writer in the southern Marshalls prior to and follow&ng the
expedition to Onotoa. Subsequent study of the Gilberts collections
and comparison with Piarshall Islands material clearly
demonstrated the hi&.percentage of species of fishes common
to both island groups, Disparity in the recorded faunas,,such
2s the greater number of species known from the P.farshalls, is
undou.bt&dly a result of fifferences in the intensi-ty of collecting.
Of t,he species from the Gilberts of which I have
seen syecimens, only 31 in the families treated by Schultz
et .- -- 2.1 in volume 1 of Ei_s_hes p_f_ $ug %shI?11 and Marianas
1sl.ands are here listed from the Gilbert Islands and are unrecorded
from the northern Marshalls. These are as follows:
Anthias ssamipinnis
Ptirolabrichc& ---- -- tuka
kpogon auritus
Anogo~? Zorvss
- Pseudami-a oolystigma
Gymnapogon philippinus
ht 'anus vaiciens*
~ -- ~ ~ a ----- . e r u ~ a u r e u s
--- Gerres oblongus
Chaetodon - bennetti - .--
--~-.- Chaetodon va~abun*
-.--- Chaetodon - melreri L-;-
Heniochus .- acum~natus
Peniochus varius
Acanthurus maculiceps
*- - -
Paracanthurus beoatus
----..--.- --
Nine of the above, N. kunzel, C.chanos., g. mAc.r-o,ogr€es,
- . Uts, 2. -- tuka, G: ohilioqiny, - L. - vaigiensis, C.
vagabunds, and 2. meveri --- have been recorded by U. I.!:
Strasburg from the southern'Marshal1 Islands in a mimeographed
report for the Office of Neval Research. Most of the rest
will probably ultimately be taken from the Marshalls for they
are known from other island goups in Oceania. .Only
-- Ceohalopholis hemist2Gs, &$kik.is sauamipinnig, Pseudamia
&sit*m-n, Aca.nthurus - maculiceps, and - Paracanthurus hepatus
are here recorded from the Gilbert Islands and not elsewnere
from oceanic islands of the Pacific.
-----

viii
'Nearly all of .t.!?e Gilbert 1sla:lds fishes listed ip..tbe
present i-el~ort are cilso :?ound in 'the Indo-Pialavan reo'ion.
This is co&rary to Ekrnan
who states, "In 1905 Jorden
from Samoa of which 92 (0;. 19;5) were nefhr to sci&cel alt$fough
they be1onr:ed -. to In-10-Austmlian o'werasif - "The great - number !
of endemic species among t,l2e Samoan fish fauna which we have
just mentioned suggests that the present faunistic connections
between I?ol.yn~s5.a-!4icronesia.'ana the Ia&-Austrclian centre of
distribution are rather weak. I-t is unfortunate that Zltman
chose the work of Jordan and Seale upon ~,~rhich to draw conclusions
concerning the zoogeography of marine fishes in the tropical
Pacific, for manyor" the spec-ies described as new by these
auLhors are no longer valid (or are 'valid but h?.ve tcrned up
in the Indo-IvInlapan region). 65 of their new soecies are' listed
as synonyms hy the autgors of - he Fishes..of - y~iie-Indo-A:ustra.lian - -..-
- Archiqe&o (Ueber., de Beanfort, Ghapman arid.~oumans~Itcjll-~
195% and%y Schultz :and collaborators 11953) and by Fowler
(1928). Species pl.aced in synonymy by one of these authors
(except Fowler) bbt recognized as gooil s?ecies by others are
not included amone the 65. Althou~h some of these 65 - svnonvms "
may ultimately prove to be valid s5ecies, still others not Get
in synonymy will probably become synonyms.
. .
Although there is no large number of species apparently
endemic to Oceania in general,-a sufficient number exists to
indicate that some :>.re Eruly confined to.the oceanic islands
of the tropical PacLfic. A few of these, apparent examples
being - Acanthurus . . achilles 1 I Pomacentrus -.- ---- vaiuli, and Apo~on
snx~der&, are abundant in themific. All. such species need
not be i-egarded.as truly endemic in the sense chat they arose
in Oceania. It :is,possible that some' of them v,ere once present
in the Inclo-?.lalayanregion. but are surviving only in the Pacific.
. .. . .
Endemic species' of- fishes with pela.=ic larvae. would not be
expected, a ~riori, to arise in the waters of the isLands of
most of 0czani.p because of insufficient isolation. Of the
major island groups in Oceania, only the Hawaiian Islands are
well isolated,.:,and.the high percentage of endemism in Hawaiian
fishes attests .to: the efficacy of such isolation. . '
One possible means of increasing the number :.oi sp'ecies of
fishes peculiar to broad are.as of 0ceani.a rr.aki?s use of 1ia.waiian
endemism. If a s?ecies of fish of the wcstel-n Pacific reached
the Haws-iian Archipelqo at such icfrequcnt intervals that it
was effectively isol2tecl in FIevraii and ~vc,lv$&, to a., degree that
it was no longer cnpable of interbreeding wi%h theprogenitor
stock, it mi.:b.t i:lva.de more southern and. iiestern area.$ .f'rom
Hawaii if a nzche mre available. A.oo~on, s:?ycl.eri - - . -.- - md &cgon
menesemus represmt possibxe exa.mples 0%' this mcde of e.v.olution
and distribution (see discussion under 1:. -.A sn~rderi)
._I.. .;
The .enormous number of. s~ecies of marine organ?sms of the
In@o-Malayan .. . region, along with a large number pecuTiar to this
.. . .

area, has led to its designation as the center of distribution
of the Indo-Pacific fauna. It is generally accepted that most
of the fishes of Oceania have been distributed out into the
Pacific from the East Indies and Philippines. Since these
islands are not isolated from other islands or continents, the
explanation of the evolution which has occurred in these waters
would se6m to demand some effective means of isolation within
the area. The islands are numerous, voic~aic, and many are
large. It is known that they have been variously connected in
the past. It is not difficult to suppose that good-sized arms
of the sea night have bcen Ssolated for long periods of time.
Perhaps even the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans were separated
by land, resulting in a situation comparable to that at
the isthmus of Panama (v~itness the geminate species of Jordan) .
The identifications of the fishes in this report and the
original citations of the renera and saecies are based 1ar.celv v e
on Golume 1 of Fishes --- of tge Marshall - 'and -.--.- Narianas --- 1sl.nrids
(1953) by Schultz -- et a1 and the manuscripts to volume 2. This
work supercedes Schultzf -- Fishes - of the Phoenix and Samoan
--* -- - ---
Islends (1943) as the most imoortant and useful taxonomic
treatise of the fishes of the* oceanic islands of the tropical
Pacific (except Ha.waii) . As pointed out by Schultz (1953: xix)
the vast Indo-Pacific fauna cannot be interpreted on a local
basis. More than most authors of faunalstudies, Schultz
have not restricted themselves to the mere tagging of species
with the most convenient names at hand'but have attempted tentstive
revisions of many of the genera. Complete revisions are,
of course, beyond. the scope of their study. In saite of the
great improvement. they have brought to the systematics of
fishes in Oceania, many of the groupstreated are in need of
further revision, not'from the faunal approach, however, but
on a world-wide basis. Therefore some of the names in F '
of the Marsl~all and Ikriams Islmds and hence of this report
will eventually be changed.
-- - -
In my write-up, I have sought to provide sufficienz diagnostic
information for each species to enable subsequent workers
to resol.ve their identity with assurance, name changes notwithstanding.
The importance of coloration as a factor in the
recognition of fishes has been stressed by Schultz (z. *:
xix). A detailed color description alone will serve to distinguish
the majority of the species herein, even from closely
rela-ted forms. I have therefore placed considerable emphasis
on color. The life colors of many of the species are given
from notes made when they were collected, The colors of still
more are described. from 35 mrn Kodachrome transparencies taken
by me in the Gilberts. Some of these descriptions re9resent
the'first,records of the color in life of the species. Meristic
data are tabulated for. the.following families: Exocoetidae,
Cirrhitidae, Pomacentridae; Acanthuridae, Balistidae, PIonacanthidae,
and Tetraodontidae. These tables appear at the end of
the respective family sections. The counts made for other

families are given for the individual species in abbreviated
style after the li~tiny of t~~enw:aiier ofss?zc.'-mcns examined
and th,? island vl~ere collecfsd. The numbe'r oi" specimens on
whhich counts were made is ii.ldj.cated in ?arenthesis following
the counts. Tco few species have Seen collected in the Gilbeyt
Islands from. most of tlle f 2;ni-lies to arrant the. preparat'ion .
of keys, Rqys are. given onLy forthe Apogonir?.ae, Cirrhitidae,
Pomzcentrid?e, .Acmthurluae, Balistidae, and Fonacanthidae,
Generally, the ke?s $reser,ted by Schultz - et -- a1 r:orl: very .hell
for the identificat,ion o'f Gilbert Islands fishes.
A l l lengths of'...spec j~i~ens a1.e stmdtrd length. Gill raker
counts include all'~i-~~dim~cts.,,,',~~~l~en
a single number is given,
it represents tile total count on the first gill arch. Counts
of pectoml . . fin rays include nQ elements. ' ,
tji, .
In addition to descriptive data, thcre are ofcen;'rernarks
on the relative abund.ance of the species, and the meas within
the atolls where they were collecf,ecl a.nd/or observed are
usually give.n. No field data of any sort were available'
with the fishes collected by Catala, however. 1% should be
noted that -the relative abundance of many of the'-species
varied nmrkedly frorn.atoll to atoll and even at wtiat seemed . .
to be equiv~lent~localities. yi.thin the &me atoll. @s,o the, . .
listing of the .$.re2 where a particular species was coll$cted;;, . , , ,j: .
or observed doesno$ iit@.y that this area represents %!ie , .
physical habitat'o~,the..species, although such is probably , ,., , .
often the case.' a . ,
The areas ' from which ' s$ecies of fishes were taken were
usually designated by the foflowing: lagoon (with qualifications),
chanf?@l', outer reef fla.t, surge channel, corallif erous . , '
terrace'(outer:reefbeneh)', or pelasic (open sea). Figure 2 . .
may assist thri'reader in visualizirig'tl~ese locelities. The . . .
,.
lagoon'is' th bod? of water en'closed by the ri.ng of coral
.
. .
reef and islands that comprise' th&'a.toll. Onotoa is lacking, . , '. .
land area on the lek or southi~est side of the atoll; nqver- . . ,.
theless the custommy reef ohws-here to more or+ less.:com- . .. ,: . .
-
plete the ring. The lagoon side of t5is reef is designated
lagoon or west reef (no collections were made from the ocean
or weskern side of this' r'cief). : 3uch of th6 0notoa.lagoon is
shallovr and sandy with only occasional isolated coral ?cads.
reachiiig n&ar the surface.' The greatest depth is 8 f&homs.
.. Channels connectlnz th.e lagoon and the open' sea are very . . . .,. ..
..,,. shallow on the tieGther or northeast side of the atoll; they . .
. .
are usually exposed or tiearl$ .exposed at low tide. Breaks . .
or passes through the reef on $l$alee side are of greater
depth, up to 2 fathoms or mor'e.' The 'term outer reef is ap- .:
plied to reef areas outside of the Tagoori. Extending out . . .
from shore on the nesther,side of- the atoll there is a'reef , . , , : ..
fl~t which varies .l"rom about '600 to 2000 feet in width.', It "
is entirely covered at high tide' and'exp6secl~v~ith numerous
~.
. ..
.
shallow tide~~ools at low tide. The outer edge of this reef
, : f . .
. .. . . ..!.'.,
... . ,
. ,.. . .
> .
, ,
... .
.. . , ..
. .

is dissected v&th highly tortuous surge channels of about 40
to 30 feet in length and sloping from about 4 feet in depth
dovm to 8 or 10 feet at the reef front. Surf breaks heavi.1~
against the reef front and sweeps into the surge cl~nnnels.
The reef zrea between the surge channcls is somewhat elevated
and pink in color due to the encrusting growth of coralline
red algae, largely wlithon. Behind the surge channel area
there is a distinct shallow depression in the reef flat, the
so-called. back ridp trou,~h. Beyond the surge channel zone is
the coralliferous terrace sloping from 8 or 10 feet down to
about 50 feet in de?th over a distance of about 200feet or
more. This bench ends suddenly with a cliff-like drop into
deep water. The coralliferous terrace is very rich in coral
growth, being dominated by low flattened stands of Aci-opora.
It possesses An abundant and highly varied fish fauna. Un-
fortunately it was not adequately sampled. For a more de-
tailed account of the geology and marine environments of Onotoz.,
see Cloud 11952).
An analysis of the stomach contents of some of the fishes .
was made, especially when a surplus of specimens was available.
The local Gilbertese names for fishes are recorded on
pages 238 to 24.0. These were obtained by interviews with
natives on Onotos. It tras found that many of the smaller
species had no names. Collect?-ng ririth rotenone resulted in
the taking of many iishes which the natives had never seen
and for which they obviously had no names. There was not al-
ways complete agreement among the Gil.bertese on Onotoa for
their names of fishes. Also it is expected that considerable
variation of local names will be found from atoll to atoll.
The first series of specimens from the Onotoa fish col-
lection is deposited. in the United States National Nuseun in
Vashin~ton, D. C. The bulk of this series is cataloged under
U.S.P?.lL numbers 167177 to 167553; A second series is lo-
cated at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu. The Catala col-
lection was returned to the Australian Museum at Sydney.
Tbe typewritten field notes are on file at the Division of
Fishes, United States National Nuscum,

. I ,
,
ONOTOA ATOLL
Adapted from a map by
P. E. Cloud, Jr.
Roman numerals I to X
indicate location of
, fish poison stations
\ \
0 1 2
I I
Miles

Ginglynostoma M6ller and Henle 1837. Sitz-Ber. Ada. :~ss.
Berlin, p. 113. (Type species Squnlus --- cirratus
3snnaterrs).
Scylliurn ferrugineun Lesson 1.830. Bogage eutaur du msnde...
''Csq~ille'~, Zool., vol. 2, pt. 1, p. 95. (Type locality,
Port i'raslin, New Ireland and Offack 3ny, "iaigiu) .
Snout blunt, the distonce from !;i~ 1;;) mauth a~erture 26
ran; interorbital. space 90 mi: eye small, its greatest
dianeter 9 mm; swi?acle 13 mm behind eye nnd slightly
ventral to eye, it:; dinineter about 2 urn; third gill opening
just above srigin of pectoral fin; fourth and rifth gill
'openings close together; length of first gill oyning 21 im,
of lsst 22 mil; horizontal distance from snout to first gill
opening 1.22 xu?; nasal openinc with an elongate papilla, 15
ma in length; all fins pointed, posterior margins s1iahtI.y
cancave; origin of first dorsal fin slightly in advance of
sri6;in of pelvic fins; origin of secxid dorsal fin about
:...
15 to 20 1x3 5.11. advance or origin of anal fin; length of
caudal fin frou origin oL' lov~er lobs to outer tip sf upper
lobe 275 {an; tip of caudal fin bilabed ventrally, tile outer
lsb6 c'uout Sm xide, $he inner about 17 mm; teeth srnall
(me upper tooth measured 1.5 mi in heifrht and 2.5 nm in
~~idth), the margin rounded, with l!+. denticulatisns; centerrnoat
derlticul~ltisn about tw:i.ce a'; broadas adjaccrit
denticulations and prajectini: sliqiltly
. .- more than others.
. ..
Color yellowish brown, shading ta tan ventrally.
The specimen w3s captured by a Gilbertese nativi: who
grabbed it by the tail when he observed the shzrk wiLh its
head I.n a hole in the. c~ral, appzrontly trying to feed an
fish pois~ned by rotenone. The paison station was run on
the ].agoon side.of the west reef in about 5 feet of water.
Thc shark seemed quite unaffected by the rotenone.
This specimen compares closely with the description given
by Schultz (1953: l,.) for an 885 LUJ specimen of the species.
The most notable difference is in the teeth. 3chultz states
that the teeth of his specimen had a centrnl. pointed cu.sn.,
notsbly wrojecting. In my s~.ecimen there is a broad cgntral
denticulatian, but it projects only slightly rrmore than the
others. I was unable to locate the bead of the 2260 r?m
specimen from Bikini in the U. 9. National Nuseum for direct

comparisoii. The 885 iilm Bikini specinen is at the University
of %shington and was riot seen by ms.
' f
Wiaenodon - Muller and I-ienle. 1817. Stz-.-13er. AseCr.. 7:!iss.
f
Serlin, p. 117. (~ype species, --- Csrcharins obcsus ~uppell)
- -.-
Triaenodon obesus , .
Carcharias obesus dppe!.l 1835. Neus Virbelth, Fische. p. 6&,
pl. 18, Pig. %. (~gpe locality, 3ed sea).
Ro specinens of this blunt-nosed sgecies were secured;
however, it was often seen in both the outer reef ayeas and
tile lagoon. T!?e tips of the dorsal fins end both. lobes of
the caudal fin were white and in sherp cmtrast to the dark
gray color of there,st of the shark.
: ,
Genus CkRCEIiRliIK[J:3
Carcharhinus Blainville 1816. 321. Sot. Philo~fi., p. 121.
(Tyj,~ species, 3qualus cocmersonii Zairiville) .
--
Carcharbinus menisorrah
Carcharias (l2riodon) -- nienisorrab. dhler and ~enle l8k1, Syst.
Heschreibung Hngiosto:aen, p. 46, pl. 17. (Type locality,
Java, Australia, and Red Sea).
1 cipecirrsn (dorsal fin, caudal fin, arid part of upper
jaw only). estiveted length6 f eet. Onatoa.
The specimen via:; seen only after it wes cut into pieces
by Gilbcrtesa fishermen. It -vm:; dark gray in colsr. Tho
larr;cst upper teet.11. rleasure 9 nt the base and 5.5 mm in
vertical height Srm the Gums; edge of these teeth serrated,
the serrations becor~~ing very exsail at thc tip; large~t
denticulations on bnsel third of anterior mrgin (this
margin showing a slig,ht anjiular indentation at this point):
posterior margin of teeth indented about 2 wr at half-w~y
mark, the two edges of this indentation being nea sly stral-ght;
1engt.h of upper lobe of caitdnl fin 450 ma: end of !Irj,i>rS lobe
of caudnl fin with 2 small ventmrlly-directer! lobes, the

outer one pointed and measuring 11 rat2 at its base, the rnore
enterior me 64 n:m at the base, with outer margin c2ncave;
dorscil fin (probably the second rlorsal) measures 14.4 i:lm at
the base and 145 11x3 in height; it has a long (about 70 ma)
pointed 2ostero-bssnl proiecting portion; 23 round radial
e1e:nents of the fin hzve been cut in cross-section.
--
-
Carcharhinus melanopterus
-
Carcharias rnelaierus Quoy and Gaimard 1824. Voyage au.tour
du monde..."UranieW, Zool.., p. 194, pl. 43, figs. 1, 2.
(Type locality, Waigiou island).
1 specimen. 415 nra (total length). Onotoa.
1 specir!len (fins only) . Taraea .
Color in alcohol : upper two-th2rdc of body grayish brown,
lower third light tan; a light tan band in lower part of
gray-brown region from above pectoral fin to above origin
of ma1 fin (this bandonly faintly visible); tips of all
fins and. nargins of lobes of caudel fin jet black.)
This was the most cormon reef shark at Onotoa. It was
rarely troublc6ome.
Genus iiji;GAl?RIOIJ
Ne$aprion -- Whitley 194.0. Fish. Aust., vol. 1, p. 111. (Type
species, - Aprionodon acutideiis -- yueenslandicus Yhitley) .
a- Be -aprion -- acutidens
Carcharias acutidens ~dppe1.l 1835. Veue "Xrbelth., Fisch,,
p. 05, p1.18, fig. 3. (Type locality, Red Sea).
Iiprion~don aautidens Garman 1913. ibem. Pus. Conp. Zool.,
vol. 36, p. 118. (Abaiong, Gilbert Islands).
5igelow and Schroeder (Fishes -- of' -.- the Weste? N o s Atlantic,
pt. 1, 1948: 304) referred Carchrlrias - acmens Ruppeil to
the genus Ne~aprion. . .
---- hetobatus Blainville 1816. Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, vol. 8,
p.. 127. * (Type species, - Raia --- narinari Euphrasen) .

fietobatus sp.
A white spotted eagle my was observed. to leap free of
the water in the Onatoa l:~goon.. ' It may hbve been
h. - .--- narinari . ShalLov~, roughly 6ircuJar excavntions were ,:
, .
found in channel areas' separating islEts at Onotoa. The..
presence of pelsoypod shell fragments' suggested that these.
excevations were dug by rays. A. - narinari is well known
-.for
such a rnode of feeding; however, nany other raps also
f eecl in this manner . ... .,,
Pteromylaeus - Garrnan 1913. Kern. Mus. Conp. Zool., val. 36,
p. 437. [~ype species, Myliobatis .- asperrfmus Jordan and
~verfiiann) ,
!
Pteromylaous puncta tus
. , ..
Mpliobates punctatus Maclay and iviacleay 18e'd. roc'. Cinn. ':
Soc. 13. S. Yfales, vol.. 10, p. 675, pl. 46, figs; 1-6: i
' (~ype locality, Admiralty and Lub or Hermit ~'slands) .
(~eference copied from Fowler, 1928; Berre, 1942, gives
the authors as Mklul~o-Maklai and Xacleay) . ,
Pterornylaeus punctotus Iierre 1942, Copein, no. 3, p. 1\24.
(Xu,uru / .
Genus I.UANTA
, . . .
... , .,.
Manta Bancroft. 1826-29. 2001. Jour.,: vol. 4, ,p. 14.4.. (~ype
species:, Cephalopterus rnanta ~ancrdft ) . . II. . .
. .. .
A large manta ray, at least ten f8e.t in total width was
observed swirrmi~~gslowly' near the surface at Ghe outer edge
of the coralliferous~ terrace at Onotoa. It . @ppeared . to be
entirely black on the dorsal surface; howevor, it was view&
from the side and distinctive rmrkings could have been misseR
Family CLUI?KEXE
. : . Genus CLUPEA ,
. . . , ;.
.. .
Glupea Linnaeus 1756. Syst. nat.', ed. 10, p. 522. (~ype
species, clupea hciren~us Linnaeus ),
. .
,

-
Clupee sirn
0
Clupea - sirn Porskal 1775. Descr. animalium, p. 17. (Type
' locality, Red See).
- Clupea sirni Giinther 1910. Tour. Nus. Godeffroy, vol, 16,
8 383. (Kingsmill Islands) .
Both Jordan and3eale (1906) and Fowler (19.28) placed
this species in genus - Sordinella Cuvier and Valerlciennes) .
Harsn~ula Cuvier and Valenciennes 1847. Hist. nn t . poiss.,
vol. 20, p. 277. (Type species, Herengula --- lntulus Cuvier
Valenciennes = Clupea ma crophthsliila ~ a n z a n 3 . f
. .
Marengula -- kunzei
. .
Harengula ltunzei Bleeker 1856. Net. Ti jdschr. Ned. -Ind.,
vol. 12, p. 209. (Type locality, Ternate).
. ,
,. , , .
6 speciinenn. 81 - 94 mm. . Taratva.
1) II,16 or 17; 8 '3,16 or 17; I? 15 or 16; V. 8 ; transverse
scale rows fron gill openine to base of caudal fin 42 or 43;
scutes in midventral line posterior to origin; of ventral
fins 13. (2 specimens).
Color in alcohol silvery, brown on back; tips of. jaws
blackish: a short black line mid-dorsally on snout.
Depth of body 3.8 in' standard len~~th; head 3.5 in standard
.length; eye 3.2 in hend;.adipose eyelid co.vering iris . .
anteriorly and posteriorly.
A schaol of this species was observed at the surface
next to a dock in the lagoon at Tarawe. Large carnivorous
fishes (probably barracuda or carangids) were greying upon
it from below.
Spratelloides Bleeker 1'8'51. 'Nat. Tijdschr. Ned.-Snd., vol. 2,
. p, .ZlL, (Type. species, Clupea argyrotaenta Bleeker) .
5

. .
Spratell.oides delicatulus
.. . .
Cluuea
__i_._ _-_._ deli-cntu ._-_ la Bsnnett 1831. Proc. 2001. SOC. London,
pt . I, p. lG.-(~ype locality, T.4auritius.) .
...
97 srecircens. - 7 - 24 mil. AQermnd.. ~
~. . .
11 specir:iens. 35 - 45 rm. Marakei.
. .
D 22; .A LO; P 11 to 13; V 0 .(4 specimens).
The specimens are in very goor condition. !To scale counts
could be made.
Family CHAXIDAE
Genus CIiUNOS
Chanos ~acg~ede 1903. Hist. nat. poiss. vol. 5, pp. xxix,
395. (Type species, Charios arabicus ~ace'p&de)
-
Mtillgil chaiios ~"ors!c%l 1775. Descr. animaliurn, pp. xiv, 74.
(Type loc31ity, Ilj~dda, ked Sea).
3 specimens ... 117 - 400 mm. Onotba.
D 15; A 10; V 10; P 18; lateral line scales 83. (2 specimens)
.
Color in life silvery.
This species is well known t0 the Gilbertese who used to
capture the young and place.thm in brsckish ponds, ulti-
mately to harvest them as adults. Such a pract.L..ce has only
recently been discontinued.
Genus SYNODUS
Scopoli 1777. Introductio ad histor. natur...,~ . 449.
species, Esox
-- s,yliodus Linnaeus) .
.
.. . . ,
Salmo variegatus ~ac6pgde 1803. Hist. net. poiss,, vol. 5,
p. 157, pl. 3, fig. 3. (Type locality, Mauritius).
3 specimens. 90 - 148 ran. Onotoa lagoon.

D 11; A 9; P 12; V 8; letera1 line $caLs 61; scal'es .from
lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 55. (2 speciuens).
Color in alcohol tan with about 9 vertical dark brown bars
dorsally on body,. the lower part of -each being spot-like and
centered on lateral line; all fins pale; 3 pairs of small
black dots oa upper surface of snout; a black dot at anterior
base of antmior nostril.
Palatine teeth in a single band. Teeth nearly completely
covered by lips.
Genus 3AURIDA
W d a Cuvier and Valenciennes 1849. Hist. nat. poiss.,
~01122, pi 499.. (~ypespecies, -- Salmo -- tumbilBloch).
--- ---
. , ..
Saurus gracilis QUO^ and Gaimard- lh+. Voyage autour du'
monde.. . WranieV, Zook., 1): 224. (Type locality, Hawaiian
Islands and 'Nau.ritius).
9 specimens. 108 - 150 m. Onotoa.
D 11; A 10; P 13; lzterul linescales 52; sc.ales froni
lateral .line to: ofigin of dorsal fin 34, (3 speciuens) .
Color from 35 r& Kodachrome transparency white, dense1.y
mottled with blackish brown, tiie ruos t conspicuous markings
being a series of nine blotches along the side of the body,
each of which extends slightly above lateral line; a pair
of smaller blackish blotches, one above the other, (or a
single small blotch) in the pale area between. each of the
larger blotches; caudal fin and posterior half oTdorsa1 fin
with irregular vertical blackisn mar.kings ; paired fins 'with
dusky spots; anal fin pale; adipose fin with a siugle black-
ish spot; dusky spots on chin; phpil of eye green.
Teeth on. palatine in two rows, the inner rmv nuch shorter
than the outer; teeth in jaws extend laterally andare
expssed when mouth is closed.
A11 of the specimens but one were taken from sandy Rreas
of the lagoon.
Family i\lTIRAENIi)AE
The noray eels were abundant at Onotoa, and. a good
representation of all of the genera 'exeept Aaarcliias were
taken. Apart fron one instance of biting a fish impaled on
e spear, no morays exhibited any overt viciousness such as

is often attributed to thetz. The Gilbertese valr~ed eels as
rood and captured them with traps, by specring, and with
hook and lice. An 01:. ~et!!od, :lot fiiucli used torlay, involves
a noose, x~+i,i;li~;h
tail be tighbtined on the end of n stick. This
is placed 0'iit.r ail eells lmle and drawn tightly around his
body after be is lured out with bait.
--
Echidca Forster 1777. Icones ineditas, p. l(31. (Type species,
Echidna variegafa Forste?) .
--- -
Echidna zebre
P
Gymnothorax -. zebra Shuw 1797. Eat. Misc., voL. 9, pl. 322.
2 sgecimens. 550 and 600 r>m. Onotoa.
Color in ~lcohol cizrk brown with nuoierous pale yello~ivish
lines encircling body rrore-or-less vertically (the 550 mu
specircen hcs 55 such lines and several shorter lines
dorsally wl:i.ic !I d. o riot cricircle body) ; vertical lines ubout
one-third to one-fourth us narrow as intervening dark areas;
anterior pert of head with short irregular pale yellow Lines
and spats.
The teeth are molarifam, as in other species of :Echicina.
..-
The two adult specimens were taken livith rotonone Pror;~
the lagooil side of Lhe west reef.
Echidna polyzona
-- Muraena polyzona Richardson 1844. Zool.. voyage Y3~1lphur~~,
Ichthyology, p. 112, pl. 55, figs.' 11-14..
1 specimen. 160 am. Onotoa.
Color in alcohol Light redd.ish ton with 30 broad black
vertical. bars on the body which extend :md becoiile narrower
on dorsal and anal fins; vertical. black bars about 2 to 3
tirnes broader than intervening pole arms: head with a broad
vertical band which passes through eye or1 to chin; tip of
snout and lower jaw dusky; no,?trils pale.
The specimen was collected from a coral-rich area of the
outer reef iil about 7 feet of' water,
Muraena nebulosa - Ah1 178'). Specirx?n ichtllyolo(~icum de
Muraeria et Ophichtho (Thunberg) , 1). '7, pl., ri:.:.ht fig.

(Type locality, 3ast Iudia).
1 specimen. 220 mi. Tarawa.
Color in alcohol light brown with 24 round black circles
in a row on side of body, each with arboreal-like projections
radiating from outer uargin; a second rovc of similar
blotches dorsal to the first, each of which is usual.1~ in
line %ith s blotch of the row below; blotches of dorsal row
extend into dorsal fin; a third row of blotches anterior to
tinus and ventral to mid-lateral row (thesa blotches are
solid blec~ and less dendritic) ; between the major black
blotches on the body ar& tiny short irregular lines and
spots, nany of whi,ch are stelli!te or dendritic.
-- Echidna leucota~nia
Echidna leucotaaniu Schultz 1943, Bull. Uc 3. Nat. Vus. 180,
p. 22, pl. 3. (~fpe localiGy, Phoenix and Samoa Islands).
2 specimens. 280 and lcZO iwr Onotaa,
Color in alcohol brown; fins dark brown with broad
whitish mrgins (the margins are about twice as broad rela-
tive to tke rest of' the fins in the 280 mm specimen as in
the k20 ram specim~m); head anterior to a line runnirig from
just behind. rictus to just behind oye dark brown with
whitish blotcP&s surrounding the mucous pores on the sides
of tbe Jaws.
The two s,%ci.mens were taken' froa $he same habitet as the
specii~en of EcRitiiia ----.- &irzonu.
---
. .
Enehel~nassa Kaup 1855. Arch. naturp. vol. 21, 'p. 213.
(Type speFies, Enchel.yne.ssc bleeiierl &up = kiuraena canini
Quoy and Gaimnrd).
Enche1,ynasna -- --- cnnini
BIuraena canini Qnoy and Gainlard 1824. Voyage ~ ~ t o du u r
.*
rnoi~de .r?hic;7t. .2001. , p. 247. ( ~ pt? y locality, Wnifiiou
and Rnwak) .
1 specimen. 750 LW. Onotoa.
Color in life derk brown with very narro~~ irreglllar
vertical blackish lines on: body.
The single specimen token w6s poisoned with rotenone in
o surge channel.

$ body
Murama -- pnrdslls - Teruuj.nck arid Schlegel l8i,6. Fauca Japonica,
Pisces, pt. 5, p. 266, 'pi. 119.
' This
2 specimens. 76 and 18G m. Onotoa surse channel.
Color Prom 35 .m Koda.chrome transparency orange-brown
with ,prominent white spots zncl smllsr dark browr~ spots on
and 'Pins ; head with alterna tin3 vertical white and.
dark brown, 'ornnge-centered baniis.
Gymaothorsx Hloch 17.9L., idatur. a~~l8nd.. Pische, vol. 9,
p. E3. (Typo +pecick, r~mr~otiiorax reticularis
. . . . . - . - ., . . . . . Rloch).
Ggmriothorcx: --? s ckisinatorh:rnchus
~;,/.., ...
6 specimens. 190 - ,750 am. Onotoa.
, .
Color in ulcoho1 grayish brown with. a nzrrow l~bitish
margin on Pins.
species has slender, slightly' hooked jaw8 siriiilar
to those of Znchelyaa ssa .cnnini and hfuroncahis p rdalis .
' + -..---
The dentitiail f i%rr . tba diagrnr;; &€:~en in Pip. 4. b:J,kiiltz
(.l9k3) .
A11 of t:~c ay+cimens were taken frm two sLeti3tis of the
outer reef ir? t!i- northkrrl yirt of the atoll in about 6 to
7 feet 02' ,xt,t;er wkre coral was abundant;.
, uuraena - mononti:iii:: Regrn 1911). Ann. I\I::g. Nat. Kist., ser. 8,
---. --
vol, L+, p. L.38. (Type locality, Ta!iiti and Ral.atea).
Color in alcollol ornngish brow; fi.i;.s o:-acirigi-.h., c-3,pcci-
ally posteriorly; a lurge blact opot immedis tely behinfi aye

. ..
(this is missing on the 90 nm specimen and just,r?aki.ng its
appearance in a 130 m:n specimen) ; posterior nastrils white;
two mucous ?ores bclow eye and 4 or 5 on lovier jaw surrounded
by white, thus appearing as spots (in the 130 mm specimen
the white spots are large and co-joinha) .
The specimens yere teken from four stations; each quite
different ; surge channel, windward side ; surge channel,
leeward sirlc;. backrid,ge trough; lagoon reef. The specimen
from the backridge t.roug,h was the 130 ram one nentioned ..
above. It was ceug.ht by hand by A. FI. Banner f'rora a small
head of Pocillopora me~ndrirm. . In life it had a bright
orange border on its fins which was broad caudally, and the
eye was bright red.
Gynnothorax pidta
Nuraena picta Ah1 1789. Specimen ichthyologicum de IdJuraena
et Oph~chtho, p. 6. (Type locality, Cast ~ndia).
, ., .
.. . .
2 specimens. 340 and 450 IUI. 2 specimens. 70 and
85 mm. Onotoa.
2 specimens. 250 and 310 m. Tarawa.
. .
Color in life white, densely speckle.2 .&th black except
ventrally.
This eel .is acormon irlhnbitnnt of th'e crevices of the
outer reef flat. At low tide it was at times encountered
by turning over rocks exposed on the reef. Gilbertese
natives were occasionall'y ... seen . hunting for it in just this
. . . . ,*
manner for use as food.
Nuraena etelli '~leeiter 1856. Xat. ~i~dschr. Xed.-Ind.,
vol. 1 h k . (~ype. locality, Java). , . ,.
Siderca picta l%itley and. Colefax 1938 .. Proc. iinn. sot.
m. m, vol. 63, p. 287. (Kauru).
5 specimens. 110 - 300 rm. Onotoa.
'
., >
Color fro3 35 :m Kodachrosne of 200 nm specimen white 'with
19 vertical bars 'on 'body, about equal or slightly snialler in
width than whlte' inter-spaces (posterior 14 dark bars do not
extend to extreme iilargin of dorsal ::in); a black ban2 across
head slightly 'behFnd eye, this barid not extending ventral to
eye; a bleckish area from eye anterioic to nostril; a black
mark on chin next to ~outh. Larger specimens were browner
and tile black bars did not stand out in such sharp contrast.

Specinens were collcct&d from bot!~ lasoon ancl outer reefs.
-
. .
Ilalophis -1liae dicSlellani2 1545. Calcuttc Jouz. Na
Histy voi. 2, p. 213. ('i'yjx locality, Red. Sea'?)
Color in alcohol li&t brown rlith 17 black rin,cs whicl?.
co~riplf; telv enci.~cle ileed anci bsdy ; (lor sal half sf body
between d3rk bars dcsky.
G. rupel.li can most readily be c1istin~~uishe.d from the
s ~ ~ T pet,&Tli ~ R T by the 'nature of ths ri.nzs. In the latter
those anteriorry on the body and bend d~ not circle the
ventral pmt of the bofiy.
Oymnotliorax zoninectis
G.ywnot.horax zm&t,;s SeS1.e 1906. Occ. Bp'. 3,. P. ... i!ilhop
iviu!:., vo;. i+, I?. 7, fig. 1. (~ype locality, Tahiti).
-.,- - -
=thorax .--- ~ rcilica a u4.a -
Gyrnnothorax grncilic~.~da. Jenkins 1903, Bull. U. 8. Fish
Coint~., vol. 22, p. 1,X; TI.@. 6.. (Type locality, ~onolilln).
4, sptcimeiis. 88 - 21+0 im. Onotoa.
Color in alcohol light brown with dendritic dcrk brown
blotches in two to three irregular lengtbise.seri6s an body;
two irregular vertical. dark brown bars on head hetween eye
and origin of ciorsnl fin which reech fron i-id-dorsal line to
mid-lateral line; an irkeguler dusky urea behind eye which
extends to rictus; a dusky urea I'roin snout ta i1sstrj.l~; fins
paler than body.
I compared ray spe circens with ;rw.kinst type. The dentitian
is the sen6 ani! the color yet5e'r.n ve::? sis11iLar.
, , . .
The 'specikens w&e coll.;ctc;d f&ic legoon anh:'~e&ar.d outer
reefs. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . , .
. . . . . .

.. ,
-.-.- Gymnotnorax finbriata -
lfuraena fimbriata Bennett 1831. Proc. 2,001. Soc. London,
pt. 1, p. 168. (Type locality, bkuritius).
1 speciiiien. 80 ~KI. Onotoa lagoon.
Color in ~lcohol tan with high1.y irregular brown norkings
vertically ali~ned on body except ventraily anterior to
anus; 2 brown spats behind eyc md an irregular brov~n line
over top of kad behind eye: snaat aottled with brown.
Gymnothorax iaargnritopharus Bleeirer 1865. Ned. Tijdschr.
Uierk., voi. 2, p. 53. (Type locality, Anbon, East Indies).
6 s,~cirilens. 160 - 350 cila. Onotoa.
Color in alcahol reddish brown, orange-brown ventrally,
lrrith pale spots and blstches on the body, these. more dis-,
tinct caudally (in soroe spc-cirnens the pule blotohes are
interconnected, and the dolor pattern l~ould more appropriately
be considered as dark blotches on a pale broNn groukd
. color) ; a series of a bout three t3 six darl: brown elongate
blotches behind eye; a pale band mid-dorsolly . . on bead
ruiming from snout'. posterior to level of eyes.
.. . .
G. ijar&ritoph~iG w,as co'llected ir? barn1 arias & the
lagzon and outer'reef.
. .
1huPilusaena f la~irnar~iiata' ~;p&il. 1828. Atlas ' ~ eise. nord. Afrika,
Pische Rothen '?leers, p. 119, 1. , i . 3. (Type
locality, Red Sea) .
2 specimens.
Onotoa .
320 and 396 mi. 1 spscimer:. 80 ~m.
Color in alcohol orongish bro?wn with ofin& mottling of
da~k brown blotches; gill openiiig in a black spot (this spot
just forming in 8u nun specinen); posterior mrgins of fins %~
narrowly white (bright green-yellow in life).
The two large s~~ciriiens
we;:&. taken from a surge channel
on t he tiindwer'd side of the atoll. . The 80 irm was collectec!
from a snail oral head in a shallow, sandy channel.
'I

Murwena - . ;r.v.:!nic.us 2?-ee!ci:r lfj!jo. ;Tat. Tijcizchr; Tied.-Ind.,
0 1 9 , u. 34.7. ('!'y;)e locality, Jovn).
Color in alcohol of :erg? ,~pecirnc;r; zeddish br'own with
aUmerous irregule: black spots and blotches coverini", head,
body, ar.d fiix (these bLotcSes of ttvo diff'ercnt si%e!i, the
hrge ones about the size of a ciine or larger and often
cOn.tuiilir& irregulrr brawn arms, t ,he others zmeller tbnri
size oi' the eye); fin. :nrgr--si?,ed blac: .blotches Jn ariterior
fifth of body except one which encloec-s (rill openine:
corner of noath blackish. In. the 170 m speciruen the:ct: are
only large-sized blotches which are rounder thar: .th.osc of
the 1000 mu spectnren and extend on to heed; also there is
narrow pale rnar6;in posteriarly on fins.
Smaller -. javailica have a c'olor pe ttern similar to - G.
fimbriata. In thrlat~or' the spots are in general., srnaller,
UOr6 3catte;?cd, yet; more inclined to ca-join with other spots;
pale mrgins extc,t!d the whale 3_6ilgtkL or the fins in --.-.-d fiubriata
aiid th~. pal1 opeilfng is not surrounded by a large blecic
blotch.
The dent ition of the large syeciicen compnres clsse'l y with
that given in the dia{;re:u for this species by Sohultz (1953;
fig. 27 ) ; the mall specimn, however, has several large
teeth in an inner row on the maxillary and snall teeth
interspe3?seci between-the large rnarqinal internlaxillary teeth,
similar to the p;?ttern f'w .i'i-1+b-r_&%.1;~a-.
. . .
The 1arg.e specirnsn was encountered with its head 1:rotrud-
ink from a crevice in a coral hiad near the center. 3f th6
lagoon. Thref; spears were ::hot into 'its head befyare it
could be puLlr-d frorrrl its iialf;, and evetl then it 'v~as a
&iff icult task.
-- /.
Gg!nno thorax undu'ln ta
Eduraenophis undula tu:z Ln cepede 1803. !%.st. ria t . pciss. ,
vol. 5, ppT?ZT7642, 64~, f'if~. 2.
Color from 35 mn ?

oader and less irregiilar; t.h~s the dark brown of the body
is fitor6 spot-like.
The specimens were secured from bath lagoon and seaward
reef s.
a.---- mnothorax buruenois .-
-.
?mraena buroensis Uleeker 1857. Nat. Tkdschr. Ned. -hd.
vole--13, p. 79. (Type. locality, Nova-,+elme, Buro, Ambon,
and Ceram ) .
24 specinens. 92 - 245 rm. Onstoa.
.color 'in alcohol dask brown with numerous close-set black
blotches, more or less arranged in bars (psteriorly on body
these blotches are so 1arg.e t>hat the pale areas between are
restricted as small spots which ton8 to fsrrl rows); fins
with pale margins 110s teriorly (bright orange in life) .
Many specimens Etre almost black, an6 the color pttern can
'38 perceivoil only with difl'icultg.
There are two rows of teeth 3n the maxillary, the teeth
of tlie imer row being longer. There are three rows of long
canines on the intermaxillary in addition t~ the narginel
teotn,
This ixlaiiistia eel appeared to be the aost abundant
species .of the gents at Onotoa us16 was, taken fro3 Elany
different habitats.
- Gvmnothorax favagineus Eloch and Schneider 1601. System
ichth., p. 525. (Type 1ocal.ity , Tranqyebar, India).
Color in alcohol light kimwn with IRTP,E round black spats
iri a ron on the body and a second series of spots dorsally,
each spot out off at 6dge of. dorsal fin.
I assign this t,iny juvenile swcirnen to favaginee mainly
an calor pattern. The dentiti;>nLis different then that
given by 'Yeber siid de B~aufort (1916: 379) + There are three
rows of three fan~.s.mesially on the intermaxillary which are
longer than the 1s tc-ral series. 5.r:ialler teeth extend
por;teriorly fro;^' the first itnd third rows to met ic. the
nidline at the anter'i0.r end of the single row of vonerine
teeth.

Priodono?iii.s .uoLuccer.sls Sleeiser 186i+. Atl~s ichth.. , vol. 4,
---, .-- --- .,
n. 10c !:I. 1-27, fi2.g. 1. (~y;>e locality, Amboii, mat
hiies) ,
1 specimen. 3C0 am. Onstoa.
Color plain brown, a little tiar~er posteriorly.
Teeth on. dentary very fi.cel:r ser;'atc?d on posterior edges;
two medial cmine teeth on int crnaxil.lary, tile mci's posterior
one the longest tooth in the jaw (tilere ore sockets, bowever,
for two :nor€, one on either 3idc and. sli&tly anter!.or to
the long tooth) ; no inner row of aaxil.lary teeth; n single
row of short teeth on vomr; roof and floor of nloutii f'i.nely
. papillate: ~. , eye - 1.5 in snout: snout 6.5 in head: fins somo-
I N ~ L elevated, thouE?h not as much as iescribed.'by Schultz
(1943: 38) for - G. pssudothyrsoidea.
TPLc speci.~%?ri w%s taken with roteilone from an area of the
outer reef with iltmerous coraL heads at a rr,axiinum ilepth of
about 7 feet.
Gyranotbornx bikiniensis Schultz ii2 Schultz andcol.labora tors
---- ---.--
1952. iicll. U. 9. ;,kit. MU.~. 2C2, 11p. 109, 116, figs. 23 e,
21~. (Tyjx looalitg , ai.!iini Atoll, krshall Is1.and:j).
1 specimr. 2/33 mn. Onotoa surge channel.
Color in alcoh31 brow (under a dissecting microscope one
0a.n see a fine nottLing of light and dark brown); edges of
fins a little ~siler tkan body; snout derker than lover jaw.
I have in i;;y fi~Id data a note on the color in life which
reads, "Narruw dendritic vertical dark brown bars on n du.skg
greenish yel.1~ background. Snout and anus dcrk; belly
pale." I can find. no evidence of bars on the preserved
specimen.
The specimen wan coiilpared with I;chultzl type.
This species resembles Xnchelynassa -- cnnini especinlly in
dentition. and nias form the. basis for co.rlsirlerine the clenus
Gymotborax thqrsoidea
Muruena thyrsoicka - Ilicherdson 1844. 2001. voyaee "Sul.phur",
Fishes, p. 111. (Type locality, China Seas and Canton).
Lycosdontis thyrsoidse Fov~ler 1928. :'MI. iH. ?. Bishop Xurz.,
A..
, ..-.
vol, lo, p. >-aiang, K~cgs:2il.l Islends) .

2 specimens. 70 acd. 155 1x.1. Onotoa.
Color in life white; in alcohol, light brown.
The teeth are short and conical, none of them being long
an(? fang-like as in most species of Gymnothorax; two stout
medial teeth on the interrasxillarp, one behind the other in
the. miit-line; two rows of short teeth on vorner which join
posteriorly to a single row; Snout 6 in head; eye 1.4 in
snout .
Richardson's specimens were brown with a reticulatian Of
white lines. Xy speci~iions are everywhere pale and may thus
be distinct f'rarn assoidea. Secause of the similarity in
dentitian, hoWv€r, I prefer to consider the Onotoa ones a
color variant. In view of their small size, they may be
exhibiting juvenile coloration.
Symo thorax s n .
3 specimens. 190 - 220 mp. Onstoa lagoan
Color in alcohol. light yellowish brown with a dense
reticula tion of sli~htly browner, hi~hly tortuaus lines.
Maxillary teeth in ane. row (a single inner tocrth in two
of the specirnena); three elongate canines in mid-line of
int err~axillary; a si.i:gle row or vomerins te.eth; six inrier
elsngate canines in two raws anteriorly sn dentary; snout
5.8 in head length; eye 1.6 in snout; arigin of dorsal fin
1 to 2 snout lengths anterior ta gill opening.
I sic unable to identif this species.
?t
Uropterygi~is Ruppell 1835. ETeue '*iirbel.th,., Fische, p. R3.
(Type species, Uroptervg,ius concolor Ruppell) .
Uropterygius
p. 83, pl,
Uropterygius concolor
csncolor ~Gppll 1835. Neue
20, fi;: 4. (Type l.ocality,
4 specimens. 100 - 140 m.:. Onotoa legom.
1 specimen. 185 ma. Tsrawa .
Yirbelth., Fische,
Red Sea).
Color in alcohol uniforia light brown; four mucous pores
on side of upper jaw posterior to anterior nsstril, their
rmrgins sli@tly paler thiln rest of head.

T%o rows of ~axillary teeth th~seof. tkie inner row iuch
longer tkan the outer nfid well.-svactd; oiie r3w of ~hort,
stsut vonerine . , teeth: tii~ ic;~~; ctinine teeth. io, gid-liae on
i.lit~r!i~c~~:ill.:i:-y: s::oct 5 ;.n heed length; eye 1.9 in snout;
center of' egc slif;ht;l;l clsser to rictus 'thar; tia of snsut;
. . pssterior nabtril nbovs center of eye nn* xith a slight1.y
,... . ,: ,
. - e.l:e.vat~ariz~; dif2l;ence fro:$: tj.~: S' smut to anus csntairiecl
2.2 tiiiee in totn:! .. lenb:>th ...
. .
Color in sl. cqhsl i~.flii'oriil ligilt bro-:!in: rins end interior
of! f oq~. mucou.$ 'pres Jn side of x!)per jc5.i~ I?ehiii:1 anterj or
:: nostril, pal,€.
. .
phis spe.ci.nen has not dlsti uguisbed f&i iT. oncolor until
the tee.th wer€ .examined. . I fsllsw Schultz i:! co~::id:erT:ng
tjl~es.?mvc species, and not this one, li. concolor.'
. .
Uroptery~;i\~s
-
xanthopteruo 13leekcr 1859. Nab. ~i jdschr'lFhJ&.-
-,lnd.,
vol. 19, I?. 350. (Type Locality. Java and Amban, East
Indies) .
. . . . ,' .
Color in alcohol dnl'k brown, iGtt;i~ci wit!' da~kc: brown.,
with numrous tiny white :+pats, rwst. avident on head and
anterior part 0," bad:; ; marpin of tail. lir3nZ15; pa1.e orar:gish.
/ \
Gyranomuraena .marfi:ora tc Laccpde 140 1. Kin!:;. net. p0i43. ,
-.- .
vol. 5; jjj.tl,j, bi+g. ('!'ype iocol.il;y, !.WV T3ritain.j.
-
-

1 specimn . 380 rm. Tarawa.
Color in alcohol light brown, niottled with blacKish
patches, and this overlain with numerous black spots (mostly
l~rger than cliuneter of eye) which tend to be larger dorsally
than vsntrally ; nsstrils blackish.
Uropterygius supraf oratus
Syuno:iluraena su praf sra ta Regan 1909 ; Ann; Mag. Ti% t . Tiis t . ,
ser. 6, vol. 4, p. 439.. (Type locality, Savag and Tahiti).
4 specimens. 170 - 250 nm. Onotoa lagoon.
Color in life light greenish gray.witi1 about 5 rows af
irreguler brown blotches which are slightly larger posteriorly
than antelri~rly (average size about eqcal t~ size of eye)
(pasteriorly on body the blstches tend ta join vertically
t3 form irregular bars); spots on head not arranged in rows
and of' a size about equal to size of pupil; a slight bluish
cast over abdonen.
. .
. . ' . ,
Ntlinel:ous. sharp eiqngate testh :in jaws,. theiongest
maxil28ry teeth being the innermost of mgny rows; a single
row of long teeth on vomer, corltinuous with teeth onmidline
of intermaxi 1-lary .
, . . .
. .,
. ~.
Uropterggius nicropterus - I .
. .
.. . .
3hrae:na roicro terus ~ledker 185'2-1 Rat;.. ~i jdschr. Ned .-lnd.,
vol. 3, '_g?r;_~-Type
p. 29 locslity, Flores, Nro, Ebratai,
Lmbon , Csaril, Aru , and .ri'i~?~or);.
. .. , .
3 speciraens,. 210 - 24.5- ma. Onotoa. . . . , .
. ....
.
, Color in life light grayish, almost whit,€ ve.ri.tral.ly, with
a fine- reticulation of sniall blackish dendriticz blotches.
. .
. . , . .
. . . .
. . ,. < , . .
.. . . .
Two rows of' teeth sn the mnxillary, the teeth of the inner
row about four tines longer than those 'of t!le outer; a single
row af lone, teeth on -the v.3mer; eye slightly. closer to end
of snout than rictus; dianeter of eye contained 1.9 in length
of snout.
. ,
. . .
The specimens were co1le;cted. by hand fror;~ beneu th. exposed
rocks on the outer reef flat. .. .
Uro pterygius .macrscopha,lus
---?--
Gyanotho.ra.x.iilacr3co halus Bleeker. 1865. Ked. TiJdschr. Dierk.,
vol. 2, p. 54. Type locality, .Anban, East Indies). . ,

1 specircen. 200 im. Onotoa la~oon.
Color in life light pray-brown, with reticulzr whits
blotches ill. irrepci.ar bars i::l.'on~, side of bofiy; end of cnudal
fin wMtisir: psstcrior nostri.1 above center of eye, cj.1~
slig,htly elevated, interior pols ; anterior nos tr il. browc,
like rest of snout.
Tws rows of teeth on mxillnry, those of the inner row
close-set an6 about one-fourth ts one-thi.rd 3% loni. os the
wall-s?aced teeth of the inner row:: :3 sinpie row of 7 teeth
011 voiaer;' three rows 3f 2 teeth each o.il wdinr; part of
intermxillary , Ch.ose of ti16 mi.dd1.e row the longe-t; two
sows of tect!: on eisnt;a?y, similar ts those or, imxillary; n3
elongate canines cintcriorly ail denl;ary; snmi; cantain~d 7
times in head length; eye 1.8 in snoui; cwttr of eye closer
to tip of snout than corner of' mouth: dlstmce l'roi.1 snout
to anus 2.3 in total 1Bngtii.
Rabula Jordan and Davis 113!!c4. Rep. U. S. C~aii. Fish. and
Fishtries, vol. 16, pp. 590, 598. (Type speci~s, Rabula
davisi j'o:tvler).
---
Rabuin f'usoomaculatu
-..-- -.-
Rabula fuscsrnaculata Schultz in khultz and collaborators
1953. Buli. b. 5. Bat. ?bus. 202, pp. 139, 147, fig. 30.
, (Type locality, Rongsrick Atoll, l',Jarsilall Islands).
3 specimens. 120 - 160 am. Onotoa.
Color in al-coho1 ll.@t brown with numerous da$k brown
spots about the sj.ze of the eye covering body and fin?
(anteriorly thesc spots are smaller and. indistinct); mucous
pores on side of upper jaw (and to a lesser extent those of
the lower jaw) broadly outllned witti white.
The Onotoa snecirnens wcre compered with the holotype in
the United States 1Jational Xuseuu and found ts be the same.
. .
3qo of the specimens wcre collected on the lapoon side of
the west reef and the third on the outer reef in the aorthern-
most part of the etoll. I11 each case the depth of tbe.vmter
was about 8 feet.
The snalce eels are sand dwellers an2 often occur i.n arex
where few other fishcs are found. T:sually e large anocnt of
rotenone' is needed to poison them.. There was not suff:icient
-.-

. , 'm
. .
rotenone on hand at Onotos to warrant its use for ouhichthids
-
alone; thus only one species wes taken. ii large specimen of
another s-pecies, p?obably either Myrichthys colubrinus
(i3oddaert) or Myrichthys bleekeri-~osline, war; seized in
ankle-deep wter on a tidal flat zone of the ia~oon. . but it
escaped, 2s snake oe1.s are prone to do.
The speciinsns from Tarawa afid Abemal~ia were collected by
K. Catala.
ivivrichta Gifard 1859. Irsc. Acad. NaC. 9ci. Phila., p. 58.
""i-iIij;i;-d species, M,yric.hthys tigrinus - Girard) .
mloce3ity,
-
Tdyrichthys rnaculssus
Muraenz rnacuiosa C~vier 1-217. Khgne anirnal., vol. 2, 'p. 232.
Euro2ean seas).
1 spe cimen . 241 mi. Onotm .
Coior in life nale greenish yellow on back, shading to
whitish on ,sides and ventrally, with 31. round black spots
$not all the spots are in alignment with ones ori the other
side): e black saddle 03 head over both eyes; 4 elliptical
black narm on chin at level of eye.
The single specimen was taken with rotenone froom a sondy
2egbo.n of about 8 foot depth between coral heads on the
outer reef in the riorthernnsst part of the atoll.
, ..
.. . . .,
Nyrichthys colubrinus
-.-
. :
. .
. . ' '.' :.
. . . - . . , . . . . ,
. : a
Muraena -.-. colubrina aoddaert 1781. Neue Nard. Beytr., vol. 2,
rilocality,
Umbon, East Indit-s).
j?. 5b, pl. L, fig. 3..:.e~~~.pe
Color in alcohol ~rown with 32 semicircular. black saddles
in line on body and 2 such saddles on head between gill
opening and eye (these seddles are twice.es broad dorsally
as intervening pale areas; they do not extend into dors~l
fin and reach to or slightly below the lateral line).
Snout pointed arid fl-attenect dor so-ventrally; length of
snout 6.5 in head length (to gill opening.); pectoral 5 in
Lead length; eye 2 in length of pectoral.
. .
I arn uncertain of the use of the name colubrinus for this
specimen. It has been returned to the ~ u ~ ~ - % u s e u m .
. .

-
0phi:surus si:mici.tlctus Lay 2116 i3silrrctt 1633. 2331. Cap!;.
lieechey's voyaqe, ll'ishes, p. 66, 1 . 2 ; f . (Type
locGity, 0ahu1 ,
. - - - --- ----
Color in alcshol brow11 with. 31 narrow black bars on the
bo3.y ~!+iiich extand up into dorsal fir, but :jhfLch d~ not meet
ventrally (the psteriou enrl of t,hc boay is blunt and it is
believed that the hind seetian of' the body was lost during
life; the imxir;un bodi7 dej~th. or the speciinen is 12 m:a) ;
inaxi,m&;n- width 02 biacic bars containeh &early 4 tims in width
of p3I.e intsrspaces; head whichl such ber between gill
opcnirig ail-? eye; a bl.uck siic?dle' ovcr i.ilterorbita1 space wlbh
bifurcates at u?.!xx adg~ 01' eye, one linb e;:tending nliteroventr2:Lly
t~ fixti-:, tne other formlng a .spot adjacent to
k)ssterovetiLrd .e!';ee of .eye; blacrr spots on chin.
Lzngth of snout coiltained 6 thes in len(:tb 0:': head to
gill openin&

. . .Murueniciltllys C.,yiilnotus :Bleeker 1864. Atlas ichth.. . . , vol. 4,
. .
11. 3.3. .(Type locality, Ambon, !Cast Indies).
8 specimens. 103 - 121 ~NJ. Onotoa.
Color in alcohol light brown; scattered, tiny, dark brown
flecKs dorsally on body and on head, the most pronounced
a'ucu~ulat.ion being on head posterior to eye. .
, ..
Anterior nostril tubular, directed antero-ventrally froro
front part of upper lip at base of proboscis-like end of
silotit; pssterior nostril with an elongate flap at front
&dge which hangs downward. from upper lip .just snterj.or to
eye; tee:th short and inconspicuous; voiiierine teeth in tw ,
close-set, irregular .row (hence appearing as single nar3ow
band); maxillary and dentary teeth j.n a narrow band, usually
no more.thcin two teeth :in width; origin of dorsal fin
slightly anterior to anus; snout moderately pointed; anterior
edge of eye ebout equ.idistent between rictus and tin of
snout; eye about 3 in snout leneth; distance from Clp of
snout to rictus contained about 3.7 times in length of .head.
The specimens were not distinguished in the field from
Muraenichthys laticaudata. Labels were mixed, therefore
there are no reliable locality data.
-- -- laticauclata
- ----
Diuraenichtkys laticaudats
-- Ogilby 1897. 13roc. Linn. Cjoc. Y. S.
Myro&ertiro
Wales, vol. 22, p. 247. (Type locality, FiJi).
5 speciixens. 91 - 120 m:. Onstoa
Color in alcohol uniforri, brown; clediari fins light brawn.
.Xostrila as .in wrticeding sptjc.ic 8 except .posterior njstril
lacks n prsjecting 'flap and .is not' visible in >ater&.l v5.e~;
teeth moderately conspicuous, about twic~ as long ss those
of the pl; eceding species ; vonerine teeth unisnrial; n~xillary
teeth in two rows; teeth on derltary in a single. row; origin
of dorsal fin slightly posterior ts anus; snout blunt, its
length contained about 5 ti:aes in 'head length: postr?rior
edge of eye only slightly anterior to .rl.ctus; diameter of
eye about 3 in snout length; distsnce frorn ti? of snout to
rictus con.tai.~ied about 4 times in head length; body depth
at anus 36 to 43 in total length.
In the classification of the worm eels I have followed
Gosline and Strasburg, The Hawaiian fishes of the famil!/
Koringuidae: another eel problem", in press, Copeia, 1955.

i'::orrigua Gray 1331. '_"he illustrations of In6ian zoolspy. ..
I-+?
Harciv~lcix, vol. 1, pt. 5, pl, 95, (Type speciss, v!orin~us
-.- raitabsrw Cciiltor) ..
.-
Tiorinp,ua nscrocliir Bleeker 1855. &-it. Ti j'i:jchr. PTed .-Ind.,
vo!..,-i-('Tji]~ lscality, i3otuj.
. . .
5 specimns. RE; - 285 i&i. Onotoa.
Pores .',L lateral line fro13 gill opeking to nezr end of
body (not including vestigial pores which are closely spaced
st extreme end of body) 103 to 109. (3 specimens).
Color in alcohal unifom light yellowish brown.
The followin& propartianal netisureriient:? fron; 8 280 'ma.
specinen: body clepth cantained 4.7 times in total lcnyt'r;
distance fr3i;l tip .of snout to rl.ctus k.6 in he& length;
snout 6.4 in head length; eye about 6 in snout; pectoral
fin about the size o" ,. the eye.
io?,:er jaar projects anterior to upper jaw; Cr?udiil. fin
slipJ,.tly ;minted; o sinc,le row of teeth on maxillary; a
single :row of vomerine teeth.; ,six pro~linent canines on inter-
mexillnry; posterior* nostril located inmediatclg anterior to
eye.
The sl~eciraens were secured with rotenone froin sandy arees
of both the lagoon snd outer reef.
2 specirnenc. 513 and 74.0 nil. tinotsii.
Pores in lateral line I'rorn [;ill spenin~: to near end 'of
body 139. (1 speci.men) .
The fa1lo~;vin::. proporti~na: nmsurcoienti fron the 513 m
specimen: body depth coutzined 78 tii;~~~ in tot&l length;
distance froin tip af snout ts: rictu:? contained 5.e ti::ies .in
head length; snout about 8 in 'head 1en:;th; eye aboct '7 in.
snout length; pcctorsl fin tiny, its Length equal to about
one-hall the diameter of the eye.

Lower jaw projects anterior to upper jaw; caudel fin
slightly poirited; dentition and nostrils si..milar to above.
One specimen m:; collected froril a shallow channel between
islets and the other from a surge channel.
-. Xorin&ua sp.
1 speci.men. 390 m. Onototi.
Nuinber of lateral line pores on posterior 155 m. of body
17 (difficult to countanterior to this because of twisting
of the body); thus the total nunber of pores to the gill
openin(y is estimated at 4G.
Color in alcohol yellowish brown.
Body depth 52 in total ieng,th; distence from tip of snollt
to rictus contained 4 tines in he~d length; snout about 7
in head length; eye about 4.7 in sn0u.t length; pectoral fin
about the size of the eye.
Lower jaw projects anterior ts upper jaw; caudal fin
pointed; teeth similar to above two species except they are
directed xore sharply backward.
I am unable to identify this moringufd to species. It
appears to be distinct in its low pore count acd moderately
sbout body.
The speciraen was collected from a protected outer reef area.
Aulostouus ~acd~e'de 1803. Hist. nat. pois~.~ vol. 3, p. 356.
(Type species, Aulostomus --
chinensis Lacepede = Pistulnria
chinensis Linnaeus).
-
---
Fistularia chinensis Linnaeus 1706, Sgst. nat., ed. 12,
p. 515T(~ype locality, Incia).
1 specimen. 300 nun. onoton.
D ~ 11, 27; 4 30; V 6; P 16; lateral linc scales 260,
Color in lif e brown, becorning abruptly black po~te~i.Or
to origin oi' soft dorsal and anal fins (this black area with
linearly-arranged light brown. . . spots or elongate blotches,

mostly in 2 rows whic,h coctinus on to caudal peeunblk);
rnsxillavr with an el.on~.ate black blotch: ?nus blacx; soft
dorsel rsc'disli, b!.ack ~iiteriorly anci bas~1l.y: cnal fi.n
reddisrl, l?l

Corythoichthys flavofescictus - conspicillatus
--
Syreathus conspicillatus Jenyns 1842. 2,001. voyage "Beagle",
Fish, p. 147, pl. 27, Tip. 4. (Type locality, Tahiti).
5 specimens (4 female, 1 male). 56 - 81 m. Onotoa.
2 specimens (femal.e). 58 and 62 mom. !?bemama
Color in alcohol light tan with dendritic bru+~n blotches
in a row on the side and in line with a similar row on dorsal
surface of trunk; a horizontal brown line from middle of
posterior lnargin of eye to pectoral, a portion curving
dorsally on opercle; a siinilnr line extending posteriorly
frofa lovjer edge of eye; anci anteriorly on to snout as a row
of elongate spots; anal region of male with a large blue
spot, of fsmale whitish. In life the mle had snort yellow
lines across the 'back and a bright red cegdal fin; the
females had a red spot on the caudal fin.
Doryrhar~w Kaup 1856. Cat. lophobra~ichiate fishes British
Mus., p. 585. (Type species, noryrhanphus excisus Kaup) .
Doryrharnphus melanopleura melanopleure
Syngnathus - nelanopleura . Bleeker 123523. Nat . Ti jdschr , Ned. -Tnd.,
T. 15, p. k64. (Type locality, Cocos Islands, Indian
Ocean).
2 spcimens (female). -33 and 45 i;.s?i. Onotoa.
Color in life bril1imt;grmge with a medien black line
from snout to base of cnudeL. fin and irregular black +mrki.n@
on caudal fin. . .
-
Belone Cuvier 1817. ~dgne animal, ed. 1, p. 185. (Type
species, Esox belone linnaeus).
P
-- Belons pla tyura
Bennett 1831. Proc. Zool. Soc:Lmdon, pt. l,
locality ; Ikauritius ) .
Pla tybelone platura Vhitl'ey and .Colefax 19 38. Proo . Linn.
Soc. N. S, Wales, vol:. 63, p. 287.. (TJauru and Ocean
Island).

8 specimens. 215 - 280 mm (rictus to base of caudal).
Onotoc.
1 spccimeii . 188 mfl. Nukunau.
D 13 05 14'; n 17 or 18; P .12..: (5. specimens). Gill rakers
( inclur?ing $11. rudiments) 25. or 26. (2 specirneiis) .
... ..
Color fron 35 era Xodachrcmc trai;s!?ar&icy: bkcir blue, sides
and ventral. part of boriy. si.1very.
Teeth in jaws of approximately the same size; width. of
body sliglltly grmter than depth; width of body contained
about 1.4 tj.Iii€s in length frofil rictus to base of ceudal fin;
caudal peduncle on each side with'd'proninent lateral scaly
lreei which extends out; on central partof caudal fin; least
depth of caudal. peduncle half as wid6 as -width: greatest
diameter of eye 1.7 to 1.9 in postorSj.ta1 length 0f:head:
All of the Onotoa specirnenswere teiien in outer reef creas.
The Gilbertese often caught this species ot nicht by wading
on the outer reef Plat with. a torch ~nd striking the backs
of the fish with 'a lonp sharp knife or stick as they were
attracted to the light;.
The stomachs of tw~o specimens takec at night on the outer
reef flat containec! fragmnts of unidentifiedred. crustaceans.
Of five poisoned with rotenone during the day, four were
empty and one had recently eaten a mall fish..
.. .
-
Genus S~?ONGyLUTl!~
. ..,
Strongylusa van Iias~elt 1853. Alg. .!:onst. Letterbode, no. 35;
1824. Hull. Sci. Eat. (Perussac), vol. 2, p. 371+. (Tyne
sp ecic S, Strongylura cuudimaculata van Hasselt = Relone
strongy1ur'l;-van i3asfieI.t) .
Stronggluru ---- incisa
Bel.one incisa - Cuvier and Valeiiciennes l8i+6. Hist.. nat. poiss.,
vol. 18, p. Lk51. (Type locality, Indlan Ocenn).
1 speciiaen. 3lG mi;] (frail rictus t~ bnse of caudal)
Tarawa.
, with only 9 per ceptihle riaar
Gill rakers rudimel~tary
angle of first arc~i; teeth in jaws of two dirferent sizes,
the long canines being, 4 to 5 times longer than tiif; riuuerous
short teeth lying bet~~iveen the cani.iic:;; canine teeth vertical
or angling slightly backwards j n jaws; na well-devsloped. !.;eel

on side of caudel peduacle; least depth of caudal peduncie
about equal to width oi"pedunc1e-at this point; lateral
line ends ventrel to xid-lateral poiiit of c:judal peduncle
at its least depth; greatsst diamter of eye 2.3 in post-
:iersi-iiamphus Cuvier 1817. &gne animal, ed. 1,
-mype species, Zsox - brasilLensis Linnaous).
1 specircen. 215 m. Onotoa. . .
vol. 2, p. 186,
D 13; A 12; I? 12; trensverse scale rovis from gill opening
to base of caudal fin 51; gill rakers .A?. (i specinien).
Inner pelvic ray decidedly longai thsn other'rays;,,upper
jaw without scales; body in cross-section less angular than
- Xyporhnmphus ; length of lo\?iei? jaw enterior to tip. of upper
jaw containeci 3.4 timcjs in body iength frs~o tip of upper jaw
to base ~f c8udRl fin; eye b.2 in head length; fiepth of body
5.7 in stanihrd length; length of .pectoral fin 4.7 in
standard length.
The Onotoa spec:l.inen was captured 7with a dip net at night
at thc surface irldeepwater west of the atsll. It was
attracted to a canoe with, Lh6 light of a torch.
Hyporhcm~ Gill 1859. ?roc. Acad. Rat. 9ci. ?hila., p. 131..
"TTFspecies, tricuspidatus Gill = Hyporhamphus .-
-. unifasciiitus -

D 14 or 15; A 14 or 15; P 12; transverse scale rows from
gill openl.r;g to base of caudal fia 56 to 59; gill rakers
40 to 42, (5 sgcci~~r~s).
Col-or i.n life of specimens 180 to 241, :em in lenqth:
dorsul part of 9ody to lateral line bright ;:ietallic blue;
Lateral 1ir:e dark blue; sides and belly si.lvery; caudal fir1
bluish; reminine fills hgaline; tip nnd underside of lower
jaw bright red.
nopth of body about oqiml to wi2th; body depth of 244 mi
specimen about 9 in standard longth; , wicith of upmr jaw
about 1:5. times longer thun. leugth of jaiv; lower jaw of 24.4.
ram specmen extends 5% iui: beyoil(? ti^ of u2per jaw.
During, the course of an afternoon goison station just
beyotld the breu!cer line on the southwest s'iae of dunteurna,
a sinall island in th.6 nsrthern part of Onotoa Atoll, many
large specimens of this species wore seen at tho surface
swimming in an6 out of the cloud of ratenone. Over 15 were
killed. The stomchs of 10 01' these were opened but found
to be empty except for a mall amourkof thick, cream-colored
liqui.6.
Hemiramphus - dussumieri Cuvier om1 Valenciennes 1846. Hist.
nat. poiss., vol. 19, p. 33, pl. 554. (Type locality,
Seychellus) .
?&miraciphus af f inis Kenddl and Goldsborough 1911. Meri,. Mus.
Comp. ~obl., vol. 26, p. 251. (Tarawa).
D 15 or 15; 4 15 or 16; P 12; transverse scale rows from
gill opening to base of caudal fin 65 or 66; gill rakers
34. to 36. (3 speciiaens 1 .
Depth of body greater than width; greatest depth of body
about 10 in standard length; greatest width of body 12.5 in
standard length; lower jaw of 162 ma specimen extends 39 mm
beyond tip of upper jaw; rnaximum >vidth of upper jaw ereter
than length. . .
This species was taken both in surface waters of the
lagoon and the outer reef.
Hemirampnus Georgii. Cuvier ' and Valerieiennes 1.81~6. Hist. net.
p o i s s . , ~ ~ ~ 27, . pl. 555. (Type locfility, ??ah.e Ye:?,
Coromandel) .

5:
liemir5iphus (Rhynchorhanphus ) georgii Powler 1928. &a. 13. P.
Bishop Mus., voi. 10, p. 75.-mill Islands).
I do not believe Fowler (1928: 75) is iustified in setting
. . ..
up the su bgepus ~hynchorhaaphus for- this species . I;is
prirnery bas'i's for the subgenus was the very long lomx- jaw.
The relative' length of the jcw of half beaks varies with age.
Family EXOCOXTIDAE. .. . . . . .
The flying fishes were caught at night by participating
with Gilbertese natives who catch these fishes with long-
handled dip nets after sttrclcting them with t!?e light of
torches. The fj.shing is done from outrigger canoes ~%hile
.under.saii. The Onotoa exocoetids were all caug!~t outside
of the lagoon, though I was told that fishing forflyjng
fishes is at times undertaken in the lagom. The general
Gilbsrtese name for flying fishes is Teonauti.
..: ..
. .:,. , , ..L.
The meristic data for all of the specinlens are given in
Table 1. ~ipparently's&le counts arc veria'ble'within the
. . . . . ;: 5.:
species. . *j
... .:. . .
~owl.F?r '.('2928:. '80) :fd&ntified :a specimen in the I~?useum
of Comnarative Zoology frors the Ringsnil1 Islands as Evo,lnntia
microptera
-- (Valenciennes) :, . .
. . . :,
. . . ,
. . . . . . .
. .
. . . .
...
. . . . . ......
..~. . Genus CKPSGLLBW3 .....................
..........
Cypsilurus .Swainson 1838. nit, hist. class. fys'hes,
atflphiblans ,..,, vol. 1, p. 299. (?pelling chsnped to
Cypelurus Lowe 18Lb1 by the Intey.natione1 Cocunission on
:.
. . ., . Zoological Nomenclature) i'i.. ...... ........ - .
Bxocoetus spilonotopterus Bleeker 1866. Ned. Tijdschr.
Dieric., vol. 3, p. 113: ((Type locality, Paclang, Sumatra).
2 specimens. 267 and 273 IN?. Onotoa.
Color from 35 LW;I LodachroaF? trhnsperan.cy: upper '~?ne-third
of boay gun metal blue, lower two-thirds silvery white; a'
' Large. black area in dorsal finfro~l the thira'. to t h t,en.th
ray; caudal fin dark purplish; pectoral fin derk purplish
wi. th a silvery sheen centrally; arlal. and pelvic fj.113 white.
In alcohol:' the pectoral membranes are .blackish except extreme
outer porti'onk uhich are hynline. .
. . .

Exocoetus unicolor Cuvier and 'iTalenciennc-,s l8Lh. Iiist. nnt.
------ -.-
poiss., vol. 19, p. 97. (Tyj2e locality, Vanikoro and Jzvn).
2 specimens. 230 and 265 mm., ' Onotoa.
Color in alcohol: upper half'to third of body dark pray-
brown, lower part of body light tan: horizontal. area from
gill opening to pelvic fins at level of lower base of
pectoral fir, wlth 8 sparse stippliny: of tj.ny black dots:
dorsal, anal, loctorsl, and pelvic fins pale; caudal fin
brownish; outer axll of pelvic fins blackish.
Cypselurus suttoni
bfaculscoetus - -.-- suttoni Whitley end Colefax 1938. roc.' Linn.
Sac. $3. S. ?$ales, val.. 63, p. 288, pl. 14, fig. 1.. (Type
locality, Nauru and Ocean Island).
2 specimens. 253 and 257 mm. Onotoa.
. .
Color in alcohol: upper half of body dark gray brown,
lower half tan: dorsal fin brown with e large black spot on
the firth to benth rays; pectastil fin usnbranes hyaline brown
: withblack spots; caudal fin light brownish; pe1vi.c fins pale.
Prognichthys Ureder 1928. Bull. Binghan Oceanogr. Coll.,
vol. 2, p. 20. (Type species, --- Exocoetus gibbifrons Cuvier
and Valenciennes).
Prognichthys a lbimacula tus
cypselurus --- (l?xonautes) --- - albimaculatus F0'~ler 1933. (on. '
Cypse:urus speculiger Kendell and C.oldsborough, 1911).
>roc. ~caz. Kat. Soi, Phila., vol. 85, p. 327, fig. 81.
(Tyge locality, Cuami .
Color in alcohol.: upper half of body ila:rk pray-brown,
lower half tan; dorsal and caudal fins light brownish;
, -pectoral fin nembranes blackish, especially lower outer
.portions, (exccpt center of .fin which i:3 lic,ht clusky); anal
and pelvic fins pale like vuntral. half af body.
Unli~e Cypselurus in which only the upper pectoral ray is
branched, - Frognichthys has the upper two pectorul rays unbranched.
Also, theTnal. and dorsal fj.ns in Ero~~nich.th,vs . -. -
are about the same length at their base and .hEbout ciie
sam n~liiber of rays. In Cypselurus the dorsal f1.n base is

longer aad there are riore rags than the anal. In my singl.6
sgecirnen of 2=gni?hthys ~lbj.m~culatus
--.. -. . - (rind in the i;y pe
which. was examlnecl by meJ the anal fin takes its origin just
beneath the origin of the dorsal. fin.
Table I Counts !Jade on ths :b=etid.ae Collected
--- in the Gilbert islands
-- -- -.-
Dorsal raqs Anal rays
Gill rakers pectoral rays
-- 20 - 21 22 - 23 -. 24 -- 25 13 14 15 16 17 18
7 -----
- C. spilocatopterus 2
C. unicolor 1 1 1 1
-
C. sutton!; 1 1 2
H. 7ibirn.aCulatus 1 1
- ---
scale rows l'rm upper end of gill o:~ening
to base of caudal fin
________I.-----.-
4.4 45 $5 47 11.8 49 50 51 52 53 54. 55
C. spilonotopterus . ... -
1 1
-. C. unico Lor 1 1
2.' -- suttoni
1 1
P. albincculatus 1
- --
The squirrel fishes are wel.1 rep~esented among th.e
collections from the Gilbert Islands. They are spiny,
usually red, with large eyes, a pelvic fl.11 fc~rmula of I,?,
and nocturnal habits. The Gilbertese value$ them as food
fish and caught thcro while fishing with torches at night.
Holocentrus Scopoli 1777. Introductio ad historian naturalem...,
p. 449. (No type species designated, but after Gronowfs
IIolocentrus inaxi ila) .
___- --7

.. . .
Ilolocen trus spinifer
0
Sciawia spinifera Forskbl 1775. Descr. ani.raaliur;i, pp. 12, 49.
locality, Hed Sea).
. . . ..- .
1 specimen. 222 m. Onotoa.
2 speciti~ens. 150 and 170 mm. Tarawa. : . .
.. .
Spine at earner of preopercle long, its length measured
to center of the corner 3.3 in head length; profile of head
very slightly concave.
Color from 35 raid iiodachrone transparency red; each body
scale with a narrow white outer edge; extrene'ventral part
of body white; spinaus dorsal fin bright red; soft dorsal
fin light red; caudal fin red except distal part which shades
to orange; anal and pectoral fins orange yellw; pelvic Pins
red with n white roargin,
Although the only speclmen from Onotoa was takenfrom an
outer reef area, the species wns otherwise seen only. in
relatively shallow areas of the lagoonhiding. in interstices
in dead coral.
Holocentrus opercularis
Holocentrum ogercul&. Ctilier And Valenciennes 181.1. I-Iist .
nat. poiss;., vol.' 7, g. 501.. (Type locality, Carteret
3arbor , New Ireland).
3 specirflens. 185 - 192 ru, Onotoa,
, 3 ; n IV,9;. P 1k; lateral line scales 40.
(2 specii~ens). . . : ,. , . .. .
. .
~ ...
Color - in alcohol light brown, darker dorsaily, with the
centro-basal pert of each scale dark brown; a broad,
uninterrupted, Jet blnck band in splnous dorgal fin; outer
part of each interspinous nembrane ond an irregular pale
blotch near base of each nembrane pale; remaining fin:; light
brown except upper and lower parts of caudal fin which are
slightly dusky.
. .
The three specinens were taken in poisor~ st~tion number
I1 at the northern part of the atoll.
0
Sciaena snnmara For nkal 1775. . Descr. aniiaalium, pn. 12, 48,.
locality, Djeddn, Red %a). . . . . ., . . .. ,
i
. " '"
. .

2E specimens. 31 - 123 mu. Onotoa.
D X-I,12; b IV,8; P 13 or 14; lcteral line scales 41
ant 42. (2 specinens).
Color in alcohol light brown with a row ol' close-set,
darX brown spots down the center of each scale row (the rWNS
of spots in Illany of thc epecirnens are faint); a round, jet
blaci; spat anteriorly in d01:s~l fin (between the first and
fourth spims) ; a light dus!i.y band in rniddle of fin gasteriar
to black, spot; ente,rior margin of soft dorsnl fin, upper and
lower lobes of caudal fin, and region of fourth anal spine
and first soft ray dusky. '.
Specinens were collected fron both the lagoon and outer
reef areas.
Holocentrun - -.- laeve ~hther 1859. Cet. fishes British Nus.,
vol. 1, p. 47. (Type locality, iouisiade Archipelago;
Guada lcailnl , Solomon Islands ; i2robon, East Indies ) .
11 specimens. 30 - 1138 ma. Onotoa.
D X-1,12; A IV,8: i' 12; lateral line scales 41.
(2 specimens). .. .
. .
t .: .
Color from 75-!nfi Xodeohrorne transparency: silvery blile
dorsally, shading to wfi,i te '50 sidss a.ncl':veittrallg, wLth a
row of dark brom spots down the oenter of each row of scales;
spinoue dorsal fin yellowish viith a far;.nt dusky i.ensthwise
band in. outer yart of fin; soft dorssl fin whi.tish except
anterior mrgin which is dusiiy red;..caudal fin whitish with
upper tind lower fmrgiiis broadly dark reddish brown; aria1 fin
whitish except region of la2t anal spine. and .first, anal ray
which is dusky red; pelvic fins white; pectoral fins hyaline,
Speciinens were colltzcteCfrorn around coral heads ia
shallov~ areas of the lagoon, chan~rels, and outer reef.
/.
Kolocentrus diadeaa
Hslocentrus - diaderna Laoepede 1802. Bist, nat. poiss., vol. 4,
pp. 335, 3 n y p e locality, South %as).
8 specimens. 47 - 108 rm. Onotoa lagoon.
1 specimen. 110 cm. Tarawa.
r) ~I,13;
1! IV,g; P lh; lateral line scales 48. (2 spe-
ciaens ) .

Color in alcohal light browc with. a pale line narrowly
bordered with brown in the center of each scale rob^; an
iritiistinct slongate brown patch on bacX be.neat;h posterior
part of spinoua dorsal I'in; membranes of spinous 4or.sa.l. fin
blacii. (spines hyaline), with a narrow len+gthwise pale barid
skumine from base of first spine to 011s-fourth up on si.xth
spine and a similar band froin two-thirds out on seventh
spine to juilcture of spinous and soft dorsal fins ; re:uaining
fins pale.
---- ---- ---
Iloloceritrurfi lacteo-guttaturn Cavier and Tral.enoieanes 1~329.
~-;~st. nat. poiss., vol. 3, p. 214. (Type locality, :;vlsr
des 1nd.e~ ) .
11 specimens. 46 - 120 mm. Onotoa.
1 specimen. 39 ml. Tarawe.
D XI-13 or 14.; A IT,?; F 15; lateral ,line scales 41, to
48. (4 speci~uens) .
Color froiii 35 !mil Kodccbrome tr'nns,parer:cv: body si. lvesy;
scales on dorsal third of body iowgino6 with red end dotted.
with fine brown. spots; dcrsal pa:rt of bencl rod; outer third
of spinous dorsal fin bright red, the rest pale; rsmaiainp,
median fins light red; paired fins whitish.
Tenof the specimens were taken with rotenone from n
surge channel of the outer reef on the windtvnrd side of the
atoll; one sj!ecinlen was taken from the lagoon si.de of the
west 'reef.
---
i3olocanl;rura vio1nceui;l. 13lselrer 1853. Nut. Ti jdschr . Ned. -Ind.,
vol. 5, 11. 335. m ,pe locality, Ambon, East Indies).
2 speci~wns. 158 and 166 ma. Onotoa.
D 21,14; A IV,y; P 15; lattral line scales 35. (2 spscirnens
) .
Spirie at corner of preopercle very long, its length 2.8
in head length; spinous dorsal fin short, longest dorssil
spine 2.7 in head length.
Color in life rt.ddisl.1 brown. Color in alcohol, dark brown,
each body scale with two indistinct pale spats, one in upper
central port of scale, the second in lower cent~:al. wart;
opercul:3r ms~ubrane dark brown, almost 'bli3ck in doi'snl
portl.011; fins lig,ht browr~.

The specineas were teken from coral rich areas, one fron
the went reef of the atoll and the other from the northern
outer reef.
-. Holocentrus microstomus -
jIolocentrum microstoma ~Znther 1859. Cat. rishes Britrsh !'us.,
vol. 1, p. 34. loci:lity, Ambon, Eas: Indies).
13 specimens. 43 - 134 urn. Onotoa.
D XI-12 or 13; A IV,g; P 1.5; lateral line scales 5.0 nr
51. ( 5 specimens).
Third anal. spine very lo.ng, its length about 1.3 in head
length; maxillary ends at a vertical passing through anterior
one-fourth of eye.
Color from 35 mm Kodacl~one transparency: body red with
a broad white band. down the center of each scale row; head
red exce2t ventrally and margia of preopercle which are
white; medinn fins light red; pelvic fins whitish; pectoral
fins hyaline .
One L32 mi specimen is r:iore melanistic than the others,
with. streaks of blackish nigment in the soft dorsal and anal
fin. It hes only lateral line scales. In other respect::
it appears Like the other specimens of - E. uicrostomus.
Most of the sp6cirnens were taken from around coral heads
in shallow lagoon and channel areas.
tiolocentrura tiere Cuvier and Valenciennes lE29. IIist,. nat .
poiss., vol. 3, p. 202. (Typ locality, Tahiti). '
'iolocentrus erythraeus 'i'hitley and Colefax 1938. ?roc. Linn
9oc. N. 3. Yales, vol.,.63, p. 289. (Ocean Island) (after
Holocentrus - ahroeus --- Wcite, 1903: 3). . .
10 specimens.
Onotoa .
120 - 195 nm. . 5 specimens 38 - 49 mni.
2 specimens. 142 ,m. Tnrawa .
I
D XI-14; k IV 9; P 14 or 15; lateral lins scales 48 to
51. (4 specl.mensj. . .
S2inous dorsal fin short, longest spine 3.1 ia head length;
depth of body 2.7 in standard len(

Color from 35 m Kodachrome tsansparency bright red;
alternating longitudinal bhnds of dark red and light red
(nearly white ventrally) on boe.y, th.e darker.re6: bands
running 8own the center of the scale rows; spinous dorsal
fin bright red except tips of membranes. and. a. white spot
basally on erich membrane; remaining fins red. ,.
Woods in Schultz and colla$orators (1957) hQs concluded
that ~olozntrum - esthraeum . C.unt,her is a synonyn of
T-
Kolocentrus tiere Cuvler and Vafenciennes. ,
-- -- . ..
. . , . , .
H. .- tiere appeared to be the most comadn memberof the
genus at OnoLoa. It was certainly the most co~hnocnoii in coral-
rich areas of the outer reef. Some of the gnotoa and the
two Ttirawa s'pecimens were taken from surge channels.
The stomachs of 15 adult speoimens which herb col'lected
Ln the afternoon were opened. A11 were empty excepttwo
which contained 1~ell digested remains of mall fish. Since
holocentrids probably feed mainly at night, the food habits
.should be ii1vest;igated from specimens taken at night or
early.in the morning. . ,
, .. . . .. . ,
. .
-
Iiolocentrus caudir~+culatus , . .
.. . . . .
Holocentrus caudimaculatuk ~&pell 1835. Neue Wirbelth.,
FischGC91,lT33pe locality, Red Sea).
Holocentrum oaudirnaculatum ~Gdther 1874. Sour. Mus . Godef froy ,
vols. 2-3, pts. 5-0,,p. 95. (Abemama, Gilbert Islands).
Genus ,HOLOTRACHYS
.. .
Kolotrach s ~irntherl87~'. Tour. Mus; Godeffroy, vols. 2-3,
p; >93. (Type species, Myripristis lima - Cuvier
and ~alencieanes)
. . ..
- Holotrachys Ijma.
Myriprist is lima Cuvier and ,Valenciennes 1831. Hist. nat .
poiss'.,, V O ~ p. , 493. (~ype locality, Mauritius).
1 specimen. 70 rm. Onotoa.
. , ,.
' , I . . :: .
D. KII-15; A' TV,l1; 1-''$.7; lateral line scal€s tr-2.
. .
:,.No elongate spine at-:corner of preopercle; third anal
spine only sliehtly'long€i and stouter than fourth spiile.
Color in life bright red,
The one specimen taken >vas coilected from the lagoon side
of the west reef of Onotoa,

P&r-rlstis -. - Cuvier 1934. ~8gne aninel. ed. 2, p. 150. (Type
specles, - ::iyripristis ;jacabue Cuvier and Val.enciennes) .
-- -
Myriyristis adustus Bleelcer 1053. Wat. Ti jdschr . Wed.-Irid.,
vol. L, n. 10ti.(~y]>e locelity, Ambon, :Cast 1ndl.e~).
2 saecinens. 185 and 190 mn. 14 specimens. 33 to
63 &;I. Onotoa.
1 specimen. 2 9 . Tarawa.
D T-I,15; A IV,13; ? 15 or 16; latersl line scales 2s;
gill r~kc?I?s
38. (2 specir~ensl.
Calor from 35 m ~(obechrone transparericy of a 190' r.m ad11l.t:
centers of scales palc, nearly rphlte, rirns derk blue dorsalJ.y,
shading to saluon pin.% on sides cnc! ventrally; spinous dorsal
fin blac:; except for a broad pale 1engtS~aise band down the
iiiidd3.e; distal part of soft dorsal, caudal, and anal rays
black; basal part of these Sins pale pinkish shading to
orange re2 next to b1ac.k outer pert; c blackish spot at
postero-medial part oP opsycle; exil of pectoral. fin blackish;
iris of eye pale yellow.
The stonacns of four cimens from Tsrawa (not
retained for the-; collection were opened. ?!vo were en?pty and
two contained one shrimp eich.
%yri ristis micropht.halmus Bleeker 1852, :\Tat. Tj-jdschr .
, J~L. -A v : 3, p. 2&. (Type locality, Anbon, ?%st
Indies ) .
n X -I,lg or 16; ~1 IV, 13; P 15; lateral line scales 20;
pill rakers 42 or h3 (27 or 28 on lower linb of arch).
(3 speciraens).
Diameter of eycj equal to or less th8.n _nostorbit,?!. part
of head (measured to opcrcular sginc); depth of bod:! 2.2 ic
standard length; head. length 3.3 in standard length.
Color f'rom 35 rm Kodachrom~j transparency: centers of
scales light bluish gray (almost white) ec?ges reddish brawn
(purplish in. nape region) ; poster:. or ed.ge of opercle broadly
marg,ined with reddish brow, this r~ost pronounced at level
of eye; bro~wnish red spot in mil of pectoral; spinous dorsel
fin lignt red; soft dorsal, caudal, and anal Pins pifik

. , . .
basally, shading to rcd aii$eror!.istally in. the. dorsal and
anaL and distally.in the cauda.1 fins; anal spines v~hite;
. . pscto'nl fins hyelins reci; pelvic fins whj.te.
. .
. .
All of the speciriieris ivere'obtai.ned in poison st8tj.m II
in the northern part of tke atoll.
. .
. . . .
. ,
Myripristis murdjnn -
l+ s;mcinens. '71 - 155 :au. Onotoa surge chsnn~l.
D X-1,~; A 1v,11. or i2; ~ 1 5 htsral ; line scales 31 to
33... , g'd rli Pakers 43 (26 oc 27 on l~mi? lirnb). (2 specin?ens).
. .
Diameter of eye sl.ightly 'than postorbital. part
,of 'head; denth of b0d.Y 2.b: ,ill standard length; Length of
head. 3 in stamlard length; patch of teeth on anter2~or part
of each side of lower jaw directly below similar but broader
: patch on efich side of upper jaw.
. . . . , , .
Cdlor of ' 1.05 mni specinen: ? r ~ m -a 35 mrn Kodachrome trans-
. parency bright red,' the kdters ,of..the scales white; spinous
dorsal fiE pink basally, red distally; soft dorsal fin with
rays red, msinbranes yellowish exoept distal half or' more of
those between the first. five rays whic!l arssolid red.,
shading to browtl outvmrdly ; anzl;: fin with similar coloratior~
ezcept anterior spinous portion v~hich is white; caudal fi.11
solid red except upper and lower nargiils which are white;
opercular menbrane reddish brown (d'us:

Color froril 35 run 'Xodachromc transparency rosy red; brown
on opercillar merrbrnne does not exten& below opercular spine;
a brown spot at axll of pectoral :Fin; sl.1 fZ.ns except
pslvics rosy red, the anterior margins of the soft dorsal
and enal and uargiiis of.' caudal lobes narrowly white; rosy
red color of soft dorsrl and anal fins dar!rest anterodistally
in these fins; pelvic fins whitish; iris red.
The spscirnens were collected at psison stations 11 and
IV, both regj.ons of nwtrous srali coral heads.
Kyripristis
-- multir~diatus - ~Znther 1874. Jour. Nus. Godeffroy,
vol. I, p.-E.-('113rFE locality, Vevau, Tonga Islands).
3 spacimsns. 10) - 128 ma. Onotoa.
Diameter nf eye slightly greater than postsrbital length
of head (measured to end of opercular spine); body depth
2.35 in stanciard length; 1e;q;th of head 3 in standard. length.
Color i.a',$dcohol liirht yellowish brown; dark brown rep.ion
fron rlpper edge of gill. open;n(p, ts axil of pectoral fin,
this color on edee of opercular. bone, oa opsrcular membrane,
a.tld exnosed part of posttemporal bone; fins color of body
except base of c3udal Sin which is slightly dusky.
The two specimens were collected with rotenone at station
IV on the west reef in a iia:

on each side of ariter: or part of lower jaw xe8ial to n
simi.lar butbroB3er p?tch an each side of u:?per j~w; ptches
: i.il lower jw se~$$yate& 'by a distrnce about twice as great
as the 6.i.a:fleter of o& of the patches;
Color from 35 ixa iodnchrome ti.c3nsparenc,v of an Onotoz
speciiiim: light red dhr sally, shading to light silvery !:in::
on Sidcs and. ventrally; mareins of scnles blulsh bro~a,
darker dmsslly than ve.ntrel.ly; tn'oyn spat on o~erculi-lr
~ceubrane at level of pupil sf eye %nich extends sli.q,htly
more a170ve opercular s!.ine th.sn below !.t: clerk bowa spot
in axil' of pectoral fin; eginous clors:?l i'iil piilk except
distal. part which is briskit red; ssft dorsal cnd anal fins
pink busaily, light red. YYistaily (re

O X-I,l& or 15; .A IV,12 or 13; 2 15: lateral line scales
30; gill ra

loses much of its significance b~cause the amount of its
developiflent varies. I experienced difficulty with the
characters involving the position of the nostril.^, arid
thereyore prefer to leave these three species, at least, in
&iu(;il. I a111 in agreement biith Schultz in not recognizing
Elloohelon Whitley (with Mu il vaigiensis as its typ species)
and -- Vala~ail - Suith-$&h 1% seheli as its type
species).
Mugil Linmseus 1758. Syst. nnt., ed. 10, p. 316. (Type
species , Mugil cephalu~ Linnaeus) .
3
Xugil crenilnbis var. seheli Forskal 1775. Descr. animalium,
pp. xiv, 73. Cl'ype locality, Red sea).
1 spe cirnen.. . 3lO mi. Tarswa . . .
D IV-S,8; A ZI,'~; P 18; scale rows from upper . . end of gill
opening to bns:e. of caudal fir! 31).
. . Color in alaohol d.usky brown dorsally sh.edinp> to light
~
$Town on sides and ventxally: an indistinct blackish spot at
upper edge of base of pectoral fin.
KO adipose eyelid ; lins 6~100th; ventro-anterior margin of
preorbital straight and finely serrate; rnaxil~um body depth
contained 3.7 tines in standard length; caudal fin, though
damaged, appears to be lunnte; second dorsal and acal fins
scaly; pectoral.. slightly silOZ.ter than leagth of head,
axillary scale at level of upper rmsgln of pectoral nearly
half the length of the pectoral.
Mugil engeli ;3lee!rer 185C. Nat. Tijdschr. Ned.-Ind. , v31. 15,
p. 385.-(Fype locality, Hstavia, Java) .
3 specimens. 110 - 123 ram, Onotoa.
1 speci~ien. 111 im. TRF~w~~.
D IV-I,8 or 9; A IIl,8 or 9; P 16; scale rows froa upper
end 'ofgill opening to base of caudal fin 32 or 33. (4 spe-
cimens). . .
Color in alcohol: dorsal half of body dusk$browa
(csnsisting of a iiense sti!:?ling of tiny broxdii dot^); 1 0 ~ ~
half of body tan; operculu.fii chest largely oi.l.verg; Fins
pale with fine speckles of' aark brown.

Adipose eyelid only slightly developed; lips sfcooth;
depth of body containea about tines i.n standard length;
vcntro-anterior margin of ;?reo.?bital With an an~ular
concavity; length of pectoral fin absut equal to 3.en.gth of
head; cpudal fin slightly l'orked.
One of the specimens was obtained from a Gilbertese
fisherman who had sevqral for use as bait -;$hilt trollirip for
tuna. The hook was completely imbedded in the mullet for
thi.s purpose.
-- --
Xupil -3- vaigiensis --
Mugil vaigiensis Qgoy mii Gaimard 1824. Voyegt? autour du
monde . . . wUranie!'...Zool., p. 337, n1. 59, fj.g. 2. (Type
loc~~lit y , Waigeo Island, Xew Gu.inea) .
Ellochelon vaigiensis Whitley and Solefax 1938. Proc. Linn.
-- Sot. N. S. :V~lcs, volt 63, p. 289. (PTauru).
2 specimens. 93 and 205 ni. Onotoa lagoon.
2 specimens. 92 and 93 1x1. T~ral~a.
I) IV-I, 7 or e; A III,g; P 16; scale rows fron upper end
of gill opening to base of caudal ?in 25 or 26. (2 snecimens).
Color in life of large specimen silvery white; scales on
back with blec~ish edges; upper half to two-thirds of
pectoral fin black, lover half pale; other fine dusky bluish
except pelvics which are white. The 93 niiu specimen had a
yellowish czudal Pin in life.
-;r- Mupil - tade
0
Xu;ugil -& crenilaljis var. tade Porskal 1775. Descr. animeliurn,
pp. xiv, 7nType lz?Xity, Red Sea).
Mui.,il -- t~&e Fovvler 1:228. iviern. R. P. Bishop Xus., vol. 10,
p. 122, fig. 26. (Abai,ang, Kingsmill Islands).
Crenimueil Schultz 1946. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mun., vol. 35,
p. 3 . (Type s~ecies, i a crenilabis Pmsl&l),
-
Crenimupi. .-- 1 crenilabis
0
niIugil crenila'uus Porskal 1775. Descr. animalrum, pr). xiv, 73.
-(Type locality, Red %a).
1 specimen. 109 m. Onotos lagoon.

. .' r . .
. ."
, .
D IV-I, 8; A 111 ;9; 1' 17 ; stele rows fr xfl upper end oC
gill opening to base of' caud&lL..ini~i 39.
Co1.o.r in a1 coho1 dari; brornlnish dsr srilly shading. to ta.n
on sides ant1 ve.:itrally; a hlac~r spot at uppw ecige of base
of pectorel f'in. ... ..
...
; .
Margin of' lower Li;, stron@;l,v ol:eriu3.nte; inside of a~argin
a row of ridc.e-like, ii'regular papillae; upper lip w:':.tb
. .
about 4 rows of sr;ialL piipillae on outel: edge.
. ..
Allanetta Vhit:Ley 194.3. Proc. Liri!!. Soc. $3. S. '?alf;s, vol. 68,
p. 135.. (Y'ypc -species, Atherim
~lc~ull.0~1~).
.~ . .
Allnnetta ovalcua
- m~Il.oides
--
Atherina .ovt::l$u& Iierrr: 1935. Eubl, Field Xus. Nzt. ' !!i&
. ..
. . . ..
2001. sol!., vol. 18, p, 401.. (Type 1ocaU.ty; F.iji Islands).
3 specinens. 27 - 61 Onotoa logoon.
3 spe ciinens. 21; - 43 inn. Abeniamu .
.. .
D VI or VIZ-I,9 5r 10; AI, 9 or, 10; P 1.7. (1, specimens).
Transverse scslf; rows fro12 :gill 0,pening to bass of caudal
fin 43. '(1 specimen).
Color or 61 ia~l spccirnen ili. alcohdl lieht brdm with a
dusky bluish line about; equal to diaiiif;ter of pu.1jil'in width
runninfj froi~ upper axil of pectoral fin to base of caudal
fill; scales on dorsal part of body edged in black; end of
snout and lower Jm ::iith a concentration of black pl.gfient;
a narrovi blsclc dotted line st base. !of pectoral. fin; 1% tiny
blacic spot anterior to upper base af peC$oksl fin; al.1 fins
hyaline except a bilobed area i.n mid-bas? of ceud,al i'ip which
is dusky.
Hacii of mnndibSes distinctly elevated et rear of toothed
area; anus bet!.iesn .+lvic fi.ns: depth of body 6.5 in
standard length.
Paini 1 y SPiiYfl~'."T"ID),~
IIAV
t. ;
:5phyraena 'Jalbaum 1792. Petri 2,rted.i sueci genera pisciiwj,
pp. 91c, 584. (T1,ype species, ZSOX sphjrraena Lj.nn~eus).
. .

Snhlr3-en~ for st eri
Bahvraena --- - forsteri Cuvier and Valenciennes 1929. Ilist. nat.
5iss., vol. 3Fp. 353, (Type locality, ~ahiti).
1 specimen. 820 i~m. Onotoa.. (Only head and caudal
fin preserved).
D V-I,9; A I1,8; P 14; lateral line scales 116.
Angle of preoperculum rounded; maxillary reaches a vertical
through anterior edge of eye; no elongate gill raker at
an~le of first %ill arch; numerous tiny bony spinules on
gill arch from angle over half way to ventral origin of
arch; eye 7.7 in length of head from tip of upper jaw to end
of operculum; eye 3.3 in postorbital part of head; no rasplike
teeth visible on tongue; an clongnte canine tooth in
upper ja.w about an eye diameter distance from tip of upper
jaw, this tooth flanked with one anteriorly .nd one posteriorly
about one-third to one-half as long; a gap slightly
less than an eye diameter in distence separates the long
anterior canine tooth from a series of four of comparable
length posteriorly in the jaw which, in turn, ars. followed
by teeth of gradually smaller length; teeth in posterior
part of lower jaw short, shark-like, the anterior edge of
each somewhat longer than the posterior edge; edge of
opercle with two flexible flattened spines, the lowermost
more projected than the upper; posterior margin of caudal
fin deeply concave with two ?x-ominent bump in mid-portion,
This specimen differs from -- forsteri -.- as described by Weber
and de Eeaufort (1922: 223) in lacking rasplike teeth on the
tongue, and having a smaller eye, and a bi-lobed shape to
the postero-central margin of the caud?.l fin. The eye is
smaller than s?ecimens of this species re;>orted by SchuLtz
(1953: 2&4) frorn the P4ars!iaL1 Isl-ands. Since my specimen is.
larger than any seen by Veber pc? de Seaufort and by Schultz,
it is possible that the differences in size of eye and shape
of caudal fin are a function of. age.
The snecimen tms caught by a Gilbertese fisherman by
trolling.
Family SERRAMID A%
This family, as based on Gilbert Islands collections; in-
cludes the groupers, anthiids, and the genus Ynsigramma.
The groupers were numerous at Onotoa. The yom? of some
species were very a.bundant in tidepools and were cnusht by
the Gilbertese and dried. in the sun br food. Adult ,Troupers
were not so commonly secn because of their procilivity for
hiding in holes and caverns in the reef, but now and then one
could be observed purposeful1.y swimming from one :%rt of the
reef to another.
47

Genus EPIIVEPZIJJS . .
. .
Epinephelus l>i .:-. ". --- ...- Bloch 1793. Nutur. auslsnd. Pische, vol. 7,
P. (Type species, --.-- Zpinenimlus marpjnatvs T.~-~~.-- Hloch =
Perca far ciatus For aksl)
- ----
~~inephelus fuscofuttatus - i .
Perca sunmaka'. var. fusco-guttata Porskal. 1775, Jescr.
.animaliun, pp. 11, 42. (Type locality, Red Sea).
. .
-- -
Serranus fuscoguttatus ~ilp~ell 1P28. Atlas Heise nsrd.
Afrika, Pische des rothen Ke€rs, p. 108, pl; 27, fig. 2,
&inephelus - fusc&ttatus Schultz 1943 (in part ) . Bull.
-r- UY S. Nat. Xus. lW, p. 106. , .:
. .
Co1orin.al~chol 'brown with large irrsgu.lai dark brown
blotches on hsaci and body (f~ost poninent dorsally) and
everywhbrs covered with nui.lc;rous, ' small, clsse-set dark
: brown spots; a proi~inent black saddle dorsally on cauc?al
peduncle;
Another grouper, Epinsphelus horridus (~uvier and
.Valenciennes), has a very similnr color pattern to
fusooguttp,tue, and the two hnve long been confused. It 1s
difficult to decide from ~ oiskal~s 'brief description of
fuscoguttatus which speciss.should~bear his nami. .I have
chosen the m%e slender form as figured by ~;fppell (1828)
from the Red Sea. I an influenced further by seeing three
specifiiens of this species from the Re@ %a among the
collections in the Uaited St~ites 'I'Jjtional. ?Tuseua and failing
to find any (nor any definite reference from the literature)
of the deeper bodied Porm which Ian designating horridus
from this locality. ~orskal's description of the spots as
tleddish brown supports ny dscisian, for there are several
preserved s,peci1!1ens from the Marohall Islancis in the nusem
on which the spots are still slightly reddish. A
iiodachrome transparency of horridus from life shows the
:spots us definitely not reddish. In view of the well known
ability for ths groupers to attain va?ied hues, thi s bit of
evidence nust be taken lightly, however.
Counts were uqde fron o : ~ of the Red Sea specimens and..
one of the Marshall islands specinens. The counts were. the
same as those of the Gilbert Islands specirsen except for the
dorsal soft rays and pectoral rays of the one frorn the Red.
Sea which were ll+ and 18, respectively. For further
discussion of -fuscoputtatus 9 see -- horridus below.

-
Epinephelus horridus
Serranus horridus Cuvier and Valenciennes 1828. Fist. nat.
poiss., vol. 2, p. 321. (Type locality, Java).
-
Serrnnus fuscoguttatus Day 1876. Fishes of India, p. 22,
PI. 5, fig. 3.
Ruinephelus fusco~uttatus Bchultz 191+3 (in part). Bull.
5. 5. N a T . v 101.
1 specinen. 304 mud. Onotoa.
D XI,lL+; A 111,s; P 19; gill rakers 36.
Color frofa 35 mil Kodachrome trz!.lsparency li~~ht yellow?.sh
brovjn with large irregular dnrl: brown patches on bfiiid. and.
bady (darkest ?orsally) and nunaous, close-set, small
brown spots on head, body, and fins; a very dark brown
saddle dormlly on ca:ldal peduncle;.
E. lriorricius my be told at a i:,la~lce from fuscoguttatus
by aody uepth and by t!..e prafile or the head. The latte?:
is a more slender species--and has a s1ightl.y and. smo~thly
convsx forehead; in horr --- idus there is a d.isti11ct indaitztion
at the eye where the convexity of the snout m e t ~ c7 ;::a.rked
corlvexitj7 of the nape. Gill raicer and pect(ora1 fill ray
counts provide conclusive x:rl.st.ic separation. Gill raker
counts included all rudiments. A specinen of hsrridus from
Saritoil Island, Filoeuix Grou,~, identified as fus~~g~~.tFtitw
by Schultz (19fc3) , gavs the same :neristic dnta as the 0na'toa
specimen.
Zpinephelus corallicola
Xpinephslus corallicoln Cuvi~r and Valenciennes 1828. Hist.
nat. POISF., vol. 2, p. 336.
@insphelus macros~ilus - Bleeksr 1873-76. Atlas ichth., vol.
7, p0. 33, 52, pi. 290, fj.~. 2.
- -
Epinei;helus altivelioides Bleeicer ibid, pl.. 308, fig. 1
;pinephelus mcrospilus Schultz in Sahiiltz and collabor~tors
1353. 3~11. U. S. ?;at. Xus. 2Oz vol. 1, pp. 330, 31+L+,
-> 111. 25, i~. . .
Q&xphslus scil~tus Schultz i.0 i3chultz and collaborator;:
1953. Bull. U. S. Nat. Uus. 202, vol. 1, pp. 332, 352,
fig. 55.
5 specinens. 72 - 310 mm. Onotoa lneoon and lee reef.a
2 specimens. 98 and 160 ra. Nukunau.

D X I (one with XII) , 16 or 1.7; A III,#; P 17 to 19; gill
rakers 24 or 25, (3 specimens).
Co1o.r. from 35 rua KoAachrnme transparerlcy of 120 nn sne-
citnen: body dull ':#bite with widely scrittered blackish orange
spots (slightly siilellel* than pupil of eye in average size):
caudal fir1 yell0:sJish :nl.hite with. scattered black spots, a
concentration of these formirig a !;ubmarginal band; margin
of caudnl fin light yellow; Corsrll fin dull white with
scattered black spots and pale t~iargin; anal fin similar to
dorsal but duskiw; paired fins bleckish, the pectorals with
narrow light yellow margin and the pelvics lvith narrow white
margin; iris yellow; pupil blu'.sn. The 72 inm specimen has
fewer spots (a total of 23 appearin&: on head and body, the
nost prominent being the 5 at the base of the dorsal fin and
one dorsally on caudal peduncle. In the 310 ma specimen
(which differed from the rest in having XI1 dorsal spines
and 17 pectoral rays), the spots. are relatively nore
numerous and smaller than the 120 mm specimen, but still
wll-spaced. There is n slight concentration of spotting
at, the bass of the last fev spines of tiie dorsal fin nnd.
dorsally on caudel peciuncle to form a small black saddle.
A 126 in;;^ specimen included aiilong the five above is (%ark
brown with blacjs spots irlstcad of light brown with black spots.
G i l l rakexs of 5 specinens from the Narshall Islands
(paratypes of ---.- snilotu:;) nunbered 25.
The stomach contents of a 2.75 rm specimen were examined.
The specimen had caten a scyllerid lobster. Tho stomch of
a 150 m spncitaen was e~xpty.
- SpinepheLus sp.
1 specimen. 215 ma . Onotoa lagoon.
D X1,17; A II7,8; P 17; gill rakers 25.
I am unable to identify this species. In color it is
more-or-less intermediate to fuscoguttetus and corallicola.
The body is brown with irrec,ular darker brown areas aXfaint
spots; there are l+ darker areas along the base of the
anal fin, but these can be perceived only rvl.th difficulty.
The head is densely spotted with small brown dots like
.--1.- fuscoyuttatus; tile fin:: are brownis.hv~ith dark brown to
black spomlarger and niore evident than those oil body) and
pale runrgins. The edge of' the hollow men in thn cheek irito
which the r.xilxillary fits when tiie noutki is closed i:;
blsckish.
The scales are more evident on the body than the prsvio~~s
epineyhelids, and 100 were cou;?terl from upper fdce 81: gill
opening to base of caudel fin. Caudal fin rou.nded; longest
dorsal soft ray about equal in length to lonp,est dor.sill, spine;

head 2.7 in standard length; pectoral fin 1.7 in head;
greatest dionoter of eye 5. j in head; depth of bndy 2.9 in
stcn:larc length.
There is rid dcjfinite blaci: saddle Jn the Caudal peduncle;
there are no whit,e spots on the body ar fins.
-- Serranus socialis ~lfnther 1873. Jour . Nus, Godeffroy , vol.
2, pt. 3, JI. 7, 111. t;, fig. B. (1;in;;snill Islands).
Epinephelus - nerra -
Epimphelus sierra Bloch 1793. Natur. ausl~nd. Fische, vol. 7,
pt. 10,;. 17, pl. 329. (Type locality, .Sea of Japan).
10 specimns. L+O - 132 :"XI, Onotoa.
D XZ,16; A 111,8; P 17 or 18; gill i.c;kers 22 to 24..
(3 sgecimens).
Color from 35 im Xodechrorne transparency of a 145 rim
specimen (discarded in field) : white with numerous cluse-set
roundish brown spots on head, body, and firis (those on body
rr,ostly larger than size 0;" pupil but smaller than size of
eye) ; spots on pectarel Tin smaller and dailker than spots
elsewhere on body or other fins; ground color of pectoral
fin light yellowish; spots distally on caudal and soft
portions of dorsal and anal fins smaller and darker; no
large black spot or spots at base of dorsal fin or' dorsally
on caudal peduncle.
Depth of body 3 to 3.2 in stsndard lenzth; lsngth of
pectoral fin 1.5 in head length.
This was a>parently the most comon species of Epinephclus
at Onotoe. It was confused in the field wl.th E. hexaponn%- 2,
and many specimens of both speciGs were discp.rxed.s
now impossible to decide on the exact localities at Onotoa
where the two were collected. It is definite, ho-wever, that
the young of merra - were abundant in the outer reef tidepools.
The two species may be separated by gill rnkcr counts
(see table under hexagonatus below).
Both 11:. rilerra and 2.' hexap,onatus appear to be'wna1:l- '.
species,-rarely exceezing 200 :XI in standard length.
Epinephelus hexagonatus
Bloch and .3chneider 1801. Systsma
locality, Tahiti).

Epincphelue iaelnnostlgros %hultz in !3ciiultz and collabora-
tors 1953. Bull. W. S. Mat. Xus. 202, vol. 1, pp. 331,
348, fig. 54. (Typ locality; Swains Islai~ds, Samoa Group).
. .. .
- - _.
Epinephcjius spilatoceFs Schultz in gchultz and coll~borators
1953. Nll. u. 9'. ;Sat.- i?ius. 202, vol. 'I., pp, 332, 357,.
figs. 56, 57. (Type locelity, Biaini Atoll, Mzrshall .
Islands) .
7 specimns. 25 - 91 m. Onotoa.
2 specimens. 42 and 102 L'N. faraw8. - ' .... . . .
. .
. . .
CoLor in alcohol' light brown with numerous. cl.ose-set
roundish to hexa&onal dark brown sn0t.s on body (in average
diaueter about one half eye dianeter).;. 4 to 5 very dark
brown to black blotchks along .base of. dorsal 'fin snd another
dorsally on. caulla1 peduncle; spots in ,fins generally not
dark and often with pale centers;' outer half of pecto.ri-11
fin unspotted ,or , . v.ery. faintly :spotted.' . .
. .
, ,
.. .
I examined. type rnat~rial of :PQhe:helus L- spilotoceps ,---
Schultz and'j:; ~xlanostigina SchuLtz, and I ,am csnv~.nc,ed that
these. are th~~'sar;e as hera(gonatils. :ijchultz separated
spilotoceps frorn wonatus --- priniarily on the presence of
?mall black mots on the. front. hart or the head of the formor
and white tr&ngu1ar spots a t the angles betv&n brown, spots
on .the body of' thclatter . I found exaizples Sron the ',
Marshall Islanci's collections which were intermediate between
these two color patterns. ;,One showed very di..stinctl.y' both
the smll white spots betvieen the large hexagondl brown spots
on the body and the tiny black spots anteriorljron the head..
Gill raker counts were mde ,on the type aad paratypes of
spilotoceps and are given in th6 table below where they can
be coupaPed v ~ th i the counts of . . hexagonatus .' 111terkd.ia te
spechens were not countad. .: . ...
&hultz separa ted raelanost~~aa' fro'in other similar g$oupors
primarily by its lac!cing a blac.ic,dorsal saddle on the caudal
peduncle and in having' only one hrge bldck spot at, the base
or the iiorsal fin. Actually most of the type raater.Xa1 sho:nis
a dwrkening of. spots dorsally on the caudal peduncle and-the
four or five dark blo't'chas~ along tkie dorsal base es in
hosa~o~mtus, although thc large spot at the rear base of the
suinous oortion ,~ of the dorsal fin is relstivelv more promi-
~ -
nent in melanostigma than i;e x.;!:onatun. In the table of. pill
raker counts it win 'be observed thgt nelanosti~ma has more
nil1 -. rakers. In most of.the snecirnens this hi~her count 'lles
duo to the addition of two tiny rudiments, on the nvc-:rt?[ge,
at the extrerie upper end of tihe arch. The type nmd all of
the parntypes of melanosti~qm - -- are from the Fhzenix and Samoa

Islends; Schultz records na specimens of hexa.gonatus Prom
these island groups. His 2ilotoceps and hexagonatus are
from the Marshall and Marianas Islands. Until melanostigma
and l?exe~omtus can clearly be shown to occur in the same
area, I: prefer to consider the slight differences which
separate these two forms as subspecific,
Table 2 Gill Raker Counts of Species of
Qinephelus of the "merraW Complex
-
merra
=shall and Gilbert
-
Number of rakers (including rudiments)
011 fir~t
erch
----..-----
Islands 1 3 5 2
hexagonatus
Xarshall aild Gilbert
spilotoceps
hrsha 11 Islands
me lanos t i@,ma
Phoenix and Ramon
Islands
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
-
Holocentrus flnvo-caeruleuS ~ocLp&ie 1802. Hist. nat . poS.ss.,
. yol. 4, 138. 331, 367.. (Type locality, Mauritius).
Epinephelus Iioedti Bleeker 1873-76. Atlas ichth., vol. 7,
pp. 32, 45; pl. 283, fig. 2.
Serranus f lavo-caeruleus Fowler 1928. ihn. B. P. Bishop Fdus . ,
vol. 10, p. 177. (Gilbert Islands).
.. .
10 specimens. 50 - 104, mi. Onotoe.:
1 speciruen. 310 mm. Tarawa.
D XI,l.6' or 17; A III,g; P 19 or. 20: gill rakers 26
(2 specimens) .
Color frof:~
35 im :;odnchror~:e trmsparency of 104 n a
specimen purplish blue, shading,. to yellow on ceudal. peduncle;
blue part of body and head with numerous small blacic spots;
spinous dorsal fin blue with small black spots except margin
which is broadly yellow; soft part of dorsal fin yellow
except entero-basal portion which is blue with small blac!~
spots; anal fin 'yellow; caudal. fin yellow with whitish
posterior margin.; pectoral fins hyal-ine yellow; nelvic fins
yellow, the tips blackish.

Caudal. truncnte; depth of body 2.4 in standard length;
raidd1.e of three o~ercular spinos aezirest the lowest spine.
This colorful grouper wes conrnon !.n shol.low sandy are28
of the lagoon with scattered, well-isolated coral htiads.
It was seen in no other habltat.
- -
Epinephclus caerultopuactstus
Holocentrus caeruleo-punctotus Dloch 1730. Ratur. ausland
Pische, vol. 4, p. 94, 111. &I., fig. 2.
:

Cephalopholis sonnerati
Scrranus sonnerati Cuvier and Valenciennes 1828. Hist. net.
noiss. vol. 2, p. 299. (Type locality, Pondicherry and
5eylonj.
1 specimen., 61 mi. Onotoa lagoon.
1 specimen. 223 mm. Tarawa.
Il Ix.,15; A 111,'); P 18 or 19; gill rakers 22 and 23,
(2 specimens).
Color in life of 61 :nm specimen light yellowish brown
with 5 or' 6 fwint dark vertical bars on upper half of body;
small brown spots covering head and body (orangish brown
on head); faint white spots posteriorly and ventrally on
body; dorsal and anal fins brown with whrJhitis11 margins on
soft po~tioas; caudal. fin brown with a broad whitish posteridi.
b'oriler (broider .at ends of upper and lower rays thsn
median rays), the extreme margin reddish; pectoral fin
dusky in basal central portion, whitish on outer half;
'pe'lvic'fins dark brown. The 223 cllil specirnen is uniform
brown in al.coho1.
Middle opercular spine nearest lower spine; caudal fin
rounded; palatine and vomerlne' teeth pressnt; 127 vertical
scalp rows fram. uppe,r anterior end 3f gill opening to.raiddle
. ,..
base.of cauoa,l.,fi.n; depth 2.5 in standard length.
' ' Cephalopholis
hemistiktos
... .. . .
,I
- - . .,..
Serraruls hernistiktos Rllfppell 1828. Atlas Reise n0r.d. . Afrika,
~ische, rothen Ivkers,'p. 109, pl. 2'7, fig. 3. (Type .,
locality, Red Sea).
JCpine;2helur; hemistictus Boulenger 1895. 'cat. fishes British
,r
S ,
p. ,190.. , .,. . . ..
1 specirnen. 84 run. Onotoa lagoon.
D'Ix,~~;.~ III,9; P18; iillrak.ers 22. , ..
., .. ,
~olor iil alC&ho~
very dark brown with s,meil, blackish spots
on head, body, and medien fins (more prominent on head, but
difficult to see even here because of dark ground color of
the specirnen); 'caudal fin with a distinct white posterior
r~argin (broader fit upner and. lower part); soft porttons of
ci.orsa1 and anal fins with a very narrow whitish margin;
pectoral fin blackish,. . shading to dusky pale on about outer
one-third of rays. ' . "
To my know.le8ge this species has never been recorded from
the' Yacif ic. '~oulenger (1895:191) lists it from the Red ;en,
south coast of Arabia, and Zanzibar. I have coinpared ny

specimen with a 13% mfl one.frorn the Red Sea. The counts of
ths latter are D IX,l&; A III,9; P 17; gill. rakers 21. The
'Gilbert Islarids specimen is more melanistic; there is a
large blaca spot posteriorly olr the opercle; the pale band
posteriorly on the caudal. is broeder; the pale outer part
of the peotoral is less obvious. The dentition is very
sifailar in both. There is a pair of canines anteriorly in
the upper Jaw separated by about 3/h of an eye diameter and
a pair anteriorly in the lower jaw separated by about half
an eye diameter; the bands of palatine and vomerine teeth
are narrow. The, snout is slightly shorter in the Gilbert
1slan.d.s specimen, its length c;ntaine$ 4.7 in thc head
length; that of the Iled Sea specirnen . 'is . about. 4.2 in the
head length.
. .
I identify my specimen as heinistlktos with some uncertainty,
1 believe that the differences noted might be due
to the, difference ir. size of the two specimens which were
compare6 and to their greet spatial separation. "!hen specimens
of Indo-Pacific sriecies oPfishes fron the Red %a
are cornpared with ones froa Oceania slight differences are
of ten bpparent ,
~ephalopholis urodelus
Percam urodetan (FO~ ster) Blooh and Schneider 1801. Systema
Zchth., p. 333. (Type locality, St. Christina, Vaitaho).
Serranus urodelus ~lfnther 1073. Jour. Mus. Godeffroy, vol. 2,
pt. 3, p. 3, pi. 3, fig. A. (Klngsmill Islands)'.
Cephalopholis urod.elus Fowler lj28: Men1. B. P. 'Bishop Mus.,
voi. 10, p. 175. (Grlbert Islands).
~.. . .. . ..
D IX,15 or 16; k III,9; P 17 or 18: gill rakers 23.
(2 specimens).
Color in alcohol darX brown; a proiainent black spot
posteriorly on opercle; caudal fin blackish wi.th o broad
angu1a.r region of the upper and lower corners pale with
dusky (bright rsd in life) center; dorsal andanal fins
blackish, the soft portions of each with a narrow dusky
iliargin and a broad pale submarginal band; centro-basal. part
of pectoral fin blaczish, outer part pale; pelvic finspale
with dusky margins.
S-jahultz (19b3) canfused 2. leopardus with urodelus. The
specimens fron the Phoenir, and i3amoe Islands which he
identified as leopardus - were actually urodelus and vice
versa. He corrected this error in U. I. ??at. ?'Us. 13uLl.

--
--
Cephalo,>holis leopardus
Labrus leo2ordu.s ~ack~hde 1802. Hist. not. poiss., vol. 3,
pp., 4.50, 1 , 1. 30, fig. I. (Type locality, :'le grande
ockm equatorial").
Cephalopholirj urocielus Schultz 1943. j3ull. TJ. S. Nat . Mu~ur;.
lac, I!. 109.
33 specimens. 27 - 95 am. Onotoa ,
D IX,ll+.; A III,9; ? 17; gill rakers 23 or 224. (2 speciiclens
) .
Color from 35 an Xodachrome trc?r!.sparency of 95 ria
specimen: body lig!lt grayish pin.:: with 5 indistinct piak
vertical bars which contain light grayish pink spots; sa
elongate black spot (in some specimens 2 spots) mitl-darsally
on caueal peduncle; head light purplish gray with numerous
faint pinkish spots and a dusky band frorii eye to uppcr
nosterior edge of operculuw; dorsal fin color of b0d.y exce,ot
?or broad light red margin; ma1 fin light red; caudal fin
light red with ti diaf;onal blscic band on upper hind. corner;
1,ectorel fin. orarigf with a narrow faint reddish margin.
This si,ecies was abundant in coral areas of the lr~oon
and the o;ter reef.
The stornschs of 6 specinens 80 to 109 rm in standard
length were opened. One contai.ned a srcall fish, an4 the
rest were empty.
An3'perodan dnther 1859. Cat. fishes British Idus.,, vol. 1,
:3 ;T(~y,pe species, -- .?erranus 1eucogran;micu:: ~u.vl:e.r and
~alenoiennes). ( I .
---
mmrodon -- leucogreamicus
erra anus lencograui~icus Cuvier srld V6,lenciennes 182C. It~st.
nat. poiss., vol. 2, p. 34.7. (Type locality, Moluccas and
Seychelles).
2 specimens. 160 and 169 ma. Onotoa lagoon.
Color in life olive green with rdst-colore(1 spots on head
and body.
Body slender, depth about 3.7 in standard length; no
palatine teeth ; caudal rounded.

Genus ?LLCTROPGUJS
Plectronoinus Oken 17e2. Isis, p. 1782. (Type specics,
-..- Uodianus imculatu..; - Ecloch) .
Flactroporfius trunoatus Fowler and Rean 1930. '-3~11, Ti. S.
Xat. liius. 100;~vol. 10, p. L96., fig. 5. (Type locality,
Atulagan island,, Luzon) . ,
. . . .
. .
2 speciciens. 290 and 368 rm. 1 spechen. 32 WE.
Onotoa .
D VIII,11; A III,8; P 13 or'l6. (2 specimens). gi.11
rakers 11 (all but 3 are'Pudiment8). (1 specimen) ..
Color' from 35 mi.;:odach.rorne transparency of 36Fj nifi speciroen
dark brown with head, body, and f5.m covekeriavith.
numerous s~nall. . dark-edged. netalllc blue-green spots.
.
. .
Caudal fintruncate; depth of body'about 3.2 511 stanhard
length; a pair of close-s& canine teeth anteriorly on each
side of upper jaw, each poir separated by about an eye
diarneter in distance; lower jaw with similar anterior dentitisn,
the pairs being slightly closer together, and two'
additional well-spaced canines posteriorly. . The ends of
these long canines fit'into ~ockdts . . on the opposite . .. jaw.
Ths srilall specimen was taken with rotenone froii the surfece
of a lagoon coral head .ill threE feet. of water. It was brown
with dark blue spots. One 'of'the adults was collected from
the .lagoon side.of the west reef in about 5 f:eet of water
and' the 0th6r fr0ri.i the leeward outer reef in th$. norther11
pkrt.oP the atoll.at about the sa-medcipth.
Genus VARIOLA
Variola Swaiason 1839. 1Je.t. hiot. cl~ss. fishes, amphibians,
..., vol. 2, p. 202. (Type soecies, Variol~ longipinnn
wainso on).
0
I'erca louti Forskal 1775. Descr. anirnal.l.um, pp. xi, 40.
(TypTTEklity, ~ e s d ~ R ) .
. .
2 specimens. 182 and 225 m. Tarnwe.,
D IX,l4,;A III,8; P 19; $ill rn!cer:s 24 (counting all
rudi&nts) (1 specimen).
.

Color from 35 rm Kodachrorae transparency of a specimen
collected at Kwajzlein, ??Tarshall Islands: greenish brown,
shading to purplish on chin and abdor~en, with numerous
dark-edged red spots on head, body, and fins (those on body
horizontally elongate.) ; pectoral fin yelloq, blsckish
basally; margin of caudcL fin orangish.
. . A pair of elonsate cbnine, teati1 anteriorly in upper and
lower jaws, those on lower ';jaw more .filedially loceted than
those oil upper jaw; two elongate canines in middle of side
of dentary; canine teeth fitting into sockets in the oppo-
site jaw; caudal fin very lunate.
Genus GRi;!XISTES
Gramistes Bloch and Schneider 1801. System i.chth., p. 182.
( m e cJ.es, CTTa1mi$&4.s+ ori.entri1.i~ Bloch and %hneider =
Persa sex-!.in.ew~uubc-rr:~
Grramdistes - sexlineatus
Perca sexlineata Thhberg 179.2. ;:ongl. Vet. Akari. Nya 11andl.,
vol. 13, p. 142, pl. 5. (Type locality, Cast Indies).
Grarnmistes - orientalis ~lfither 1873. Jour. Xus. Godokf'roy,
vol. 2, pt. 3, p. 10. (Kingsmill Islands). . . . Y,nsigraou.a Schultz in ,;chultz and collaborators 1953. I3ull..
U. S. Nat . B.;us. 2=, p: 372. ('c'ype species, Ypsigremna
lineata gchultz = Chorlstistiurn -- susur&i ~ordnEa=al]re).
Ypsigramma brocki
Y.mi ramuia SrocKi :';chultz in ~chultz and collaboretors 1953.
. Hat. Xus. 202; pp. 3'73, 379, fig. 60. (Type
locaikty, Rongelap Atoll, Marshall Islands).
1 specimen. 58 iillil. Onotoa.
D VI-1,12; A III,8; ? 14; gill rakers 6-1-13.
Color1' in life light gray with irregular olive-brown
loiigittidi'nil '1.ines on the body, three of which carry forward
to hhdcdrr,e of eye; fins pink; Snout reddish; iris yellow.
This specimen was designated by Schu1.t~ (1953) es a
pa,ratype of brocki .
. .
I examined the kolotype of Y'. suswi (Jordnn and Seale
%906:256, fig'. 4.8). The chief-basis for Schultzt
.

consideration of Y. lineata as distinct fron susumi is the
possession by the-latter of' 10 nredorsal scalntend of
12. I countkd 12 on susuni. Ih vieu of this and the great
sinilarity in color pattern, I place lineata in the synonymy
of susumi .
-.
Y. brocki is obviously very clo~jely r~lated to sus.umi
'
fro?;i whlch it differs slightly in. color &ttern.' 'ilho
holotype of broclii is 40 rim long. It hns only traces of
lengthwise ' ~ the body. ~ Th6 n Onotca paratype,58 im
in length, .is .intermediate in color between the holotype of
brocki and the holotype of susumi, which neasures 66 m.
mZlj7 -.- brocki should also be a synonym of susuui. Iflore
'specimens are needed to. €lucidat6 . . this probleir .
enu us , ANTHIAS
, .
....
... . .
.. . , ,
Anthias Bloch 1792. Natur. auslk(nd. Fische, vol. 6, pt. 9,
p. 97. (Type species, Labrus anthias Linnaeus) .
*
TViss. Berlin, p. 429
Serranus (Anthias) s uami ,innis Peters 1855. Monatsb. Akad.
Type locality, Edozambicpe).
. .
, .. ' i
? Anthins nobilis ~ranz- l910,:.~bh. '&ye%. ~ kad. ltliss,, vol.
4.,{3=, fi?. 4k. , i ... . . ....._.....
. .
. , , .
1 specinen. 64 mu. Onotoa &goon.
. .
D X,17; A III,7; P 18; gill raxers 9-1-24.
Color in life brown with an oran e band from eye to
pectoral Pin (faint in preservative ? ; snout and tip of lower
jaw ormge; rows of longitudinal orange spots on side of
body (no lsnger visible in .preservative); a .bright red spot.
owupper distal' part of pectoral fin between third and . :
seventh rays: (.this spot blackish .in pueservativi);
...... caudal ..
fin bright yellow, the upper 'and lower lobes orange; dorsal
fin brown basally, orange distally; anal fin yellowish.
. .
. . . . . .
There are 45 to 50 lato,ral.~liiifj 'scalss. ' The specimen was
speared and badly dgnaged 4n the middle of 6h.e. body. on: both...
sides, h,ence an accu~a.ke :oount or lateral linescales can
not be'fande; 5 Obalbs, between ~ntesior end of Ia'teral line
and orig3.n of dorsal fin: two opercular spines; entire head
scaled; Eaxillary scalsd; caud~l fin deeply forked,' the lobes
drawn out in fi1amcn.t~; distance from tip of upper lobe to
most c-lnterior part of posterior mrgin of caudal :fin
contained 4.7 times in standnrd length; depth or body 3.1
in st~lidard length; eye 3.7 i.n head lenf?,th; h.ead 3.6 in
standard length; a canine. tsath extendin? antero-laternlly :
from each corner of. tip of Lowcr jaw; a secand canine tooth,

slightly larger, a short distance behind the first and
recurvecl posteriorly; dorsal fin continuous; third dorsal
spine not nroduced to r, filametit.
According to Fowler and Bean (1939:305) the third dorsal
spine of this species is not always elongate.
I examined a specimen froic the Philippines identified ss
~amipimiis by Fowler and Hean. It differed from the one
from 0rlotoain having the third dorsal spine p:roduced, a
less evident blackish spot on the pectoral fin, hO lateral
line scales, and a gill. raker count of 10-1.-22.
ir'owl.er and Sean considered Anthias nobilis Pram from
Jepaii as a variety of ~unr;i&inriis. -. -.- dt least in coloration,
the Onotoa s.pecirnen nora nearly resembles this form.
Mirolabrichthxs lieure 1927. ;-hilippine jour . Sci . , vol.. 32,
p. 413. pypc species, ?dirolabrichthys - - tuka Herre and
MoatalSsn) .
Mirolabrichthys -.- tuka
Mirolabri ----- chthys - tuke ~err& and it1ontal.ba.n 1927 .; Shilippiilc?
Jour. 3ci ., vol.. 32, p. 413, p1. I. (Type locGlity,
Xarioaban Island, Philippine Islands).
1 specimen. 85 ma. Onotoa
D X,l6; A ILI,7; P 18; @ll rakers 3b.
Color in life .r.o:sJi:..iavender shadj.ng to 1ight"lavender
ventrally; an ornrqe line fron snout to base of pectoral
fin; faint 1ongituCinal lines of orenge dots on body; fins
. ,.
bright magenta. :' ... .. .. ;.
A'5mal.l fleshy- prominence extending ventrally from tip of
upper. jew; ~?iaxi llary broad', maximum depth more than one-half
eye diameter; a canine tooth projocting entero-later~lly
frorr, each side of end of lower jaw; a second canine tooth,
its tj.p curvefl backwarcl, on each side of mnnikible posterj.0~
to first canine; margin of hind half of orbit pa9illate:
caudal fin deeply for!ied.; the lobes produced to filsments;
depth of body about 3 in standard length; eye 4.5 in. head
length; dorsal f i rl cc)ntinuous.
--
Ilerre and Montalban described the life color ol tuka fron
the Philippines as brownish red above, tl.16 sides roseate,
with two longitudinal. golden re? bands, and golden f1.m with
8 violet patch on the soft dorsr:l. I examined specimens
in the United states National Museum fron the Plilipplnes
and East Indies idc;ntifie:l as - tu!:ia ari(1. found, no important

differences ' in the color la pr esBrv%t&ve or mornhulogy.
between these ;?nd the Onotoa 's;jecim?n, Tile counts from a
specimen pop2 Borneo are: E XJ5; A .I11,7; 17 17.; gill
ra !

Genus PSEUDOGRMD!I.h
Pseudo tramma Bleeker 1875. Verh. Akad. Amsterdam, vol. 15,
p. 24. Type species, Pseudochromis polyacanthus Bleeker).
I_BT_
Pseudogramma polyacantha
Pseudochromis polyacanthus Bleeker 1856. $Tat;. Ti jdschr .
Ned.-Ind., vol. 10, p. 375. (Type locality, Ternate).
7 specimens. 30 - 4.8 m. Onotoa,
1 specimen. 34 mm. Tarawa.
D VII,20; A 111J16 or 17; V I,5; P 17; scale rows from
upper end of gill opening to base of caudal fin 51 and 52.
(2 specimens).
Color in alcohol brown with round light brown spots larger
than pupil of eye 5.n ap roximately five rows on body (those
ventrally tend to merge 7 ; a round dark brown spot larger than
pupil of eye on opercle at level of eye; two irregular narrow
dark streaks running posteriorly from lower part of eye;
median fins dark brown with narrow pale margins; paired fins
pale, the pectorals dusky at base.
The Onotoa specimens were collected from the west reef of
the atoll at poison station IV. The Tarawa specimen was taken
from a surge channel.
Aporops bilincnris Schultz 191+3. Bull. U. 9. Nat. Uus. 180,
pp. 111, 112, fig. 9. (Type locality, Hull Island,
]?hoenix islandu) .
5 specimens. 26 - 55 mn. Onotoa.
5 specimens. 34 - 60 am. Tarawa surge channel.
D
-
VII,24; A III,20; V I,5; p 16; scale rows froa upper end
of gill opening to base of caudal fin 63 and 65. (2 specimens).
Color in alcohol brown with round dark brown spots about
the size of the pupil and vertically elongate dark brown
spots on body: median fins brown, a little darker on basal
scaled portions; paired fins paler than median fins.
Schultz (19/+3) erected the genus A oro s for this one
species of psoudochromid primarily on --%i-%
t e asls of an increased
number of soft fin rays in the dorsal and anal fins and the
lack of a pair of large pores in the interorbital space, such
as is seen in Pseudogramma 01 acantha. In ray opinion these
differences do not warrant gener c stinction.

- N&t. ~ijdschr
'~seud6~~esi(j.ij~:~1e~ker..i&:. . xed.-~nd., vol.
15, p. 215. (Type species, 2eudonlesiops I- ty~us Bleeker).
C . . . . . . . ..... . .
. . . . .
... ,. .i?seud~plesiops .rosae
. . . . . .... ,
, . a '. : ........
~seud6piesiops 'rosae"~chul~b. '1943. Bull. U; ,3. Eat. MUS. i80,
up. 111 117, fig. ... .&I.. (Type locality, Rose Island, Samoa
..* ..
Islands j . .
, . .
::.. .
1 specimen. 20 miu."Onot0a: , .
.. f . .......
.~ . . ,
The si&le ,spehimeri ; wa~~~d~~lkct%I ~ro& . . the west reef of
' the atoll ih ,'poison .station iiurdber :IV:, :.
, ' : , 1 . . , . , .' . .
Plesiops Oken 1817. Isis, app. p. l182a. (Type species,
*J. ' '
,~~t8r.yx'nigri'cans':k&ppth'11); ;; -. . . . . . . >,
.. . . .:. < .- . . . , .
. .
. .
, . . . . . . . .
Pharopteryx nigricans . R&tl?ell :18T8;i:i:$t.~~s,.,.~~;.i~e
im n&dlichen
Afrika, p. 15, pl. k-, Jig. 2. (Type locality, Red Sea).
. . . t. ! :::, , , ... ,..~
! .. <
, . I..
.." .-...
8 . !. . .
l.spe~imcn. 88rd1nn:~"0n'otoa.'. - . . .
, .
2 specimens. 85 ......... ,and 96 ran. Tsrawa.
........
D X11,7;,:)~ I?I,,G; ,?P ,zO; scales froi';~ gill opening to base
of caudnl iYii 27' 'fl sfJeclmen).
Color iri.'11P'e''bl~iiki?f('.~i$h: small light blu5sh green spots
(one per Scble) on body and-'gxt'encling out on fins; a prominent
dark-edged blue spot on operole: a blue line at bass of
dorsal fin; distal end of pectdrsl .-,.. , fin and membrarie 'bGt,v#een
first branchiostegal ray and opercle brieht ol?cin&e-yellow. .
. . .
...
. .
...
. . .
;:. . :' . . . . ,
The Onotoa spedroe~~ ~ims caught :by hilnd,.bp:~; 'I!?;. ~tre~burg
fronl bensqth,,a roc;!: La n shallow ti.de poul ,just shoreward. of
the t!~,itfi~$bylr@ +1 +d[:e at loye tl.d+3;'!.':: i-:. ,:,.. ' , . . .
. . . . :; V'. , . !i.*;,p:; >.,. ...... .... s .... J,,; ;.,. .. .I :-:,
.. ! ! : ,.... !I
.Acco.rd.in~,$p:;Rup~ell's descriptf on':i~ld. f lglti?~,. P. ni,cricans
laclts.,the .,da'P&:.spot 'on the . oper6I.e :wh$aYr ~ikk:scrich~~Fac%erL.st;ic
. , ., . , ,. of the s$ec&s iij'0cesriia..
.. , . ,.. ,!., i;-;L.;y{;i;:;j;:; ,:: . . . . . .
< .. , . . . . , . . ... .\ ..... .,. ,
. 1; ,, 'ti):. , .. : 1 . : . . :

~i, i s family includes small fishes with relatively large
mouths and eyes and two sepnrate dorsai fins. The males of
at least some genera ineubate the eggs in the mouth.
kpogonids are rarely seen underwater as they are nocturnal
and arc foui:d under rocks or in holes in the coral during
the dny. Thre w$re no Gilbertese names for the species or
even for this grmp of fishes in general.
Lncbner in Szilultz and collaborators (1953) recorded 22
sp~cies of &d~::al fishes from the northern Marsha.11 Islands.
Sixteen are here listad from the Gilbert Islands, five of
which were uot reported, by Lachner. Vildoubtedly more species
of' this fauily occur in both ereas than have thus fer been
. . .
collected.
Key to the Species of Apogonidae Recorded from
the Gilbert 1sla:lds
la. A near-vertical, d~rk brown band fron origin of spinous
dorsal fin to abdomea between pelvic and anal fins;
prominent dark brown s;)ots on head and body; body
depth great, nbout 2 in standard Length ...,...........
.hpogon or hi cular is
....................:.-.:...............
lb. No near-vertical dark brown band on body; no prominent
dark brown spots on head and body; body depth not
great, about 2.5 to 6 in standard length. r.2
..........
22. Enlarged canirle teeth lackin& in jaws; bociy somewhat
elevated, its depth contained less than 4 tirnos in
standcrrd length; palatine teeth ?resent or absent.. -3
2b. Enlarged canine teeth, 3 to 6 times longnr,.th,a.n remairiing
villiform teeth, present in jaws; boc3.y relatively
elongate, its depth contained 4 or more times in
standard length; palatine teeth present 13
.
.............
3a. First dorsal fin composed of 6 spines (the first spine
is small and easily overlooked), the second spine the
longest; body pale (transparent red in life) with no
definite markings; pa1atir:e teeth present 4.
-
............
3b. First dorsal fin composed of 7 spines, tnc third spine
the longest; body with definite dark markings; palatine
teeth present or absent..... 5
.........................
4a. Second dorsal spine very long, 3.6 or less in standard
length; profile fro21 snout to origin of f!.rst dorsal
fin almost straight; posterior nargin of preonercle
very feebly serrated.; 12 pectoral rays................
......................................... Apogon doryssa

4b. Second dorsal spine of uoderate length, 4.2 or more in
standard length; profile from snout to origjn of first
dorsal ria definitely curved; posterior margin of
preoptrcle with obvious serrations; 14. pectoral rays.
. n p o erythrinus
................................
5 ~ ~perclewith
.
a round or elliptical black blotch about
two-thirds diameter of eye in width; lateral liue
incomplete, ending under base of second dorsal fin
(though a Pew pores may be visible. posteriorly); no
palatine. teeth; ceudal fin rounded; posterior and
anterior margins of preopercle not serrsted; posterior
end of maxillary exteads beyond a vertical. through
the posterior edge of eye (in young specimens the
maxillary ioay reach only to posterior edge of eye). ...
5b. Opercle without a round or elliptical black blotch;
lateral line coolplete; palatine teeth present; caudal
fin eruarginate or f or~~ed; pos teri.0~ margin of
preopercle serrated, anterior margin may or may not
be sarrated; posterior end of maxillary terminates in
front of a vertical through Posterior edge of eye.. ,7
6a. Sonewbet irreguler, . . . lengthwise lines of small black spots
on body.......... ..................... Apogon isostigma
6b. No small black spots on body.. ............ Apogon auritus
78. Body with one or a few longitudinal dark stripes; no
dark diagonal streak on cheek running from posteroven-
tral edge of eye to posterior margin of preoprcle;
anterior margin of preopercle smooth or serrated.....8
7b. Body without longitudinal dark stripes; a d~rk diagonal
streair running from eye to posterior rmrgin of
preopercle; anterior margin of preopercle ~riooth....l2
8a. Body with 5 longitudinal dark stripes, the uppermost
adjacsnt to dorsal fins; anterior margin of preopercle
smooth; suborbital smooth; a dark spot at base of
caudal fin hay or rnny i:ot be present (if present, it
is centereu on the end of the lateral line)..........9
8b. Body with only 1 longitudinal dark stripe, this stripe
passing from snout through eye to caudal peduncle (in
a few specliaens this stripe is faint, especially
posterior to heacl.) ; anterior margin of preopercle
serrated; s~bor'nital strongly serrated; a dark roundis11
spot on caitdtil, peduncle near end of, and slightly
above, lateral .lin.e...........,........,.............ll
9s. second and fourth body stripes curve to meet nildd.le body
stripe at bese of cuudr,l fin; ugper and lorw: i:ierc,ins
of caudal fin not narrowly dsricr brown; median body
stripe ends at base of caudal fin in a roundish jet
.

lack spot (obscured by stripe in melanistic specimens).........
................... Apogon nigrofasciatus
9b, 3econd.and fourth body stripes do not curve to neet
midd'le body stripe atbsse of caudal fin (if second
and fourth stripts join median strips, they do so well
out on caudal fin rays);, upper and lower margins of
caudal fin. riarrowly dark, brown (fiiint in novemfcisciatus) ;
aedian body stripe may oraay not end in a black.spot
(ifa spot is present, it appears more as an elliptical
erllargement of end. of stripe than a distinct spot) ....
.......................... ;.........................lo
108. Second and fourth body stripes end at base of caudal fin
(though traces of dark pigrcient may sxtend out on
caudal fin rays fron stripes) ; medim body stripe
enlsrged slightly to 811 elliptical-shaped area at base
.......................................
of caudal fin (usually a little darker than stripe) ...
Apogon robustus
0 Second and fourth body stripes exton3 on caudal fin,
-converging to 'join or nearly join median stripe near
end of fin; .median body stripe not enlarged at base of
caudal fin.. ..................... .Anogon novemfasciatus
lla. Body somwhat longa ate, ,its depth co'ntained 3.2 to 3.11
times in stand.ard length; caudal. ped'uncular spot large,
2 to 3.8 in least depth of caudal peduncle: lengthwise
body stripe a13ruptly nkrrow posterior to hend and
indistinct on lar$e,specirne.ns; pignent on :paler regions
' of body uniform; rio dark brown saddle on bdck beneath
... ,second ~o~sR!. .fin; ; ......~~~.~....... .Apo&on exostigme
Ilb. Budy.~orcewhat elevated, its depth coritained 2.7 to 2.9
times in standard length: zoaudal pedunculal: spot snall,
3.4 to 6 in least depth of caudal peduncle; lengthwise
bociy ,stripe of equal width throughout nos t of its. '
. length; pigment .on paler regions of body conc~ntrated
on peripheral portions of scales; a dark brown saddle
usually on back beneath second dorsal fin.............
........................................ Apogon snyderi
12a. Caudal peduncis with a dark; saddle dorsally (this saddle
reaching midventral. line in spebimene smaller tha~:
approximately &5 1.m); a prominent diago~lal dark mark
on cheek, noticeably broader at edge of eye than at
posterior :liargin of preopercle.; a dark band ill upper
and lower lobes of caudal En.. ..... .Apogon savagensis
. .
. .
-
12b; ~audal~pe~unc1~:v~ithout dark &rkings or with only a
small darx spot located'slightiy above aidlateral line;
dark mark on cheek very faint, narrow, and of almost
uniform width; no dark band in upper anc? lower lobes
of caudal fin.. ..... .; ........:........ .Apogon nubilus

138. Posterio'r inargin of p.reopercle with a single, stout
. . spim and a ner.ibrsnous vssitrai .flsg .xhicj* pr~,iects
posteriorly; body ',pi-11.e ( transparent, v~ith e1lvc;rg
abdomn in life) withsut eng derinito desk narkings;
each pelvic fin united in its entire 1c;ngth witk a
membrane to mid-ventral line of body; cnudal fifi
forked.. ....................... .Cyrlinapo(:on pbil.l.p+nus
l3b. Preopercle lacicinp a single stout spine 2nd mernbrnnou.n
flap: body with a definite pipimt pattern; ~clvic fins
nat united with a mcabrane to body; caud:~l fin rounded
or forked........., ................................. 14
' 146. Latorul line incomplete, ending beneath sacon:! dorsal
fin; anterior preop~rcu1:t' nargin not visible externally;
opercular margin with a notcli at level of
raaxillarg; caudal fin ropnded; scaks small., about
55 in lengthwise series; body with about 1.5
longitudinal lines end. with small dtirk. spots supcrimposed
oil lint? pattern. an& on /i6?d; a lt~rge rouiid
black blotch at base of caudal fin, its center above
rnidline 01' boc?y; an elongate black flag et pouterTor
. .
efi(~e of anterior nus tril. ........ ,Pseudai:&a ----.- :~olystigma
14b. ~ateral line coaplste ; aat:?rior 'prco!,c:rcu?Ler imrgin
evid-ont externally; no notch in oporcular filargin;
caudal fin forked; scales largo, 25 in 1eng.t.h":dise
series; body with 5 longitudinnl dark lini~s, 3 of
these extending past ends of second' dorsal oad enal
fins; a black spot cmtained in a pale area in i:iic!line
at base of caudal fin; arlteriar n.out:il tubular.
. .
1.5
...........................................................................................
. . . . ...
teeth ..........
........................ -.---
15a. Tip of lower jaw without enlarged c.?r.~ino
;CheilodipI;erils ouinquel.inoatus
d. --
15b. Tip of lower jab on each side :)f symphsis with 1 or 7
enlarged canine teeth.. ...... .Cheilodipterus i,sostigc;a
Genus APOWiP
ii~ogon LacepGde 1802. Iiist. nat. ~oiss., vol. 3, n. 411.
*;~j species, Apogon ruber LacepBdt?).
Apopon orbicularis
Apoeon or bicularis .(Kuiuhl and Van Iiasselt ) Cuvier and
-"T?i&ciun-ries 1828. fiist. net. ooiss., voJ.. 2, p. 155.
(Fowler, 1928, give$ the type iacality as Java).
Amia - or'bicularis Fo~wler 192f3. Xem. 5. P. Bishop?&.::. , ~ol. 10,
p. 1.54. (~~in~smill. Islands) .

-
- A p B doryssa
Amia doryssa Jordan and Seale 1906. .7ulL. U. 3. Bur. Fish.,
VOl. 25, p. 245, fig. 39. (Type locality, Apia, Samoa).
2 specimens. 23 and 36 m. Onotoa.
Color in life was probably transparent red, as this species
was not distinguished in the field from Aaogon erythrinus
which is this color. The color ir. alcohol is pale with
traces of black pigment anteriorly at base of each dorsal fin
and at base of caudal. fin.
Apogon d.oryssa differs from A. erythrinus princigally in
having a stout^^. and longer sec-d;ld dorsal spine, a straighter
profile froii? the snout to the origin'of the dorsal fin, and
12 instead of 14 pectoral rays.
The holotype wcs examined. an& cornpared with the two
specimens frorn the Gilbert Islands.
Apos,or, do~yssa - appears to be a rather rare species,. in
c0ntrt;yt to the usually abundant Aaon erythrinus. Th.ere
may be habitat differences between thetwo species. The
specimens of erythrinus were taken fro19 the lagoon or shallow
channel between the sea reef and the lagoon. A. doryssa was
obtained from the sea side of the atoll, thougK i-1pratected
area of numerous small coral heads.
Apogon erythrinus
Apogon erythrinus Snyder 1904. Bull. U. 9. Fish. Com., vol.
-- 22, p. 526, pl. 9, fig. 17. (Type locality, Puako Bay,
I-lewaii) .
. ' 9 specimens. 23 - 30 m. Onotoa.
D VI-I,g; A II,8; P 14; vertical scale rows 22 to 24.
( 4 specimens) .
Color in life transparent red. Color in alcohol pale,
usually with a' small elongate patch of tiny black spec!:s
posteriorly and midlaterally on caudal geduacla. Occasional
specimens with tiny specm of dark pigment scattered on the
body; often the outer edges of ncales appear slightly darker
than the central portions. All of the above-mentioned
pigmentation is inconspicuous, however, and the general
color effect is of a uniformly pale fish.
The type was examined. This and other Eawaiian specimens
had nore tiny dark spots on the body than the specimens frorn
the Gilbert Islands, and they appear to be of larger average
size.

Apogoa isos tigsa
Apogonichtas isostigma Jordan and %ale 1906.' Bull. U. 9.
Sur. Fish., vol. 25, p. 251, fig. 45. (lyp:?.locality,
. .
Apia, Semou ) .
7 specinens. 30 - 58 run. Onotoa lagoori and sea reef.
Color in alcohol brown with a prominent roundish black
spot on spercle ar~d nurflorous sriiall dark spots in ~ppraxi-mate
linear serien on body; a horizontal dark line above
opercular spot; two darls lines extending posteriorly nnd
sli@tlg dovv'r~waru from lower portion of eye (the lower line
is n.arrow and the upper line,::which extends to margin of
preopercle at level of opercular spot, is broader and more
diffuse); oree on chew between these two lines and around
the o,proular spot paler' than rest of bead.; finc; dusky,
especially th& caadal, whic.11 has a pule edge posteriorly
(this pale edge' narro'vkr in median portion of fin) . A 17 mra
specimen from .the .MarkhsllIslands c-,n be ideatified as
-- isosti.; bov&v~r, tile lines of spots on the body are not
apparent, though scattered small spots occw .
The type aas examined.
In contrast to Schultz's ststkriient (191+3: 93) that
palatine teeth are usually present in this species, none were
found in any of the specimens from the Gilbert Islands.
Jordan end Seale (1956) utilized the lack of palatine teeth,
along with the opercular spot and interru?ted lateral line
as a basis for including -- isost igm in &o~pnichthys Sleeker.
%Apogon auritus Cuvier' and Valenciennes 1831. Bist. ;flat. poiss.,
vol. 7, p. 4.1c3. (Type locality, Mauritius).
,
6 specimens. 26 - 38 .an. 2 specimens. 62 and 72 mi.
. . . Onotoa . ,. .
. .. . . .
D bfI1-'I,9; A II,8 or 9 (usually 8) ; P 14.; vertical scalo e
rows 24 or 25. (3 specirncns).
Gill rakers.of the two large specinens 14. (counting
rudiments). . .
Color in alcohol brown with a .p~oainsnt round or elliptical
blacic spot -on operole, ~elative~y larger in siml1r;r
specimens (in large specinens the anterior portion of tke
spot is slightly cov~red by the preopercle); a sh.ort
horizontal dark line visible above opercular spot (this is
rather iridistinct in large specime.ns); tv;o or three dark

lines extending posteriorly from eye as in A, isostigma (in
the large specimens only the lowermost of tzese lines is
distinct), Small speciraens exhl.bit vertical Cuslcy bars on
the body. 'i.h.& 38 ma specimen has traces of these bars and
is considered intermediate between the adult and juvenile
color pa ttern. This specimen is a sexually nature female.
Color in life orange-brown.
The species was collected from both the lagoon and the
outer reef.
Bpogon - nigrofasciatus
R ogon nigrofasciatus Lachner in Schultz and collaborators
%. Bkl. U. S. Nat. Mus. 2 , vol. 1, p. 4.66, fig. 81.
(Type locality, Bikini Atoll, Narshall Islands).
17 specimens. 28 - 64. mu. Onotoa lagoon and outer
reef.
D VII-1,Y; A II,B; P 1k; vertical scale rows 24 or 25.
Color in alcohol pale with 5 longitudinal dusky to black
stripes on the body, all converging on the head (the first
stripe is located mid-dorsal.ly; the third. stripe passes from
snout throu& eye to base of caudal fin; stripes above and
below this stripe extend onto caudal peduncle, and all
three merge at base of caudal fin). The stripes do not
extend on to the caudal fin rays. In specL!ens in which the
stripes are cot wry dark, a black spot is visible mid-
laterally at the base of ths ,caudal fin.., An oblique dgrk
streak may be seen basally in the second dorsal .and anal fins.
In life the body was reddish and the fins pale red. The
stripes on the body varied from golden through dusky yellow
to black. This variability in coloration occurred in
specinlens taken in the sane poison station.
- --
nigrofasciatus anpears to be very closely releted
to Apogon aroubisnsis iiornbron and Jscquinot . Lachner (1.953)
separated the two on the basis of aliehtlv different gill
raker counts, larger size or nigrofasciatbs at maturity, and
broader, browner stripes in aroubiensis; however, these two
species have not y ~ been t collected froq the same isltlnd
group, aroubiensis being characteristically East Indinn and
nigrofascistus from Oceania (Marshall Islands, iitariunn
Islands, Samoa, and Austral Islands). It is possible that
these two forms are merely subspecies of one wide-ranging
species. They are however, about as easily separated as
other species in the difficult "fosciatustl --.- complex, such as
-
nomenfasciatus, robustus - 9 and angustatus.

-- Amia -.--- robusta Smith and Radcliffe~ lYl2. Proc. U. S. Nit. Mus.,
vol.. lil, p. 255, fig. 2. (Type. ldcelity, Joio Reefs,
Philippine Islands) .
. , . , . . . , .
Amia - novei;ifasciiita ---- Jordan and Seele '(in part) 1906. Bu1.l.
U. S. Bur. Fish., vol. 25, p. 242, fig. 37.
1 speci~nen. 58 ml:;.:.: . , . Tarawa . . . . surge . . . . cbannsl.
1T) VTI-1,9; A II,U';'P'~ll,;. . .. .vertical scnls rows 24'.
. . ,
, . , ,,
This species is colore'ci. mpch like nigrofasciatus, It
differs chiefly in thelack of a round black spot at the
b~se.of the caudal fin,. in the fdiluce of the sec.ond., third,
and. fourth body stripes to merge at the base of the caudal
fin, and in. the extsnsion of these strines faintly on to the
caudal fin rays. Th&e is's trace of black pigment on the
uppermost and lowermost principal rays of the caudal fin.
Yi~ure 37 .of. Jordan and Seale dl9061 .oortravs a Samoan
sp&cimeh' of this species, collsidered by these authors es a
color varie ~ J I of iipogo~i novemf'dscia ta . 'The .spcimen frdt:
the Gilbert Islands. ao~~ears verv nuc5 like this fisrure.:. but
%,
the posterior end of .the- ~iiddle" body stripe .isnot as &oah
or usdark and there iil; no. blight convergencsof the stri$es
abov-e'clnd below the ruiddle.stripe Covdard the end 01: the .'
middle' one. : Wch- marking :seem to be charhcterist1.c of: ":::
spciiaens from Guam and the.Marshal1 Islnnds as well aS '..
Samoa. The specii!ien. frorc the Gilbert Islands differs further
from Jordan and Sealets figure in. lacking the br~adening of
the stripe Bn: the"cheel.k anterior to the base of the5ectoral
fin; and thus It possesses a relatively large silvsry 'area
on the operc;uluin aboire the pectoral base. The isthrilus,
abdomen, and side of'. t l boliy ~ to. the end of the pec.tora1 'fir1
is somewhat silvorji in the preserved specimen.
. . I :> ... . . .
. .
> .
. ... . . . . . ..
.> . .... .. :
. . .
. ..
&%on noveinfasciatus . .
. - . ..
Apogon nover,lfasciatus Cuvier :&.a Valenciennes 1828. ISst .
n&t. poiss., voi., p. 15&..'.(~ype locality, Timor and
Guam). .. . ..: .
..
.. .. .:
, . i . . - :, ,!
I?
hpo ,on fasciatus 'Gunthsr (in :par~j'
1873. Jour .' Nus. Godeffroy,
% 2,: pt.; 3, p. 19, pl. 20,:Pj.g. 3. (~in&mill :Islands),
. .
, . .
. . . .
Amia exostipm~ Jordan and Sterks in Jorfi~in erid 4fh31e
~ 0 6 , ~ . S. Bur. ~ish.,
(Type locality, Apin , Samoa ) .
VZ. 25, p. 238, rig. 31..
*
. ..

A s 1 1 - fraenatus --- Lachner in Schultz and collaborators 1953.
U. 3. Nat. M U ~ . 2=, vol. 1, p. 451.
~uly.
6 specimens. 36 - 61 mm. Onotoa.
D VII-I,9; A II,fl. i-' 13. vertical scale rows 24.
(3 specimens ) .
Color in alcohol light brown with a black strJ.pe extend-
ing frorn snout through eye to middle of base of:cmdal fin
(this stripe narrows abruptly posterior to head; 111 lnrqx
specinens the portion of the stri,pe on the body is faint);
a small black spot posteriorly on. caudal peduncle, general-l:?
just above lateral line; a faintdark line basally in second
dorsal and anal fins; upper and lower margins of caudal firl
narrowly dark; body and head finely speckled with dark spots,
especially ventrally (thqse spots are relatively larger end
darker in smaller specimens) .
-
This species may be confused wl th Apogon snyderi Jordan
and Evermann or Apogon fraenatua Vnlenc~ennes, both' of
which are characterized by a - single median 'longitudinal
stripe and a caudal. peduncular spot. Lachner (1953)
rteccrded --- fraenatus from the Marshall Islands and seperated
it from exostima on tbe basis of the caudal peduncle spot
being above the lateral lino in the latter species and both
above and below in fraena tus . Upon examining thc cpeaimens
identified as f.raenytus i'rortil. l3il-liniI I conclude that they
are actually exostipqna in which some of thC spot pigment
:appears below the lateral line tube. I believe that
fraenatus may be a Philippine and East Indian form that .does
not occur in'the rest of Oceania. Specimens of fraenatus
frorn the Philippines display a more prominent a n m r %
body stripe. and a slightly l~irger and rounder caudal
pedunculnr spot which is centered on the -1bt.eral line.
C,pogon exostigian may be separated from snyderi, as indicated
In Gy, in its being a more slendernss rnelanistic
fish .
Speoiruens of exosti@na were obtained from bth lagoon and
outer reef areas.
&son snyderi Jordan and Everisann 1903. Bull.. U. 5. Fi&
COG., vol. 22, p. 180. (Type locality, Honolulu).
42 specimens. 41 - 83 mra. Onotoa.
D VII-I,9; A I1;fl; P 14; vertical scale rows 214. or 25;
(4 specimens) .
The gill raker counts of 12 specimens were 17 to 19
(mostly 18).

Color in alcohol light brown with a dark brown stripe
(in average width about seven-eighths the height of a body
scale) running frorri snout tkrougii, eye to base of cnudal. fin
(the intensity of' this stripe varies consiicrably from
speCir3eri to specimn; in so& it is b ~rcly visible); n desk
broxn spot of variable size postwiorly on caudal peduncle
(this spot is usually located entirely above the l~iterril
line, but in occasional specimo.ns a sma1.L amount of pigment
may extend below it); body scales o.arrow1.y riru[:1ed in dar!.c
brown (in p~ler specimns this coloration of, tl;~. ~:c:&s is
most evident on the nape); a narrm; dark line basrrl.ly in
the second dorsal and anal fins rumin? parollel with
contour of body; anterl.or r~ortioii of f&st Corsal fin black;
upper and louer margins of caudal. fin Cark brown; first two
rays o,f pelvic fins with some bleck nigmnt; most specialens
with a darked cunceutration of dark brown color be1.0~ the
second dorsal fin. In adit.it.ion to this- dark, saddle-like
area mcny specimens are dark along the dorsal aspect of the
body, especial.1~ posteriorly on the caudal. peduncle where
the pieent tends to obscure thc outline of the s~~ot in this
region. In some specinens ther~ is n concentration of 3ark
brown pigmnt anteriorly' on the le teraL line. In life the
body has a light lavender or pinkish cast, ,and the pectoral
and caudal fins are faintly pink.
The Gilbert Islends s~pecimens were comparsd with the type
froln ilevmii, with Sainoan specimezis , and with s~,eei;?ien:: f?om
the NiRrsllall Islands. They tend to bs more fiiulanir.f;ic than
the others, especially those Trom the Xarshnll Islands, and
the urlterior prdopercular serrations are not so well
developed,
Apogon snydsri was abundant at Onotoe, where it was
obtained from tht lagoon, chnnoel, and outer reef.
This species seems to reach much larger size in Hav~eil
than the rest of Oceania. m Aweii it may attain a
standard length of about 180 m, a.very lar3e size for an
apoyonid. Of' 367 specimens from the IMnrshall Islands, the
. ,.
largest was 97 mra, . .
As far as is known, this species i:< not recorded frou the
Philippines, East Indies, or more we~tern'~~mters.. Its
distribution suggests that it night be a Hawaiian endemic
form that has drifted southward and becomc-estwbllshed in
the nnjor island g,roups of the South and Central Pecific.
The cL&ely relat&.~:iwsiiun species, Ap3go11 rnenesomus
Jenkins, may be exhibiting tho same pattern of' distrih~.t5.on
in an incipient stage; Apogon. nsneoemo,ps Lachner is recorded
only from the nor thorn iWnrsha1.l. Islands. Lnchner 's soecinsns
are probably only subspecifl cally different from
Apogon menescr~%.
--
The stomach contents fro~i 10 specimens of snydcri, v;hic,h
were collected during daylight hours, were examined. Onc

had eatea a siaall fish which was half digested. Another
contained unidentified organic matter with a ~ W N sranll
pieces of hard substarics which aru robab ably crustacean
fragments. The remaining stoiaachs we'e empty.
lxpogon savayensis
&o on savsyensis ~hther 1871.. Proc. 7,001. Soc., p. 656.
h e locality, Savaii, Samoa).
15 specinens. , 34 - 94 fur!. Onotoa lagoon and outer
reef.
D VII-I,9; b Il,e or 9 (usually 9); P 13; vertical scale
rows 23 or 24. (4 specimens) .
Color of body in alcohol 6ar.L~ brown dorsslly, shading
into light brown below late~al line; head and nape dark
brown; e deri; brown sad.dle on caudal peduncle (in sinall
specimens this mark extends as, a band to mictventral li.ne);
a prominent diagonal dark line on cheek extending posteriorly
and dorvnward froa lower rear quadraut of eye. Pins ..
dusky; a dark sulxmrginal band.' in the upper and lower lobes
of the caudi;l fin. Vertical. dusky bers may he seen on the
sides of sone specimens.
Apogon nubilus Garnan 1903. Hull. Mus. Gomp. ~osl., p.. 229,
pl. 1, 1.. (Tyl~e locality, Suva, Fiji Islnnds),
7 specimens; 38 - 84 r.m. Onotoa.
. .
D VII-I,9' A' 11,8; P 1%; vertical scale ~ows 24 or 25..
( 3 specimns j . :.
. .
Color in alcohol 1Lght browndsh with body ond hfafi vt?ry
Plnely and uniformly spec~Iet3 with tiny black dots. h few
specimens show vertical concentrations of these tiny dots
to form faint bars, on, the bouy .. A very faint and narrow
diagonal nark is vi.sible on the cheei: as in -- savnyensis.
Only one specimen has a spot on ths caudal peduncle~ove
the lateral Line. In a11 specimens the fins are dusky,
especiaPly the Yirst dorsal. fin.
Color in life: back brownish, sides silvery with a
lavender cast.
A11 7 specimens were taken 'from one Heliopora coral head
in shallow water of a sandy cha.nnel coiiTecting ragoon and
the open ocean. Such a distinctive habitat, if shovm to be
consistent, may separate this species ecologically froa the
closely related A. - sav8yenc;is. Lachner (1951) discussed thc

the ruorpholog1cal distinctness of these two specles and
- A. bandanensi - s Bleeker .
--
IIeniciohthys philippinus Iierre 1.339, Copeia, no. 4, p. 200
(Type locality, Durnaguete, Oriental Xegros, Philippine
Islands ) .
5 specimens. 11.5 - 24 mm. Onotoa.
TI YI-I,9 or 10 (mostly 9); A 11,8; P 15. (4 speci.~nens).
Color in alcohol uniform' pale gello~if sh with melanophores
forming numerous individual tiny spots over brain and
usually with a few in -mid-dorsal. line posterior to second
dorsal fin. In one 13 wm specimen the pelvin fins were
dusky. Th&e is in a11 specifflens a criss-crossing of sb.ort
straight lines of papillae on. the head which becolue whiti.sh
when the specinens dry and the papi1l.a~ arc penetrated by
air. Color in life tsci~sparent with silver on operculum and
over abdomen; an orange-red line on body from region of
pectoral fin to middle of base of caudal fin; an orange-red
line at base of dorsal and anal fins.
These 5 speciinens were coqorc3 wi.th a 28 rm paratype
of Heniciohthys philippinus Xerre. The following @.ffereaces
were dfscerniXe: srriali black svots on tin of iaws in the
2 ~~ " ~ ~ -~~
-. . ~
latter, different pattern of papillae, and a lavendor-silver
sheen on the preopercle. Col.or i.n life, as described by
Iierre, was trenslube.nt :rose with a bluish pearly lustre.
Regards body form, fin ray counts, and especiall) dentition
the characteristics which Lachner in Schultz and collaborators
11.953) has set down in tabula>: forfio~ the i:.nown species of
@ma o ~ the ) Gilbert Lsland and. Philippir~e specimens were
??kdcal. It is therefore believed that the differenot:~
iuentioned above raay be only subspecific.
The specinens were obtained from the first 175 feet of a
transect of the outer reof flst at Onotoa st lov~ tide. They
were in sffiall, shallow' tide pools which contained sparse
algal growth and in which the temperature during the day
sometimes reached or exceedsu LO" C.
Gymnapop,or, has been classified in. various fanilies, and
its affiniths with the bpogonidae oftm questis::cil.
Lachner (1353) has discuss~cl. the genus in detail and prefers
to include it within the A?ogoni'dze, though as a distinct
subfanlily. I do not believe that this 1s ad.visable in view
of tho characters of the mon.&ypic Pseu~min which
serve to connect G.yicinapo%on 7i;if;h :nor e t ypico 1 igen(:,x!!-3 of' the
family. Gyrnnapogcn is ria=& whereas 0ti;c:r spogonid gelif;ra
hsve larg~;, well-fTrmed sceles; Pseu!l.ads
-.- litis sibla11 thin
. ,

sca1c;s wllicll tend to fuse on the,boi?y. - Gyninapogon possesses
a single spine at the angle of the preopercle; small
-
Pseudamia have several mall spines et this location; the
pattern df the lines of pores on the head of Pseuda~nia is
very similar to the lines of pspillae on Gymnapo~orl. Total
gill raker counts (including rudiuents) of Gyi.:inapogon 11 to
12; of Pseudamia, 1&.

The 25 rn specifien, which was collect& by Catala at
Abenari~a- Atoll, hhs no dark spot on the caucial peduncle, but;
only the one OLI the upper of the caudal fin; there are
no dark lines on the boag; the u.crso1 an4 'd'nal fins are
hyaline, The 47 rnrn speci~ien, however, i.s interrnedi~te in
color to the 25 end 70 mn specimens.
The small specimen has sevmal indistimt spines t-lt the
angle of the preoperL.cle, and crias-orossrd oa the head are
proninent short rows of pores (these pores are mesent on
the larger specimens but are not distinct).
Pseudafiiia polystipma serves as a link between the bizarre
-.- Gyronapogon and more typical a,pogonic!s. See further discus-
. .
sion under Gyscnc;po&g~.
The 47 rum specimen was talcen from a shallow water area of
the lagoon where there was considwable turtle grass
(Thalassia) und occasional coral rocks. The large specimen
was teken from a poorly def'ined surge channel region on the
lee side of the atoll wheXe the botton was mostly coral-
covered.
Cheilodipterus ~ac6~6de 1802. [:is%. nab. poiss., vol.., 3,
-- Perania Bleeker 1863. Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk., vol. 1, p. 233.
Cheilodipteropc Schultz 1940. Proc. U. S. Tiat. Kus., vol. 88,
p. L13.
Cheilodipterus pinquelinoetus Cuvier und Valenciennes 1R28.
Iiist.. nat. poist?., vsl. 2, p. 167. (Type locdity, Bora
Bore, society Islands).
Parcimia quinqueli.neatw Bleeker 1865. Ked. Tijdschr. Dierk.,
vol, 2, p. 11~7.
Chei lodipterus guinguelinea t ~s Weber and. de Reaufort 1929.
Fishes indo-Austral. Arch., vol. 5, p. 361.
- uinruelineata Schultz 1940. Froc. U. S. Nnt. Mus.,
v 01. . Corrected. to P?ramis q.u.inquelinea.ta - by
Schultz, 19k0, Co',ie~a, no. 3, p.201.).
Paramia quinquelineata Lachner 1951. .Proc. 'U. S. !.Tat. Mus, ,
vol. 101, p. 606.
. '*

1 specimen. 35 ma. Onotoa channel.
Color in alcohol very light brown with five longitudinal
dark brown lines on the head and body, the pale interspaces
between the stripes being two to three tinies as broad as
the stripes themselves; a round black spot centered on
lateral line at base of caudal fin, this spot surrounded
by an. unpigmented area (yellow in life). The first body
stripe lies in mid-dorsal li.ne, beginning in the inter-
orbital space and bifurcating to surround hase of tlio two
dorsal fins; the secoild stripe runs from snout through top
of eye, endiag et edge of pale zrea on caudal peduncle;
the third stripe runs down iuiddle of body from snout to
c:iudaJ. peduncle; the rourth extends fro:] the chin through
lower edge of eye to caudal peduncle; the fifth stripe is
double on chiii, triple in pe1vj.c region, double.around anal
fin, and a single mid-ventral line on caudal peduncle.
I an in agreement with Weber an& de Beaufort (1929) in
not, separating this species into another genus, Paramia.
. .
--
Cheilodipterus isostigma
Cheilndipterops isosti~ma Schultz 1940. Proc. U. S. Nat.
L~us., vol. P8, p. L+lTr(~~~e locality, New ~uinea),
1 specimen. 40 m. Onotoa lagoon.
Color as in Cheilodipterus uin uelineatus, except the
stripes on the chin and ab~.k:@~are less distinct.
C. --
isostig,ffia is very difficult to distinguish fron
-
C. $uiiiquelineata without exeri:ination of the teeth st the
ti.;: OT the lower Jaw where the presence of one or two canines
in isostigiuz ~ff0rd.S a consistent means of separation. since
botX species possess canines, I do not believs that their
presence or absence in one place in the jaws constitutes a
generic aifFerence as indicated by Schultz (1940).
Genus :UHLI!!
ICuhlia Gill 1861. I'roc. Acad. Wet. Sci. Phila., p. 1,8.
'Tit: species, --- Percn. ciliuta Cuvier) .
Kuhlie marginate
Dules marginatus Cuvier and Valenciennes 1829. Kist. nat .
goiss., vol. 3, p. 116, pl. 52. (~ype locality, Tava).

1 specimen. 154 ran. Nukunau.
D X,11; III,11; P 14; ietcral line scales 56 (last 4
posterior to b*~se of caudal fin); me3ian prsdsrsul scales
12.
The gill arches have been removed; therefore no gill raker
counts are The specirren appears to bnve been dried
before presorvation, :;o ciistinctive colcr :nariricg: (such as
black margin to caudal fin) are apparent.
- -i. --
Dules taeflii:rus Cuvisr ~ n V8lencieai~~
d
1823. Hist. nct.
poiss., vol. 3, p. llb. (Type locality, Java).
Dulzs --.- argenteus ~Gnther 1873. Sour. Mas. Godeffroy; vol. 2,
pt. 3, p. 25; pl. 19, fig. C. (Kingsinill Islands).
Kuhlia -- tacniurn Fowler 1928. Men. B. 1'. Bishop Mus., vol.
10, p.(~bniag, Gilbert Islsnds) .
b:oronopsis taeniurus b!hitley end Colefax 1938. Proc. Linn.
- -.-
Sot. 1,:. S. -"isles, vol. 63, p. 292. (Ocean Island).
D X,10; k ISI,11; P 14; lateral line scales 56 (l2st 5
posterior to base of caudal fin); median pr8edorsal scsles
11; gill rakers 10-1-23.
Color in alcohol: bac2 blackish, rer.lainiier of body tan;
caudiil fin with 5 black bands, 1 median sad 2 on each lobe;
spiilous dorsal vith attenuated ends of aeinbranes black;
soft ciorsal vviti: broad, black band in outer part of fin.
Genus PZL'iCAXTSTJS
1817. Isis, p. 1183. (Type species, Antbias
Bloch) .
Priecanthus cruentatus
Labrus cruentatus ~ack~Sdf: 1802. Xst. net. poiss., vol.. 3,
pp. l+p, 5 2 2 7 ~ locality, ~ ~ ~ ; Martiniclue).

D X,13; A III,14; ? 17 or 18 (usually 18). (7 specitnens).
lateral line scales 63 and 69; gill. rakers 23. (2 specimens).
Color in life red, blotched with silver; median fins
reddish with small reddish brown spots; paired fins pale
reddish.
The speci~lens were taken in coral areas of the lagoon
and protected oute~ reef.
Neothunr~us Kishinouye 1923. Jour. College Agri c. Tokyo
Univ., vol. 8, p. 445. (Type species, Thynnus macropterus
Teminck and ~chlegel)
.
Thynnus nacro&terus -- I- ~eiminck and Schlegel 1844. Fnune
Japon.i.ca, !-'olssons, p. 98, pl. 51. (~ype locality,
.
Nagasaki).
.
. . , , . . ,..
1 specimen. 720 r:m (only dorsel and anal fins saved).
Onotoa.
Euthynnus ~gtken in Jordan and Gilbert 1882: '~3~11.; U. S.
Rat. lqius. 16, ~~74.29. ( ~ n species, e ThyniuS thunnina
Cuvier and Yalencisnnes) . .. .
. .
- ---
Eutiqmnus yai to
Euthynnus --- yaito ;Cishimuye 1915..Suisan Cakkwai ISo (J'roc.
5cl. Fish. Assoc.), vol.. I, p. .22, pl. I, fig. 15. (Type
locality, Japan).
2 specinens. 265 and 340 mr~. Onotoa.
1 speciuen. 123 WI. Tarawa.
Acanthocybiua Gill 1862. Froc; Acad. Rat. Sci. Phila., vol.
14, p. 125. (Type species, Cybium - Sara Bennett).

C-1 ---
-
Bcanthocybium -.-. - - - - solundri
so1andr.i Cuvier end Ve.lenciennes 1.831. Kist. nnt.
poi~~. , vol.. 8, p. 192. (Type locality, open seas).
1 speciimn (only head saved). Length of head about
250 :nm. Onotoa.
,Istiophorus -. Lac&p&de ltj03. Hint. nat. ~joiss., vol. 3,
p. 2n.(sj>elling corrected to ------ Hist.onhorus by Ouvier
and V'elenciennes 1331: 291) (Type specles, Gtiophorus
gladii'er Lac&p&de)
-
.
ilisti - ophorus gladius
1 specimen. 1550 mm (not retained i'os collection).
Onotou, offshow.
Color from 35 wm ilodochrome tsnnsparencjr dark blue on
back, .shadirg to light blue on side and silvery white
ventrally; fins dark blue.
Distance from tip of sword to eye 3.9' in for!< length;
longest dorsal snins about 3 3.n fork length; second dorsal
fin follov~s first by n distance less then twice the least
depth of the caudal peiiuncle; paired Keels at base of caudal
fin; length of pectoral. fin sl.ight%y greater than body
fiepth; pelvic Pins with. one spine and, one ray prol.onged to
L20 ma. .
I identify this species us 13. -....- [{loilius - from the key, d.escriptions,
and nhotoeraph of H: ----a-
orientalis in. th.e work of
de Beaufort and Chapman (1951: 240-2423, ''
Makaira ~ack~hde 1802. Exist. at. poiss., vol.. 4, pp. 688,
r ( ~ y p species, e Makaira -..--.. ---.-.- nigricv.ns Lac6pBde).

Makaira sp.
The. sword. from a largeifiarlin was obtained from a
Gilbertese fisherman who stated that he had caught tile
specimen at Onotoa. The specimen was not seen by.W;
Promethichthys Gill 1893. Kern. I%t. Lie. Sci., vol. 6, pp.
115, 12.3. (Type species, Pro:netheus atlanticus Lows).
- Gefgylus - prometheus Cuvier and Valenciennes 1831. Hist.
nut. poiss.,.vol. 8, p. 213. (Type locality, Tt. Belena).
. Proranthichthys - -- =theus !Yhitley and Colefax 1938. Proc.
Llnn. SO~. N. S. Wales, vol, 63, p, 293. (Ocean Island).
Genus RUV%T'?U3'U!:
Ruvettus Cocco 1833. Giorn. Sci. Sicilia, vol. 42, p. 2.
T&.Fspecies, Ruve5tus ~retiosu.~ .Cocco') .
. ..
... . -
Ruvettus tydemani
Ruvettus Tydernarli Weber 1913.,Siboga Exp. Fische, p..401.
.,Tjpe locality ,'Binongka ~sland)
. . . .
+
. .,
Ruvettus t deuani 3Vhitley and Colefax 1938. Proc. Lino.
Sot. N. 5. Via es, VOL. 63, p. 293. (Ocean 1sland.and Nausu).
-7--- -
.. . . . .
Yoivlt r (19'2" 1135) rnaintoins th2t Wvettus tydcrnoni WSer
is not different fr~r. the .:tluntic --- 9uvettus pretio9.1~ Cocco.
. . ,. .
Baui 1 y CARANGIIIAE
The jacks represent one'of.the dominant Samilies of '
fishes in the Gilbert IsMndn; as elsewhere in tropical.
marine waters. Past swilurning and mainly piscivorous, fishes
of this group fill the niche of "roving carnivorew on the
reef more .than those of any other group., ..
The most i~nportant fa,uily charact,eristic is the presence
of two isolated anal spines anterior to the anal fin proper.
. .

Genus !;JAGATIS
Elagatis Bennett 18~&.. Narrative of a wha1in.q vovage. around
( m,
the giobe, vol. 2, p. 283. ~,pe species, QerioLa
bipinnula ta Quoy and GainarBj .
---- -
Seriola wnnulata Quoy and Gaimard 1824. 'Voyage autour
d~nonde...~Uranie~~...Zool~, p. 363, pl. 61, fig. 3.
, (Type locality, 'files des PapousT1).
1 specimen (only the henC savcd) . 580 Onotoa.
D VI-1,2L+-2; A 11-I,1,7-2.
The specimen was caught by Gilbertese fishermen by
trolling off the edge of the west reef of the atoll. Dorsal
and anal fin ray counts were made .and the head was purchased.
Scomberoides ~ac&~b~le 1802. Eist. nut. poiss., vol. 3 p. 50.
T y p e speci,es', -. Scbxberoides comaersoi!.ianus - ;a c6phd.e 1 .
Scomberoides - sarictipetri
~.
- Chorinemus Saricti Petri Cuvier and Valenciennes 1831. IIist.
nat. poiss.., VOLT-p. 379, p1. 236. (Tyne locality,
coast of Malzbar) . . .
Choringmus sanctlpetri Whitley andColefax 1938. Proc. Linn.
Soc. IT. S, Vales, vol.. 63, p. 292. (Nauru).
2 specimens. 340 and 390 m. Onotoa.
2 specimens. 251 and 318 m. Tarawa.
D VI or VII-I,20; A 11-I,l5 or 19; P 1'7 or 18; gill
raKsrs 25 or 26 plus 2 tiny rudiments. (2 specimens).
Color fron 35 mn ii'odnchr.me transparency light silvery
blue on back shading to silvery white on sides and ventrally;
arow of faint duslry roundish blotches on side of body just
above latsral line; 3 or 4 sirailnr blotches mid-laterally
on body below lateral line in a row just posterior to tip
of, pectoral; a large black sgot on the' dorsal fin between
tho f'irst and sixth soft rays (this spot covers all but the
basal part of this section of the fin); anal fin pale with
a blaclish spot anteriorly; caudal. fin purplish; pectoral
fin dusky; pelvic fins white.

. .
Eye 4.6 in head; maxillary reaches slightly posterior
to vertical from hind edge of eye; depth of body 4.4 in
standard Length; length of pectoral fin 1.5 in head length:
first 6 or 7 dorsal spines and. first 2 anal spines isoleted;
posterior rays of dorsal and anal occur as separate finlets;
course of lateral line, especinlly anteriorly, irregular.
The two Onotoa speoimei~s were taken with rotenons on the
lagoon side of' the west reef. Yhen first brought from the
water they had a yellowish cast ventrally. The largest
Tarewa specimen was speared fron a b0a.t anchored. in the
lagoon after it was attracted by night lighting.
Kendall and Goldsborough (1911: 267) and Fowler (192i3: 140)
recorded - Scomberoldss - tolo=ah (~uvier ) fro3 the Gilbert
Islands. The foraer authors suggested that tolooparah
might be the young of 2. sancl;ipetri.
-
-- .
.. ,. ,
Genus D&CAPTi&'R?J;?
Dec!?;!.t-ri.i.i . . . . -- .. BLeeker 1851. Nat. Tijdschr. Ned.-lnd., vol. 1,
p. ;>2. (Ty? ;e species, Caranx kurra Cuvier and
Valenciennes).
Decapterus rnuroadsi
Caramx !ncrczi?si Tewminck and Schlegel 18&. Ftluaa,Japonica,
-. --...
p. 10'Lr;-'ij1.58, fig; 1. (Type locality, Japan)'.
D 'V1:CI-1,34-1.; ii 11-I,2E-1; P 23; gill rakers 49.
Color in alcohol brown wit!: a black spot on nargin of
onercle above the posterior projecti0.n of the operc'llar
membrane at level of' up2er edge of baSe of pectoral..
Depth of body 5.3 in standard length; body almost
cylindrical, body width 1.2 in body iiepth; no teeth, in jaws,
on vomer, or palatines ; afiipose eyelid tvell developerl,
maximum width of the open slit over pupil contained more than
3 times in diameter of eye.
Many of the scales and scutes were missing; hence no
scale or scute coilnts were made.
--
Gill 1862. Proc. Acad. Xat. Sci. Fhila., p. 238
= Sconber
orumenopththalmus -- Bloch

--.-- Tracliurops - crumenoohthalmus
- -
3comber crumenophthalmus Bloch 1793. dntur. nuslhl. Pische,
vol. 7, DL. 10, . 77, pl. 343. (Tyne loc~~lity, Acarn
Bay, West Africa 7 .
1 specimen. 128 am. Tarawa.
1 specimen. llc8 ma. Kulcunau.
D VIII-I,27; A 11-1,22; P 21; gill r,skers 37. (1 speci-
men).
Color h'alcohol: upper half of body bro7wn, lower half
light brown; tips of jaws slightly blackish.
Depth of bodg 3.7 in stanher6 leagth; mnxirnum width of
body 1.8 in depth; small teeth in jaws, on. vome?, palatines,
and tongue; 'adipose eyelid well developed, maxirnura width of
open slit over pupil contained about 3 times in diameter of
eye.
The snecimerls are in poor condition and scde and scu.te
counts could not be made.
Carnnx ~,ackp&e 1802. Hist. net. poiss., vol. 3, 13. 57.
- m e species, - Scomber carnngus Bloch = Sco:aber - m - s
Linnaeus 1 .
Carunx melarnnygus
- Caranx nelampyy,us Cuvitr arid Valenciennes 1833, !list. nat .
poGs., ~01. 9, p. 116. (Type locality, 1V8igiu, Rawak,
Buru, Vanicolo, and Mauritius) .
Caranx nscsnsionis Fowler 1928. Men. 8. P. Uishor) Mus., vsl.
- r p . 11+5. (Abainng, Gilbert Islands) .
2 spe~iiue~i~. 345 and 400 rm. 8 specimens.
79 - 127 mnl, Onotoa.
5 specimens. 76 - 245 mi. Tarawa.
Color from 35 mi Kodaohrome transpare.ncy of a 600 mm
specimen (not saved.): upper half of body brownish blue with
scatterecl small. black spots; lower hn1.l" of bodg wh.5.t~ (no
sharp demarcation., bowever, between t!le u?per enc! lower
halves in color); head dark greyish, brownish dorsally tin4

whitish ventrally; median fins bluish; dorsal fin with a
bright b l i ~ band at base; pectoral fin dusky.
.. . , : Color in life ~f 102 m specimen: back greenish blue,
sides end belly silvbry white;. dorsal and caudal f.i.11~
blul.sh ; anal fin yellowish, tipped !vi ti1 bluish ; upper half
of 'pe ctornl yellow.
-.- -
Czranx roelanpygus was the most abundant sp~cies of the
genus at Cnotoc.. It appears to be a roving predktor on
other reef fishes. Adults were .often seen singly or in
groups of t:70 to five, constantly on the aove an& generally
i.n one directi.on, on the coralliferous terrace of the outer
reef.. Schools of juveniles were observe6. in shallow lagoon
arcas.
The stomach contents of four adult specinens fro^^ 250 to
450 mrn in standard length were examined. Bvo of the specimens
were taken with rotenone. They had eaten a great many
smell fish which were undoubtc+dly earlier results of the
poison thtin the Caranx i;h,emseives. The two other specimens
were speared. The storuach of one contnined nothing; the
stomach of the other contained t,wo fish. one of which was
not identifiable and the ,c&tnes wa.8 Miroiabrichthys - tui:a;
There was a.l.so a mass of. ... fish,
% scales.
.... ,... . .
.,,....
. . . . , ,.. .
Caranx (hippos?)
,i !,; . ...
?Scomber hSppos Linnmus. Clyb6. , syst. nat., ed. 12, p. 4911.
locality, ~arolina)
. . :,
Caranx sexfasclatus Quoy and Gaimsrd 18211. Voyage autoilr
dl: mor~de.. .vUraniq". . .4@ol::,; p,. 358, pl.. 5j, fig. 4..
(Type locnli ty , "iles -8:es ,-Pa~apausll)
, .. . .
Carhx 'seifasciatus owl& liQd .: .Jjlxll. R. P. Bishop Kus;.,
vol. 3, p. 149. (~baiang, Gilbert Islands).
Caranx -.- forsteri %endall and Go1.dsborough; 1911. ':Men. Mus.
Camp. Zobl., vol. 26, p. 268. (Butaritari, Gilbert
Is1a11Ci.s) .
' 2
: ,2: s~ecirnens. . . 59 and 61 am. , Onotoa lagoon.,
, ,
2 specimens. 85 and 109 Taracva.
. . . . .
spebinens. 149 and 176 mil. Eutaritari. (C., -. . ---....- forsteri
of iiendall an& Goldsborough), . ,
D VIII-I,20 or 21; A 11-1,16 or 17; P 20 or 21; scutos
30 to- 33; gill rakers 22 to 25. (4 specimens).
. . .
Color in alcokl.01 of '59 m specimen light bro%'n with 6
broad dusky bass extending from mid-dorsal line' to about
.

aid-lateral line of body. The 149 and 176 ma specimens no
longer show such bars.
I conpared t.he specimens from the Gilbert Islands with - .,
--- Carans h.ip?o~ of comparable size from Plorida. The meris.tic
data on ti:~ i'eiv specimens counted are identical. There are
a few slight morphological and color differences; however
I believe these are only subspecific in magnitude (provi-
-
ding gippos is confined to the Atlantic an

The stomachs of two of the specimens were opened. One
contained nothing an2 the other a half-divested fish.
-
Caranx ignobilis
0
Scs~ber ignobilis Porskal 1775. Descr , animalium, pp. xl.i,
F(Tyl.ie locality, Djedda, Red .:3oi3).
- ---
n.
Carr.r?x ignobilis %hitley and Colefsx 1938. Broc. Lina. SOc.
Wales, vol. 63, p. 292. (R~uru and Ocean Island).
Caraax ferdas
9
3comber fcrctzu F'orskal 1775. >sscr. aninalium, pp. xi%, 55.
'm locality, DJeddn, Red Sea).
1 specimn. 260 im?. Onotoa.
D ---- I,3l; P 24; scutes 30; gill rakcrs 32.
Color in life light rrridescent green above, silvery on
sides anc? below; 7 or I! snall elliptical bright yellow
spots scattered in a g,rou.p on side of body (oil the left
side these are in the middle of the bod:? and just bolo-w the
lateral line; on the right side they are slightly r,~sterior
to the middle of the body and some above and the. rest below
the lateral line); elongated anterior prt of dorsal and
rin~l fino b1c.e; reminder of these fins and ciiudal fin
blu.ish gray; pectoral finfaintly yellowish; iris of eye
yellowish. Faint vertical. derk bars were visible on the
fish. before it W'IS speared a.nd for a short ti.me thereafter.
The spechen was ta!ren on the coralliferou:: terrace of
the outer reef. It is Lacking the spinous dors~l M.a;
there is evidence of injury to the usual site of this fir1
in the speciiacn. The spear damaged the anal fin such that
counts of fin rays could not be meds.
Daranx speciosus
0
Scoaiber aeciosus Forskal 1775. Descr. aninalium, p. 1.2.
-5 local.ity, Arabia) .
Two individuals of what is tentatively id~rltified
as this
species wore observed underwater off the Island of Aunteuma
in the northern part of Onotoa. They were about 2 feet in
length and had vsrtical. dark bars on the body as figured
for this species by Fowler (1928: pl. 11, fig. C). One was
speared but %as not captured.

. .
Carunx ci liar is
- Zeus . clliaris .- Bloch 1787. &t. ausl8n.d. Fische, pt. 3,
p. 1 .
9 . i?$pe. . locality, East 1n.di.e~ and Suratte).
' t t ' '
Caranx ciliaris Gunther 1876. Jour. Mus. Godeffr~y; vol. L,
pt. 11, p. 135, pl. 89. (Kingsinill Islands).
. .
.. , . .
P'amil y LUTJ&NIDIII':
Along with the groupers, the snappers are the most
inportant . gr0U.p of carnivorous fishes. in the Gilbert
. ' IsLands. . The species aye . nuraeroas and. the ... i~idividu~ls of
.
several are a bundaiit . . . .
--
As will be noted, I have followed. Schu-ltz et a1 (1953)
in classifying such g;ener.a'as- Lethrinus, Aphareus, Caes1.0,
iiprion, Gnathodentex and Monotaxis in the Lutjanidae.
-- 9
-
&*nus .- Bloch 1790. Natur. ausl&l. Pische, vol.. 4, pt. 7,
p. 105. (TYPE species, Lutj'tin.us'lut.ianus - Bloch).
, , - . .
. . .. . . . .
- Lut Janus 'vaigiennis - . .
..
.
Diacope va.i&iensis Quoy and Gaiaard 18216. Vo,yage' nutour
du monde.. .l.'m

and posterior to eye. A 62 m specimen was colored
sinilorly. It Giffered in nsviag eight longitudinal yellow
lines on the body and hyeline pcctorn1.fi.n~. :
I', .~te ) stomachs of six surplus specimens fro% a Tarawa
surge channel (155 to 180 ram in. standard length) were
opened. Two were ernpty and two contained small fresh specinens
of Tha1asso:n~ umbrostygna which had probably been
killed by rptenoce; one fish hod eaten a small holothurien,
and the lash hnd made a meal of a snail brachyuran crab.
The stomachs of two Onotoa specimens, 75 Bnd 95 nm in
length., were erripty .
Zeaoprion - iilofiostigaa Guvier anflalenciennes 1828. 1U.s t .
mt. poiss., voL. 2, p. 446. (Type locality, Seychelles).
I,utianus monostigma ICendall anCi Goldsborough 1911. Mem. IvIus.
-"
Gomp. ~bol., vol. 26, p. 28'7. (%taritsri, Gilbert
~slands)
Sciaenn
T E
.
2 speoiinens. 0 . 1 specinen. 29 fun. Onotos.
3 spcimens. 53 - 117 a!; Tarawa.
D X,13; A III,B; P 16;..verticol scale rows from upper end.
of, gill. opening to bsss 02' cauAul fh: about 54. (2 speclaens) .
Color in life very siinilar to the plate of,'t'he species
in IIiyana (~oisonous~~ishes
.- -- of - -- the -.- south. ,-1 Seas 194.3: pl. 6,
fig. 16) (misidemisd as Lutjanus -- Pulviflasm~), The
lateral line of the Oaotoa speciinerls biasects the black
spot oil the sidc. The spot is centered below the base of
the second. soft ray of the dorsal f5.n.
The 80 m Onotoa specimens were taken by Gilbertese fron
the outer reef flat at night whfle torchfishi.ng. The 29 mm
juvenile was caught in a tide pool of the outer reef flat.
A 290 n;n adult was obtained near the en6 of our stay at . '.
Orlotoa with rotenone from the lagoon side of the west reef,
but could not be preserve6 due to lack of formaldehyde.
Lutjanus bohar
0
bohar Porskal 1775. 2escr. aninciliun, pp.. ::i , 46.
focality, ilrabia).
specimen. 250 nu. Onotoa.
specimfi. 285 ijm. Tarawa.

D X,3.4; A III,8; P 17; vertical scale row!: 'frocl upper
end of gill opening to baseof caudal fin about 5'L;.
. .
(1 s p oinen ~ . , .
Color from 35 mm Koclecbroiae trdnsparency gray dorsally
shading, to dull red on sides and ventrally with a whitish
spot basally on each scele; a promicent white spot, larger
than pupil of 6ye on bacx adjacent tp posterior part of
soft dorsal fin; oledicln' fiii3;Yed (except; spinous dorsal
which is dark reddish gray) with broad dsrk margins; upper
. half of pectorak fin &irk . orange-red, lower half hyaline
.
orenge-re&; iris gold'&.
T%e Onotoa s.pecinen tekrin vt:~s spearee frort beneath a
coral lt:dge on tlhe coralli~erous tmriice of the outer reef
by a Gilbertese native in"tili estimated 25 feet or water.
Solitnry indivi(lua1s were . . of't:eri seen. ,i,~?. tb.18 . area , som& 2
feet or more in length., They were. .i;endLlv identif led
underwetor by ski6 ssiiddle-iiice white spot on the posterior
part of the body. 3oge i!$Livlduals disj?layed.a: second
white. spot below: t;ho",sgi~~ous dorsal fin. . . ... . ,
., ...
., . ! . .
The gut of tha Onotoa specimen was empty. 2 .
. . ,
' . . ...
,',.
:,:.:
.. . . . >- Lutjonus .~r,ibbus -- .
Sciaena
-F. ;L- ibba ~or~&&. 1775. Descr. afiiunlium, .pp. x,i, .46.
AY~,& 10,call ty., iyrabia ) ,
I , . .. . .
1 specimen. 200 WJ.. 28 speciums. 35 - 50 m. .
.. ..
. .
. Onotsa lagoon.
,... . . . . . . ( . . .
. .
. . . . . , .
1. specimen. . ,163 ma; :. -Tarawa .
. ,
D X,14; A 111,s; ? i7;. vertical scale rows from uppw
end of gill opening'to base of caudal fin about 63.
.
(2 s>~cinens ) .
.
I?176file of heed of adu.lt;s co,ncave, the upper pert' ascendirlg
st'ehply to ori~?in of dorsal ,f:in;. lobes of cauday fin,
rounded. &bfil.e -of be@ ,of yQunF, *..straight; ends of cautial
lobes painted.
Color frora 35 nm iCod.eckro:~e transparency of 200 ma
speciren: red., the centers. of the scales on the body and
ol~erculuri whitish; epinous -portion "of dorsal fin red; soft
portion of dorsal fin, anal fin,, and caLidal fi:lreddisb:.
black with narrow wiiita margins;: pectoral fins red with a
golden spot in region from upper part of base to gill
opening at level of operculor snine; pelvic fins reddish;
a small golden patch posterlor to knob on interopercle;
iris yellow except for a nerroco redrinlaround pupil.

Color in life of juveniles 35 to 60 mrn in length: blue-
greai. on bacic, pale below; borders of scales black,
resulting in an oblique lined effect on bhe body due to
the zsceni?ing scale rows; a large black area on caudal
peduncle and base of' caudal fin; rest of cauclal fin bright
yellow; dorsal grayish with a pale margin and a dark sdb-
marginal band.
The adult specimen wh?ch was r etained for the collection
was poisoned. with rotenone at station VI at Onotoa. The
site of this stntion consisted. of a large truncated coral
heod wliich reechsd to within 3 feet of the surface of the
lagoon. ??he Juvenile specimens were taken from the Thalassia
flet region of station V. . .
. . . ..
The species was observed only in shallow lagoon waters
around coral heeds. In tho northern Marshall islands,
however, Schultz (1953) reports taking it only fro10
mod.erately deep water.
The stomach contents of three Onotoa snecin~ens, 250 to
290 m in standard length, were examined. These fishes
were ~ollected with the use of rotenone. They had eaten
small. fishes which were probably prior victims to the poison
than the lutianids theinselves,
1,ut janus kasrnira
Sciaenn kasrnira ~orskzl 1775. Descr. aninaliun, pp. xi, lc6,
-fy, Arabia).
20 specinens. 30 - 120 mm. Onotoa
2 speciraens. 3j and. 45 nun. Taravia.
D X,15; A III,8; P 16; vertical scale rows fron upper
end of gill opening to base of caudal fin about 65. (2 suec
he no ) .
Color from a 35 m Kodachrome trc:nsparenoy of a 90 mrn
specimen: yellow dorsally, shading to white ventrally, wit11
four longitudinal light blue bands on head and upner two-
thirds of body; fins yellow.
No large adults of the species were taken. %ost of the
Onotoa specimens weye collected fron around coral heads in
shallow areas of the lagoon.
Uiaco~
rivul-ata Cuvier and Valenciennes 1828. Hist. nat.
Tss., vol. 2, p. 312, pl. 38. (Type locality, Coromandel,
Java, Red Sea, and Nalubar f .
-

. . .
Lutjanua rivulatus Fowler 1928. Mem. B. P. Bishop Xus.,
-.- ---- vol. 1C ,,,.p. 202. (i'ibaiang, Gilbert '~~lands).
&pion
Genus Ai7110'iL'
-- Cuvier an& Valenciei~nos 1830. Hi st. tl&t..
, ,
, .:.
.,,, . .
. .
pol.r,s.,
: v.01. 6, p. 54.3. (Type species, .Aprioa vi?&t,ens Cuvier
arid Vr..len'ciofi.ne.~ ) .
. .
-- vireecens ---
Qrion
Aprion virescens Cuvier and Valenciefi.aes ~#b. His&. .st.
p o i s s ~ p. ~ 544. ~ , ,(Tyi?o locality, :~eycheller;).
. .
$ . .
1 specimen (head only). loilgth of head 161). am.
Taraw~
..
. !
. .
. . . .: ,. . ! :: . .
Anhareus Cuvicr arid Valenc&en~xes. lP3J. Hist. nat.' poi'ss.,
mr-z p. 485. (Type species, Aphareus caerulescens --
~uvier
j .
Labrus --
furcntus ~aco/p&de 1802. i3'ibt. nat. poiss., vol. 3,
pp. 429, 4'77, p$. 21, fig..,. 1. ..(Type locality, le grand
0c6ar1).
....
, > . <
4 specirrlens. 120 - 235 rm, Onotoa.
. ,. . . ,
. D X,11;; A TII,c; .P 15;. lnterel line scales 76 and 77,;
gill rulcerb 26 (the last 5 of the 10 011 the upper l h b of
the arch are tiny rudiments). (2 specimens). . . . .
. . . .
Color in life of u 230 hi: specimen : blue'lkreen dbove ,,
shading to 'pale blue below, with enteY.ior third of the .:
cvposed part o f each scale dark brownTsh @a)?, giving an
overall bluish grey eifect to tile fish; a .broad bright
yellow barid from t,ip of chin across rnoutl~ .to interorbital
spac.e, 'nrjrrowink beyond .this poiilt .as it extends to origin
of dorsal fin (posterioi- to interorbital space the yellow
is suffused with brownish gruy on the edges of the sca1.e~);
dorsal and anal fins orange-yellow; caudal fin yellowish
brown basally, shading to- brownisi~::%ed:ciistally;
........-.. pectoral
fins light yel.10~ on upp& half, clear reddish brown below;
pelvic fins yellow, rod .medially;. iris of eye orange next
tq;pupil, light blue in outer .ha.].$ ...? The other: thr'ee
pp,ec.imens were colored si.oila~!l.y..ezicept: they lacked 'tile
bright yellow b~tld meiiiallg on the !~er:d.. The f'inh with the
yellovi band is a ripo fomale.
9 4

As has been pointed out by Fowler (1928: 195). specimens
of A. furcatus with the :yellow frontal band (A. f1a;ivultus
; ~ e n E i n m noteern t to differ in any other wzy fron those
1acLing this yelloiv coloration.
This species was always seen as solitary individuals
actively stviinming several feet off the bottom in coral-rich
areas such as the coralliferous terrace of ths outer reef.
Thc stomachs of all four specimens tvtre opened. TvJo were
empty, one contained an unidentified fish, and the last
had eaten whet anpears to be a specimen of Priacanthus,
Genus Cl.3310
Caesio ~ac6pke 1802. iiist. nat. poiss., ,v?l. 3, p. 85.
--me species, Caesio coerul~ureus - Lacepede).
-
Caesio coerulaureuo
-.- eus ~ac6~kde 1802. Bist. nat.
3, p. 85. Tfype Locality, ~olucczs).
1 specimen. 240 mm. Onotoa.
l X,15; A II1,ll; P 22; lateral line scales 69, scales
from lateral line to base of spinow dorsal fin 7z; 1 gill
rakers 41.
A single 'bony process on premaxillary besl.8es the median
process; teeth on premaxillary in one row (one-or two tiny
teeth wore found raedigl to this row); no paletine , E
vocler in sibl6; depth of houy 3.7 in. standar'd length.
C&OY horu a '35 rmi'~odac1~romi transparency dark blue
'tiorsallj , shading to .light blue on side and w$ite ventrally;
a greenish ~ellow longitudinal band from uppar edge of gill
openingto upper base of caudai fin; r3edi8n part of' lobes
of caudal fin broadly black; a tria,ngul.ar blaolc nark on
uppsr: half of base of pectoral Pin; dorsal fin g.r.8~1; aria1
fin redtiish; pectoral fin light yellowish; iris pale yellow.
The specimen was speared from a school. of about 12
individuals swiming at a depth of about 39 feet on the
corolliferous terrace of the outer recf.
Caesio xanthonotus --
Cassia xanthonotus Hlebker 1853. Nat. Tijd
vol. 4, p. .&66r(~ype l.ocality, Btltavia).
7 specii;lens. 125 - 185 mi. Onotoa.
t

D X,15; A 111.12; 21; lateral line scales 59 and 62
(these eTt:end ,half way out oil caudal fin); scales from
lateral 'l'ine to base of spinouk portion of dorsal Pin 6:
.: gifl .rakers' 34 and 35. (2 specimens).
A single elongate process extending dorsally rrorn side
of premax2llery (in addition to median process); two rows
of teeth on premaxillary, the outer row short and conical,
the.inner row minute and villiform; no teeth on palatines;
voraer essentially toothless (under high power of a binocular
microscope several tiny teeth were found after probing in
the palats lining); depth of body 3.6 to 3.7 in standard
length; pectoral fin longer tnun head, 2.9 to 3.1 in
standard length.
Color in life: post&ior half 0.f body above lateral line,
oaud~l peduncle, end caudal fin bright yellow; lower thirfi
of head and body white; rest of head and body b€tween the
yellow dorsal and vsntral white regions bright blue
(blackish in preservatiya); black on tip of chin, axil of
pectoral fin, and bas& of pector.al fin (broader at upper
pact of base og fin tfmn loiver);. dor.sal'fin gray on basal
scaled portion, yelloitish distally except for .a narrow blbck
harein; anzil fin reddish basally, shading to yellowand
fi nally whitish distally ; pnired finshyaline: inner part
of iris red. After death the ':brilliance 6f the sharply
defined yellow region on the bat;; chenges to :dull yeklow2sh
green and reddish areas a1spea.r :on '%he. v!h,$Ce' Yentral 'rcgiop,
. .
, . . .
~ h l rpseies s
WEIS coimonly seen in aggregati ons of a bout
50 or mot.--indlvt.Auals in mid-water on the coralliferous
terrace. of tho outer reef; sometQes ~he'school was dispersed
aaarly fr~m th.e surface to the battom.1n aWut 30 br more
feet of water and tended to rerhain tn approxlnately the , .
same location. .The. individuals of the. school ivsre surpr i-
singly unafraid of nn approaching swtmer snd cou18 be
speared. w1Ch .ease. All seven speoimens were taken in this.
manner, : . :. . .:
. .
" he : stomaoh contents of two of the specimens 'was examined,
As the. elo.ngate .gill rakers and the swisming position well.
off th6 bottora suggest , thes'e indivl.dua1.s proved .to be . ,
,plankton feeddrs. The bulk' of the food uaterial consisted
of pelagic copepods. Other typical planktonic oonstituents
such as mollusk larvae, larval sta$es.of shrirap, and fish . :
eggs were found.
Genus PTZROCAESIO
Pterocaesio Bleeker 1875. Versl, Akad. Amsterdam, ser.
vol, 9, p, 353, -- (Type species, Caesio multlradiatus
Steindachael, e Caesio tile OUW%- ?alenciennesf.

. .
------ -
Pterocaesio tile
Caesio tile Cuvier ~~nd Vrilenciennes 1830. Hist. nat. soiss.,
1 , 8 (Type locality, Caroline .Archipelago).
1 ::pccimen, 11~0 mn. 23 specime.ns. 70 - 90 run.
Onot oa .
. . . .
..-
D XI or XII, 20 or. 21; A I:CI, 13 or Ilk; :I? 22 or 23;
lateral line scales 73 or 80 (last lateral lins scele is
nearly half w~y out on caudal fin); scales irocl l~teral
line to base of spinous portionof dorsal fin 62:; ,.. gill
rakers 35 and 36, (3 specimens).
Two elongate pocesse:: on the si(le of the =i:emoxillary
in ~ddition to the medifin i:rocesS; te~th on. yreiinx.ill.ary in
a ~ir:gle row; uo teeth on yalatines or vonzr; deijth of body
3.9 in standard lenc,th of 140 rm specimen, about 4.6 in the
siilall specimens; length- of pectoral fin nbuut 4.5 in
standard length.
Color in life of 140 ma specimen: dar!c blue dorsa1l.y
(dark by virtue of each scale beinel rimmed in blsck) down t:,
a narrow 1cn~;itudinal. black ba~d which extends from the
ulper part of eye out into upper lo& of caudn.1 Pin; belw
this black br:rid to midJle of f i ~ h irridescerit l.i~ht blue;
lower half of body and head white (this became reddi~h
shortly aftw thi; f'ish was spesred).; a bltck longituc!in?l.
band. in lower lobe of cnudel fin 1n6dial to lowermoi-,t two
principal caudal. rays (like band in upper lobe except thp.t
,it does not extend on to body); fins faintly reddish; a
triangular black spot at upi)er base of pectoral fin.
Specinens of about "l4O nun in length wer observed in
loose oggregeti.ons in .rniti-water on the cornl.lif erous terrace
of the outer reef. ~1.1 of the smell spocl.aeno werf; obtained
over coral heads in the lagoon, During our st~y at Onotow,
the young of C. --.- ti1.e appeared in the ingoon in great numbers,
a. phenormnon %hicli 1 w m told occurs ~rice in ~bout every ten
years. The Gilb~rtese hold those small fish in hi:~h est*een
and emi~loy o special. fishing rilsthod to catch the:~i (see
Randall - in Banner slid Randall, 1952: 52-53).
Genus IXXTAPUS
- Penta~us Cuvier end Vnl~ncl.ennes 1830. Hist. mt. poiss.,
vol. 6, p. 258. (Type :^species, E- entm - iris Cuvier srld
Valencicnries ) .
Scolo~s! tle.is czniilus Cuvier 3nd Valenciennes 1830. Hist. nnt.
v. 7-
;:ozss., vol. 5, p. 266. (Type l.ocality, New Guinea).

Beterognnthodon - caninus ~hther 187b. Jour . Mus. Godef'f'roy,
V O ~ . 2-3, pt. 7-6, p. 32. (dbemema, Gilbert Islands).
Genus SCOLOPSIS
Scolo sis Cuvier 1814. Bull. Soc. Philo~i. Paris, p. 90.
'+pecies Scolopsiiies iturite Cuvier Anthias
vosneri ijloch j .
---
- - -----
Scolopsides cancellatus Cuvier nnd Valenciennes 1630. Hist.
nat;. ~OILS:;. , ?&I.. 5, I:+ 351. (Type locelity, iI~waii,
: i i o Rawe!c, New Guinea, Vanicolo, a& Ulea) .
-- Scolopsis ca.ncel.latns Fowler 1928. %em. E. P. .Qisho~ Xus. ,
vol. 10 ,!.,=@asnope = Oceaa Island) .
--
Gnathotlentex Blcelcer lG73. V'ersl.. Ak~tl. Amsterdam, ser. 2,
vol. 7, p. lcl. (Type species, Pent~~pus
-.- ~urilineatus
Rleelrer ) .
- Gnn thodentex aureolineatus -
lr 9 srus -,
aureolinectus ~nc6~&de 1802. Sist. oat. noiss., val.
4, PP. 427 132.
18 specimens. 53 - 185 c m . Onoton.
D X,10; A IIi,9; I? 15; lnteral line scales 71 and 77.
(2 specimens).
A strongly serrate lon,.:itkdinal ricige on aaxillarg.
Color in life of s 185 m specimen: silvery brown with
n proxineni; yeliow blotch at base of soft :lorsal fin and
longiti~di~~~l yellow lines of fibout a scale's v!icith on %ids
of body; fills reddish.
Adults were most cormonly observed swiiming in groups of
about eight or tc:n close to the bottom on the inshore part
of the corallif'erhus terrace of the outer reef. The young
were taken from shallow 1asoo.n and channel areas.

Monotaxis Bennett 1830. IXemoir . . .Sir 3tmf ord Raffles,
7% (Type spegies, T~~ionotaxis -- indi ca Bennett = Sciaena
grandoculis For sknl) .
-
Monotaxis -- ~~_nStoculis .-
0
---- .Sciaena grandowlis Porsical 1775. Uescr. aniinalium, pp. xii,
43x~ype locali ty , Djedda , Re3 sea) .
24 spccimens. 34 - 169 am. Onotoo.
LO; A III,9; P 14; lateral. line noales 47. (3 spe-
Jaws with cmine teeth anteriorly, large:: truncate
molariform teeth posteriorly. S:pecimens up to 39 rm in
standard length show no indication of moluriforru teeth.
The last tooth in the lower jaw of a 40 mil juvenile is
slightly enlarger?. In a 49 rm specimen this last lower
tooth is further enlarged mi! apically rounded, and teeth
in front of this tooth are enlarging. The small specir%ns
disulls a distinct ridr.e on the maxillary with about 10 to
L "
12 pointed denticulati&s along the top as seen in
Gn~ith:;ic;ntex. -. - .. -- la the lerge specimerlv of Monotaxis I-C this
ri.dg,,e is fl~ttsned and inconspicuous and tnedentlculstions
rounded and variously fused.
The color in life is variable, some ~;pecirnens being more
ielanistic than others and uurue Clispl.aring broad verticel
blacik bars dorsally on Lhe body which are completely absent
in others. The color of a 158 ran speclinen frorn ldy field
notes is as follows: greenish purp1.e dors-lly, .shadl.ng to
silvery on the sides and ventrally; a large black aren above
pectoral fin; interorbitai yellowish; snout, lips, and chin
blackish; dorsal, mal, and pectoral f Ins light red; caudal
fin light red except proxirial half of upper and lower lobes
which are yellowish orange; pelvic fins hyaline; axil of
pectoral fin black.
A striking color change in the young is apparent from ray
series of juvenile spcciwens. Spcciiaeris from 32 to 3'7 mro
are pale (light greenish dorsally in. life) with two length-
wise dark lines, the first runnirlg from slig,htly above center
of eye to upper base of caudel fin, and t.he second from
lower base of pectoral fin to lower base of caudal. fin:
there is a region of black pigment distally in the dorsal
fin between the second and sixth dorsal spines. A 40 mm
specircen is light brow11 with four broad black bars on upper
half of body, the second and. third of which extend up into
dorsal fin; a short vertical blackish line extends vectrally
fro& the middle of the lower edge of the eye. A 39 am
specimen exhibits intermediate coloration.

The juvenile specimens with the two lengtbwisf; darl; lines
were a11 collected fro12 around small coral beads in sacdy,
shallow lagoon and channel areas, Adults were taken f'rom
coralline areas of both, tho 1af;oon anti outer reef. Adults
wers conmoti. on the coralliferous terrfice of the outer reef.
.Cndiviauals several times larger than the lnriest specinen
tnken wore observe8. Kost species of reef l'isheo either
seek refuge in hol.es in the co~al or flee a considerable
distance when alarined by an approa ch.ing swimr.ier. ;loriotaxis 9
however, asually noves away froii~ an intruder vesy SEowl37 1.n
the di~ectio:: of clee;~:~:. w:?ter.
The gat cont znCs ol' tw specinens , 158 :ind "1.60 rnn in
standsrd length, were exemineci. These, cs:lsisted i:iail~ly of
the crushea shells of s.rfia11 ~ol.lusiis along with.. the rcr,mins
of siunll sea urchins. ..Considert.,ble ';iattoin debris was
present, as would be expected.
Lethrinus Cuvierl823. ~&p,ne.aninal~ ed.,2, vol. 2, p, 18L.
7~----
ppe species, 'Sparus ch~afi,rorbyndllus- Bloch and Schneider) .
~etbriaurs vsri.c?'~i;u.s
f
I.-.- -___

Lethinus - nebulosus
0
Scinena nebulosus Forskal 1775. Descr. aninaliur~i, pp. xii,
- 7 r ~ y p e
laxity, Arabia).
1 specimen. 2 2 1 . 2 specimens. 95 mu. Onotoa.
D X,y; A III,8; P 13; lateral line scales 48; scales
from lateral lim to base of middle part of spinous dorsal
fin 5 ( 5A in srnall specimens) , (3 speciinens) .
Length of snout 1.8 in head length; depth of body 2.7
in standard length; head 2.9 in standard length; least depth
of caudul peduiic1.e l.5 in snout; eye 2.3 in head length;
third anal spine us long as eye (proportional measurements
based on 225 lm specinen).
Color in life: light greenish on back; scales narrowly
rimmed with dark brown; faint longitudinal. stripes of
bluish and of orange; a inoderately prominent orenge longitu-
dinal band at level of' pectoral fin; head light greenish
yellow with b~ownish mottli.ngs; dorsal, and, and. caudal
rays with dark annulations.
The 225 rn specirflon was ttzker: in poison station VII; the
two small specimens were seined from the pond-like body of
water nearly enclosed in the northern part of the most
northern of the two principal :?lands of the atoll.
Lethrinus rhodopterus
Bleeker 1852. Nat. Tijdschr. Ned.-Ind.,
~?;e locality, ing gap ore).
13 speciuens. 50 - 158 ma. Onotoa lagoon.
1 specimen. 112 mu. Tarawa.
I) X,9; A IlI,8; P 13; lateral line scales L7 or 48;
scales from lateral line to ruirtdle of base of spiiious dorsal
fin 5. (2 cpecimens).
Length of snout 2 in head length; depth of body 2.6 in
standard length; length of head 3.2 in standard length.
Color in life of a 158 urn specinen which was speared in
about 7 feet of water over sand near a lagoon coral head:
light gray, each scale center a whitish spot; a large
blackish spot just below lateral line, nearly centered on
tip of outstretched pectoral; fins reddish, especially the
caudal on the posterior half of which there is a broad
irregular reddish band s which contains pale areas. Imedi-
ately upon being speared, the entire posterior half of the
fish became dark.

The stomach of the above specimen contained a siaall,
unidentif .led fi sh. The storuach contents of 10 specimens
frolli poison stntion V which measured 75 to 134 run in
standard length were examine&. One fish was en~pty, and the
others contained. small fishes which were probably eaten
followin$ their being killed or nearly so by the rotenone.
In addition to fishes one . indLviduai .
had previously eaten
an unidentified crustaceen.
.
-.-- Lethrinus reticulutus
-" -.-a-
Lethrihus' __-_ reticul&tus Cuvier md V~lenciennes lE3O. Xist.
nat. poi.ss., von6,n. 298. (Type locality,. New Guinea).
. .
Lethrinus -- moensii ~hther 1674. our . :vfus. coakrrroy, vols .
2-3, pts. 5-6, p. 64, p1. 46, fig. A. (Kingsmill islands).
. . . . . .
--
Letbrinus ramak : . . .
' . 6, ,'..

Color in life si1ver.y with 5 or 6 verticel lines of faint
orange spots in middle of sXde body. ,.
. .
' . .~kpth of body' cantdined 2.6 to 2.7 in 'standard length;
eye 3.6 in head length (with mouth not produced).
. ..
: . ~ 8
Gerres argyreus
. .
---- diobla "A. nrpyrea Bloch and Schneider 1801. Systena ichth.,
p. 34-11.. ('i'ype locality, Tanna Island and I'ecific Island).
.'Gerres ka 'as Fowler 1928. ::Xem. 13. P. Bishop Nus., vol. 10,
-2&aiang, Kingsmill ~slands) .
2 specimens. 97 and. 99 rm. Tarawa.
D IX,10; A III,7; P 15; lateral line scales tobase of
cau'dal fin 41; scales .fron: origin of dorsal fin to lateral.
-line 4 or 5; gill rakers '5-1-7.
Color in ulcohol dussy dorsally shading to light tan on
sides end ventrally; margln of' spinous dorsal dusky.
Depth of body contained 2.7 to 2.8 tines in standard
length; eye 2.7' in head length {with noubh not produced).
The. goatfishes are readily distinguished by.'their elon-
ghte bodice and pair of long barbels that originate on the
chin. These fishes are bottom-dwell&rs and ape usual.ly
founid over sandy areas. The barbels are normally Cirected
backward, butwhen. searching for food they are extentled
anteriorly and downvmrd into the sand. and !cept in rapid,
almost vj.bratory, motion as the fish swim forward.
The goatfishes were 'most comonly seen in the Lagoon at
Onotoa. The Gilbertese give eech species a different narae,
.a -fact. which reflects the v8lue of these fishes as food.
Ident if ikation of th6 Gi lb&t Island rx~llids WEIS rm de
with the assistance of Dr. Ernest A. Lachner.
Genus Ul)liNXJS
,
.
. ... . .
Upeneu~ Cuvier and ~alenciennes 1829. Hist. nat. pOissj,
~0173, p. 4./+8.- . (Ty$ . species, Mullug vittatus Forskdl).

- -.-
Uueneus arge
Dpeneus arge ~ordah and EverEiann 1903. Bull. U. S. Fish
Gown., vol. 22, 11. 187. (~ype locality, iionolalu) .
U~eneus,gr&e_ Lachner 1954. Proc. U. S. Nat. Xus., vol. 103,
p. 51t, pl. 14, fig. A.
, .
2 specimens. 235 and 270 ran. Onatoa.
1 specimen. 225 ram. Taraua.
9-VIII-I,9; B'I,~; P 14; lateral line scales 40 or 41.
.
(2 S~HC~LGCL~S)
Color in life: body light greenish dorsally, silvery
whits on sides arid. vcntrzlly, with 2 lengthwise orangeyello~w
lines from back of.head fobase of caufial fin (uppermost
of these two lines begirls a t level of eye and is
broader than tfi6 lower one which starts at axil of .peatoral) ;
5 narrow larigthwise orange lines oil, back above the 2 princip:?l
lines which break up !.nto spots in linear series
cnt eriorly on body ; .head wi.th numerous short irregular
ornnge lin6 dorsally, a pro.mineqt horizontal orange 'line
anterior to eye, and irregular orango-red blotches ventral
to eye and on opcr~luin; first dorsnl. fin with faht oranee
bands; secoud dorsal f1.n with 4 horizontal orange bands;
v.pper lobs or caudal fin ;sit% 7 dusky orange to black
horizontal bands; lower lobe of 'caudal fin with 5 such bands.
The two spechens were speared from a small school of
about six rapi*ily-s~~ii?u3ing individuals in the >,agoon in
bout 5 feet oT water over sand. . .
Thc stomach of the largest specimen was opened and found
to be empty.
Parupeneus Rleeker 1.863. Ned. Tijdschr. Dier$,, yol. 1;
p. 242. (Type species, Mullus trifssciatus Lacepgde) .
Parupeneus trifascia tus
-. ,-
iv~ullus --.- trifasciatus ~ac&p&is 1002. Bls't. nnt, poiss;, Y O ~ .
3, p p ~ ~ ~ ~ - pL. 4 015, 4 , fig'. 1.
. .
Upemus ~nultifasciatus Fowler 1928:Mem. B. P. Bishop Xus.,
vos. 10, p.. 228. (Kingsmill Islands) .
. .
17 specimens. 53 - 120 ma. Onotoa.

D VIII-9; A 7; P 16; lateral: line sceles 29. (2 speci-
mens ) . . .
Color from a 35 mi Kodachrom transparency white with a
vertical blac~ bar extending ventrally from anterior part
of' seconii dorsal fill, and another black bar on caudal
peduncle; a narrow dusky vertical bar between first and
second dorsal fins and a broad. dusky vertical bar beneath
first dorsal, fin; a short blackish band extending posteriorly
and slightly dorsally from just below middle of eye; snout,
lips, and. barbels pink; iris red; first dorsal. fin pele
pin!:; remaining fins faintly yellowish.
This is the nost omnipresent goatfish fit Onotoa.
, , .
The stomach contents of three smell specimens (54 to 55
mm) were examined. The fish had eaten amphipods, cope'pods,
ot!ler smell unidentified crustacea, and unidentified epgs .
:;urprisinp,ly, there was no inorganic sediment present.
Parupeneus barberinus
. Uullus barberinus ~acd$de 1802. Eist. nat. poiss., ~01. 3,
pp. 283, 1,06,1.. 13', fig. 3. (Type locality, near
Moluccas) .
1 specimen. 168 mu. -Tarawa.
.:
Color from 35 m iiodilchroc!s transparency of a 280 rn
specincn: a black band runking from just a'bove upper lip
tiirou&h eye along back to -'beneath rear base of second dorsal
fin; boCy above this band bright yellow, pelow white with
occasional small yellow spots; a, large round black'spot on
posterior part of caudal peduncle centered slightly above
midline; black bund- on head bordered ::vith blue; a reddish
violet patch on opercle; short irreguhrge>.l.ow lines on
head below black band; lips and lower part of head orange;
dorsal fins pale grayish lavender; ceudel fin lavender; anal
fin whitish; pectoral fins light c?us!ry yellow; pelvic fins
light orange; iris yellow excs~t s narrow rir?& next to pupil.
whichi is orange.
This species was fou.nd in s3nd.y area's of both .th& :.lagoon
and outer reef. . ,
, ~ .

\.
?JuIullus -- chryserydros Lncepede 1802. Eist. nat. poiss., vol.
3, BP. 384, 406.
5 specim~ns. 60 - 130 m. Onotoe.
D VIIS-9; il 7; P 17; lateral line scales 17. (2 spechens) .
Color in.lkfe of 611 of the Onotoa specimens e.ntirely
bllight yellow. X. A. 1.achner (Ms) is unable to separate
this ye1lc:v f om rfieristically or otherwise from the usual
I?. chryrer:;drcYs and therefore ooasiders it a color phase.
- -.-.- -
Beceuse of its yellow color, this species nss easily
spotted underister. It was seen in both lagoon and outer
reef areas; however it was not comr:~~.
-- ~1eurosti.gfaa
Parupeneus - pleurostip,ma
'Qxaeirs -.- Bennett 1831. Proc. 2,001. Soc. London,
v~i, 1, :.?. 59 . Ty'p locality, Xfeuritius) .
TJpeneus plenrost! . - . -. ma Fowler 1928. Xem. B. P: Bishop 14us. ,
vol?L0, p. 2:l.T~bemane, Gilbert Islands) .
~~ulloidichthys -- '::hitleg 1929. Rec. Australian Mus. ,;v?l. 17,
p. 1-e species, Xullus' -- flaveolinentus ,--.--.-. Lacepede) .
Mulloides - sunloensis ~8ntlner 1874, Jour, Mus . .Codeffroy, vols.
m, pts. 5-6, p. 57, pl. h.3, fig. B. (Type locality,
Apia, Samoa ) .
8 specimens. . .80 - 145 uxl. Onot~a.
3 specinens. 90 - 193 nil. Tarawa .
2 specimens. 70 and 71 ran. Nukunsu.
D VII-9; 6 7; P 17; lateral line scales 37; gill rnkers
27 and 28. (2 specimens ) .
Color in alcohol lignt brown, the edges of the scales
slightly darker, with a blac!.cish spot, about half the size
of the €.ye, on side of body at level of the first dorsal ?in
just below the lateral line; peritoneun black; a dusky spot
on inside of opercle.

A11 of the Onotoa specimens were obtained from relatively
shallow sandy areas of the lagoon. The species. is abundant.
Mull.oidichthys (auriflama?)
MU~lus - auriflama ~orskil 1775. Descr. aninaliw, pp. 10,
F ( v p e locality, Red Sea).
1 specimen. 78 m~. Onotoa.
Color in lire: a bright yellow band from eye to upper
base of caudal fin, bordered. above and below by narrower
blue bands,; upper blue band eniis below posterior part of
anal fin; region below low@r blue band yellowish, shnd.inp,
to white ventrally; dorsal fins dusky yellow; anel, caudal,
and pelvic fi.ns bright yellow; pectoral fins light yellow:
no black spot was visible on the side.
This small specinen has beeii given t~ Dr. Lachner who is
still not certain of the identification. He counted 30 gill
ra~cers.
The smcimen cvos speared in a Thalassia fl-at area of the
lagoon.
. . . Shavi ) .
1829. ~dgnc oniraal., ed. 2, vol, 2, p. 175.
11ernpheri3 touea Cuvier = sparus? compressus
Penpheris oualensis
Psmpheris oualensis Cuvier 2nd Valenciennes 1831. Hist. nat.
poiss., vol,. '/, p. 299. (Type looality, Oualan).
Pempheris mngule Ghther 1873. Jour. 1.1~s. Godeffroy, vol.
2, pt. 3, p. 102, pl. 59, fig. B. (Kingsmill islands).
& speciuler!s: 1 - 1 . Onotoa.
..... . .
n VI,9; A III,L+O. to L3; P 17; lateral li.ne scales 65 or
66; gill rakers 29. (3 specimsns).
color froril 35 m Kodacfirorna transparency, irovdnish silver;
a bluck spot at; base of pectoral fin; dorsal fin yellowish
.brown with anterior edge broadly black; aria1 fin yellowish
..,. ,

own, blaci: anteriorly and at base;.. caudal fin base and
uyner and lower lobes dark brown, rest of fin yellowish
brown.
This s3eCies was taken in surge channels and, outer reef
terrace near the entrance to surge channels. It is very
secretive, being ssen only in recesses in thereef during
the day. I suspect that it may be a nocturnal fish. The
large eye supports this contention.
, . . Family p@ij\CZ?:pcTTJ+r::
. .
The dame1 fishes are usually small and often vividly
'colored. As a group they are chsrecterized chiefly by havit?~
., a sicgle r,os txil' on each side of the snout. They' were well.
rerresented at Onotoa, both in nuraber of specks and abur:dance
of? individuals. %ost species exhibit distinctive
hai;:tat prefermces; they usually take cover in interstices
in coral or holes in the reef (or, in the well-known case of
r -.. , in sea anenomes ) upon approaching Cringer. The
Gil.bf;rl;ese general narce for pomacentrids is -- te reibu.
Key to the 9mcies of T'omecentridae
Recorded fron the Gilbert Islnnds
...
lo. Dorsal s3ines X or XI; scales siiiall., about 50 >;sca,le row.:
fro:ii upper edge of gill opening to base of caudal fin;
body with 2 or 3 vertical pale bars (light blue in
life) i 2
lb.
.................... ..............................
XIJ; smI.es not sma7.l., 30 or fewer
scale rows from upper edge of gil.1 opening to base of
caudal fin; body withput.. 2 or 3 vertical pale bars.. .
3
~. Dorsal SPII.I.&R X I1 r ) ~
.....................................................
2a. Body, at least in adults, with 2 vertical pale bars;
one on .head running from nupe behind -eye to suboperole
and interoperc1.e and the other, noticeably narrower
(covering 2 to 4.5 laterel line scales), located in
middle of body, and lacking an upper .portion extend-
.ing obliquely backward on unscaled part of the dorsal
fin; next to last dorsal spine cantiiinsd 1.2 to 1.4.
tines in longest dor~al spine'; ca~xlal fin unifornly . .
pale.. ........................... .Amphi.pin -- bici,nctus
2b. Body (at leust in Gilbert Islands specimens) with 3
vertical pale bars, one on the head as in 28, the
second nearly as broad (covering 6.5 lateral line
scales!, locatkd in middle of bodg and exteiiGi.n(i,
obliquely backward to outer ed{!e of dorsal fili., and
the third or &udai peduncle; next t~ last dor~til
spine contained nearly 3 times in the leneth of tiie
longest dorsal spine; ct%~.d.al f3.n with 8 large, circular
centrs-posterior dusky area.. .... ..Acipllipr!.or. sclm
-- --

..........................................
38. Teeth in front part of jaws conics!., usaally wellseparated..
4
3b. Teeth in front part of jaws not conical, at least sornewhat
coiiipressed, arld usually close-set ............. .10
422. 30dy deep, the greatest depth contained l.5 to 1.7
times in standard length; suborbital evident exter-
nally end serrateu; preopercie serrated.. .......,....f,
4b. 3ody not dee~, the greatest depth contained more than
2 times in standard length; suborbital not evident
externally or poorly-defined end lecking serratio~l;
preopercle not serrated (except in - C. Ispidolepis) 6
.............................
...
5a. Body pals with 3 broad verticel black bars; caudal fin
forked.. Dascyls aruanus
5b. Body dark, without vertical bars, and with a pale spot
in middle . just . , . above laterai line. (mare evident in
young) ; caudal fin truncate or slightly emrginate.. .
.Jjzs3cyllus trimaci~letus
...............................
6a. Xach body scale with 1 to 3 small., basal, auxiliary
scales; edp.e of pr eopercle serrat,ed; region. f ron
nostril to ur;per lip scaled. .Chroro.is l.epii!ol~pis
......
6b. 30 basal. auxiliary scales present; edge of preopercle
snooth; narrow region from nostril. to ut~per lip
naked ................................................ 7
70. 1306:~ more or less uniforu brown in color (blue-green in
life) without zharply-contrnsi;i~~g ri~arici~~gs; secor~d
d0rs~l spine the longest; dorsal and anal soft rays
9 or 10. ............................. Chro~nis caeruleuc;
7b. Body not uniforr~ light brown and with distinctive dark
snd light contrasting imri:ings; riiiddle dorsal spirles
the longest; dorssi ai;d anal :;oft rays 11 or 12..;.,-,8
ea. t'pper and lower lobes of caudal fin dark bro!wn; scales
on anterj.or l/3 of iiiterorbital sFac6 and dorsall;?
on snout very small,. about 1/8 the S~ZO of those in.
the inid-interorbital rezion; basal third of pectoral
.fin pnle (yellow in iife), outer portion of fin with
rays dusky, menbranes clenr. ....... .Ch.romir; - xa.athochir
8b. Upper arid lower lobss of cuuual fir, pale like rest of'
fin or very slightly dusky; sca!.es on anteyi.or 1/3 of
interorbital space anddsrsally on snout not markedly
srualler thafi nore post~rior scales; basal third of
pectoral fin not paler. tlpn re.r~oin?er of f1.n.. ...... .y
ya. posterior part of body abruptly p:~lt? (whitein life and
'in, shary, con.tr~st to remainder of' body vihich is dark
. .
-

', ,
. .
....
brown) in a ve

15a. Dorsal fin rays XII, 15 to 18; anal soft rays 13 to,
15....... ........................................... 16
168. Body and fins yellowish white with no distinctjve
pigmented filarkings (exceot anterior 2/3 of eye which
is blackish). ................... ~~budefduf imparipennis
16b. Body brown or dark brown with distinctive pigmented .
markings. .markings .markings .markings .markings .markings .
17
17a. ~'ve&ical pale (pink in life) bass on body (a 5th is
.present at base of caudal fin but is not rendily
. visible due to caudal. being pale); a broad black bar
on caudal. peduncle.. ........... .Abudefduf phoenixensis
. - -
17b. No vertical pale bars on body; caudal peduncle paler
than rest of body and without u black bar...........18
18%: ~ody 'light brown with a broad vertical. black bar on
side at level of 2nd to 6th dorsal soft rays; no
spots on body; dorsal. soft rays 17 or 18..............
....................................... Abudefduf - dicki
lgb. 3ody very darii brown with no .vertical black bar; small,
pale (blue in life) spots widely scattered on body;
dorsal soft rays 15 to 17 (usual.ly 15 Or 16). .........
.Abudef:?uf lacrymatus
...................................
l9a. h round black spot at upper .edge of base of caudal fin;
a bluish .(.br,ight ,blue in .life) line passing from
snout through upper edge of eye and widwing to a
bail& along back adjacent to spirious dorsal fin; a
large black spot at base of last 2 dorsal spines..
..................................
....
Bbu.defu leucopornus
. .
l9b. KO black spot at upper edg.e of base of caudal. fin; no
blue line from snout through eye to base of spinous
dorsal (except young of A. glaucus and .possibly -also
biocellatus); a black spzt may or may not be present
at base of last two dorsal spines.. .20
................
20a. Body light brown or gray (bluish gray in life); margin
of anus blaclc and contrasting with light color of
body.. ................................ Abudefduf glaucus
20b. Body brown or dark brown; anus not black (if dark, not
contrastine with rest of body)... ................... 21
21a. A large '~hite elliptical spot on operculum;' basul 1/3
of caudal fin black and contrasting wi.th cdud.al
peduncle and outer part of caudal,-Pin which are pale;
a vertical pale bar usually wesent in rniddle of
body; dorsal and. anal sof* rays 12.. . .Abudefduf amabilis

21b. ITo white spot on operculun; basal. 1/3 of caudd. fin
not black; a verticcl paLe bar way or may not be
present on side of bodg; dorsal end anal soft rays
13 (rarely 12) ........................ . .,......... .22
/.. '
2273. A black spot at Sass of la.st 2 dorsal: '&i.nc;s; a :;@con&,
smaller, bhck spot' at base of' last 2 or. 3 dorsul
. . . . , . .soP'tray s; a vertical pule bar usually not present
on side of body.. ............... .Abudefdl~.f - - biocellatU.:j
22.b. No b1.uc.k spot .r,t base 'of last 2 dorsnl. spines; no 'black
. . ". : .spot zt base or last few dorsd soft rays; a verti-
...... cal pale. bar usually present on side of 'body., . , . . , . . ,
. .
. . .
. . . . : .........,..... ;; ..................... ..b.bud.efdu? zonntu:;
..'
- -- ---
,. . " .
234. Eors~l
....
spines XII; om rou of' teeth in each jaw.. .2L;
231). Uorsul. snines XIIT; t7ig0 rows of teeth in each jaw, the
iniier close1.y. applied to the outer (each inner toot!.\
shorter ~nd. rlarrowcr with t3.p in interspace betwee.n
2 outer teeth) ...................................... 28
. . 24s. Prsorbihl. large, its width r;iec~sured from eye toward
?ictus about equal to eye diameter; no. blnci: spot ,at
base of' la& fe~w do~sal rays or dor::al&l .on criuda:.
peduncle; no dark brown or black spot nt u;jpc;r base
. . . . of pecio~al fin., ... ;. .,.......... .T'omacentws -- liviiius
24b. 1:'reorbital not large, its v?idth neasured from eye toward
rictus contained about 2 tims in diameter of eye; a
black spot at base of last .,few dorsal rays or dorsally
...
. oil caudal. peduncle; a 'dnrk brow or block spot at
upper bas6 of pscborLal fin... ....................... .%5
25n. ii block spot mid-dorsally on caudal pedunclg, not
touching dorsal fin rays; rest of body and fins
pale (byignt yellow in life) except for a anall
...................
black spot nt extreme upper edge of 'p6ct;oral i'in
and. blac!,; anus.. .Poma.centrus iiureus
--.---- --
25b. Xo black spot :did.-dorsally on caudal ptsdunc&e ( a spot,
'if preser~t, at base of lsst .few ctolsal. rays!an.d
extending only narrowly on caudal ~~eduncle); ' body
and fins brown to dark brown (except pa1.e ~hase of
nigrican2, in which case, anu.s not blac!~) ....... .;. .26 , .+
26a'.' Anal soft rays 12; dbrea~ soft ray:; 14. or 1.5; lobes
of . caudal fin pointed; snout scnled to 'lkvel. of'
nostrils.. ..................... - I'omcentrur; - albof~~~i~t119 -
26b. Ann1 soft rays 12 to lb (rerely 1.2); dorsal soft rays
15 to 17: lobes of caudal fin pointed or rouridcd: ,
snout scale8 slight1.y beyolig .lev& of nosLrils,. . , . .2tf

27a. Black spot at axil of soft dorsal fin preceded by a
prominent pale area; anal soft rays 12 or 13 (rerely
13); pectoral rays 20 to 21. {usu.ally 20); lobes of
caildal fin pointed.. .Poaacerrtrus eclipticus
...........
-- - ----
27b. f31ack; scot at axil. of soft d-orsel fin not preceded by
a pale area; anal soft rays 13 or 14; pectoral rays
18 to 20 (rarely 201; lobes of caudal; fin rounded..
.................................
...
--..-- PI)inacents.nlgricans -
28a. Body slim, depth contained 2.5 to 2.8 in standard
'7
length.; dorsal soft rays 13 or 14 ..~9
.................
....
28b. aody not sliro, depth contained 1.8 to 2.1. in standard
length; dorsal soft rays 14 to 17 (rarely 14). ,.30
29a. Anal soft rays 13 (rarely 14); 5ody light brown (.blue
in 3.ifc1, only slightly .darker dorselly then ven.trslly;
a prominent black spot 811 opercle, as large or larger
than pupil.; depth. of body 2.5 to 2.6 r.n 'standard
length ................................ P~)idace.ntrus pavo
_--.I_ id-
29b. Anal soft rays 15; bodg very dark brown (bright hl.uo in
life) except caudal pduncle anil ventrally near anak
fin which is abruptly ale (bright yellow in life);
a mall black spot on opercl-e, srna1.ler tiion pupil.
(difficult to see because of dark color of body);
depth of bodg 2.6 to 2.8 in stsndard length..
.Pomoe~~t~ru.s coe1.iktj.s
................................ -
..........
30a. A large black ocellatfid spot at base of 7th to 11th
dorsal soft: rays;. body light brot;m (blue i n life)
with small dar~;'brown spots on ~3caI.e~ fxxiinc, aottnd
lines on head and bsd.y ; a hook-like ventral. projection
anteriorly on suborbital; anal soft rays 15 or 16;
pectoral rays 17 or 18 .Poiaa~~?ntru~i vaiu11.
.............
30b. Ko large blzck ocellated spot in soft dorsal fin; body
dmk brown with lawer half of each scale roara?irl still.
duker, resulting in near-vertical linrs on body;
no hook-like projection on suborbital; anal !::aft rays
12 to 11,; pectoral rays 20 or 2l..Poa1acontrus jea.kinsi
-
Ah~~hiyrion Block and Licimeider 1801. Systema ichth., p. 200.
pipe specios, Lutjanus ephippiuia Bloch) .
Amphipxion bi cinctus -
ArophLprion bicinctus -.- ~I?ppel1
Fische des Hothen ivieeres, p. 133, pl. 35, fig. 1. (Type
locality, Red Sea).
-
It
1828. Atlas Reise nord. Afrtkn ,

, .
2 specirriens. 76 nnd 55 rm. Onotoa.
1 specinien. 67 mi. Iiutsrj-teri.
Color fron? 35 rm !.tod.achrsone transparency: body dar!: brovri,
orange-yellow v~ntral'l~ oil chest and abdomen; head anterior
to eyc end a1 l firis 'orange-yellin~, only
2 intc-ral. Line scales in width, cad, ex.c.e.pt. .at ths eads, of
tibout uni.f.'orm width;. the cnuc?sl gei?li;?cl.e i.s dark brown.; the
sof'i dorsal raps r;am!ier 15; the p~r-o)+rculnr i:irrein is
se:.rri te. 111 the other tilt occ , )-" A . ~ .vertical bar is broader
(I+ 1t:ternl line scales i!l 2i%cltL1.) ail6 nurrwer ventrally;
the caudal periuncle is largt:.ly ;:?If?, esnocial.ly ventraJ.ly;
tihe do:.sal soft rays number 17; the mrgin of the nreopercla
i:; rsmcoth. One xould suspect thf;se di;:fe.rences to be of a
spec.if.ic level weye it 1:ot f'or the spcimc:n fro.% Butaritari
which is intermediate in all of thcse c.i?.aractets e.~(:ept the
secoud pale blus vertical bar which is L+;% li!twal line
scales in width i3n& gradually mrrowvs as it. zrocseds
ve.n tr:i LLy.
Yhe Largest sp~cimen was speared iil f~!on 35 to /,&I feet
01 water on the'out6r i;eci'reei' bench just as it was etltering
a large sea anenoiie. The other Onotoa specimen was brought
ii'r by a GiLbertese boy with no data as to locality. The
spcii:iea from Iiutaritari was speared in quiet water of about
5 feet in depth on the sea reef on the lee side of the etoll.
'3
migrion gebae Dleexer 1853. Nat. Tijdschr. Red.-Indie,
vol. 4, p. 478; 1677, Rtlas ichth., vol. 9, pl. bOO,
fig. 9. (Typs locality, Satavia, ~ave). . .
. .
1 spe cinen.. 1 I . 0110 toa .
Color in life dark yellow brown shading to yellow-orange
on head anterior to eye and ventrally on chest and abdomen;
body with 3 vertical lig>lit purplish-blue bars edged in
black (the first; este.ndi.ng from nape to operc~lum as in
A. - - bicinctus; the second, 6; lateral line scales in yidth
and ilarrower vantrally, in niddle of body end on dorsal fin
fron 9th dorsal spine to first dorsal soft ray; tho th8.S::
reaching, 2/3 the ?a:? dom OR caudal paduncle) : OEU-~H!. Pin
yelloworange with a large round dusky patch i n centvoposterior
jzrt of fin; dorsal fin yellow-orange except

posteri.or part of soft'dorsal which is dusky orange; pectoral,
pelvic, and anal fins'yellow-orange; 811 fins except pecto-
ral with a very narrow blac!~ margin. . .
The speciqen was securedwith rotenone in the Onotoa
!lagoon in a sandy region iyit;ki occasional patches of coral
rubble at a &pth of 5 feet. , Before being poisoned it was
observed to be in cl.ose associati.o.n with'n sea anenome of
about 5 inches in tiiamter (when expanded).
'There is a specimen of this species i.n the ~1shop ~~u~unc?uu,
Honolulu, bearing the label , Apiang, Gilbert Islands.
Genus DRSC'ILLUS
- Dascyllus Cuvier 1829. R&& onimal, vol. 2, p. 179. (Type
species, -.- Chnot odon -.---- aruanus Linnaeus) .
-- Daseus -- --- aruanus
Chaetodon aruanus Linnaeus 1758. Syst. net., ed. 10, p. 275.
' T i o c a l i t y ,' Indies) .
23 specimens. 10 - 45 am. Onotoa.
2 specinens. 38 and 46 m. Tarawa.
Colw in lire white with 3 broad near-vertical black bars,
one running from nape through eye to chin, the second from
regio.2 of 5th to just beyond 8th iiorsal spines passing downward
under ectoral fin, and the third from base of 12th
dorsal spine and renainder of dorsal fin (except distal. ends
of 14st few soft dorsal, rays) vertically downward to anal
fin (the last 2 bars interconnect distsl.ly in the spfnous
dorsal fin); pecLoral and caudal fins white; pelvic and anal
fins (except extreme ti~s of. last, anal rays) black.
All of the Onoto3 speci:ilens weFe obtained. from coral areas
of the lagoon. Xany were collected merely by breaking off
s;uall coral heads, removing the coral from water, and picking
the little fish out with forqeps.
. . . ..... . .,
- ---
Pomncentrus trimaculatus Rdppell 1828. Atlas Relse i m n8rd.
Afrika, Fische des Rothen Meeres p. 39, pl. 88, fig. 3.
(Type .locality, Massnua ; Red 3ck j .'
1 speciruen. 106 mrr,. Onotoa.
. . . .
Color inlife dark purplish brown b~coming orangish in
extrecie ventrol region, with centers of scales whitish; a

white spot on side just above lateral line at the level of
the 8th dorsal spine, th.is spot Tnding u.non desth of the.
specimen; spinous portion. or 3orsal Tin purplish brown with.
a row of' gellow spots, one per interradial cier:!br-me; bsaal
half of soft dors9l fin purplish brown, outer half with.
membranes clear,' ray3 brown: anal, pelvic, and. caudp? fins
dusky orange, nnrrowly dark brown nt.margir:s; pectoral. fin
hgali~ie. ,'
Tk~e single specimen seen was speared on tine coralliferous "
terr~cs of tile outer reef ot an estimated depth 03: 35 feet.
------
.. ,
Genus ClJiO.~.iiS
Chr:>i;iis Cu-~ier 1815. ldm. Nus. I3.st. Not. Parj.s, voi. 1,
p. 393. (Type species, Sparus chrsmis Linnaeus) .
Chroc1.i~ lepidol epis
-.---- Chroui s lepidolc ---+ )is T)lee&er .' 187'7. V ~rsl. Aka:t. iiriisterdam,
.,. ..
voi. 10, p. 3 .'j;--Atlas icb.th., vol. 9, pl. 403, fig, 2.
(Type localit?, TiimP, &st Indies). ' .
.. .
Dascyllus PI;-.---_,
o..nac?ntroides &ndall and . Goldr,borou.~~:h
. 1.311. Kc';.cn.
~hfus. Coiiip. ZaoL., v0.L. 26, p. 298, pl. .ij, f?g. 1.
(Nitaritari) . , .
2 specinens. 4l anC 44 cm. Onotoa.
.,. , . .
Color after 3 days in. forrnalin: dark brown dorsalSy,
lighter bmwo on sides and ventrally; sce2.e~ with narrow
dark bxovr.:~ margins; dorsal end anal fins dark brown, uaie
posteriorlg a very dnr:~ brown len~,ttiwise band in each lobe
of' eeudni fln.
The 2 &pcii?ens were obtain& in the' Onotoa lagoon very
close to. the west reef in an area containie$ nnumerous coral
heads.
-
-- -
Chroumis caerulaus
, .
Halisses caeruleus Cuvier an& Vdlenciennes 1830'. Hist. nat.
poiss., voi. 5, p. 497. (Type locality, i!ew Gu.inea and
Ulea) . . . . . . . , . . , . ,
~$liastes - 1epid.u~~ ~lfnther; l$@. Tour. Mus. Godeffroy,
vol. 7, pt. 15, p. 238, pl. 1-28, Ties. C & I). (Xi1lg~i2ill
Islands) .
Chromis caeruleus Kendall and, Goldsborough 191.1.
. . Xenl. JvJue.
Conp. ZoBl., vol. 26, p. 299. (Butarlthri).
. . .
'
. .

12 specimeas. 27 - 64. m1. Onotoa.
3 specimeas .. , :32 - 57 m. Tarav~a. . .. .. .
Color fsorn 35,rxfl Ko6:achroms transparency: fiorsal. helf of
body light .blu.e-green, $hacling to white on ventral hell";
dorsal and anel Pins bluish; baso-central portion of caudal
fin blue-green, {

a unique feature, for they appear in Rleeker's plate of . .
C. xsnthochir nnd were seen in some of the types of C. weberi. --
TheTnotoa specimen is very meimistic, but the earl~-edges
to the scales are visible in it ss well. Gltkough the type
of C. scotociiilopterus -. was not seen, specinens fponj the
~lbstrose collectioiis in the U. S. %tionti1 Nuseum which
were identified by Fowler as s~otoc1ij.lopterti.s appear, to be
- C. xenthochir . C. ternat'ensis (A1ee;:er) is d'i ,?tinct -or1 the
. ,
basis of 12dor~;l spines $nd n deeper body.
. . . .
. . .
---- ------
-- Chroxis dirrridiatus -
Heliostes dimidiatus Klunzinger lEr?1. Verk. zool. bot. Ges.
Yien, vol. 21, p. 529. (Type local.it~7, Red' Sea).
---- Chrornis -.-- 1eucuru.s Gilbert 1905. Bull. U. 5. Fish Conn. 23,
pt.. 2, p. 620, pl. 77, fig. 2.
22 specimens. 36 - 50 ram. . Onotoa.
. .
: Coior in life dark chocol.ate brown with portion of body
end fins pcr;terIorto a vertical level at besi: of the 7th
soft d51's~i rtiy abru-ptly white; a JaYgs r0u.n.d .bla.ck~$pot at
. -
base .of pe.ct;,oral fin.
Wi.t.h the exception of C. I-
cacrbkeun this speoj.es: of
f
----- Chronis was the inost abunzant at Oriotoa. ~ll speoi~~iens were
secured with rotenone on either the lagoon or sea side of
the west or lee reef of the atoll.. .. .
Ifales of the species have larger teeth than thefemales.
... . . . . .
In Hawaii C. - leucurus Gilbert has bken 'consi.itr?red di'itinct
by some authors. The demarcation between the anterior dsrk
wnd posterior pale parts of the body occurs 'just behind the
. . basd of the last dorsal wnd anal rays; and the body color
in general is lighter (though variable). 'Counts of the soft
dorsal says are 13 and those of the anal'usually 13;
nectoriil ruys are 17 or 18, The distinction, therefore, is
2.
. very ninor, ~ml the npedies in Hawaii. should perhaps be con-
sidered only u vuriety or subspecies of dimidiatu..;.
', .
. ' C.. iomelas Jordan and 9enJ.e f rora Samoa uny , however, be a
. - valid species with the division of ehe ,dark and light parts
of the body occurring at the level .or the 6th or 7th d.orsal
spines and the fi.11 ray ,counts, :as given by Jordan 'and ';€ale,
being 11 for the soft dorsal and 12 for the anal fins.
. .
. .
Chromis operculmi s
-
Keliaste:: operculhris ~hther i. :plagfa.r and Gznther 1866
-7.
rlshes of Zanzibar, p. 84, pl. 1.1, fig. 2.
5 specimens. 45 - 88 mil. Onotoa.

Color in life bfawa, with edges of scaLes slightly darker
than conters; a vertical, very dark brown .line at preopercular'
aper time; anothm lhe , - equakly broad and derk, running
from upper edge of gill opening $5 dorsal 6dge of base of
pectoral fin and contiiiuous v$itb derk axil of 'pectoral fin
and a cLrved dark line at ths latcral base of the fin;
d6rsa1. and anal fins dark brown except posterior rays which
ure.abruptly pale; caudal peiluncls and caudal fir, paler than
rgot of body. The caudal ree.iol? Ls iaarkedly and abruptly
pale in the three large specicwr (over 77 m long) and
sugge:;tive oP - C. - diruid iatus coloration.'
All of the specii.nens of the ppecieS were taken in one
locality at Unotoa, the lagoon side of the wst reef in an
e~;timt~d 10 Feet of siatesl - ..
.. . .
. .
The 0noto~ ' sp~c.?.rr,ens difrer frorn.: ~flnther s f igure and
descziytiorl in:l:.;cklnij, my dark spot on th€- c.au@dil fin r,ays.
. ,
C. opercularis' :is veq closely related to 'C. 'xa.~lthurus
Bleeker which.-abparsntly lacks the d m lixes ~ on,tbe edge . . . . ' ...
of' the pr eopercle and opercle. . .
- --.
. . .,. . '! ;/
'. . , ,. . , ~, <
. .
: ,.
. . . ..
., . Genus ABuD]$Y,L;ITF , .. .
0
- ~bu-derhuf Forsktil 1775.. Jle~.cr..,ani~al.iui~; p. 59. (Type
species ,'-Chaetodon -- sordi& Forskai.) .
-- -
.. .
,
. . . :
0
Chaetodon sordidus .Forskal1775., Descr . anlmalim, p. 6.2.
nype locality, Ujedda, ,Red Sea). .,
2 specimens. 130 and 140. m. Onotoa.
Color from 35 m,ICodachr~me , tra.:?sparency light brownisn
gray with 6 verticai"blacicish:~rown bass on body, the firr;t
just postercbr: to: heed. and. the lust . . or, caudal peduncle;
centers of scales paler. .tb:8n. edges.; upper pa~t of., &i.ti.cal
bar on caudal peduncle black; fins dusky, the basal .half of
caudal, soft. dorsal, and anal ,fins darker than outer half ;
eve " bluish.
. . .!,. .
. , ' $he two spec'iinefis' of; '8budefd.uf - kr?lidu$ w& ccbllected
' ,frors. a surge: channel on. the ..a.ut er reef, one 'with the use of
.rotenone and the other by. a. ~i;lb.'er.~ese .man Who caught,' - it with
. book hnd.' :line using herdt crib for bait. . . .
.. ,. : . .
. .
The stomach contents oi' one adult specimen consist6d
primarily of greens algae. . . .
.I
. ,. ..: :
. . . .
. , , . ,
. .
., , . . ...
, .. .
. .
i .:

Gly hisodon sept emfnnciatu~ Cuvier and Valenciennes 1830.
*. poiss., vol. 5, p. 463. (~ype locality,
Wauritiuu) .
kbudefduf --,- seDtefifasc~atus Kendall and Qoldsborough '1.911.
IVI~I?. Mus. Coup. Zool. vol. 26, p. 295. (Rutaritari).
. .
3 specimens. 120 - 134 ma. 2 spec.i~i1ens.. L'T and
17 urn. Onotoa. . . ..,
1 specimen. 13% ran. Tarawa.
. . . .
Color in life of adult specinens dusky white with.'a.faint
ycllowisln cast; ,6 vertical browilish bars on body similar' to'
those of sordidus, but no spot on dorsal part of caudal
peduricle.. TIhe uI>l!per part of the third and .fourth vertical
bars is a little 'darker, however, a;)pearin(< 'as ifidistinct
dark spots) ; nedian fins dusky, 1ishG gelloTif&h brawn dista1l.v
except ends of caudal lobcjs which are tuintly blackish;
.jectosal rays lighb dusky yellow. The juvenile specimns
imve a jet black saddle dorsally on the caudal peduncle an6
a large black spot in the front pert oS the dorsal. fin.
The 15 ur~d 17 mm speciuens were talken from.an inshore
tide pool on the outer reef flat. On& .~.dult was col3.ect.ed
from a surge chc\nnel, another from a Heliopora flat in a
shallow chanael, and the last was s e i x by Gilbertess from
the bn ck ridge trough . .). . . .
The stornach contents of two aduit spegi@e.ns fxm Onotoa
wep6 exmilled. They were erit ir ely algal, . &ii:?cily the
fine corwlline red, Jania.
. .
. . . . .. . .
.
. ....
Chavtodon snxatilis Linnaeus 1758. Oyst. nut., ed. 10,
P* 276 . (Type locality, Ind.i:i) .
. ,
. .
2 specimens. 102 and 110 ma.
. .
Onotoa.
Color in life blue-green with 5 vertical bluish black bars
on the body,; :tn& firstfrom origin of dorsal to axil of'
pectjrcl fin, the iourth from posterior - part of dorsal fin
alioost to posterior.xirt of anal fin, and the last, a
narrowe13 bar, at end of caudal psduncle;. all fin.s cxcept
pectol:al blackish; .pectoral ilynline, rays slightly dusky.
iibudefduf saxatilis was seen in only one location at
Onotoa. tile corelliferous terrace of the outer reef uirur:l.lv
near tile entrance to surge charnels. It was not abun~ant."
The two specimens were speared with dil'fl.cul.ty due to wwi-
ness of individual fish.
.,.

. ,
The clasely-related A. ahd~mill~li~ of the Eawaiian ,
. Islands invades riany hn6itats and 5.3 much .:nor;e coimon. 'It
differs 'from saxatiiis i'g having '13 or .14 dorsnl and anel.
soft rc.ys, tha fourth dark Hal'.on thc body originnting at
the baae of the first l'ewdorsnl soft rays (instead of 1.ast
f+w), find i n devel.opin& in $dultn a. large blackish spot
basally at the posterioy p&rC of th-e clorsn!:and anal 'fins
(and conco~umitailt loss of the verticr-11 blacir, btir) .
Another similar species ,is A. sexfascia ttis. Althbuc;h not
seen in the Gilbert IslBnds;, I'-~ould~%?~t to accur there.
This spciss can be distinguished by the darx uuper and lower
lobes o< the caudal fLn and 29 vertical scale rows.
Abudofduf ----.. -.-- curn oao
hadt to don curacao Uloch ,1787. Natur. ausdiid. Fische, pt. 3,
p. 106,,,p1. 21.2, fig. 1. (Type locality, Curacao Iskand,
off Venezuela.,' posc!ibly an error) . . .~.
. . .. ,
Abudcf'duf curacao Powler 1928. ;$&I. B. 1:. Bisho; Nus., vol.
10, p. 3x8, flc. 55. (Kin~sn~ill Islands).
. . . . . .
Although 'no jr,eci&$ns of this speci.es.,were 6i$l.:lea.ted.,,. it
was commonly se'en 2n'Eh6 sh'R'1:~o~~'w~ter of Lbd 'oi\$.er part of
Lhe seeward reef f ].at;. It wns never observed .id ^t%de~!ools.
, .
. .. . .
Abudefduf phoenJxensis *.
A-budefdqf phoenixeiisi~s.5chult z 1943. Bull.. U. S. Ns t . Mus.
190 , l'Tpn. (.Type locality , Eiider bury Ipl-cind.,
,., .' . .
. "Etioenlx Isl'~n(1s) .:
.. .
. . . . . .. .
. "fm.
Color in alcohol, brown with '5 vertical pale bars on bofiy
and ciiudal. pedu~icle .( these bdrs recklled 88 2inicish in li?e ) ,
' the flrst runnin[;from napeon to opercle, the second origi-
, . natiii(; at; base ,of 5th dorsal spine, tlic third nt base of . .
last dorsnl, sy;+ik: a'n&.::fi.r4$, tiorsnl soft ,rq:! (the s'ecmcd and :. , : .
. . ... .
thlr.d bars Bxtend,.a. ,,skort"iil'~t~j~.ce
.. . .int5 eorsal fin,
. .
parelleli.n;, direcL1on of fin rc~g~s) , Lhe 'fourth and. fifth
adiahent t:, a brjad v&rticr:l bleck bar o'h'coudzj: ps~1uncl.e;
base and axil of pectoral fin dark brown; dorsal ~ind anal

fins dark brown; an indistinct blackish spot at upper,
posterior part of soft dorsal fin; caudal. fin pale yellowish:
pectoral fin hyaline; pelvics ble ckish.
A. hoen nix ens is, appears to' be restricted to the outer
' re&? flat near 'surge channels. It was only occesionally
seen.
- .
. .
Abudefduf iicki
mhisodon dl ckii ~i&ard 1839. I)ixi&me Eapp. Soc. Zist .
Nut. Maurice, p. 35. (Type locality, Uliiaurltius) .
--
6 specimens. 28 - 60 m. Onotoa.
This species is readily distinguished by its color
pattern. There is a black vertical bar' on the body at the
level of the 2nd to 6th dorsal soft rays. Anterior, t.3 this
bar the head and body is cinnamon brown, the body scales
with outer edges dark brown; posterior to the b ~ the r body
and caudal fin is wh'itish.
The species was taken on both the lagoon and sea side of
the west or lee reef of the atoll. . ..
Glv hlsodon lacryinatus Quoy and Gafoia~d 1824. Voyage autour
-&PL+&.-
du mon 6.. .ttUrunietr.. .Zool., p. 388, pl. 62, fig. 7. (Type
locality, Guam).
11 specimens. 23 - 63 mm. Onotoa,
1 specimen. 64 m. Butaritarl.
Color in life dark brown with small, widely-scattered,
pale blue spots on upper two-thirds of body, hcad, and dorsal
fin; posterior part of dorsal and anal fins, caudal peiiuncle,
and caudal fin pale yellowish.
A. lacrymatus xs taken in the same coral-rich. areas as
- A. zicki. -
Quoy and GaimardTs figure is of a juvenile specimen in
which the pale blue spots occur ventrally and posteriorly on
the body and are of relatively larger size than on adults.
+
A West Indian pomcentrid, Microspathodon chrys rus (Cuvier
and 'Valenciennes). has a similkr secjuence of co or mttern
in life. The young are brown with bright blue scots; wf th
age the spots are reduced and a yellow tail develors.

'
-- -----
.----. Abudefduf --- leucopomms_
123
Glvrhisodon leuccpomus Lesson 1830. Voyage autour dl~ monde...
fl~oquille~~-.~.-~o~l~~
p. 189. (T,ype locality, 0uals.n).
2 specimens. 38 and 1+.8 mn. Onotoa.
The salient color character in life is the broad blue
band at the base of the s~inous dorsal fin which narrows as
,. it extends forward through upper edge of eye and circles
snout. There is a prominent black spot enclosed within the
posterior part of the blue band; another diagnosti.~ mark is
the black spot at the upper edge of the base of the caudal
fin; there are faint ycllow longitudinal lines on the body
and about 14. irregular rows of obscure pale bl.ue spots; all
fins slightly yellowish.
The two specimens were secv.redwith rotenone in a wellprotected
area with numerous small 'coral, heads at the' :
extreme northern part of ..$he atoll.
. . . .
! . . . ~ -
:..:..
. . .
Abudefduf alaucus . ..
Qphisodon &laucus Cuvier and Valenciennes 1g3O. Hist. nat.
poiss., vol. 5, p, 475. .(Ty?e locality, Guem).
2 specimens, . 28 and .43 mn~. . Onotoa.
L specimen. 71 iiini. . Tarawa.
, Color in 14fe of.43. nun s-oecTmen. bluish' gray, paler
ventrally; back with sm~.ll blue spots and narrow short',lines;
a narrow blue line throuzh .upper pawt of eye; inedian fins.
pale yellowish with faint Harrow black margin; pectoral.' fins
hyaline; pelvic fins dusky yellow. In smaller specimens the
blue line through the eye is relatively broader and extends
to tip of snout. . .
Abudefduf glaucus is a very common species of the outer
--~- ~-.--
reef flat . Ybunacrsoecimens were f reauentiv observed
isolated in shalrow tide pools at lowGide; adults tended to
stay farther out on the reef flat. . . ; . .
Abudefduf - amabilis
v
C&phisodon amabilis Ue Vis 18g4.. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S.
Wales, vol.-l+52. (Type'locslity,
. . South Seas islands).
8 s?ecimens. 29 - 53 nun. Onotoa.
2 specimens. 37 and l+9 mm. Tarawa. '
. ~

Color in alcohol cbestnut:brown, centers of scales
whitish; an elliptical white spot vertically aligned on
opercle; extreme edge of oaercle with a short dark brown
band; a l.arg.e bl.ac.!.c ,spot'& basal third of caudal fin, con-
trasting w:ith rest of cauaal fin andwith caudal peduncle
which are pale; fl vertical white bar, which angles slightly
backward as it passes ventrally, may be present on middle
of body (in 4 of 18 Onotoa speci.nen~ of the field collec-
tion this bar was absent or indistinct); dorsal., anal, and
pelvic fins blackish, pectoral fin hjaline, base dark brown.
. .
k common snecios on the seaward reef flat in the outer
rough zone near the surge channels.
Abudefduf .. biocellatus
G&phisodon. biocellatus Quoy and Gainard. 1821,. Voyage
autour du rnonde.. . s'Ureniev.. . .Zoo1 . , ' p. 389. (Type
locality, Guam). . .
(&yhisodon biocellutus .- Whitley and Colefax 1938. Proc. Linn.
Sot. N. 9. Wales, vol. 63, p. 298.. (Nauru).
3 specirnens. 34 - 62 m. Onotoa.
5 spectne~s. 34 - 70 mn. Tarawa.
Color in alcohol brown with 2 lightly-ocellated bleck
spots at base 'of dorsal fin, one at base of last 2 dorsal
spines and the other at axil of soft dorsal.; a broad whitish
vertical bar may be present on iuiddle of body; caudal fl.n
pale yellowish; d.orsel fin pale to dusky with a narrow
blackish margin; anal and pelvic fins dusky; pectoral fins
pale.
See further discussion of this species under zonntus below.
Bbudefduf zonatus
G&phisodon -.-. zonatus Cuvier and Valenciennes. 1830. Bist. nat .
poiss., vol. 5, p. 483. (Type locality, New Guinea and
Vanicolo Island).
4 specimens. 65 - '70 mm. Onotoa.
Color similar to biocellatus though darker and without
the tv~o blac~ spots (et least in adults).
Eerre (1936) and others have regarded biocellatus and
zonatus as variet.ies of the same species .' Schultz r1Ti3)
could not find intergradation of color patterii and oowi -
dered the two as separate species. I am unable to scphrc;te
then on any other basis than color, rilthough 1: have too :i'~,.:.

specimens for a detailed study of neristic data. A large
number of gill raker counts might show a difference. Total
gill raker counts (including rudiments) of three biocellatus
were 23, 23, and 24; of three zonatus 23, 25, 25.
.-
I prefer to regard the two as distinct species because
Of their different habitats as observed at Onotoa. A.
zonatus was always seen in relatively shallow, somewht
turbidwater of the eastern shore of the lagoon where the
bottora was sandy with interrnit tent piles of coral rubble.
A. bi ocellatus was taken only in outer reef areas where
riving coral was ~bundant.
Genus POMACENTRUS
Pomacentrus ~acl~2de 1802. Hist. nat. poiss., vol. 4, p. 505.
(Type species, - Chaetodon pavo Bloch) .
Pomacentrus lividus
Chaetodon lividus Forster ) Bloch and Schneider 1801. .. Systema .:
. .. .,.., ". .
ichth., p. 235, Type locality, Pacific Ocean)'. "'
Eupomacentrus lividus Whitley and Colefax 1938. Proc. Linn.
Soc. N. S. Wales, vol. 63, p. 298. (~euru).
Pome centrus - aureus
Foaacentrus aureus Fowler 1927. Bull. B. P. Bishop Mus. 38,
p. 22, f & F r ~ y p e locality, Rowland Islnnd) .
2 speo11ut.n~. 67 md 70 m. Onotoa .
Color in life brlght yellow with a small black saddle
dorsally on caudal peduncle, a small black spot at upper
base of pectoral fin, a black anus, and slightly blackish
lips. One of the two specimens in preservative has brownish
outer edges on the body scales.
This species was rare at Onotoa; it was seen on only two
occasions. Onc speciulen was speared ill about 20 feet of
water on the coralliferous terrace of the outer reef and tile
othor in l+ feet on the lagoon side of the west reef.
Pomact.;ntrun alboJ'ssciu tus
Pomacentrus albofasciatus Schlcgel and dller 1839-44. Verh.
Nat. ~esyh. 2,001. Leidsn, vol. 2, p. 21.. (Type locality,
Celebes).
-- -
Pomacentrus albofasciatus albofusciatus Schultz 1943. Bull.
U. S. Nat. Nus. 180, p. 185.

1 specimen. 63 ,pa. Onotoa.
, . :, , . .
Color in life ilarg:

48 specimens. 27 - 82 1aa. Onotoa.
In. life @,ricai~s is usually dar!i gray to nearly bl.ack
in color. There is a black spot at the axil of the soft
dorsal end 011.6 at the upper ,part of the bsse of the nectoral
fin, but these are difficult to see on ddrk snecinens. The
iris is yellowish and there may bz small purple dats basally
at the front of the anal fin. Occasional specitnens had a
decided ye-llowish cast to the body, especially posteriorly
and on fins,. and in thesethe black spots are very apparent.
There were in.termediates connecting the palest specimeris
with the darkest.
A very abundant species, nigricans was observed in nearly
all hab1:tats.
Pomacentrus &avo -
Cheotodon pavo Bloch 1787. Natur. akland. Fische, pt. 3,
.- .-----
p. 6;pI. 198. (Type locality, East Indics).
--
Pomacentrus pavo Kendall and Goldsborough 1911. Xem. Wus.
~oa~l.,~o:. 26, p. 295. (Butaritari) .
1 specimen. in^. Tarawa.
4 specikens. 16 - 25 inm. Abemaina
Color in life, blue with vertical peier blue lines on
scales; chest arrdl: cbdoj:Gen whitish; outer half of caudal fin
pale yellow., the lobes brighter yellow than :cefitro-posterior
pWt of .fin:; %?gin and po,sterior part of anal fin $ale
yellow; outsr portion: of last few rays of soft dsrsal fin
yellotii; a $ark blue spot et upper edge of opercle, (black in
' preservative); headswith small pale blue spots. . .
Pomacentrus was observed only around coral heads in
--- , ... .
the lagoon.
I .. Pomacgntrus coelestic
. .
Poxacenhm - coelistis. Jordan aid Starks 1901. Proc. Calif.
Acad. Sci., , zoaL. ser. 3 , vol. 2, p. 383,; pl:21.. (Type
locality Wakanoura, Kii , Japan) .
b specimens. 43 - 53 rm. Onotoa.
A brilliuatly colored species in life, the body was bright
,. blue w'ith caudal peduncle', cdudal fin, anal fin and adjacent
part of body forward to just before anus, '3rd posterior part
of soft d.orsal fin bright yellow: ~elvic fins yellowish:

pectoral fins hgalincj. 11; preservative a small black spot
is apparent on the opere!.? at the ugper ed6:e of the gill
opeil.ing,. the base of the pectoral. fin is dark, and tho
centcrs of the scales a little paler than edges.
The s2ecie:j was coliected in two 'localities on the lacgoon
side of the viest reef in from 7 to lI. ,feat of water.
The holotype at the Stanford Natu.r.al History Uuseu~u was
examined and corapared with my spe cirnnns .
-- Pomacent~us va? \ill
Ponacentrc.8 vaiuli Jordan and Scale 1906. Full.. U. 3. Bur.
_-;-^-_ - -
Fish. voL. 25, p..':i?86,' $1. 40, fj.6. 2. (Type locality,
~rmoa
j .
35 s.pe.ciraens .. 16' - , 62 mni. Onotoa.
Color in life: lic,ht' brovm on head and na!?e, shading into
blue 011 bod:; to cauCial peduncio; head anrl bod7 with tir~rk
blue si)ots in linens series; a largo black. spot in soft
dorsal., rini5ed in li@,ht blue; a dark blue spot on opercle,
larger than other spots on head, at upper end of gill
opening; caudal. peduncl6, caudal fin, and Gosterior part of
dorsril Pin yellowis!;; pectoral fin li&t yellow,
This spe'cies was fairly cocmon in Quiet water with livl.ng
oorsl in. both outer reef and 3.agoon areas
.. .
Pornacentrus .- .jenkinsi Jordan and Xveriiiann 1903. Bull. U.
T s h Corm., vol. 22, p. 189. (Type Locality, Honolulu
-.- Pomacentrus - inornatus 3chultz (not of De Vis) 1943. Aul
U. S. Nut. it~us., p. 18h.
20 specirnens. 50 - 76 mm: Onotoa..
L specimens. 72 - 89 rm. Tara~ia.
. . . .
I,Lke nigricans, P. jenkillsi - is s drab species. It is
dark brown with axii and extreme upper edge of pectoral Tin
black. It is easily confused with nigricans in the field.
l~~Jithout resorting to counting dorsal s~ines. the bc3st neon,?
of separation is--the pvesence on jenkinsi of vertical dark
lines on the body (due to lower outer edges of scales being
darker ) .
:. . A Coruiion species, it WR3 taken both on the outer raef and
"'in the lagoon.

-- --"
I&
As. setae
9. pan&+
2. trimaculatus
G. &n&oiJ&
.- G. caeruleue
- C. ---- xanthochir
c. ~;i-m5.d!Latus
5. 0r)fX'Clil~X'j.~
&. =&d~s
-- -.-,
Ab, sei~i;~rrfnscintus
& A . ~'a:ccj.lie
-- Ab. -,-.--- ahoenixensis
A . d%ki
- ---
42. l.-a$mxi%~~s
Counts 1'iade on the Pomacer~tr'id~e~~,.p;Llect~~d
in the Gilbert Islands
.."-----".--
---.
Dorsal fin

.-"" Ah, -.-----..-A. ~euteinfasciatus ----
A&. gg~3t.j;:~i.g
Ab. phoenixensis
.-.-,----...--
--. Ab. -..- diclii
, Ab. .- -- bi9cella;tus -- -,- ..-
it. g~:;$3~
E. -".------
albof asciatus
2. B~Q.E&~AU~
2. &&Cagg
s&nes soft l.e.ys
- - II 1L\ - 13 LC,
3 2 1

. . ,i
- --A
. @.-
- -.--
. . . .
Am. bicil'lct~,u.;
Am. s~bae
2. mnss
Q. trirnaculaw
.".. C - lgpiclole~is
C caeruleus
I. '
s. xanthochix
C , .; dimid@& . '. - -,-.,.
C ouercular3.8 , , .,
-. -
.-
--
- ---
Ab. sordidus
Ab. seutemf a&.&up
Ab. saxatilip
Ab. hoen nix ens is
.:&.g&: ,
-
Ab. _laerumatus
-.- ~ b &csmms ,
~ b .
' --
-- Ab. ---- 'amabilis
A& bioceI1aLUs
-. Ab zonatus
p. aul'eus
.k! . --.--- albofasciatus -
.? . - eclipticus
Pectoral rm** Vertical s ~ w s g *
1 6 J ' i ! c ? ; 8 ~ g ~ ' ' & ~ ~ ~
- 2 1
** Vertical'scke ;ow "coknt&d f?& u*@r edge of gill
opening to ,end of hypural plate (geneyally the last
large scale is at this ibcu.tion).

Genus iuALAC4.HTHUS
, .. ~ .: ', :.I.. ..,. ... !
Xalacan thus -hvier l829..,

Thala ssoba trilobatum
. . . -
1,.
-.-- Lubrus - trilobatus - Lacepede 1802, Hist. nat.. poiss,.,~vo~, 3,
pp. 454, 5xT~ype local-ity; ?'le gra11d 0cdan eyuatoi'ialqt).
Labrus fuscus ~ac&&e 1802 (not of @elin, 1786). I-Tist.
.-
nat. poi.~~., vo.1.. 3, bp..437,,L+93.
. .
- Thalassoma -.--- fUscum Jordan cind Everrnann 1905. 3i.111. U. ,S. Fish
Corn~., vol. 23,,,pt. 1, py. 295, 299, el. 34 (erroneoilsly
lubelled purpureum).
-
2 specinens. 116 and 132 ma. Onotoa.
3 VIII,!.3; k II1,ll. F 16; lateral. ].he sceles 27; gill
raker:: 20 .. (2 . sycfmensj.
Color from 35 rm Kodachrorile tsa:~sljzreriog: !lead and &riterior
part of body ornngisb yellow; posterior part sal.mon
orange; two broad. 1ongitudir:al bands of nore-or-less
rectangular. blue-green 'blotches on sid'e of bod;; (4- or 5 nf
these blotches in the upper band extend to base of dors~:
fin) ;' a vertici~l blue like 'posteriorly on opercle; a short
blue line above. and one Se1o:Y eye; caudal fi.n yellow yith
horizontal blue lines, especially posteriorly; dorsal. 'fin
orange with green bl.o.tches al.ong base, a blue lim disteliy
and a black; spot oil first intersr,inous nembrane; anal fin
orange on basal, half, bright b.lue on distal half; pectoral.
hyaline with a bib&- line at .base endi~g st upper edge in P,
blackish spot; pelvics light blue.
, .
This species was seen only on ,the outer sea reef, espe-
cially in the surge channel zone.
The stoiliach contents of o,ne of the specimens cansisted of
fragments of good-sized brachyuran crab. ~ h test & of the
crab was orange-red with white nodules.
. . . ~.
, Julis~,uii~brostigrns ~ifnther 1309.; Tour. XIS. ~oc?ef Troy, vol. 6,
16, p. 274, PI.. 59, fig. 3. (Kin'gsnill islands).
@t.
. .
2 specinens. 106 and 121 ma. 0notoa.
2 specimens. 122 and 128 inm. Ta'atia.
D..VIII, 13; A III,11; P. 16; lateral line scoles 27; gill
rakers 20 or 21. (2 specimens) .

Color rron'j~ mri Kodachrone transpane.ocj7 tiuskg red
dorsally, shading, to sal~non pink on s.i.Ge, a:ld white ventral1.y;
2 longitudinal broad bands of more-or-less rectansul.3.r green
blotches on side of body (upper part 0%'- 'each green blotch
of uoper ban6 extends j,rregularly to ,bn.s'e of dorsal fin;
broad green lines radiatin.6: from eye; c?orsnL fin deep orangeyello~r
witb a green band, and n prominent black spot on first
interspinous menbrane; anal fin salrnon colored with 2 peen
hands; caud-a1 fin deep orange-yellow with traces of greeri
especially posteriorly on upper and lover lobes; pectoral
fins iiyaliue-yellowish; pelvic fins ivhite.
':!'his species was also setn only in outer reef areas where
the weter was turbulent.
The stomach contents of the I.EI~P,G Onotoa spechen were
examined. This labrid had eaten. the sane kind, of crab as
the specinen of - T.. .tril.obi~tim.
-.
-...-. sdaius 9 uiacuevittatus Lay and &~~.nett
Beech.egls voya6;e p. 66, 111. 19, fig. j. (Type locality,
~ o. ~hoa, p . 1slan6s j . . .
21, specimens. 39 - l I . Onotoa.
1839. Zoo1 . Capt .
VIII,lj; A II,11; P16; lateral line scsles 27; gill
rakers 23. (2 specimens)'.
Color fpom 35 rnro ~od&clirone transparency of 125 an
specimen: body excent abdomen green with a very bror?d rose
pink band on the back and side containing a band of connected
green blotches which shade to blue on caudal neduncle (this
blue connects at base of caude!. fin yith a sinilar blue band
on caudal peduricle at r~argin of the broad rose pink Ijnnd;
abdomen purplish with 3 :liagonal. blue band-s seperr,ted by rose
pin!:; head greenish (reddish on Upper part of operc1.e and
on region frola chin to eye;,) with blue baniis iLadl.atingfrora
eye; a blue line unCler chin; dors~l fin rose pi.nic, green on
margin; a black spot on first two interspinous mmbrsnes of
dorsal fin; caudal. fin bright orange except upper and lower
lobes which are rose pin!:; anal and pectoral fins hgaline;
a black spot at upper edge of base of pectoral fin; pelvic
fins light purplish.
.:3mller s~ecirnens
have a row of black spots on the back
along the ba& of the dorsul fin, ,the most prominent one
being at the axil of the dorOal, and a bl~ick spot basaI1.y on
the iileabrane bet~rjeen the second arid third dorsal soft rays.
-

This colorful species'was the most abundant ofthe genus
at. 0notoa .and was- seen. in rflaay different habitats.
. . , , .. ..
The stoniachs of two!aduit specira~ns were opened. Ohe
contained a .srflalllpelecypod, snd the otber a crangonid ' shrimp.
,, ... . .
. .
Thalass.oina harawi ckei
--- -
Sparus hardwic.!te Bennet.t,, 1.828. .Fish, Ceylon; pl. 12. (Type
locality, Ceylon).. : . , , . .
Julis dor salis Guoy snd.,Gaimard 183~. Vsgage 7ti;strolabe'f,
Zool., vol. 3, p. 713, pl.. 15, fig. 5.
- --
Thalassome dorsale Jordan and Seale 1906. Eull. U. S. Bur.
Fish., vol. 25, p. 306.
8 specimens. 25 - 103 IX?. Onotoa.
D n II,l3; A I1,lO or 11; P 16; lateral line scales 27:
gill rakers 22 or 23. , (2 specimens).
C'olor from 35 mm i~odachrome transparency'of an 88 mrn
.specifnen: body light blue dorsally. and on side and ~~hite
ventrally with 5 broad dark purple bars on back; the first
extending from origin of dorsal to axil of pectoral fin and
the last from base of last few dorsal rays to lateral line;
head light violet dorsally, white ventrally, with light red
lines radiating from ?ye; a 'blnck spot (2 black spots on
sonle speciuqs) ,i,n a, sriiall dark purple. 6r:eo dornuJly on :
caudai 6eduncle; a black spot an'ceriorly in dorsal fin; a
black spot at upper edge of base of pectoral fin.
In the 103 ram spechen the region frm bs'se of caudal fin
to gilL,.opening is black,, and there:.ls a black line basnlly
in the dorsal fin. The 25'mu specinen shoxjs' the sane saddle-
like bars on the body as in adults. There is a black spot
In .the midd.le,,of the dorsal fin as well as anteriorly.
, . . . .
. . .
. . Thala ssona melanochir .
, ..
. . . .
- Julis rn~lanochir Bleeker 1857. Act. Soc. Scj . Intlo-Neerl.,
vol. 2, p. 77. (Type locality, Anbon, Zast Indies).
. .
Thalassoaa. marnae Schultz 1943. Bull. U. 3. Nat. .Mus. 180,
p. 203, fig. 17. . .
. . ,. ,,
2 specimeds. 84 and 90 ram. ' 8 specimens. 43 - 67 am.
, . . .
Onotoa. . .
., ..
D VIII,~~; k II,11; ~'1.5.; lateral 1ine:ecales. 27;. gill
rakers 14 to 17, (7 spechens) .

Color in life of 84'rrim sp.ecliiien: dark green on back
shading to light purplish ventrally with vertical red lines
on scales (these more pronouncod in middle of body); a broad
region frork nape to about mid-point; of spinous portion of
dorsal fin yellow-green (more green dorsnlly, more yellow
ventrally) (no evidence of this color in preserved specioien);
head bluish purple with a green area antero-ventral ts eye;
a narrow dark purple-bordered gold band from snout through
lower third of eye nearly to end of operculuia; a silnilar
band from corner of abut$ to postero-ventral portion of
opercululn; dorsal fin red with oblique iiusk:i strea?;~, a
narrobv clear inargin, and a thin submargixil black line;
caudal. fin hyaline except for reddish brown on upp-cr snd
lawer lobes; pectoral yellow, black et base, with a lmge
black area in outer part of fin.
The 2 1-crge specimens were speared next to a large corn1
head in the lagoon.
The saaller specimens fit the descri,ption of Thalessoas
nnrnae ---- Schultz.. The largest is losing the black band down
the middle of the body: all but the smallest specimen display
i'nint vertical dark lines on th.e scales. The gill
rakers of' the two lar~e specimens number 14. arid i6. Those
of 5 0;' the smalLer spcimens range from 15 to 17. The tgge
of' :;;arnae ha^ 16 gill rakers,
-
--
Thalassona lunare
Jabrus 1.unarj.s Linnaeus 1758. Syst. nab., eti. 10, p. 283.
(Typcxity, India ) .
2 specicienn. 120 and 125 mm. Onotoa.
D VII1,LJ; A II,ll; P 15 or 16; lateral line soeles 27;
gill rakers 16 arid 19.. (2 specisiiens) .
Color in life; body foreat gree.n with narrow vertice.l
pw~lish red lines on scales; head &refin wi.th vislet stripes;'
central and posterior part of caudal fin bright yell.ow,
borderd with blue; elonga.ts upper and lower lobes of caudal.
fin orange with riarroiv b1u.e nargins; basal part of dorsal
fin green, outer part orange; pectoral fin. blue uith seco.r~d
to sixth rays orange except for basal and extrecle distal . s
portions (thls orange color preserves as an elong~te blackish
area). Xot noted in the field but readily apparent in
'both specimens in alcohol ore l+ dark bands on the abdo:ren,
the two nedian ones extending to anal fin.
The speciinens were speared in the 'lagoon where the nmxifiw
depth of the water was 20 feet, but nunerous core1 heads
reached to 5 feet of the surface.

137
The species of Thalassoma in Oceania which develop a
black area in the'?ectoral fin include melanochir - ~. -- (Bleeker),
- lunare . - -. . (Linnaeus) , _lute-s_cens. (Lay and Bennett) , aneitensis
(Gtlnther) , du er-re$T(h~oy and Gaimard) , and ne_a_njs Jordan
and Everman&-jo~dn; 2nd Snyder, 1907). The latter tr6
species are apparently restricted to the Hawaiian Isl-nds.
In addition to color, gill raker and pectoral fin ray counts
are useful in separating the species of this group, T.
- lutescens -- --- and 2. neanis have a total of 16 rays intre
pectoral, the 0th-neitensis -- -.- not seen) generally 15.
- T. rnelanochir .-..-.- ---- - has 14 to 17 gill rakers- 1 lunare counts in the
Gilbert Islands were 16 and 19 (three from the Philippines
had 13 to 20); three examples of -.- lutescens from the Dlarshall
Islands had 22 or 23 rakers, three duperreyi frorl ??idway
Island and 21 or 22; the type of -- neanis has 17.
Fowler (1928: 354) has ?laced --- neanis in the synonymy of
-.- lutescens. Admittedly these two are closely related; if the
life color as given by Jordan and Evermann (p. 214, and pl.
12, fig. 2) is correct (especially with respect to the lack
of vertical lines on the scales), I believe they are distinct
species. Adult lutescens in the l

Labrun -
i . - -. -.-- - L~cepee.e
cent~iquqdrus 1802. hist. nat. poiss., vol.
3, pp:, 1.~37, 4:)j>:?yy.e lo&ll.t:.-, Pii~tiagasce~, :?,auritius,
a d Heilniorl )
8 specimens. 63 - ll+O ion. 3 spoi:nen,s. 25 - 4.3 imn.
Onotoa .
Color from 35 cm Xodachrosie transparency of 1-35 mm
'spec.i.i:lexi: ljody light gray dorsslig, wh-iite on sides and
abdomen, wi t,h. an elongate black spot tit the base of each
scale; two yronii?cnt ye1102 spots o?~ back adjaoent to dorsal
fin, the first at base of fourth to fifth dorsal. spines and
followed b;. a bla~kisii area, and. the second, at the base of
the fifth to sixth dorsal soft rags; liead light gr:!y (snoht
greenish) with Pi.re~ulZr short rjinii banils; dors::l orangish
with nurnerons yellow spots (more evidt?nt busally) ; caud.a.1
fin bright orango-yellow; anal fin light yellow; pectoral.
fin hyaline with a bleck spot at upper edge of base; pelvic
. fins white.
The t5wo smallest spicinens (25 arid 30 have a different
color pattern frou the larger specimens, ss is so often true
of the Labridae. There is a large black spot on the nape,
a Lwge black ocellated snot in the xiddle of the dorsel fin.,
end a lergr; black spot basel1.v at the anter5.0~ part of the
anel fin; lesser black spots are present on dorsal end
ventral edges of' the caudal. pcidunc!.e, mid-centrally at base
of caudal fin, nnd on body at base of last fsw a.na1 regs.
In the inidtlle of the body runaing frofa dorsal to anal and
pelvic fins and on the cnrrd~l. pedun.cle there 3.s a network of
scales with dark edges (this pattern on the scales of the
body is sj.milar to that of H. margaritaoeu3.
-9 in tho 1.attcr
species the dark edged scn1.e~ :%re restricted mostly to the
dorsal 1~lf of the body). A 42 m specimen has lost nost
of the black :;pots except the :lorsal. ocellus; a 68 nm
speci.n;en still has a vestige of the dorsel ocellus.
---
~dppell's elate of Ii. eximiu:: fron the Iie? sea sbd~is some
differeilces in color from the Cllbert Islands specinens..
Notable are tho blue-green grour!.d caior, t::r,-. =-: instend of
two ycllow spots on the IbaCk; lac.:< of o bleck sl!ot bchinc;.
tile first yellow spot, ::nd pre:;en.ce of 8 sioall black Srjct at

upper base of caudal fin. These differences a.re prhaps of
suff icient magnitude to reco~nize then by applying subspe-
cific namec. I definitely do not regard . . then 8s distinct
species,. however:
This species .of Hali.choc;rss was cormon. It did not seen
to irefek any specific habitat, but was seen in nearly all
areas.
?'he s'iomach conte~its of two adult spociiaens were examined.
They consisted raostly of sinall gastropods and pelecypods.
In both stonachs the remains of a single unident:,?ie'd
crustacean were found.
Jul.is trimaculata Quoy and Gaimrd 183!;.. Voyage 'fAstrolabe'f,
=l?ol. 3; p. 705, pl. 20, fig. 2. ('ianikolo).
------ ----
Platyglos~~~ vicinus dither 1909. Jour . Nus. Godeffroy,
vol. 6, pt. 16, p. 267, p1. lk2, fig. C. (Kingsfi~ill
Islands ) .
23 specimens. 29 - 95 mm. Onotoz.:
D IX,11; A II,11; P 14; leteral line scales 27. (L+ spe-
cimens).
Color in life of 95 nm specimen: back greenish, shading
to''li&t tau below; outer edges of scales darker on upper
twp-thirds of body; head green,. the upper ba1.f from snout
to just behind eye irridescent light green, with bright
orange-rose bands which are narrowly dark bordered; roundish
and elliptical spots of orange-rose on bead behind eye,
on nape, and anteriorly on body to pectoral region; 1 long
orange band from axil.of pectoral obliquely downward and
backward almost to m'l8-pGlvic rc?gion (this band shaded
outwardly with blue);, $ dark purple spot above lateral line
on caudal peduncle broadly bordered with bright g,reen; dorsal
fin with 2 ~range-~ihk bands in spinous portion and 3
in soft portion; anal fin gre:enish in proximal half with .a
rosy lengthwise band iri middle of fin; caiidel fin, orange,
?deny specimens were very pale and had little bright
color; these were connected with intermediates to the darker,
more colorful form as depicted above.
. .
Th.is spijoies is abundant; it appears to be primaril,~ a
lagoon foru. It was seen in outer reef areas only where
the water was quiet and the bottom predominately sandy.

Julis roargaritaceus Ccviw and Valenciennes 1.P39. %st. nat,
--I--
----
po~.ss.,ol. 13,. p. 484. (Type" locality, 'Vanicolo) .
-...- ZulLs . lrawariti 9leeker 1852. gat. Tijdschr. Ned.-In*. , vo:. 3,
P.
1727----
. .
Ha1ichoer.c;~ !rewarin Bleeker 1862. ntlas ichtli. , vol.. I,
-.-
Fs 121, pl. 41, fig. 4.
2 speciinms. 54 end 55 rm. Nukunau.
D IX, 11; A TI.,11; P 13 or 11,; lsteril lino ~6ai.s~~ 27 or
. , ; . 28. (3 spsc.imen,o).
. .
Colo?. ln alco.hol li~bt tan with edges of nost or scales
.-dark brown on.dorsa1 two-thirds of bcdy (f;rou?s of sca1.e~
,~vi.tbin this regiori without dark pj.gnient, 6;j.vi.n~ an overall
i:ottl.sd e~fect) (i!l tke 71 am specinen. Lhs scales me more
bro:ia.l.y darkened); h~au wit!i ilcrk stripes running tbroug,h
e;le (f:~int in snail specixens) ; s vertical :black mnl'g just
'behind eye; a blackish spot sn opercular nembrane (much more
evident onlarge speciriim); R black ocellus in outer part
of d~rs;:!. fin between second and th!.rd .:;oft rays
(aohocelloteb ill 71 nm sr),ecl.mcx ) ; re:st. of' dol~~ril fii; wi tli
f.a int irreglllar line e which. aut,liae pale spot,:: ; reimin:ng
fins palo,
--
:gal icn8res margin3tus KN~~EI..I 1835. Ne& nll.rbel.th. ; Fische ,
p. 16. (Type locality, Red Sea).
. ,
-- JulXs - notopsis Cuv!er and V~'lcncienne3 1839. Hist. nc t.
poiss., vol. 13, p. 485.
---
Plt~ty~,lo~:~u~ &mginatus Aleeker 1862. Atlas ichtli., vol.. 1,
7 1 0 9 , pl. 41, fig. 3.
Platyg,lossus &oto>sis Sleekr 1.862. Atilas icllth, , vol ... 1,
p. 111, pl. 41, figs. 1, 2. . .
. . .. .

3 specimens. 81 - 104 ma. 4 specimens. 26 - 63 inm.
Onotoa.
Color in. life of the 81 mm specimen: body green excegt
antero-dorsal portion which is blue; 4 lengthwise lines of
bright red spots beneath pectoral fin; head hlua with orange
stripes, these becoaling golden on nape; dorsal. and anal
fins dark purpl.ish blue with a narrov; green. !i?arp,in nnd w
light blue submarginal line; caud-?l fin %reen with a laree
light blue-edged, dark blue crescent-shaped blotch, the
upper and lower edges of which reach the upper and 1.ower
~nargins of the tin (concave side or' crescent faces anteri-
orly) ; pectoral membranes hya1in.e.
In the field I identified the four sraallc-r s~ecimens as
-- notopsis.. Upon closer examineti on 1 am convinced that
n o t o x is the young of marginatus. The 26 ~MI specisaen
is pale witb 5 dark brown bnnds runnine, the entire length
of the body from snout to base of caudal Pin (these baads
about as wide as alternating pale interspaces). There is a
pro~iinste ocellated black sr~ot in the dorsal fin betwen
the second and fifth soft rays. In a 39 mm specirnan the
dark ballds ere twice a:s broad as the pale. In a 60 rnrn specirdcn
they are n.o longer apparent. A dusky area can be
seen in the caud.al fins of the 60 and 63 mu specimens which
pr esages the formation of the dark crescent-shaped b1,otch
so typical. of marginatus. ?he ocellus is still. evidei~t. in
tile dorsal fin in these specimens, though the dorsal fin
has become darker. The 81 mi specimen has the adult 'ooioration
of the species. ,In this and even the 1.04 !nm spe'ci!nen
the ocellus can be faintly rilede out if the dorsal fin is
elevated with a bright light behind it. Smal.1 pale spots
develop in the fin and invade the ocellus rmd the intensity
of tho bluck spot diminishes. The last reranant of the
ooallus is the pale ring. A pale margin develops on the
dorsal and anal fins during this same period of alteration
. ....
ill colm.
Two of tho speciroens were collected from -@ote'ct;ed
. . wett?rs
of the outer reef' and bhe rest in the lagoon.
Macropharyngodon Bleeker 1861. Proc. Zool. Soc. London,
p. 412. (Type species, Julis gooffroyi Quoy end Gairnard).
. .

..."
Macropharyn&odon
-.- peof froyi
Julis -&- Geoffroy Quoy and Gaimard 1824.. Voyti!?,~: autour du moncie
u'ranielf, Zool., 1). 270, pl. 56, fig. 3. (Type loca-
,
lity , ~iawal.iun'Islanils) ,
. . ,
-.. Julis meleagr& Cuvier and Vnlenciennes 1839. Bist. nat.
polss., vol.. 13, p, lr81. (Type locality, iJlea Z 1yolea.i,
Caroline Islands).
. .
2 specimf>.ns. 72 and 76 mn. .Cdotoa' lagoon.,
Ij TM,11; A II,11; P 12; lateral liik scales' 23; @ill
rakers 17 (2 specimens).
. .
Color. in alcol~ol blackish with aslightly naler spot in.
the center of each scalc; 2 black spots, one ab~vt.i the
other, just postericr to upper end of gill opening; a black
spot anteriorly on isthmus; head with pal65 dark-ed~ed band,?
radiating from eye or runniq?, diagonally below eye and with
pp.le dmk-edged spots ventrally; meiiian fins light dusky
with iliregular pole bxtds an6 spots; a blackish area
wteri.orly in. dci. pal fin; paired fins hyaline.
Some au.thcrs have. considered the s3eci.e:: in EIawaii dlstinct
from that in the rest of the In3o-Pacific, sivin~, the 1att:ir
. ,.
he nke of --- rneleag!& (Cuvier a.?d Valencien.nes) . I cow
~>are& two suecimens from the 'iinw?ii'ian Islands with the two
i'rom the ~iibert Islands. Counts of fin rays, lateral line
scales, and gi 11 rakers of the Hawaiian specimen::. yere
identical v~ith counts of the ones fronithe Gilberts. I caa
find only slight color.differences as Sollor.:~: the Iiawaiian
specimsns lack thc black spots just behind the upper end of
the gill openink; and the spot on the isthmus, and tho bands
on the head are narrower. In my opinion these difference::
are not specific.
1,eptoJulis arclalis her 1867. Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wen., vol.
56, ~ " s 7 2 k ( locality, 5 ~ li'iji Islands).
3 specimens. 58 - 67 mm. Onotoa lagoon. . .
,.,. . .
D I;1,11; A II,11; P 12; lateral line scai~s 28. (2 specimens
) . .. ..
Color in life white, light greenish on back, with numerous
large irregular black spots on body and most of hsad; dusky
orange lines on snout and interorbital space; Zlorsal. and
caudal Sins with small brownish. orang,o spots (these forx
vertical lines 0.0 caudal); anal fin yellow with a row of
black spots basally and small orange spots dist&llg;

pectoral clear; iris of eye ybllow with R green ring ond 4
short rndiatiw red-orange lines.
Labriohthys Bleelcer 1851,. Nat. Tijdschr. I?ed.-Snd., vol. 6,
p. 331. C T syeciea, ~ ~ ~ Labrichthys cyanotaenia Rleeker).
-
Labrichthys cyanotaenia
Lsbrichthys cyanotaeaia j?l.eek;cr 18.54. :Sat. TiJdschr. Ned.-
Ind., vol. 6, p. 331. (Type locality, Larantu~a, Plores).
1 specimen. 30 im. Onotoa.
D I9,l.l; A lIl,10; P I&; leteral line scales 27.
Color 111 alcohoi dark brown. with a pale line fron snout
through lower part of eye to niddle of caudal fin; a second
pals longitudinal line, less distinct than the first, runs
fTorn chin, beneath base of pectoral: to lower part of cauri~l
peduncle ; marginsof nedisn fins hyeline ; pectoral pale,
the extrene basal part of the rays whitish; pelvic fins
pale with dusky centers.
The coloration as described above is based on the sincle
30 rm specimen taken. This is aifferent fron the usual
color ?at tern of numerous faint longitudine,l pale lines, but
I believe my specinen exhibits the juvenile color pattern
for the species. It has the well-developed fleshy tubular
lips and peculiar dentftion of thu genus.
Genus LEROIDEC;
,Labroides Rleeker. 1851. Nat. Tijdschr. Ked .-Ind., vol. 2,
p. 249. (Type species, L,abroides ~aradiseus Bl.ee.k.er =
dimidiatus Cuvier and Valenciennes).
-
Labroides dimidiat us
Cossyphus dimiaiatus Cuvier and Valenciennes 1E39. Eist. nat,
poiss., vol.. 13, rj. 136. (Type locality, Mauritius).
4 specimens. 50 - 82 am. Onotoa.
I> IX,11; A III,10; P 13; lateral line scales 52 or 53.
(3 spe cinens ) .
Color in life bright light blue with a black band running
from snout through eye along upper part of body to end. of
caudal fin, this band becoming progressively broader as it

passes posteriorly; a black line st base of anal fin which
connects narrowly with a .hook-like ventrril exteasion from
end of broad black band oil caudal fin; o verticullyelongate
sm,2all bl~iclc spot below axil of pectoral ; dorsal
fin black baszlly, pale Cistally; paired fins p1.e.
This species was seen only in quiet outer reef Breesor
in the lagoon. It-often exhibited an unusual mo8.e of
stvimrning by oscillating, the posterior pert of the body up
and down as if to attract ~ttention. It was seen to dance
around other fis hes.'inthis nanner and t o intermittently
pick at their bodies. The fishes receiving such attention
o'ften slowee their sw'iming or came to a stop. It was
thought at the time thet the Labroides were picking off
external pnrasites from the.se fishes. The gut contents of
two specimens fron the Gilbert Isleniis and three from the
1;i;iarshell. Islands consisted of. cnlagoid cop,epods and a few
fish scales. :Pile two remainiag Gilb%rt Xslands specimens
hzd, eaten tiny isopods along with several fish scales.
Ba?nerd (1927: 749) noted the great resemblance of
iabroi6es dimidiatus --- to the petroscirtlan blenny, Aspidoatus
teeniex, c.nd suggested that the phjnomenon of mimicry
aip,ht be in\;olveZ Ra offered no exnlanation of such
ni&cry beyond a ,?tater,ient that one Lf' the two species might
Lave j)oisoilous q~elitics. The :i:.r:iiI.a2j.ty in color' us ttern
of thbss two ;~tyloeticall d.:jeii&i~~~ spec!,es is certainly
stri.tug, and miiaicrg might well. be operative. If so, i.t is
iily belief thet the blei?rg is minicicin'g the lebrid., Lnbroides
dinidietus -_ may escepe predation by virtue of it,s ;)ar,asitefeeding
imuit. ii blenny of cwjxrable size end the same
color pe tterr; might gain the sa!:~e. protect.ion..
.b~broidet: bic.olor Fowler ~nc! Bean 1928.. Bull. U. S. ?kt. 131:s
lOO,, . v o , : 2.21,. ~ (Tpe ~ ~ locr:lit;l., ~ Fort Ms7%cab%il,
Philippine Islarrds.) ;
1 speci~wn. C1 m. Onotos.
D TX,12; A IIl,10: 1. 13: lsteral line scale- 25.
. .
Color from 75 riim iliodachrone trnn3p?i:r~~~&y:
&a(!, .nn" untc.'.
rior part of bo:'~~ black; eosterior port of' bod:! r~rld' cAuilal
peduncle bright yellow (this yellow segion rounded anter i-
orlg); caudiil fin grem anteriorly snd centrrilly, this srea
outlined posterforly by u black crescent; regioii of caudal
Sin posteriox, to the crescknt light blue; margin of soft
portior: of dorod. fin and anal fin light bluish; pector::l
fins pule; pelvic ffncj black. . . . . ..
This rare species was sightee only twice, bot;ki tiiaos ofi
the coralliferous terrnce of the wiiidvvard reef. The sirii.le
specinien taken was obtained, with a spear.
, -

' --
Stethojulis ~{nther 1362. Cac. Fishes dritisb Mus., vol. 4,
p. 140. (Typ,; species, Julis strigiventer Bennett).
P
Julis stri,g.iventer - Bennett 1832, ?roc. Corn. Zool. Soc.
London, p. l8b. (Type locality, Mauritius) .
Julis (iialiclioeres) Renardi Sleeker 1851.. Nat. Tijdschr.
Ned.-Sncl., vol.. 2, p. 253.
.
Xethojulis strigiventer Bleeke~ 1862.. Atlas ic.ht-h.. , .pI.. 43,
fig. 1. . . .
- Stethojulis Renardi Rleeker, ibid..; fig. 2.
10 specinens. 52 - 75 mm.. Onotp? lapoon.*. :
D 1 ; A 1 1 1 ; I 4 or 1 (mostly 15); lateral' line
scalos 27; eill Takers 24 to 26. (5 spec$.aens).
.. I
. .,. . ,
Color in alcohol ok o 65 ro@ f &ale,, ~~&~iii& : .light brown
except upper part of :head ~nd::nape,.a$ove. loym edge of' eye
which is dark brown; naSroy : lengthw&s& white lines on lower
hlf of,, .body;..a sna,ll black spot (a .l~dii-:of . . . . spots on some
s~~ecimens) a t base of .caudal fin: just abqve lest lzteral
line scale.
. . . . . .z . . : . . .
Five ,of as sneoimsns. 'were identified .. . in . the field as
- S. renr;rdL., ".~hkse .'rgn&d fi+& 72 to 75 ,mfl ip standard
length ancl were more colorful th:m the smaller -.- st~!igiventer.
The lowes half of .the bpdy - ~us . whiter with -only traces of
brownish longitudinal 14nos; ,on 'the up&r half- of the head
8nd 'body were 4 dark-edgeti red 1ine.s. as figye$,$or renardi
in Bleeker; the area bctween the two lowermost red lmwas
blue.
. . , . . . . . .
.
I sexed these fivf-r,r?e~~f~~n~'~~~id~'foun.d
that all were
A
qales,, ,The five specir~ens of .:stpi&i-venl;sr (52 to169.10m3
. . .. . .. . . . .. .
,
were ej$her males or fcmal.e$.
. .- . . - - . .. -.
. . . :. ,'
,I then examinsd a Large .ser.S.es . .... of syecl.mens of both .
species in the iJnited States. i~atio~~%useurfl which were ..
collected at Guam. There were '18 spedimens"of renarrli,
ranninn . from 62 to 81 mm, . , and..all .were males. s~ecimens
," . .. ~,
large? tlmu 3l+ 'an wwe 3.abeiled :3tnZgive.~tter; of thise 14
wsro fenales fron 63 to 68 wm. The remaining 28 consisted
of 16 females and -12 -ma,leq:., Three,.5pecimens, 61 to 62 mm
in standard len~th. were intermediate in color oattern to
typical renardiYaa6 .striglventer i I. therefore ^concl.ude that
renardi is the large adult male of str+giventkr. , . .
. .

The male apparently reaches s larger size than the femle.
The largest f co~ale specimen wes 68 m,,; 10 ~mles
than 70 nm.
were longer > .
In addition to the sraall caudal spot, the smaller speci-
mens h.ad e tiny black spot on the next, to last dorsal ray
near the base and another on the ne.:rt to last anal ray.
The anal spot disappears at a size of about 50 mm in
standard length and the dorsal spot at a length. of about 64
11101. . .
--
Julis axillaria Quoy and Gai~nard 162!+. Voyage autour du
nonde.. . 'tUranie't, Zool., p. 272. (Type locality, ilatvaiian
Islands).
10 specimens. 38 - 80 iXI. Onotoa.
U IX,11; A I1,ll; P 14; latbral line scnles 27. (4 specirnels)
.
Color ii! alcohol of a 64 r;?m speciiilen: dorsal half of
head and body dufk g~,fayis.h brown, lo!ic:r half light brown,
these two areas separzted by a light br0w.n band (smaller
specimens with a second pale bfind frox plbove eye to top of
ceudal. pedunc1.e); 1 ta 3 smll blac!: spots in mid-1-irie at
bave of Caudal fin; all fins pale. SiIall specimens with a
s~aall black spot on anal fin nearbase of last 2 anal rays.
In life there >;$as an ornng,o erea at upper axil of pecto-
ral fin and a yellow band frorr, snout to lower edge 01' eye
csi~tinuing a3 a light gray band to bask of caudsl..
This species is apparently abund~nt throughout all of
Oceania. It was taden in scveral different habitats at
Onotoa from shallow lacoon to outer reef.
Stethofulis ---- casturi ~hther 1909 (not of Bleeker) . Jour.
Mus. Godeffrny, vol. 6, pt. 16, pl. lbl, fit~. A.
StethoJulis -- albovittata F0~16r 1928 (in part). i'lem. 3, 7.
Bishop Nu's,, v.,L. 10, p. 335. (iCingsnil1 islands) .
Stethoiulis cast~ri Schultz 1943. 3ull. U. 3. PIat. !$us. 180,
- pp. 2I^S-po2i14.-
3 specimen$. 74 - 82 mm. Onotoa.

Color in'life like the plate of S. casturi in ~Gnther
(lr~C9) and the key 'to casturi in ~cKultz (1943: 213).
This species will bs described as new by Schultz in
volurue 2 of the Fishes of the Marr;hall. and Marianas Islands.
The species first described as casturi (Rleeker, 1852) is
now recognized .as Cr ilineata (Bloch and Zchneider) .
-
:)e Bcaufort (1940: 161) hzs di:icussed the nroblez of
just i3 color variety of' the forin known in rectnt tines as
custuri (p1. 141, fig. k in ~dnther, 1909).
--
Genus CORIS
Cori s ~ac6~g~i.e 1802. Hist. aat. poiss., vol. 3, pp. 96, 97.
-mpe species, Coris aygula Lackpkde) .
--- --&
Coris ~aifnardi
Julis ~{uiinard Quoy and Gniianrd 18211. Voyage autour du
ffionde...Wraniel', Zool.., p. 245, pl. 54, fi~,. I. (Type
locality; . . .~ ? > l!Iaui, Hawaiian Islands).
. . .
No spsci~iens of' this colorful species were collectod in
the Gilbert Isla~ds. L). W. :;trasburg sighted one when
swimming undcrwitterb at Onotoa,'. ., ' . . :.:
. . . . .
, . . .. .
Genus NOVACTJI,ICHTHY3
Novaculichthgs Bleeker 1841. Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 414. (Type
species, Labrus taeniourus ~ac&p&de). :::.
....
. .
, . '
Novaculichthgs taeniourus ,
- . . ..
Novaculichthys taeniou~us Fowler 1928. Item. 9. P.. Bishop
ms., v o : . 1 0 ~ ~ ~ 1 41, . . rig. A. (xingsmirl .. Islands).
.
Anahpses yuoy and ~iihard 1824. Voyage autour '&u mondb. . .
Wraniet7, Zool., p. 276,. ,(Type species -Ananpses ;cuv'ieri
Quoy and Gaimard). . . . .
- - I
Anampses caeruleopunctatus
,
Anslnpses - -- caeruleopunctatus --- ~~ppell 1828. Atias Reise
nmchen Afri~a. Fische, p. 42, pl. 10, fig. 1. (Type
locality, Red Sea).

No specimens were..collected in the Gilbert Islands. I
observed the species ori several occasions on Onotoa recfs.
Gom:,bosus ~,ac$p&de 1802. Eist. nst. poiss ' vol.. 3, p. 100.
/'
-'l?$=species, Gol;.i,~hosus caeruleus L8c'ephd.e) ' . . .
Com,hosus tricolor ~Quoy nnd Gairricrd 113211.. Toyage ai~.tour du
-- .-.-. .-*~.--.-
monae.. ."branieV, Zool., p. 280, 111.. 55, ,fig. .2. .(Tyne
locality, Xa-wiian Islands). . ., ,
3 specisens. 125 - 230 run_. Onotos.
D VIII,13; A II,11; P 16; .lateral liqc scales.. . . 2.7,. ( 2 spe-
cimens). G i l l ra!ters 23 (l..s~~ecimen).
, .
. . . . . . . .
. ..
Col.or% froa 35 :am iCodachrome transparency of' 230 mm
spesimm: head yurplfsh b~ack,,'bady bluish green with. a
light apj~le green band from nape to pectoral fin bass; dorsal
and am1 fins and a large crescent-shaped nreo ;)osteri-.
orly in cnudal fF.rl turquoi&e bl.ue; pectoral fin blackish.
with outer edge broadly .purple: .end sl black spot at u;:per
edge of base.
The stomach contents of two specimens, 220 and 230 .r!m in
standard length, were exartlined by A. fi. Bnncr . The fish.
had eaten stomtopods and crangonici sh.rimps.
Gomphosus varius ~ac&$dc; 1802, iiisi;. flat;. p~iss., vol. 3,
p?. 100, 1011.. (Type loc~lity , Tahiti).
- --
!I ~1:~1,13; k I1,l.l.;. 1' 16;J.atcjral line scales 27; gill.
rtlers 24 and 25. (2 spe'cimens) .
Color in alcohol of 89 m specimen: tieac! and anterior
half of body light tan,with. :a single black spot on outer
ed.ge of esch sca1.e of nape a11d body (except abG.omen). and ri
hori'zontal black line through eye; posterior half of body
blackixh, the scales with si.mil.ar black spots which, however,
are visible only in the anterior pat of black portion of
body where pigmentation is not SO intense; ~CTST,~ f.'iri black-.
ish with a narrow pale margfn on. soft portion; anal. fin bhck
with 2 pale margin and a pale spot on, eqch %ntel;?.ri31?:.1.
meoibrane; caudal fin. black with a brond p8.le j!c::tsl:i.o:r
margin; paired fins pale. , .

. Color in life of 42 ~mm ' specimen: two narrov) black -bands
running entire len8t.h of body, th+ first from snout through
eye to upper base of caudal fin, the seconcl from chin to
lower .base of caud3.l fin (the two bands co;i.n.ect irregularly
&t bake of caudal fin) ; body dorsal to first bind green,
ventraily i~hite;
Both species of ~orapiiosus - were seen Zn the Lrtgoon and
outer:reef:area:;, but never where wave, action was strong.
Hefiixymnus ~Unther 1861. Ann. %lag. Nat. Hist., London, vol.
7
8, p. 386. (Type species, f!Iullu.s fasciatus Thunberg =
Labrus fasciatus Bloch).
--
Hemigymnus - fasciutus
. .
Labrus fasciatus Bloch 1792. Watur .. a~sl&d.; Pische, vol. 6,
p. 6, pl. 290. (Type locality, Japan). . .
1 specimen. 295 mm. Onotoa.
D IX,11; A II,11; P 11,; lateral. line scales 2%.
Color fro& 35 nm Kodachrome transpsrencg: body block
(except for ches't anterior to origin of pelvic .fins wii!.ch
is white) with 4. vertical white bars; the first running from
anterior part of spirious portion of' dorsal fin to midabdomen,
the last -crossing caudal pedunclu; dorsal part of
heed and nape blacrk; head below level of eye light yellow-
?,reen with broad, irregular, blue-edgeii, rose-colored bands ;
median and pelvic fins b1.a~~~; pectoral fin with ray* blac.::,
membranes hyal ine . :. . .
. . , . ,.
Tkie one specimen seen was speared St,a depth of about 30
feet on the coralliferous tesraceor the outer. reef.
Hemigymnus melspterus
Labrua mclaptcrua 13loch 1791. Natur. auslhd. Fischc, vol. 5,
p. 137, pl. 285. (Type locality, Jacan).
2 speciuens. 100 and 119 am. 1 specimen. :2:3c;~un. ~.
Onotoa .
D IX,11; 11 II,11; P 11+; lateral line scales 28. (2 spe-
ciinens) . . .
Color br 330 nm specimen after one da;y .:in f.ormal. in: dark
green wit11 a purplish casC; slightly .cur'ved vertical narrow
blue lines on scales of body; head with-tortuous ro'se bands

except for a broad block of this color und.er eye; eye rime<
with irridescent green.
Color in life of 100 nun specimen: body ariterior to a
diagonal line of demrcation frorn second dorsal spine near3.y
to end of pelvic fins white; body posterior to this line to
caudal ped.unc1.e blacii; caudal. peduncle 3nd caudal. fin
yellow; 3 black spots in a vertical line at base of caudal.
fin on one side of fish and a single spot at thls locetion
on the other sirle; head do~sal to lower edge of eye blacs,
ventrelly whitish; pale blue spots, one per scale, locate&
posteriorly on blacii .portion. of body; dorsul fin black with
a reddish marginal bend; anal fir; black wi.t;h a nnrrow
reddish raargin and a blue s,ub.merginal band of about equsl
, .-
width.
.
Pse.utlocheili.nus -- Bleeker 1861. Proc. Zoo!.. Soc..i.oadon, p.
4.09 .T1ype species, Chailinus hexatc3enia Bl.ee%er) .
8 specimens. 38 - 49 mi. Onotoe.
Chej. linus - --- kexateenia, Ijleeker 18 57, .4ct, Soc. " JCL ' . Ir~d . !Jc:?rl, ,
vol. 2, 1;. . 4.. 7Type locality, limbon, :!Cast Indies).
D IX, 11, A II1,9; P 15 or 16; latczal line scales 23
(anterior part 18, peduncle part 5). (3 speciaens).
Color from 35 am Kodnchror~ie transparency: %o2y dark
bluish. (reddish on abd.onen) with 6 lengthwise bright; oran,ye
liner:; e sri~iill 'black spot at upper edgs of base of caudal
fin; dorsul and anal fins orange, dusky blue at base; caud~l.
fin Green, outer part yellow; heed bluish iiorsally, shading
to buff on snout and cheeks.
,111 specimens \vere secured with rotenonr: iii t,he l.s~?.oor?
or p~~c~tected. oute1: reef .waters.
-
/ \.
C11~'linus Lacepcds 1802. Bist. nat. poiss. vol. 3, p. 529.
I?'ype species, --- Cheilinus --- trilobetus ~ackh~de).
Cheilinus - trilobatus
I \ . . .
-.--...-- Cheil.ir~us triibbatus Lncepede lZG2.. . .
i-ilsk. nat. poiss., vol ,
. . 3, pp., 529.; 537. (Type local.ity, iG~adaea:;crr, 2:::iur8:tiu:;,
and Reunion) .

9 specimens. 50 - 220 ma. 1 specimen. 17 m.
Onot oa r .
D I*,10; .A 111,s; P 12; lateral 'line scales 25 (anterior
part 16, peduncular part Y). (5 specimens).
Color in life of 173 rm specfmen olive brown with a
vertical. orange-red line in the lriiddle of each body ' scale;
numrous orange-red spots and short lines on head, the 4
longest lines radiatin~ anteriorly fro& eye; chest ind
sbdoiflen with Large orange spots, the largest in mid-ventral :
line; soft dorsal and anal fins reddish withgreenish rays;
anal fin, in add.itl.on, blotched with brown; spinous portion
of dorsal fin orango distally with a ~ N R V peen ~ submarginal ..
line, then. a narrower orange line, and blotched orange and .. ,
green at the base. : . .,. .
>%alley specimens usually had broad vertical derk end
, light areas on the side of the body and a series of about 5
dark spots midlaterelly, the more posterior spot:; bei,.ng more
conspicuous. The 17 ,ma .specimen is provi,sisnel.ly identified
as Uobat~is. It was peon in life nnd had %he 5 aedian
spots on the body from behind gill opening to base of caudal
fin,
The 220 11Ui specimen has a pronounced tri-1-obecl caudal fin.
The species was most commonly taken in the lagoon.
--
Cheilinus undula tus
C~reilinus - undulatus I?Uppell 1835. Neue Wirbelth. Pische,
. p.: 20, pL. 6, 'fig. 2. (Type locality, Rea Sea).
1 specimen ,370 mm. 2 specimens 77 and 78 nun. Onotoa.
, .
I) I;i:,lO; 1: 111,s; P .12; lateral line. scalcs 25 (enterior
. :>ert 16, peduncular part 9). (2 specimens).
Color in life of 675. mm..c;pe'cimen (discarded in field due
to large size) : olive '&sen with broad vertical dsrk brown
lines on .body ~cales (these lines anterior to tip -of pectmr&l
orknge-brown); ;insari reticulated with alternating orange
and gray lines; 2 black lines extending posteriorly from
or bit, the lowerrilpst. the longest; rdsdian fins. narrowly -6arred
wiLh olive-green and.. br~wn; pectoral fins oli-ve; . pelvic fins
dusky.
77 an& 78 ma specirnens with. br~ad .verbice1 dark bars on
body due to a vertically^el6ngate blackish spot on outer
edge of each body ..sacale .in these' areas 'and absence of this
spot on,nost of the scales.in intervening pale areas; two
black lines extending diagonally an6 posteriorly frog orbit
and meeting jus,t anterior to upper edge ,pf gill opening: a

similar pair of dark lines extending anteriorly from eye
toward mouth (these lines faint in 370 ixi specimen).
The two scla1.l specimens .wre hken in a sandy-bottomed
pond-1ili.e boii;: of water narrovily confluent with the la,

Genu:: %PI>3UI,IS
153
Cuvier 1817. ~&ne animal, p. 264. (Type species
insidiator Pallas).
Wbulis -- insidiator -
Sparus ixsidiator Pallas 1770. Spicil. Zool., vol. 8, p. 41,
pl. 5, fig. 1. (Type locality, Jova).
4 specimens. 87 - 220 ILL?

. .
------
. - ' f
Scarus microrhinos Blesirer 18jjL+. hat. TiA::.sc!lr. Sea.- Indie,
val.. 6, p. 200. . .. . (Type locality, %ttivia, Jsva).
't
-- Eleeker 1854. Xat. Ti jdschr . Ned. Indie,
Scarus javanicus
vo:!. 6, p. 19S'. ('pipe locnlitq, Jzvc).
No speci~ens were taken. L ~ r parrot-fish p
were seen on
the ou-ter coralliferous terrace wili.oh may have been this
species. They ~ppenred gr,y uniierw?.$er; vuj.t'h the posterior
half of tfle body abruptly paler th@n.the mt'erior half.
. .
>,: :
. .
. . .
, . ,. .
. .
Scarus f'orraosus
.
..
. -- -.-.-
. .
---
' Scnrus forr~osns Cuvier &nd. ~alenciennes 1839. Xist. nat.
psis~. , vol. lLi,. p. 283. (Type,' locality, Hawaiian ,Islands).
-
, .
Pseucloscarus schlegeli Blesker 1.861.. Verslfig. ' 4kad. Vet.
Irmsterd~i, vol. 12, p. 24%: (Type locality, Celebes).
1 speciiaen. 180 im, Onotoa.
.. .
Scnrus forsteri
. .
scarus forsteri. Cuvier and Vhlenciennes 12839. Kist. nat.
1 -
pois:;., vol.. 14, p. 275. (Type locality, ~a,hi3i,):,i

---- Scarus - globicegs - Cuvier and Valenciennes 1839. Hist, net.
poiss., voL. 14, p. 242. (Tyge l,.ocality, 'Tahiti).
. .
1 specimn. 170 rnm. Onotsa.
1 specinen. 2th0 rm, Butaritari.
~'SEU~WUS .- - -, brevifilis ----- Ghther 1909. Tour. hius. Godeffroy,
vol. 6, pt;. 1c p. 327, pl. 161. (Type locality, Ta$iti
and ' libemailla, Gil.bert Islands ) . , .
. .
7 specimens. 23 - 225 mn. Onotoa.
--- --.
i s , . 3 .
:;carus. 1epid.w Tecyns 184.2. Z~ool. voyage "Seagle 'I, pt . 4,
-
(Type locality, '.l:ihiti).
Cellyodoa laxtoni lk%itley. 19118. Rec. Lustralian Nus., vol.
22, p. 9TI-;j%n isl.and).
-.--- Callyodon vermicu1at;us F'owlw an:! 13ea:: 1928. Zull. U. '3. Kat .
Mus. 100, vol~'.?, p.. 4.72, pl. li9. (~ype local(ty,
~hili~~ine Islands .. .. 1.. . .. . .
. .
2 specimens. . 65 end 2!l.0 Lax. 0not.oo.. :
. . .
Scarus - chlorodon Jsnyns 184.2. Zoo]. . voyage qfi?ea{:le", pt. 4,
Tioh, p. 105, :pl. 21. (Type loculity , Keeling .?sl:and;
Indian Ocean).
: .
!I
Pseudoscarus alti~:innis Gunther 1909. Tour. Kus. Godeffroy ,
vol. 6, pt .576;-p.%, 91. 160. (iLingsnil1 1slar:ds) .
3 specimns. 150 - 205 ax. Onotoa.
1 specimen. 260 nr. Butaritar?. . . .. . ,.
-- --
Scarus oviceps Guvier and ~elenciennes ld39. Xist. mi;. piss.,
vo:. 14, p. 244. (Type locality, Tahiti).

- -
4 sp~cimers. 12e - 223 1x11. Onotoa.
i)
:?carus niger Por sknl 1775. Descir . animI.iu.ii, pp.' x, 28.
ryge locality, Xed Sea).
-- --_....
. ,
3 spaci:.iens. 135 - 200 ixi. Onotoa.
. . . . . . .
Scerus eeruginosus
. . , . -1 - . . .
. . . . . . .
,
. . . .
.........
Scnrus aEru,%iimsus Cuvier arid Valencier~ries i03.9. T3ist. nrrt.
po:.ss., 801. 14,. p. 2.57. (Type locality, Red %a) :
. ........ .
Cuvier .ant3 .~al:.enoien'nes.l.~~?; Hist. nat .
p. 252. (Type l~uali.t':?,. Seychell.es) .
2 speciriiens. 78 and 87 rm. Onotoa.
. .:
.....
. , .
,.. . .
Scnrus ghobban
...... , . ... . , .,
. . . . . . . . .
. . :., . >
. . . ,..>
--
--..-- -
: Q . .
Sca~xs ghobbari Pclrs!:al 1775. Descr , anir;lnlium, p. 28. (Type
locnlity, Tied &a) . . . . . . .
Il
?si:udoscorurs rmretti Grmther 1903. J3ur. E1u.s. GoclefProy,
vol. 6, PF. 16, p. 306, . . pl. . . 153, fig. C. (Type locality,
Kingsiuill Islands).
. . . . . .
ic specimens . 1 6 - 1 .x. onotoii. . .

This is a reddish brown parrot-fish with longitudinnl
lines on the body, red fins, and a pale caudal peduncle
which will 'be described as new by L. S. Schultz.
Shlorurus Swainson 1839. Nnt. hist. class. fishes, amphi-
bians,. . , vol. 2, p. 227. (Type species, ;Scarus gibbus).
-
.I 'I
Scarus -1s RuppelI 1828. :?tlas Reise nordlichen Afrika,
p. 81, pl. 20, fig. 2. (Type 'locality, Red Sea).
,A school of over 20 very large parrot-fishes with tremen-
dously swollen foreheads was observed st the west reef at
Onotoa. Frori my c?eucription Dr. Schultz believes thut these
vkre gibbus.
L-
. .
Chl.orurus bicolor. '
-
Although this spec'ies was seen on nunierous occasi ons , no
specimens were taken. . A. cl.ose-range spearing attempt
resulted in the securing of..:a single scale frois a larc,e
adult;. . . ,
No kypho'sids were collected in 'thg ~ilbert Islands by the
: suthor; however, unidentified iiidivZdunls :of the genus
Kyphosus were occasioaally seen underwater.
-
L follow Fovler (1,928: 221) in consideria.g J%chyrretopon
squarnosum Alleyne 81x3 &cleay as a 'synonym of -.. Kyphosu.~
cinerascens ~orskgl.
.. I
Ky hhosus Lacepede 1802. Hist;. nat. poiss., vol. 3, p. 114.
.%specie., Kyphosus bigibbus ~ac&$?de Xyster - fuscus
Lacepede) .

. ' . .
, i
The butterfly an& ange1'f.sh,cs 1iec.d r!:o ir!trocluction. ..
!!!ith the.i:r. strikinp, colsr nattcrns nud, high coi:j:res::ed 30(116:;,
they sre well kriown to 81.1. They we:re very csns?icuous on
Gil.be'ft inlands reefs, especial1.y' :the s;~eci.en with bright
yellow col.or . One wondert; r?t tkf; s~.irviva!. yai.!.:e 0:;: eu.ch
color w":ich 30 attracts the eye. To ny %nol!il&d{re it doer;
not advertise poisonous spines Qr. distasteful y::alitics
(at lea3t.to-nian). 3omc authors such as !ior~?cn..(l9?1: 21%)
have s,tressecj: the role of disruptive cd?oratio.n in the . . 51i:ck
bonclr, and spots that are 86 often pr.es

Although observed in nearly all habitats, the butterfly
fishes were no where abundant. They were usually seen
singly or in pairs.
Genus . CHAETODON
Chnetodon 1,innaeus 1758. Syst. nat., ed. 10, vol. 1, p. 272.
('i'ype species, Chaetodon capistratus Linnaeus) .
Chaetodon auriea -
0
Chaetodon auriga 3'orsl;al 177.5. Descr.. animalium, pp. xiii,
60. (Type locality, Red %a).
Chaetodon setifer Kendell and Goldsborough 1911. Mem. Mu&.
*r---
CoJW. Zool., vol. 26, p. 306. (ButarS.tariZj.
2 specimens. 90 and 125 rim. 12 specimens. 22 - 2.5 mi.
Onotoe ,
Color in life white, yellow-orange posteriorly and on
soft dorsal and anal Tins; a brood vertical. black bnr through
eye; a large black spot in outer part of soft dorsal fin
edjacent to ray which extends as a filament; 5 diagonal
blac!c lincs running from opercle toward spinous d-orsal;
about 9, similar parallel linss ,perpendicular to the first
set and runnlng across chest and side of body to base of anal
fin; fi brownish region dorsally between yellow and white
coloration of body in which there are yellow lines n8ralle.l-
ing both sets of black lines as described.
m. ~nis was the rmst; abundant species in the Onotoa 'lagoon.
Chaetodon ephippiun
--.
Chaetodon ephj.p.pium Cuvier and Valenciennes lg31. Hisl;. nat.
polss., vol. 7, c. 80, pl. 17h. (Type. locality, Iilolucoas
and ~ocie ty Tslands) . . .. , .
. .
1 specimen. 135 mn. . 3 specimens. 19 - 36 ma. Onotoa.
D ~111, 23; 4.111, 20;P 16. (1 specimen]. '
. .
. . . , . . .
Color from 35 rm Xodablirome transparency light gr2.v with
a large purplish black Rrea on bick aj:d dorsal fin posterior
to 6th dorsal spine, this area broadly bordered ventrally
in white; tip of snout and a broad region ventrally on cheat
to orl.gin of pelvic fins- orange; about, '6 lf?ngthwise purplish
line8 on lwer half of side of. body; caudal- fin purplish ,. .,

.hgalinc with upper and lower lobes narrowly yc?I.lo~~, an3 base
rkddish or8nl!ge; a band of yellow and re(+-oran('e in cuter
nort of sort ilorsal. fin runnin,? froa b:!se of filament to
d l of soft dorsnl; anal fin white with a brned yellow
i:ins@inal and a reddish. slubmsryinal band,;,.?elvics yellow.
... . . . .
. . . .
~.,
This species was seen onl.~~ in the la(l,ognat ,Onotoa.. '
......
Chaetodon - lineolatqs
C;h.~etuuon - I.'kneoi.o.tus
.---.--- Cuvisr ail6 Valeiicienms 1831. Hii;t. nrit..
poi!;s, ,. val,: .7,.. ,p: liO. (Type locality, ;!ia'u'r,itius) ..:. ......
.......... i :. . .
Chcetcdon lir,eoiatus (.;ilnther. 12'73. Jour . i'fus. Oodeffroy ,
--.---- -.-
~03.. 2, pt. 3, p. 4.5, &. 34, fig, A. (Xingsiaill Islands) .
.
. .
. . . . . . . . : , .. ' . , . . . .
Chaetodon :~?:ig.i'uuxlils . . :. ...... ..................
. ,.
..........
- ----- . ,.,.,
. . .
, , :.,
. . . ,:. ...
' . Colo?: fro16 35 fim Koie:.,chro:ne ;traa5$a?ency w:i:J'te, (ii;z!c:q
white phsteiibrly , with 3 vert :Leal: block bar e:iten.diilg Pro.?
nap thkough ?;ye .to istimus; a blac~: 11.!16 6.k bnqe of spinous
4or.snl;' bl?oadenil@ into a band fit hase of soft. cl;o:'s:fl, anc!
' chi$inuin.~'a0ross
. . bzse of criudal fin on to anal fin'; 6
. .diagonni ,nar.r'orv, Mac!; lines. running .fror?, upper part of bend
'toward :ipino~~:: dorsal. fin; 12 sirnilas lint;?, ~)ernend.j.cul:.~r to
first set running,:across body froward anal Sin and base of
... : caudal. .... Pin; soft dorsal d.n yellow with a broad black ,?larain;
' aim1 f'in yellow wit1t.a pale margin and a black submarginal
line; caudal fin yellow (except narrow fiiarg,.irl which ia
hyoline j with 2 vertical. black bars, the outer one narrow
mil submerginal ts hgsline out,er psrt of fin.
C. vagabund~is was taken only in the ,lagoon. It was more
,- -
characteristic: of areas of rich coral growth 'than iiurig,n or
epiij-ppium which :;ee~ti to prefer s@ n d y rc+gions with'TZTTe
coral.
. . .
. .
Chaetodori ori?atissi~~~l~s
Cuvier and Valericienms 1.831. Hist.
nut. poiss,, vol.. 7, p. 22. (Type local.ity, T~hiti.).

1 specimen. 1'5 I . dnotoa .
color 'from 35 mm Xodechrsme transparency white with. 6.
proirrincnt diagonal orange 'bnnC.s crossicp, 'body, the most
'v€ntrril nearly parallel with base of anr.1 Tin; h.ead and
nape qellov!; a vertical black band tkrough eye; a vertical
blakk l.ine just bkhind eye extending ssa submarginal line
int6 the ilorsal fin, meetin3 at its terrrrinus the fourth..
orange body bend; a vertical black line on snout; 1.owf.r lip
black: a &sky orange verti.cal line on opei*culum; caudal
fin with'baoal half white, then a black band, a broad yel.10~-
ish a:'ea, n.nd a black uargin.
'T!?e species v!as only sip:htol"l on. tw occasions, each tirne
on t.he corallj.ferous terrace-. of the outer reef.
Chaetodon -.- i,it; er4. Wioc.h' and 3chnsider 1801. SyBteiia iclith . ,
p. 233. ' ~l.ocaii.ty,
. . t M~luccas) . , . . . . ..
. .. .
coior 'fror.1 35 K6dachrofile transparency white' with, long
curving black bands as follows: on€ beginning as a submarginal
bwnd .near end of soft dox$zl .fin, leaving fin at level
of 4th dorsal spine and sweeping across onerculum hnd chest
to baseor' -anal fir,; r: second beginning dorsally near 'base
of:eeudal .fir,, 'extending to base of pectoral fin, up to..'
s.pinous &or'sa:, and cilrving back to pectorzl bane; third arid
fo~urtk: beginning beneath pectoral fin, running dia?,onally
bdckto sof't dorsal, an2 curvi1-igror1;~1a'rd 'on this fin; a
yellow-nargined, verti cal , black bzlr through eyt; ; all fin$
,yellow, median fins withblack bands; a row of orange 'dots
in soft rlo~sal, several rows dorso-anteriorly on body, and 2
nnrrow , vertical, oranp,e lines in cnudal Pin.
. . . . . .. , .
This striking sgecies wss tej:~;n both, in the lagoori and
,in owter re'ef areas, but alMays in regions of .hip,h coral -..
. . . .
cover.
. . Chaetodon falcula
. . . . , . .
I1
Chnetodon --- fulcu1.a Bloch 1793. Xatur. auoland, Yische, pt. 7,
p. 102, pl. 325,, fig. 2.. . .- . . .

3 XII, 21+; b 111, 20; 1, 15 or 16. (3 specimens).
Color. fron 35 !r; Xoriachrom transpnrency dusky whito,
yellow ~o~teri.orly, ~.~itij. 2 large vertical ?>lacliisl: areas on
si.de and. extending on to dolxcrl fin, the first just behind
head, the secmd ad.jacsnt to yellolii color of .pssterior !::art
of body: about 17 vertical blricii lines on body, Diore
apparent in r\,hitish arss between th.e two blackish areas; :i
verticd black band crossing head and passing through eye;
a black spot tit beise of caudal fin; ncrli.an fins yellow,
ciiuds:~ with edge hyaline and a submrginel black line;
i ,. ...a i si;j.net submrginal bloc^ lines i~l dorsal and anal; pel.vb
fins 1wh.ite; pectorals hyaline.
A11 of the spc':cimens were collected in th.6 lagoon around
coral hsads.
.- --
-.- Cheetodoil -- klej.ni
Chaetodon kleinil. Rloch 1790. hhtur. ausland . r rschf:, pt. 4.,
p. '7, pl. 21i3, fig. 2. (Type local.ity, East Indies).
4 specimens. 36 - 80 me. Onotoa,
9 t . ., .
Color in life of 00 mn specinen dusky yellowish on
anterior half of body , dull orange posteriorly and on Ciorsgl
and anal fins; e vertical blacx band runnine from nape across
head through eye end curving across chest to pelvic fins
which are derl;; 2 iadj-stinct broad vertical brown areas, the
i'irst just behind. h3ad, tile second at front of post-erior
orange paxt of body; caudal fin yelloi,,i with a white band at
bas^:, cater one-i'ow th hyaiiile ; posterior e r t 'of soft
dorsal find. soft am1 fins with narrow hyaline .margin and a
narro: blsck submarginal line; tip of snout black.
n
A rare specie:;, 2. klefni wac talcen. 3.n only tlwo localities,
one 5.n the lagoon in 18 feet of water near a large
coral head and the other on the outer.. reef on the lee side.
- Chaetodo~ - bennenti - .
5 specixe~s. 75, - 120 mn. Onotoa.
I) XIV, 17 or 18; A 111, 16; P 16 or 17 (mostly 16).
( 5 spe cimsns ) .
color from 35 mm Kodacbrome transpeienc!? 37eli.o~ ~di tb n
large round black spot rimmed in blue on t,he hack just

. ,. . . ~ . .
posterior to midpoint of .bod.y;.areq around this lack spot
dusk:^;. t ~ o bright blue bands orYgiaatidii, on opercle and
passing p~sterio,~ly u'nd ventrally ori bbey ;. a blacxish bluabordered
band running froin nape acror-;ir head through eye.
. Chaetodon bennenti was found in all major regions of tho
atoll, butTas not COiiiinon in any.
Chaetodon -
-
Chaetodon quadrimaculatus.
'q~adrinaculatus
(Tyr~e l~cality , .I%awiiun is1a:ids) . .
1 specimen. 38 m. Onoton.
- Gray 1831. . zool. E4isc. , .p. 33 .:
Color in alcohol: body dark brown on dorsal, half, pale
yellowish (yellow in .li.fe) ventrally; 4 round pale (~~ilite
in.life) s2ot on aiddle of back just above lat.w&l line; a.
,.:8@cond pa.le area ('also white in life on back, hdlf way from
+aLe spot to bas@ of caudal flii (this area confluent with
pp&e yellowish o'f:lo?~B~'.half of b'ody) ; head pale with a '-.
black bordered baaa (recalled ar, o'rsnge in lif el running'
from 0rigj.n of dorsu!. thkough eye '%a lower edge of onerculum;
.a caudal fin an8 @osterior1mrts' of 'soft'dors?,l aild anal Sins
., pale ; pe1vi.c fins' :pa 1s;: pebtoral Tin:: .hyaline.
t .. , . , : . . .. . . , . < .. . ,.
, ' . :.I . .
The sihy1.e s~mll. -spee~iraen:wak"th& o:lly one seen at ~no'toa.
It was spearea ~ClosB'inshor&..:of f the:sm.alX I.sland of
,, Zi.unteuna in bhe northern part-of .the'atolL. :
. . . .
:, . . . .
. ~.
. ...
,' .
-.- Chcetodon . lunula
.. .
. . . . . . , .
D XII, 24 or 25; A 111, le; JJ 16. (2 specimens).
Col-or from 35 mm Roc?echrsme transparency of 62 mn snccimen:
dorsal half of body and bano of dorsal fin blackish
purple; ventral bulf .%i' bod~d~rty- ye~'&tv; head pele iv!.th
a vertical black band through. eye.;, adjacent ,and yostsrior
to this, a broad vAlk
. . e; bmd;'. a 11,ro'dd b3:ac.!r band. bordered. -.
with yellow narrowihg: 82; i't .patsse+,' tts' cii'ddle of base.'or'
spinous dorsal fin; a ltirg'e .black area .o.ri"baudal peduncle
edged in bright, yellow; a blacic spot in fiiiddle bsse 08. soft
dorsal. fin wigh a ysllow Tine running f roh 'ft s 'ikseto;.'
yellow Elrea at front of block area oil bEiu.dal pedunc1e;"basal
. .

half of caudal fin yellow, outer half.clear, these two r
regions separated by a narrox black band; dorsal fin with
a distinct black marginal band, yellow s~tbrnarginally; anel
fin. yellow with a narrow black kargin;. pelvics yello:,vi'sh;
p&ctorals yellowish-hyaline; faint diagonal. lines on body.
This well-known species was eeen in rndny mtoll. environ-
ments, but moot commonly in the lagoon.
--- -
---
Chaetodon trifasciatus
Chaetodon trif~sciatus Mungo Park .Lr?97. Trans. Linn. Soc.
London, voL, 3, p. 34. (Type locality, Sumatra).
10 specimens. 22 - 37 ram. Onotoa.
Color from 35 nro iCod.iichrorne transparency tan clor:;ally.
shadin&!. to orange-yellow ventrally with about ll+ narrow,
slightly curved, iengtlxwise:, purplish lines on siZe of body:
a b1ac.i: bar., edgc;d in .bi!ight oranye-yellow, on head passing
through eye; posterior and adjacent to this e narrow white
and a mrraw blac:!:: band; end of snout blas!:; basal part of
spinous dorsal with many na.rro?v lines such a:; apnear on
body ; outer inembranes of :qinou.s dorsal hhitisb; soft c3:orsnl
with 4. lengthwise bands of about equal width, a light dusky
outer band, a white band narrowly edged in black, a yellow-
ish 'band, and a black basal band. (broader posteriorly and '.
edged in yellowj; base of anal soft fin bluish; th.en a
broad shite line, a black Sand, a narrow bright yellow llne,
a broad blackish area, and a narrow wh.iti.sh mrgin; anal
spines dusky orange; caudal peduncle.,blu.ish. with a black
spot dorsally (in line with black band at base of soft
dor,qal.) ; caudal fin white on base, followed by R vertical
black 'band, a narrow yellowish line, md owter one-third
hynline; pelvic fins yellow; pectorals hyalino.
A very omnipresent chnetodont, thLs species wa:~ prabablg
the r~iost abundant generally at Oaotoa.
The stom&i contents of 7 adult specinens were examined.
They consisted primarily of &:reen algee.
----
Chaetodon -- reticulatus
Chactoiiori reticuln tus Cuvier and Va1encienn.e~ 1831. Hist.
nat. pis:;., vol. 7, p. 32, pl. 171. (Type loci~lity, '?tlb.ti,
and Ul.e:.% = Woleai, Caroline Islands).
This distinctive species was seen at Cinotaa, but; nu
spe ci~aens were 'taken.

illepa rotodon Guichenot 1848. Rev. Zosl
-ies, *todon -. bifasciatus
Valenciennes ).
, vol. 11, p. 12,
Cuvier and
Megaprotodon - strigangulus
Chaetodon strigangulus Gmelin 1788. Syst. nat., ed. 13,
p 1m.
2 specimens. 54 and 140 mu. Onotoa lagoon.
D XIV, 15; A IV 14 0.Y 15; P 15. (2 speciruens) .
Color -froit1 35 iim Rodachrorfle of large specimen white with
about 14. tT'--shaped lines on side of body, the bottor~ of'
each V pointing, forward about in mid-line of body (pasteriorly
there are more dorsal lirabs of the Vts than ventral) ;
:i black band, bordered in yellow, runtling from nape through.
cge to isthmus; caudal fin blacii vdtth u~ber and lower
nargins narrowly yellow, a black posterior margin, and a
yellow submarginal band; do~!!:al firi orange-yellow with a
very narrow black ~ar& posteriorly; anal fin pale yellowish
with a narrow black nargin- ovs:r ends of soft rays; pelvic
fins white; pectoral fins hyaline with a yellowish spot at
upper edge of base.
The 54 iila speciiiien has a larg? Llncl: crescent-shaped area
(preceded by a pa16 band) on hind '$art of boa, posterior
part of dorscl and anal. fins, anti bass of caudal fin:
posterior to this in the caudal fin is a pale triangular
aPea with a blac!.; line at its b3s.a which is submarginal to
. .
outer hyaline part of-' fiai ... . ...
Herliochus Cuvier lel7'. ' R&gnc anlrnai, ed. 1, vol. 2, p. 335.
(Type species, Ghaetodon =rolepidotus BLoch).
.Fln,niochu,s *-- aestiutatus Cuvisr and Talenciennes 1831: WiHt. nat .
poiss.., vol.. 77, p. 99.
2 qecinens. 118 end 127 m. 6 specicans. 36 -: 112 filr71.
Onotoa .
Color Of 42 fm juvenile specimen frora 35 rm Kodachrome
transparency white with 3 disgonal black bands on body, the

first running from napc across head to pelvic re[:ion, tkc; > .
second frow. the 3rd to ' 9th dorsal. spines (and. exter!.ding out
oil long filarnent of Lith dorsal :ipii~.e) to the soft ;ina1. fin,
arid the third (a nsrrciwer ,banL') ~t be,%€ of soft (10,rsql; a
pale-rimiiieA, black spot .in soft. Anal: f.in; caudal. fin h::al.ino
with a black spot at base of ugper rays:; pelvic fin?: bli?ck:
pectoral fins hyaline; snout yellow.
The young were. ts!cen fkom' tidepools: on the outer reef
flat ::nil in shallow l.ag,ooa or channel waters. The two
adults tiere Ooisone'd with roteilone fro~n. a rotected. outer
resf area with nuriieroos coral heads.
Chaetodoa acurninatus Limaeus 1758. Syst. nat., ed. 10, p. . :.
.1ndi&s ) .
---- , . . ,
24 specimeris. 25. - 46 mm. Onotoa.
T) XI, 25 or 36; A 16 or 19; j) 17 or 14. (5 .specirdens).
. .
Color ill alcohol ivhite wi tb -2 broaC1 diagonal blackbaado
on boiry, the first from anteri'or part of dorsal fin to pelvic,
fins (and incluct.i'nLy tiiem).', the ~ecoild :.froni 5th to 11th ddi;rsnl.
spine:. to ~bsterior h~ili' of unsT f'ifl. The nemb~aneocs
f'il::li!f;izt of the Lkth dorsnl qi:k of thPs species (not well
ii.evelo~a& in the smaller specimeils). is white.
Only juveniles were collected, all from shallow-water
lagoon 'areas.
-.-. Taurichthys verius Cuvicr 1829. Rsgne animal, ed. 2, vol. 2,
--,Ap.
19%. (-Type locality, East Indies).
3 specimens. 33 - 42 mm. Onotoa.
D X I, 23 or 24; A 111, 17 or 18; P 15. (3 specimens).
Color of 4.7 film speciixe!~ frow 35 m* Kodaci~rorne transparency
fiarx broxn with u white band running from origin of dorsal.
fir, across ysterior part of .head to chest arid another one
runniiig diaeonally frat;! posterior. part of spinous dorsal to
caudal peduncle; outer portion of soft dorsal fin and all
of caudal fin an6 pectoral fits hyalinn; pelvic and anal.
fins dark browri; numerous, pale, lengthwise lines fni.:itly
visible on body.
A l l spechen.s were taken from eround coral heads in the
lsgoon. One was speared. 11:; I). l:i. Strasbiirg.

Genus POi'lrlCBIUTHUS
/ .
Po~clcanthus 1,acepede 1802. Hist. net. poi~s., vol. I,., P. 517.
(Type species, Chaetadon arcuatv.~ -- Linnaeus , as restricted
by Cuvier) .
----- Poma ceuthus impera tor
Cbeetodon i.erator Bloch 1787. Na tur . auslznd. Fische, vol.
3, p. 51: pl. 174. (Type locality, Jupan) .
Pomacanthoides irnperator Whitley and Colefax 1938. Proc
Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, vol. 63, p. 293. (Nauru).
1860. Arch. Naturg., vol. 26, pt. 1, p. 1hO
Centropy~e
tibicen Kaup) .
Centropyge f lavisslmus
.EIolocc.nthus -- f lavissimus Cuvier and Valenciennes' 1831. Eist .
nat. ~oiss., vol. 7, p. 197. (Type locality, Ulea =,Woleai,
~aroline Islands). ! :?
3 specimens. 74 - 100 am. Onotoa.
. .
, .
D xIV, 15 or 16; A 111, 16; P 16 or 17. (3 specimens).
Color from 35 run Kodachrome transparency bright yellow
with a blue ring around the eye; edge of operole light blue
with extreme margin above base of pectoral black; spines at
corner an.d lovrer limb of preo,porcle Light blue; soft dorsal,
soft anal, and caudal fins with a narrow pals blue margin
and a thin blacli submrgj.na1 line.
. . . . .
The species was taken on. the outer reef.' or in the lagoon
where coral was abuildant. It is the most comon angel fish
at Onotoa.
Centrogyge bicolor -
1t
Chaetodon bicolor Bioch 1787. Nat. ausland. B'isobe, pt. 3,
-,-
p. 94, pl. 206, fig. 1. (Type locality, East Indin?).
Iiolacanthus bicolor Powlw 1928. Meal. B. i . Bishop Nus., vol.
10, p. ?%i,-~smill Islands) .

A small, bright pliow allgel f:i.sb with broad blue bars
was sighted at a depth of about 25 feet in the Onotoa lagoon
near a coral knoll. It was probably this species.
, ..
, Genus PYGOPLITGS
--- Pygopiites Fraser-Brunner 193 3 .. .~l'o.c.;.%ool..
p. 587. (Type species, Chaetodn
- diacanthus ~ofidaerty: I
, ,
. . .,. . . . . . . . . . .
...
. Soc . .lpndo.n, .._::. . :.:
;
. .
,, ,
1 syjecimen. l.lc0 mu. Onotoa .' .: ...... -
1 specimen. 131 mm. :Tara?.v,zi. ,
. . .
L,.~ ...... .. . :
Col-or from 35 mi?. ibdachrome transperency: body with . ~,,
alternate bers of blue pnd orange (the blue dark with pale
centers) which extend &..tb.:'qa@ c:urve bao;?,wards on d.orsal.
snd anal ,$ins;. caudal fin bri&.ht .'yell.ow; head and chest
purgl'isli;' 2 vertticil blue, ;lines .running froi;~ nape to eye;
razrgia of' opercle and i:ier&in bf pr.eoporcl6 with a blue line;
spine at oornor of' preopescle b1.ue; 'nout'h onange-y.ef.Lpw; .
pelvic fins orurige; pectoral fins hynline-yel.10~. .. .-.
. .
The '0n8toa:. specii~en was speared near.a eoral head in the
lagoon . . i.
.,
~. .,
. :., . . ...
. .
Platax Cuvier 1817. I;?gne nrri.za!., ed. I..,:vo~~.,'. 3, p. 334..
(~y5e species, Cbaetodon tiera Bloch)
. .
- --
0
Chaetodon pa--v orbicul.aris Forskal 1775. Descr. animi?liurn,'p. 59.
. . (Type locality, Red. Sea). . . . . ,
........
,
1 specimen, 88 ':urn.. Tarawa?
Teeth as in Fig. 49 b arid b0.b shape ns in l?ig. 51 (left)
of' \?eber and de Seaufort (1936) . ..... ......
...
, .

. .
Genus ZAECLUB
Zanclus ~uvier- and Valenciennes 1831. Hist. net. poiss. ,
vol. 7, p. 102. (Type species, Chaetodon cornutus Linnaeus).
-- Zenclus -- cornutus
Chaetodon cornutus Linnaeus $758. Syst. nat., ,ed. 1.0, p. 273.
(Type locality, Indies),
----- Chaetodon canescens Linnakus. 1758. ,Sys.t. na t. , ed. 10, p.
215.. . ' . .. ... . .
.
. . . ' t t
-- pt;. 11.; p. 1E, pl. 92. . . . .
Zanclqs cornutus Guntber 1876. Jour . Mus. Godef fl:oy, vol. 5,
. . . . , .
. .
--------
Zanclus canescens Herre 1927. Philip. Tour. Sci: , vol. 34.,
p. 472, pl, 8: . ..
, .
. .
~unclus cornutus - Herre, ~ ibid., p. 473, pis. 9, '10. . ,
Zanclus cornutus Weber and de Beaufort 1936. Fishes 1nd.o-
..Austral. Arch., vo?.. 7, 'p. 170, fig. l+&.
. .. ,., *
'~anolus canescens ~%ber' and de ~eaufort , ibk; $. 172, 'fig.
h5.
. . . Zanclus cornutus ?$oods i-n 13chultz and collaborators :1953.
. .
Bull. U. $. Bat. Mus. 202, p. 610, pl. 50, A. , . >,,
Zanclus canescens 'Yoods, ibid, p. ,612, pl. 60.
4 specimens. 57 - 130 ma. Onotoa.
. . Color fraig 35 5%
.. . . .
.. .
'' . ,
~ko,da&h~ome tl.'in3Q&ency 'of ilg '.&. .:
specimen: body white and yellow iirjtii a very broad bldck.'-
-yegion Sro13 origin of dorsal. and nape', &closing eye aria
base .of pectoral fin, and broadening ventrally on che&:'i.i.nd
. abdorzen; a broad;:b:leck band on .posterior ga~t .of body-,extencl.ing
into soft dorsal zndsoft anal fins (this ar.&fol.lowed.
;by R narrow white. .and a .na.rww black line ) ; caudal. peduncle
and posterior part of soft dorsaland anal fins y6llow;
cauda'l fin black with a 'white niafgin and a white diagotTa1
line at base; snout white with a 'black-edged, orange. saddfelike
mark dorsally; lower lip and outer half of chin- black;
pectoral fins hy~line with dusky rays; .pelvic fins)la'ck,.
Specimns were tai& from both the lagoon and. outer reef.
The stornach contents of .two adult specimens were examined
,
. .

and fouad to be most1.y algal. ii srnall amouat of bottom
sediment had also been ingested..
_ Thel.e has been a 'long-standing, - .. controversv as to whether
-, Zarrclus .--. - - .. - canesc6ns Liti..ntieus is the young of - Zanc1.u:; -- ._ . - .- csrniltu.~ - _ - - -_. - -
Lilinaeus or whether t.he two &re v~lid, specieu. Tkl,:: consensus
of recent works favors the latter opinion. !4eber and de
Beaufort (19%: 173) have revlewd the probler:, in detnil.
------
4ltlloiigh these authors adroit thet cbnescsns is probe~bly of
a ffiore pe?.a&o habit and no speciricns above SO ;air in length
(apparent1.y totai length) are known, they prefer to recog-
nize both spcies.
I have exaniried Zanclus in the collectisns of the U!ii.ted
States Netional ;?iluseum, Stanford Batural Eistorg W.:;euri,
California Acade;:,y of Science's, Bishop Xuseuit., and University
of Ikwaii. 611 of' the large specimens are counutus. Those
specimens with a proininent preorbitel spine-jw%ove ul.lr!
slightly posterior to the rictus (canescens ----- of sonle authors)
were all small, tle largest being .m in sta~~dard length.
Some specimens of typical --- cornutus were as small ns 52 ~1.2.
In my opinion canescenx -.- is the late post larval stay:e of
cornutrrs -, and -ze at trensfornie.tion from the --- canoscens
form to the juvenile ---.-- cornutus is variable ashes been demEZstrate;;
for various species of surgeon fi.shes (Breder,
Copeia 1949: 296) (?.andal.l, M9) .
-.-- 9 .' .
, . ..
Although specimens vere found v~hic!~. were variously inter-
~~ediate in colov between the pele (probably trsnsparent .in
life) -. ':EHeSCGn.S - with' silvery abdomen and the b3.ack-banded
cornutu,s, none were seen with the preorbital spine under-
.-
go= gradual resorption as was expccteil. Two specimens. at
the California Academy of Sciences (No. 7162), 52 and 54 LUU
in staadard, length., .provi.de a possib3.e answer to this enigrnn.
Although traces of silvery color are still present on the
abdomen of these specimens, and the broad vertical bars sre
not intensely blacl:, t.h.e spine on each side of both is corn-
pl.etely gone. At its site is a slightly depressed area of
exposed preorbital bane ,about the size of the base of the
spine. The epideriaio at the margin of this area is free and
jagged. This suggests that the preorbital spine may be shed
as a unit during tran~fori~mtion. It seem unlikely thnt the
spine on both sides of the bwo specinens would have been tor11
off during of subsequent to their capture. Confir.mation of
the hypothesis that the spine is shed could be most convin- "
tingly obtained by placing a live S2sc'ens i n an aquarium
and observing tho postulated transformatioa into ---- oornutus.
. . .
. .
I exaolinehthe' 63 rm specimen reported by '400d.s i,p ~chultz
and collaborators '(1953: 612, pl.. 60) as Z. canescens. It
was taken at the entrance to a channel to-~i-rll by
night lighting, and it still S ~ O ~ W S the sil.ver coloration over
the abdomen. On recounting the fin rays, I fi.r~.d that there
are 33 soft rays in the anal fin instead of 32. ?he 57 tia
speciinen rrom Onotoa is a late --.-- canescens form witi;. the

preorbLtal spine. Its fin ray counts are D VII,42; A III,35,
well wi,thin the range p,iven by "\roods for ---- cornutus: thus the
apparent separation of -. canesoens and --- cornutus by fin. ray
counts as tabulated by this author is probably not valid.
It resulted from his two s,necimens of canescens being, by
chance, ones with low counts.
Ts iiiy iinov~ledge, ~;nther (1876: 142) was the first to
indicate that Z. - --.--- canescens is the young of 2. -- oornutus. .-- - - He
used only the name cornutus; therefore thifialue is
preferred in spite the page nriority of canesccns.
-
The pair of supraorbital horns that are deemed characteristic
of cornutus were not seen on any mall examples of
-.- Zanclus. $om speci:aens ns large es 120 am in standard.
length lackee these bony prouineilces; others as small as
about 90 :.m had them at least partly formed. Good-sized
adult speciaens genernlly showed either well-developed horns
or s~ort nubbins. Fifteen such specinuns wfre sexed. Seven
had large horns and were all males; the remainini: eight had
shor t horns were f eroales. A 129 m ma3.e from the
Philippines had horns which exceeded in length ths diameter
.of the pupil of the eye. The horn length (measured from tip
to bnse where hesa sqGai.?ation api.:earsj of n l.30 rm female
talcn in the Gilbe1,t islands was contained about 4 timos in
the iliariietrr 01' the pupil.
It is suspected that the variability in l.ene,th of fish at
which horns devel-op is also a manifestation of sexual
differences, the males forming their horns sooner. T11i.s
could not be demonstrsted because of the difficulty in
6etermining the sex of subadulk' speci.mens thet have been im
preservative for many yefirs.
The swgeon fishes are wall know&for their herbioorous
food habits and the possession of defensive apparatus in the
fdrrn of a single folding spine or a pair of fixed, keel-like
spines on each side of the caudal peduncle. 4t Gnotoa they
were the roost abundant family of fishes of their size on the
reefs. Sone species such as ncanthurus mata, A. bleekeri,
.A. - pyroferus i= - celebicas) anm-omf;rie Neso were iiot
seen or. taken in the Gilbert 1slsnd.s but probarn-occur there..
Fol?ller (1928: 270) recorded. -.- Bcoctiiur.~~ dussumieri --- (as I-IepatUs
bsriene) from the Ringsmill Islanrlii. I-eiv of' the kiiordistlibution
of this species (liand~l.1, in press), this record
should be checked.
iin intersting zonation of d.ifferent species of acanthurlds
was observed on theouter sea reef at Onotoa. Xn inshore
reef areas, exposed as ti& pools at lo~w tide, the young of
- Acnnthurus tri2g.q- were very abundant. Farther seaward
but still on the reef' flat the adults of - A. --- triostegus were

the domiriarlt surgeon fishes. In the surc?e clmnnels three
.d
species of ~car'thurus - were boixnunonly seen. tL. guttatus was
observed in smoli schosls in .the bigh1.y turFulei:i; vater
to-:ard the apicesof the surge chan!lel&. j;. ---- ecl?j.iie:; was
occasio!lzlly seen in the same erea but see&$ to p~efer less
turbulexlt surge oh&rl~iel >uater to sskward. The colorfu-l
-
A. 1inenl;u.s occurred, t'nroughout the surge channels but pre-
doninated in the broad outer parts as. tb.e$ opened on to the
cor~llii'erous termce.. A. glaucopareiu:: and Ctenochaetus
stria tus were especially-nbundmt in. thz 1.8 tter zone.
,-.-.-
,Key to the Species of'~canth.uridae Iiecorded from
the G-ilbert Islands
ia. Caud~l. >eduncle armed on each side either ~4th 2 sharp,
laterally-projecting, fi.xedsp.ines or' a pair of imall
bony ;,rotuberences; aorsal spines V to VTI (u!iuall.t.
'\TI or VZI) anel .zpiries 11; ne1.vj.c i'in rays I,]; C4et84,
conical or alms t so , tvi t hout dent icu la ti onk or wl. ti:]
very sligbt rmcgi~:al swration; leest depth of caudal
peduncLe contained ,3. j to 6 tines in head length; a
proroixent Siiinp or horn or t en 1~reser:t on f oreilead .2
....
lb. Caudal neduncle orme on each si3e with a single, sl~r;rp,
folding spihe, fitting irlto a iioribntal. groove irl
siiie of body; dorsal spines :Pi, V! VII:T, or I':,i; an21
spin~,s 111; pelvic.fin:.rnys 1,3 or 1,s; teeth flattened,
always with prolainent r;iary,.i.iial den'ticula tions;
least d.c?cth of c:iudel peuumle conttiined 2.1 - 3. j
in head le.ngtli! a proainent bumr or bbrn never present
on i'orehcad. ...................... ;...,.......,,.....6
20. Caudal peduacle spines '%ad.. broad arm surrounding each
.
: .
. .
.
spine pule (orange in life) and in sharp contrast to
dark brown color of' rest of body; no horn. or Pony
prominence present on forehetid; a distiact pale
(yel1oi.1 in. life) f %no running dorselly from riotus
an& curving posteriorly to. eye ; margin of p5eope.r cle
pale. .................................. .W~BO lit~ratu~
- ,---
2b. Caudal peduncle ~pines or protuberences and surrounding
area not distinctly yler. th3.n rest. of body;.~l
conspicuous horn or.rounc1ed bori!: eninanoe present
on ?orehead of adults; color not as iil 2n. ........ ...3
. .
3a. i: horn-like protuberance on forehe~rt of adults.. ...... ,l+
3b. .A psomir,ent huq on foreheadof adults.. .............. .5
bc. of rostra1 horn posterior to rictus; body (except
in acroaurus or keris stage which is spotted) with-
. . oi" spots or. vertical. lines;. cau8al spines, surrouniied
by blackish areas (blue in life) ; teeth without G:ilirll
denticulations (though teeth at sides of jaw m y show

faint iiliirginal serration); pectoral. rays 17 or 18
(all el enients counted). ................ .Naso -- - unicornis -
4b. %se of rostra1 horn anteri.or to rictus: 'body faintly
marked with indistinct vertical dark lfn.es, ventrally
with spots; no blackish areas around caudal
spines: margins of teeth with small denticulations;
pectorol rays l5 or 15 ( all elements counted)
....................................
.........
.Nas brevirostris
-,- -
5a. Side of body without nurnerous long vertical dark li.nes;
head, dorsal 2/;1 of body, an& caudsl fin with many
small black. spots; dorsaJ. apd anal fins not elevated,
length of lest dorsal spine contai.ried more than 2
tirues in length of' snoiit; caudal spines (at least
in specimens as Large as 250 arn in standard length)
not lorig and blade-like with tips curved forward;
caudal fin w i ti10u.t long narrow f i.la.?lents.
.........................................
.............
P Naso ---". tuberosus
5b. Side of body with numerous long. vertical dark lines;
back, head, chest; an6 abdomen v.lth. mall .dark spots:
dorsal and am1 fins eleveted, length of last dorsal
spine about eaual. to length of snout: caudal seines
o? adults lon6afld blade-like -~ ~ wj.th tius curved
%,
forword (similm to -- 1i.turotus and. - unicornis); caudal
finmay have long, narrow, postsrior fnments, one
from the upper and one from the lower . . ..........
Naso vlamiilgi
..........................................
, , . . , .
we..--
6a. Pelvic fin rays I, 3; soft. dorsal rays 18 ,tG ;20; scales
on head broad and tuberculated; a broad black area
on back enclosing a.n oval grayish. (blue inlife)
region at tip of pectoral fin; a long yellowish
triangle (yellow in life) with apex anterior to caudal:
spine and base formd by truncate posterior margin
of caudal fin; upper and lower lobes of caudal fin
black, this color continuou.~ with black.on back; rest
of body grayish (blue ia life.). . -
.Paraicnntiiurus ----- !~.eratns
6b. Pelvic fin rays I, 5; soft dorsal rays 22 to 33; scales
on head not broad and tuberculated; color not as in
6a ................................................... 7
78. Dorsal spines IV or V; dorsal and anal fins elevated,
the first soft ray of the dorscl fin contained 2.0
to 5.7 tines ir? t!~e stai~dtird length; snout markedly
prodaced ............................................. 8
7b. Dorsal. spines VISI or IX; dorsal and anal fins not
elevated, the first soft ray of dorsai fin contained
4.5 to 7.5 in standard length; snout not marlredly
produ.ced.. ........................................... 9

8a. Dorsal soft rays 30 to 33;. anal soft rays 24 to 26;
dorsal and anal f i'ns' extremely elevated, the first
sof '6 ray of dorsal fin 2.0 to 2.3 in standard
length (1.23 in a 25 -run juvenile specimen) ; body
...................................
with . . alternating pule darkvertical bands.
.........
.;i,ebrrlsomrl veli:.'eruu
. .
8b. Dorsal 8ol"trays 23 to 25; anal soft rays 19 to 21;
dorsal and anal fins moderately elevjtei:., the first
: softray ordorsal fin '2.7 t'o 3.7 in st;andard
~. . , length. (2.2 in a 32 lira juvenile sy?cini&~?); body of
' . aii~lt . s brown. with faiilt, pic, nclrrow, lori(i:!tt
1.9 to 2 in head length. .... , . , , , , .Acai~th~~~ru.r
. . . . , ,,. . < ,.. , . . . . . . . . .
- 1i.11-::til.s -

12b. 'J:pper 3/4 or:' body not lined wi.th nbout 10 nearly
' horizontal black bends containing mdien pale lines;
.caudal spine not very long, about 2.5 to 8 in head
. . lenqth .............................................. 13
l3a. 3ody very dark brown or black with a white line under
' chin and a pale line or band at th'6 bane of the dorsal
and anal fins; mouth very small, its widtb from
r'ictus to ?ictus contairied. 5 to 6 tiaes in len&h
, . . , . . of head; iaaximum number of upper or lower teeth 12;
, body d.e@th relatively great, about 1.7 to 1.8 in
stazdard length; dorsal soft rays 223 to 33; an81
soft rays 26 to 29..... ............................. lk
13'3. Body not very dark brown or black with a wh.ite line
under ci1j.n and a pale band. at base of dorsal nn6
anal fins; rilouth not very small, its width from
rictus to rictu.s con.taj.risd 3.2 to L.8 in 1.erl~ttl Of
. .
head; 'nufiber of teeth in upper or 1ocGr jaw 14 to
24, (in fipeoiriens ,over 5 O .ma .long) ;. .bo%y bepth not
great, 1.8 to 2.l+ in standard length; dorsal soft
rays 23 to':2..8; anal ,sort rays 22 to 26 ............. ,15
148.. .Eody with. tl. .lar$e, eU~iptic'al. :>ale gellowish ( oI'ange
ill life) spot postoriorl~, enclosing caudal peduncle
. - . . spine. .(this pale area absent in specinens of about
65 nm or less in standard length) ; an elongate white
' spot at edge of opercle; no pale nrea under eye;.
pale line o:i chin not ~xtending above. rictus; caudal
fin Innate; dor'sal soft rays 29 to 211 (mostly 30 to
32). ............ ; ............... , .... .Acanthurus - nchilles
14'11. Body without a l.srp,e elllptictjl pale shot posteriorly;
no elongate white spot.at corner of opercle; a pale
area under eye; pnie lirie on chin ex.tendin& well
... al!o.v~.'~ictus; caudal fin erosrgimte to moderately
concave; dorsal soft rsys 28 to 31 (mostly 29 to
. ,
. . 30);. ...................... .; . Acanthl~ , p , l . a u ~ s
. .
158. Snout. very short, its length contained 7.9 to 8.2 times
in si;'sqdarrl length; teeth very small. .(great,est leng,th
of undetached upper teeth .7 mm in 135 ma specimen);
dark browa spot extending slightly below axil of
pectoral f,in; entire ceudal fi.n palel: than hod$. ......
..A caa-tJzss t&omps'oni
....................................
--
15b. Snout not very short ,. its' lenkth aontained 3.9 to 5.3
in standa'rd length; teeth not very snia.Il; no dark
brown spot extend.ing below ax.i.1 0.f pe ctorkl fin;
, ,
entire caudal fin not; pa1.s~ than body.. .I6
............
,16a. B black spot a t base. of. last few dorsal& and wnal rays..
.........................................,.......*..l , 7
16b. NO black spot at. base of last fev~ dorsal bnh' anal rays..
...............,............................,...e...l8
-
.

178. Caudal fin lunate, caudal concavity (horizontal
distalme from tip of u-pper lobe of caudal fin to
most anterior portim of hiud ed-ge of fi.n) contained
'4..5 to 6 tirces in st;xdard length; a definite black
. .mox~i,n a.round caudal peduncle spine groove ; black:
spot at axil of soft dorm1 -fin large, its greatest
~bidth contained less than 2 tiines in greatest d..i.smeter
of eps; 8 definite white margia to :-osterior
edge of' c~udal fil?.: ,shape of ex1d.s ol' medi.81 u:x:er
teeth (igiioring de.nti.cu1ation.s) pointed..
.P.canthurus tiigrof uscu!:i
...............................
.............
-. - .- .
17b. Candel fin not lunate, caudal cc>ncavitg coiltainsd 6.7 -
12, ti~nes i.n stnndarcl lenn,th; no b1ac.k .margin around
caudal pec:uncle'spi.uegroove; black spot at axil of
soft dor:;al. fin sm11, its greatest width contained
more than 2 times in grwtest di.ameter of eye; white
margin to posterior edge of caudal fin barely discernible;
&ape of ends of medial uppep teeth
rounded............................Acanthurus --- nigroris =--a-
lga. A horizontal pig~iented bar on shoulder, eitiier mtirely
black or pale yellowish with dark margins (this bar
not present in juveniles) ......................... -19
1Bb. Eo horizontal pip;:;:iented bar' on shoul:!er. ............. .21
19a. Shoulder bar pale yellowish (orange in life) edged in
black (in specimens below about 80 mi the black
border is riot present; in spoci.mens below about 4.5
m there is no trace of a bur at all); a broad, white,
crescedt-shaped region in postero-central part of
coudal. fi.n; body unifsrm brown (pale in juveniles
which are yellow in life) without lon itudinal lines;
dorsal soft ra!{s 21 to 25 (usually 247; anal soft
rays 22 to 24 (usually 23). ...... .Acanthurus olivoceus --.A
lgb. Shoulder bar black; no broad, white, crescent-shaped
region in postero-central. part of caudal fin (though
a white terminal inurgin is present on the caudal fin
of 2. r;"mj; body dsrk brown, with or v~ithout faint,
narrow, irregular, pale, longitudinal lines; dorsel
soft rays 24 to 28; anal soft rays 22 to 26,....,...20
20a. Posterior edge of caudel fin with a distinct white
margin; a I.ong, bl.ack, lancet-like line extending
forward from anterior end .of caudal neduncle spine;
no 1.on.gitu.dinal bnnds or 1.i.nes in dorsal. or anal
fins; no narrow, irregular, pale, longitudinal lines
on body; no yellow spots on hend in life; dorsal
... soft rays 25 to 211 (usually 26 or 27); anal soft rays
24 to 26.. .............. , ........... .-. .I?can thurw: -
20b. Posterior edge,of caudal fin without a d.istir!.ct vdhi.tt:
margin; no long black. line extending forward fro!c
.
FI~!~'~Q

caudal peduncle spine; dorsal fin with longitudinal
dark brown bmds (about 8 in soft dorsal.) alternating
wth pale bands (yeilosish in life) 3f nbout
the same uridtb.; numerous irregular pale (yellowish
in life) lonqitu-dinal lines on.body (faint or absent
in przserved speci.mens); yellow spots on head in
life; dorssl soft rays 24 to 26 (usually 25); anal
soft rays 22 to 21+ (usually 23) ..kcanthu.rus
-, . maculi9g
-
,---.
21a. Outer 1/3 of pectoral fin ?ale (yellowish in 14.fe)
and contrasting vdth darker basal 2/3 -of fin (in
specimens over about 120 mm .in standard 1.ength);
dorsal fin with about 4- broad lengthwise bands; .
caudal fin very lunate, caudal c~ncavity abbout 4.5 ,
to 7 in. standard length; caudal spl.ne usually small,
about 4.5 to 5.5 in length of head; dark marsin.
around socket of caudal spine usually narrow and
indistinct; anterior gill rakers 16 to 22. posterior
gill rakers 17 to 22. (1ndo-pacific]..
................................
..........
--~ Acanthur~s -.- xs~~tho&terus -..-
21b. Pectoral fin uniform broun; dorsal fin (at least in
Hawaiian specimens) with about 8 narrow lengthwise
bands; cau-dal fin not very lumte, caudal concavity
about 6 to 10 in standard leng+tli; caudal spine
usua!.ly not smz.l.1, abou"u tt L1,.2 in length of head;
a 5-finite dark brom or black mary;in around socket
of cmdal spine forniin$ an area about twice as high
as ~aximum wid-th o'f splne; white band aC base of
caudal fin usually distinct; anterfor =ill rakers
21 to 25; posterior gill rakers 23 to 25. (Indo-Vest-
Pacific)
.
...............................................
.Acanthurus ----- - mata (not yet known from Gilbert Islands)
22a. Body with numerous pale longitudinal stripes (may be
faint in preserved specimens); interradial membranes
of pectoral fin hyaline; margin of lower lip smooth;
teeth of upper jaw w'ith 5 to 7 (usually 6) denti.culations
on expanded ends ......... Ctenochaetss ,s_t~fat~~
22b. Body with stripes, when alive speckled with numerous
bright blue spots which may or may not persist in
preserved specimens; interradiel membranes of pectoral
fin ?ark brown; margin of lower lip napillate;
teeth of upper Jaw with 4. denticula+,ions (counting
-the tip) on expanded ends.. ........... ..Ctenochaetus
-
Genus NASO
-. SJ.
FJaso ~ac;$de 1802. Hist. nat. poiss., vol. 3, p. 105. (Type
speci~s, -- Naso -- fronticornis Lac6pSde = Baetodon un_@-~_r_n~e
Forskgl.
.

- ---
Naso lituratus
' Aqanthurus lituratus i3loch and Sci-ineider 1801. System
: ichth. , pp. xxxvi'ri, 216.
. .
his unmikt'&fible species wan sighted ococ::ionully under-
.. .. waterht'0iiotoa and also at Butaritari; however, no s~eci-
. .. mens were secured.
!
. . Naso - -- unicornis -
Ci%etod.on -.- un1.corn'l.s Fors!c$l. 1775. Descr. ' anira:~ium, 1:.
-637(Ty2e locality, lljedda, Red Sea).
xiii,
l\!useue -- unicornir;
-.- ~hther 1873. Joar. Mus; Godeffrog, voi.. 1,
pp. IITf-121, yl. YE.
KRSO -- unicornis ---- Vhitley and Colefax 1936. Proc. Lini?. qoc.
N..S. :!!ales, vol, 63, p. 297. (Nauru). .
_.
- - 1
-. -. - --
Naseus brevirostris - Cuvier ana Valeaciennes 1835. Rist. nat.
pols~., rol. 10, p. 277. (Tyw locality, hioluccas, M~uritius,
New Guinea, and 1ndia.n 0cean7,
Naseus ...- brevirosbris. -.-
~hther' 1873. Tour. Xus. Godeffrsy, vol.
7
. ,
-- -
p. 121, pl. 79, fig. A. (iiingsmill Islands) a
. ~
. ,
. , .. .
-- .., . . .
, Naso tuber,asus ,, . .
Naso tuberosus i,acQ,pkde 1802. Bist. nat,. p.oi..ss.., ,vol. 3,
1' . 1.11, 111. 7, fig. 3. . . . .
. .
11
--
Nsseus tuberosus Gunther ,1873; Jour. Ivius. dodeffroy, vol. I,
. . . . . .
p. 12.3, pl. 8G.
.. . . . . . .
--.... Na'so - 1;uberosus l?owlt,r 1928. Mem, B. 1). Bishop Fun,, vol.. 10,
p. 276.Tahert islands). . .
Naseus vlamingii Cuvier. and Velenci'ennes 1835. Eist . nat.
poiss., vol. 10, 9. 293. (Type locality, !,~ialuccee).
Although this spcies was cansisteatly seen zt the seaward
edge of the outer reef at Onotaa in apoi~t 1:O feet of water,
ncspe.cirriens were taken. It uppenred al~nogt blzck underwater.
One specimen, when speared at Arm Atoll in the Marshall
Islands, suddenly altered its dnrk color to pale, thus maklnp,
evident the character is tic vertical blue 1.ines and small. blue
spots on the body.

B 37 rxn specinen of - Tic:so in the keris stage was obtained
with rotenone in G tide pool. 160 Feet from shore on the sea
reef flat at Onotoa. It is pele (transparent in 1l.fe) with
silver over abdomen aild posterior pnrt of head. There are
6 near-verticnl rows OF indistinct blackish spots on the
dorsal half of the bod?, scattered tiny blackish flecks on
posterior half of' bocly, and a dusky band at the base of the
caudal fin. Tha dorsal rays are VI, 27 and the anal rzys
II, 28. There are 16 pectoral rays. I am unable to identifs
the specimen to species: however I susnect thet it may
be brevirostris. It 18 defih.taly not - - )
uniobrnis for this'
species has 17 or 18 2ectoisal rays and reaches a larger
size iri the keris stage (over 50 m in sttlr!dard length).
Paracanthurus 3leeKs.T 1863. Ned, Tijdschx. CierL:., vol. 1,
p. 252. (Type species, L~~?this hepatus Linnaeus, in part).
-- -
Paracant:huru,s 11epa tus
. .
. . . . . ... .. .,. . ,~-..
Teuthis hepatus Linnaeus 1766. (in part). riyst. nat., ed. 12,
P. 507.
--- ---.-
/ \
Acarithurus theuthis Lacepedc 1802. iIist. nat. po5ss., vol. I+,
PI>. 547, 549.
-.-----
Aoanthurus hepatus ~hther 1873. Journ. Xun. Godeffroy , vol.
1, p. 115, pl. 75. (::ingsfiil.l Islands).
Zebrasoma .Swainson 1339. Nat. hist. and ol.ns?, f ishec;,
amphibians ,..., vol. 2, p. 256. (Type snecie8, .Acncthurus
velif er lo oh) .
-
-
Zebrasoma veliferum
.I
Acanthurus -- vell.f'er Bloch 1795. I!Jatur. auslanci. lpiscbe, pt. 9,
I?. 106, pl. 427, fig. 1. (Type locality, East Indies).
2 specimens. 175 and 193 am. 8 spe~ci~osn:;. 20 - 2.5
m. Onotoa.
~olor
of adult froffl 35 rnrn 1';odachroiile trecsnarency purplish
black with 6 vertical. yellowish b8.r:ds obout 1/3 width of
dark interspaces (except d.srk iritersptice through eye which
is OF compsrable width) on head and body; narrox+; dark lines
visible within the pale yellowish bands and narrow mangish

vertical lines in the dark interspaces; snout purplish,
densely covered with ortiall greenish-yellow .spots; fins
. . purplish black; .base of caudal ?i.n witb a whitish vertical
band. Color of 20 inn juvenl.le pale yellow with vertical
blacx bands, the 2 anterior oms (through ;?ye and at edge
of opercuiuim) much blacker and .awe dj.stinct; sriout and
uase or' caudal fin bright.orange.
. .
. .
Adults were seen oh b5th s:e.a reef and deeper sections of
the lngoo:~ i;i t11 n:odor:ite oo,r.al growth; the :;r?oll juvwile3
W61'6 all. taken iii sh:~llow-yiter
. . lagoon area.
. I : .
'Acanthuru- ---L +.- scoms Cuvier 1829.
..
itegne , ~ini:n:il, ed. 2 vol. 2,
p. 224. (lype l~cality, Neirn, Province of !:ini~du
-.- Zebrasoma f1ave:;cenr: Nhitley and Colofax 1938. Prc . Linn.
Ssc. N.. S. Wales, vol. 63, p. 297. (iV!iuru).
. ,
1 si.,ecimen. 88 nm. 2 specimens'. 3>? and 34 inm.
Onotoa.
Co!.or in lif c of 88 mrn speci.m& dark brown with numerous,
narrow, w.vavy, liy,ht bl.u,e, 1ongi~;uilinnl lines on body
"'~ant6riorly on. the body these lin~s becor..;~' clotted; on the
head the linear pattern is lost and discrete blue dots
occur); anterior median portiorl of the . body . y,ellow-brown;
c.11 fins except. the pectoral dark brov.)n; ne.ctor&l fin clr?;7:
viith duslcy oran.(;e rays and ri narrov! black upper edpo: C R I I ~ C ~
peduncle spine sieat;h. white. Col.or of juvenl.lc; Prox 35 om
Kodachrome trm:?,;arer!cy: trnterj.or fourth 6f bjdg -brow,iish
yellow, ]ioater?; :I:? tl;ilr.ee-fourth-; dark broswn; snont ar\d int:?r-
or bitaL space b:owii, rt-!,uaindcr of hcjati, brownish yellow; booy
with nuolerous vi:~.tict.,l I.in~.s; head ::nd chest dth many tiny
pale yellow spots.
.kt Onotoa aGults vjere seen oA1.y ill. the lrigoqn; h!id.int; 1-11
the recesses in a 'mars ol' tiead st;dg,iiord :(idlf.ql. . They/ were
cbserved on the sea ]lee;' at Butzritori on the lee s.i.O.e of
the 6toll. At Ccoto:! the gaaag were t;:!cen frwc the
environs of small. ispla t ed coral hearls in a shallow-wter
section of' the lagoon. ' &To yellow --.-. Zebrasor:la were seen by
me in the Gilbert Islands. , .
. . .
-.- Acrinthurus ~orsksl 1775. Uescr. aniiiialiu.rri, p. 59. (~ype
species, Ch~e todon sohul - PO~ &%I 86 dosignabe(l by Torclan,
1917) (The genus ~ u t Linnaeus h ~ :was'rest.ri'ct,ed to ,the
si'ganids by Opinion 93 of the intotnut j.o'rl:il COi:!mi~~ibn on
Zoological Nonenclature .) . .

Chaetodor~ triost- Lhnaeus- 1758. :3ys t . nat ., ed. 10,
p. 46%. ~Typelocal.ity, Inaies) .
-- ----
~euthis troub~htoni Whitley and Colefax l.938. :Proc. TSnn.
F.:oc, N. 5. Wales, vol.. 63, p. 294, text fig. 3. (Nauru).
11U speciraens. 21 to 114 .ma. Onotoa.
. .
. ..
1 specimen. 112 mm. Tarawa.
Color in life: light greenish gray, becoming o bruptly
'ghite ventrally, with 4 narrow verticsl black bars on body,
1 near-vertical bar through eye, and. a short bar :lorsally
on caudal. peiiuncle ; a ciedian black line on f'oreheacl.; ti
snlall black spot v&ntrctl.ly on ceudsl. peduncle; n :jiiiall black
spot,. 2 spots, or a short bar st the base of the ~)eotor~~l
- --d-
i?,. triostepus was a very cormon species on both iilsllore
sea reef md. sandy shallow-ater lagoon areas. In tho i'irnt
175 feet of a 50 foot wide tsansect at' the outer rt:fif T1a t
at Onotoa, 29 juvenile sjecimens were telten with rotenone
ranging in size Proio 23 to 35 ml. In the next 12.0 fect
(n~:proxiciately 95% covered' with wat'er i?t low tide ivhm the
inshore 175 fe6.t is nbout helf' covered), tll specimens were
obtairied of sizes 21 to 52 mh. In tht! next 120 feet 0il.l.y
2 sllall specimens weqt;, town. Adults appeared in the
--
Jania zone still farther from shore and in ths ss cd. ler!
back ridge trough. . No quarititaf;ivs d nta were securt:d Trorn
the. deeper areas of the outer reef.
Aconthurus guttatus Rlocli and Schneider 1801. System ichth,,
-.- pp. xxxviii, 215..'(Type localit;y,. Tahi.ti').
'L'eiithis - guttatus ~erirhll und G'olclsboTorigh 191.1. iilen~. ms.
G o mp. ZOO~. , vol.. 26, p. 310. (Butaritari, Gilbert
Islands), . . . ,
-
I'euthis fuliginosus Whitley and ColePax 1938. Proc. Linn.
So3. N ~ S Wales, . vol. 63, p. 9 1. 1, fig. 4 (Nauru).
" . 3: specimens. .33 - 1 65 ma.. Onotoa.
1 specinlen. 160 ram. T~r8.w.

.Color from 35 rim Kodachrone transpare.ncy bro~vn with
posterior half of body covered with small white spots.; a
vertical whi:te band frofa origin of fiorsal to edge of
opercle; another broader white band fron the base of the
3rd to 5th dorsal spines to regi~n of anus; a third, narrow,
white band from tho .3rd dorsal. soft rag to the 3rd anal
soft ray; region of chest white; pelvic .fins briglit yellow
with narrow daric, br0~~1l margins ; caudal fin brow, v~hi tish
at base, and dark brown tcrninally.
. .
This species tvbs observed only in the surgo chnnneli of
the outer reef whers it swam rapidly abo.ut.in sinall schools
in the roughest, mil-ky-white water of t.b:is habitat.
The stomch contents of 10 specimens i&re examined; tho
bulx of the r~aterial was algol., though there vias some fine
calcareous sanCi. Many kinds of tilgae were pre~ent, but
-- Jania probably predominated.. . Preser~ce of ,the blus-gre61i
Calothrix indicates a cropping -close to tbe - :jubs&rw%e. ,
- . . ,: ,: .: ' .
i,canthurus 'lineatus
-.....-...-- -.-
.. ,
. . .
Chaetodon lineatus 1,i.nnaeus l75??. 3ynt. net., ed. LO, p.
--'my~-ioczit.y i indies) .
2 specirfiens. 163 and 170 mm. Taraoa.
Color fror, 35 rm Kodnchrome transparency: upper 3/4 of
body yellotv v~ith 10 black J..engthwise stripos, each stripe
containin?, a bright blue center (these stripe?, cqu.tinue on
to hood where they are narrower andtend to conv8rge on +';ye);
lov~er fowth of .head and body bluish white; pelvic fins
orange with dark later81 marcin; caudal fin blac$ .i,vitk .a 1.
largo crescerlt-shaped dusky yellowish area narrowly. r;iaPgfned
in. blue in the posterior mdian part of the fin; pectoriil
ale; dorsal. fin yell.owish, i.ined with blue; anal fin
yellowish. . . ..... .
.Juv,eniles aljout 40 rm in length displayed., in addition to
colors' like adults, red coloration on d.orsal.,and anal fins
(especially posteriprly).
This species was abundqnt in or near surge channels of the
outer reef at Onotoa and was also very comon in relatively
shallow quiet tiator of protected reef areas such as the
lagoon side of the >west reef of the atoll.
The gut contents of 10 :;pccimeiis, 120 to 160 a!n in length,
consists prinicirily of finely divided red algae.
.a

Acanthurus achilles Shat'~ 1803. G~lleral zoolagy, vol. 4, pt.
2, I?. 383.
3 specimens. 100 - 119 mm. Onotoa.
1 specimen. 129 nun. Tarawa.
Color frorAi 35 iim Kodachroiile transparency ble ck with a
large bright orange elliptical spot enclosing caudal pedun-
cle spine; dorsal and anal fins blacrc with narrow d.u.al-
colorpd (outer half orange, inner half bluish white) lines
basalxy iri .$oc;t,erior parts of these fins; anal fin with a
narrow blue margin; a white patch ~t edge of opercle; a
licht blue line under chin; iris blue; pelvic finr, black
with lateral blue nargin; caudal fin with a narrow white
margin; a narrow black aub.frmrgina1 line and then (1 broad
bright orange zone; basal half of fin black.
This species tvns seen only in the surge channels at
Onotoa. ,Its abundance varied in different parts of the
utoll in siite of apparent similarity of the surge channels
in the different qreas.
Acanthurus Cuvier 1829. ~ s ~ snirfla&, n u ed. 2,
' vol. 2, as indicated by Gunthes
1861, Tahiti).
--. .hcanthurus --". aliala Lesson 1830. Voyage autour du moncie, . .
~Coqu.il.le", . , .vol. 2, pt. I, p. 150.
Teuthis glaucopareius Whitley and Colef~x l93t?. Proc. Llnn.
;3oc. N. 3. Wales, vol. 63, p. 297. (Xauru).
11 specimens. - 50 - 107 am. Onotoa.
1 specimen. 155 ma. Tarawa.
. ,
Color from 35 rom iCodach~oiilo transparency purg1i::h black;
dorsal cnd anal fins with a yellow band basally which
broadens posteriorly; anal fin v!ith narrow blue margirl; a
promine,nt white patch under eye; a white line on chin
adjaceot to iower lip extendi.ng well above corner of raouth
and running adj,adent to upper lip; caudal spine yellow;
caudal fin light bluish gray with a suimarginal yellow band:
pelvic firis'blacii with a 'blue lateral edge; membr8nes of
pectoral fins clear, the rays blackish. In three specimens
52 to 55 rn in length the subtna~~gi.nul band in the caudal..
fin was red instead of yellow.
. .
, .
. .

. .
, ..
. ,
. . . .
This 'vas a very abundant speci~Y
on t;'h~'T~o~'R!.,~iferous
terrece of the outer reef 8t Onotoa and in coral areas in
the lagoon. It was. a.1~0: observ:ed .it. Butasit:ri.S..
The gut of six, specir~eng,. 70 to 1.&5.&.11 5.n standnrd. len,?th,
was filled wlth algae, mostly fi.lanimtous reds.
..., I .., ,
. . . . .. ..
-
Acanthurus thompsoni
vol. 7, p.= (Type locality, I-Ionolulu). , .:,.
. ,
He:;atus thorilmo ni I?owler 1923. Occ. Pap. D. P.. ;BiabLop ?Jus.,
-Av... ---
- --. -
31+., p. &3$, 121. 5, fig. 1.
. .
Acantilurus ' - philippinus :?cbultz cud VJoudl; in ~chultz' and
col.laboi~tors 195.3. Bull. U. 3. Nut. 1~Ju.z: 202, vo1. 1,
Acenthurus &hili$i>inus ferre 1927. Philip. -;Tour. .Sc.i. , vol.
P,. 637. . . ..
1 speciiien. 138 mm. Onotoa.
Color frou 35 ~XJ iiodachrome transparency: umiforv 'brow11
with a dusi

Specinens were obtained, from : boti?. tbe s.& .reef and 'from
. .
the lagoon near the west reef. ,
. . . . .
- -
Acanthurus niproris
. .
Acanthurus .-- nigroris Cuvior and. Valenciennes 1'835. Hist. not.
Tss., vol. 30,. p. 208.. (Type locality, Hawaii).
. . .
Acanthu= lineolatus dnther 1873. Jaur . 1~4~3. Godeffroy,
. vol. 1, p. 112, pl. 73, fig. A.
' . Teuthls atrirxntatus Jordan and Ever.mann 1905. Bull.. TJ. 3.
Fish Coma. voL. 22, p. 198.
-?
Acanthurus elon atus Schultz and Woods in Schultz and
.. ,
. . , collaisorat,ors in part) 1953. Bull. ~J.S. Nat. 11U.s.. 202,
. . .,volt I., p. '634, pl. 62, fig. C.'
. .
"'2 spciiens. 57 aid93 m;~. Onotoa.
. .
1 specimen. 14.3 mrg. Tarawa.
Onotoa specimens were taken with rotenons from the outer
sea reef.
Acanthurus -- nigricans var. olivaceus Aloch :.mi3 ~chnei'dF?r"
,, . , Tg01 .... Systema.,ichth., pp. xxxviii, 214.
s&cimens w6re 'bbtainid. D. W. ~trasuur~ observed a
bright yellow colored juvenile in shallow water of tile Onotoa
lagoon. . . . . .
,. . . .
. . . . Acanthurus gahh
. .
-. . . . .
0
Chaetodon nigro-fuse% var. gahhm Porsltal 2.773; IX+scr.
anirnalium, pp. xiii, 64.. (~locclity,
. . Red Seu) .
- Acanthurus nigricans Schultz and W~ods in Sch~ltz and
collaborators 1')53.'Bull. Xi. S. Hat. 1Xs. 202, vol. I.,
p. 633, pl. 68,
27 specinens. 23 - 188 mm. Onotoc.
. . . ..~olor from 35 m Kodocbrome transparency of: a 165 mm
, . specimen: dark brown with an elongate, nearly horizontal
blacli. bar originnting just enberior to upper'+d of gi.11
op&n3@ and extending posteriorly. to level of' the 6th dcrsal
spine: caudal peduncle spine sock t- narrowly margined vd9 th
black, this color extending anteriorly Ln a horizontal,
lancet-like mark greater in length tban the length of the

caudal s;,ine; pectoral fin with basal two-ti:i:i?rl.s dark bro~wn,
outer one-thlrd yellow, especially in Up!jer part; dorsal
fin u.nii"orm dark brown; anal fin dark brown with. a narrow
brip,ht blue i.:argin; caudal fin dark brown with a d.istinct
white margin, broadsr in central part of fin and gradu.ally
diseppearing on the greatly extended upper and lw~er lobes
of the fin. The shoulder bar is absent in juveniles. It
can be seen just for~riing in a s.p~cime11 57 1x11 I.0116

The Onotoa specinenwas s,peared in about 20 feet of wster
on. the corall.iferous terrace of the outer reef.
This constitutes the first record of thisspecies in
Oceania.
Acanthurus xanthopterus
-- -
Acanthurus xnntho@erus Guvier and Valecctonnes 1835. p. 215.
-(TypeT&ality, Seychelles).
- --
*I
kcantkiurus blochii Gunther lg73. Jour. Mus. God-effroy, vol.
1, p. 109, pl. 69, fig. 3.
--- -
Acanthurus ma toides de Beaufor t 1951. Pish~s Indo-Austral.
Arch., voL. 9, p. 156.
- Acanthurus fuliginosus Schultz and Woods 111 Schultz 8cd
collaborators 1953. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mu= 202, vol.. 1,
2 specinens. 47 and 200 mid. Tarawa.
Tile 200 ram speciiilen was speared at, a depth of 39 feet in
the Taravvu lagoon. Whi.16 still alive the Following color
noto was made: the color chenged back and forth from a
uniform purplish grny to a phase where highly irrcguler dnr.k
gray lines alternated with light blue-gray lines; ali of
these linm about 2 scales in width; base of caudal fin and
adjacent porti an of caudal peduncle very light gray; ventral.
two-thirds of eye edged in yellow; a region of dull yelloe
extendine: a:lteriorlg from eye a distance equal to abmt 3.
eye dLameter ; a lesser posterlor extension of yellow from
lower corner of eye; dorsal and anal fins yellowish
(especid-ly dl.stally) with a bluish gray. line et the base
and 4 1.on.gitudinal blue bands; outer nai3fii.ns of dorsal and
anal. fins -very narrowly ,black; basal t.!vo-thirdr of pectoral
fins dusky, then a region of yellow, then cl.enr; ?JelviC
rags purplish, the membranes dusky yellow; caudal fin,
except basaLly as noted, -purplish gray.
The gut of this specj-men was filled with yellowish
porticula be cslciura carbonate liice the specimerl af A. -- - gahhx.
Gill 1885. Proc. U. S. Net. Rus., va!.. 7, p.
species, &anthilrus strigosus
- 3ennett).

-
Ctenochaetus --- striatus
Acanthurus .--.- striat-uu-Quoy and ~aimardl82k. Voyage autour
&e monde. .ma.nie", Zool.. , . vol. 2.. p. 373; Atlas, pl.
53, fig. 3. (Type locality, Guam).
-.- Ctenochaetus ,..-,.-- --- ---.- ctenodon Whitley and. Colefax 1938. Proc. Linn,
boc. ~t. S. ?Kales, vol. 63, p. 294. (Nauru).
36 specimens. 32 - 130 mm. Onotoa.
Color in life of adults..dark olive brown with numerous
narrow lengthwise bluish lines on the body; head.finely
spotted ~6th orange; dorsal and anal fins olive brovm with
about 5 le~&Ilr~i.se blue ba~ds. Specimens about 40 mm in
1engt.h presented a diffel-ent coloration. On the body were
na~row, red, $engthwise lines u~hich inclined slightly downward
as they ran posteriorly. The brcwn interspaces between
were about 2 to 3 tines the width of the red li-nes, and
cantrally within these brown areas, bluish lines were beginni.ng
to appear. The tips of the caudal fin were red.
Of the fishes collected at Onotoa, this species was the
dominant one on a weight basis. At most of the poison
stations the take of - Ctenochaetus
. -. -. . - - . -A - .- striatus .- . - exceeded that of
any other species, and the number of specimens was frequently
the highest. It was abundant in almost all habitats.
The gut contents of seven specimens, 110 to 135 mn in
standerd length appears to consist only of fine particles
of yellowish calcium' carbonate.
Ctenochaetus sa.
...-- -.----
--.- Ctmochaetus sp. Randall (in press, Zoologica)
- Ctenochaetus sp. Hiyama 1943. Rep. of an invest. of poisonous
fishes oTthe South Seas, p. 93, pl. 1.9, fig. 53.
Ctenochaetus strigosus Schultz (in ?art) 1943, Bull. U. S.
Nat . EIw . 1-161.
2 specimens. 170 and 175 mm. Onotoa.
Color in life: head and body broam, covered with small
bright blue spots; dorsal and anal fins dark brown with 9
to 10 lengthwise bluish bands; pectoral dark brown with blue
spots; caudal and pelvic fins dark brown.
Both specimens were speared from a poorly-defined surge
channel region just beyond the surf zone j.n the northwest
corner of the atoll. in about 5 feet of water. The species
was observed only in small schools in turbulent water.

------- Ctenochaetus - sp.
I am unable to identify a 35 mm s?ecimer of C;;t;>+$s%LLg
which was collected from the Onotoa lagoon. is-:?. ~ h t
'z
yellow caudal fin in 1-ife. Later examination of tho s2eclmen
in alcohol rzveal-ed the last, few rays of the soft
d.orsal and anal fins to be coloriess except for a si~all
black spot at the base of t!:es~ rays; small. 'orom s2cts .
could be perceived on the head and ariterlorly on the bccly,
The counts are: D VIII, 27; A III, 25; P 15; anterior gill
rakers 27; posterlor gill rakers 27. There are 22 upyr
and 22 lower tccth. The upper teeth bear 6 or 7 (usudly
7) dei?ticu!.ations and the lower teeth 3 or 4. (mostly 4.).
This may be the youn;x of &t,e~r~~n~e&~ sp. Randall (in press,
Zoolo~?ica),'reported only trom the Philippine Islands and ..----I--
East Indies.

-- - -- ------- - --
Table 5. Fin -- B 2 Counts of the Acanthuridae Collected in the Gilbert Islmds
Spines
-
Dorsz.1 fin
-.
LX 22 23 24 2
1v v - -- -.
. -
10
Soft .- . rays* .-
-26 - 27 - - - - 28 . . - . 29 - - -30 - 31 32 3?
4 4 2
::Each fin ray with a di.stinct base was counte-' regardless of
how close adjscent rays nii.;ht be. At tines &issection was
necessary to determine whether the last two rays or' tne dor-
sal and anal fins shared the smie basal element or not,.

Spines
- I11 --
19 22 , , 22
Soft rays _^ --
23 3 --
26 -3 - 28
25 -

F'arnily TUJTBIDID~JJ ( = Siganidae of authors)
Gentfs TiUTHI3
Anphacantbu.~ -+- rostratus Cuvier and Valenciennes le35. Eist.
nat. poi.~~., vol. .m, p. 15G. (Typ Locality, ~:.icssuah,
Red :;en ) .
LJL.2 '3% unub uL
ar reateus in Schultz and collabora tors 1953.
Bi~ll. . S. Nat. MUS. mi, pp. 6119, 651..
- -,
iiganus rostra tus Vood.s in Schultz ~ind collaborntor s 1953.
'rJ. S. 1Jtjt. Muc~. 202, pp. 650, 654, pl. 74.
3 specimens. 160 - 220 m. 12 specimens. 50 -- 62 ma.
Onotoa .
Jl 'X1ll,lO; fi 1 ; P 1; V 1 1
(4 specimens).
Color in life &ark olivaceous blue with numerous indis-
tinct pule orangish spots; spinous dorsal, ,postcirior part
of caudal., spinous anal, and pectoral fins ol.ive-gollo~w;
soft dorsal and soft anal firm with rays olive, mmbranes
hyzliae.
Color in alcohol of 62 IUI specin?.en brown, pnler over
abdomen and clmek, with i: dense stippling of tiiny bleck dots
on dorsal two-thirds of body; about 10 or 12 small. brownish
blotches on posterl.or !;art of body; upper end lowr roargirls
of caudal fin with e row of sma1.Z Grown spots; rnambranbs of
spinous dorsal dusky, especially haselly slid dista1l.y. Th'.e
color pattern is quite intermediate to subadult rootratus
and smller npecl.!aens identified by l%oods as ergimteus: and
I believe that the for~aor represent the late mZF61 stage
....*
of the letter, as suspected by Woods. H3.s specimris oi"
argenteu? were pelafizic and ca!ue: to A light at night.
One 60 inin specimen wt~s . ,speared
. zear a rack< jetty in the
lagoon by I). W. Stri)sburg.:;: Subsequently 11 others of
ooruparnble size we?e kaiien with rotenone i!i the sar~ area.
Sio

.. .
, .
, ..
approach nor any increase in rate of s~vimming. I bad the
ml.sfortune to be spined by the speared specimen. A athying
pain follow.?& almost immediately and Lasted for airnut t? half
an hour. . .
. .
. . . . . . . . . ,
!.whaounthus
.LA&+.-.- punctatus 4L.. Bloch anfi.$chmidgr '1801.. Systema
~chth.., . p. 210 ,7l?ype locality, . . : Pscif ic Ocean) .
.. .: . .
~olbr. in. 'life, dark brow,fi' wikh numerous, cl.ose-set, promi-
.nent dusky orange spots on head and body.
5%~ speci~tien WES taken ill' the lagoon in about 5 feet of
~''V$€~$G.F near t'. large' expahse OP. Thalessia;
. ... ..
. . . . . ..
. !. , .
.,.
Teu this. pueila
-"'
- impha ha can thus. ~Uellus Schlegei 1892. Hi jdr. Di.erk., vol. 1,
p. ~ Y ~ . ~ locslitji, $ ~ F East ; Indies).
The hawk fishes ht-ive, as their nost charc:cteristic feature,
-the lower6 or 7 he'ctokhl i.t?ls st~fol'l'e~ mrl unbrznched. These
carnivorous f ishe; are sedentary, and . . though less car;.ov,T'laged
than. the scorpnenids which. have the $rime habit, they r;Ye
ug~ally~ not . . .&en until they move, froxn one . . part of the reef
::. . . W. ~pthg?:, . . . , . , , . . ( . . , .
.In the~.,discussions b,eiow u@er - Cirrhitichthys and
----, I'arncirrhbtes . cl.arification pi' some of tile ,nro,bi.fsns in the
. .. .. ~,eneric.class.ifi,cation. as con.ceJ!r~s the Gilbert I.slanc1.s species
. . a .
. . . , !
,. . , 4'
Key to the' Species of ~irr.ktidae ~ecordecl' from
. , . .
. the Gidbert islands
.. , , . .
,' . .
la. ~iny inciistindt 'icales 'oh oheek; 40 or i;l trknsverse
scalerows grorn upper end of gill opening to base of
,, ogudal fin,;: brown spots op dorsal, anal, end. caudal
. * , .. . . . , . ,

fins; black blotches on back adjacent to darsal fin
and dorsally on caudal peduncle. ..Cirrhitus ~innulntus
- &-.,-
lb. 4 to 6 rows of large scales on cheek; 43 to 51 transverse
scale rows from upper end of gill openiiy to
base of caudal fin; no 'brown spots on dorsal, enel,
and caudal fins (except faintly in 1'. aolystictus);
no black blotches on back adjacent To m n 1 .
fnlflc
and dorsally on caudal peduncle. (blotches, if present
in this location, light brown) .................. 2
2a. Preopercular margin strongly serrated: dorsnl spines
long, length of 4th aorsal spine less than 2 in
head length (measured from snout to most posterior
extension of opercular membrane) ; interorbi.tal
r!.arrow, bony interorbital width coatal.ne6 ;:bout 2
times in eye; dordal soft rays 12; anriulations
plaj.nly visible in lower pectorc71 i'ays; dorsal half
of body with large roundish blotches (as large or
larger than eye ) ..........,..... ---.-.-- Cirrhi. ticiithy;~ -- aprinus
2b. i'reopercular mnrgin finely serrated (la. part, snooth) ;
dorsal spines not ion$, length of 4th dorsal spirie
about 3 in head 1en;;t.h; interorbital not narrow,
bong interorbital width contained 1.5 or less tines
in eye; dorsal soft rays 11; annulations not plainly
visible in lower pectorai rays; dorsiii half of body
without large roundish blotches (spots,' if p!:;esmt
distinctly smaller then eye) ...................... :.,3
. .
3a. k diagonal "U" shaped nark behind eye, the ends confluent
(with eye; no dark s;)ots on ilea

-
5b, Color. brown on'bick, tan:v-entrally, with n.o'cah?ibe . .
spot on side: of ,body; no bleck s:)ots on lovi.er . ':.
'third of body; a median pale (pinkish white in
life) . . . . lin~ on side of body. ..P'amcirrhites - hemistictus
. .
..... .... . . .
. .
. . .
. ............
.,
..........
. . . . Genus CZRRHITUS ..... ,.
' .
...
CQrhitus. ~ac&~Gde 1803. Hist. net. pais?. , vol; 5, ;o. 2.
Ty5%p~ o h , --
Cirrhitus:, - i>a.cula tus Lacep&de ? &brus
-
-7
pinnulatus Eloch a~id ~chli&ider), . . . .
' :
Cirrhitus pianulatrts
I,abrb;bPP Bloch and ~chneider 1801. syste:aa .ioilth.. ,
P. Type locality, Tahitl).
, ,
~irrhituk pinnulatus 'l>Wf& ~ind Glefax 1438; pioc. Linn.
..... Soc. N,., S. WaTes, vol. 63, p. 293..- (i\jauru). . .
, .
: ..;,,,. .. ' , .
4- specimens. 53. - 123 mm, On&~a.
Co.l.or from 35 mm Ilodachrosne transperenoy white with large
irregular brow blotches and small reddish spots on body an6
irregular yellowish brown lines on heed; 5 large blackish
blotches on back adjacent t'o horsal fin an6 Ciorsally on
. .c@uGal pefluncle.; filedian fins . with . . ..... ,byown..s~ots~; ,p&ctor~l fin
light reddish. , . . . . . , . ...
..... . . . . . . . . . . . .
f ..... , ~ . .
This species was collected o~lly froa surge chdnn&l.s of'
: : the outer . r€ef. . ... , . ~.. ,:...
. % , . ..< .-,, ............
The stomach of one adult spe cirnen cbntoined' the'bbslae
and g8stri.c;nill of a. brachyuran crab. Another- bas . . . empty. .
.. * . .... . ,
. , .... ,. ! . .
. . . _..^ .,,-,
.*.: ...... ... .................. .. .., 1
. , . ,
, .
Genus CIRRHITICI~THYS ' . .
....
. ,.
Bleeker . 1557:. .jet. Soc .' B:cjl. ,Indo-Ee~r?. ,
~ir~hitich%h.y%- 'u-
.. :.. - u.01. .2, p. 39 . (Type ppe&$e~,, ~i-rrl~i.$gsi-.~x.hd~&a$%bi:us
. ~ . . ,. ........
. , . , ! :; . . '. .... . . ....- . .. ....".. -.....-. .;,:'.;
.,,.. I ' ..., ,.\...
. * . : ; .cirkhitaih& Jenkihg 130j. ~url::, U. S,~$sI-uG,a~w::;~v~1.. 22,
p:.- 489.. , (Type speci&s, ..Cirrhi$b?.d,ea . . ' b&aculs ;Tenkl'ns).
/ ........ Bleeker . -r C1cfhi.tes a:pr?.nus C U T T T ? I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I. .. ..,
! . .,
.. ,
-

Jenkins erected Cirrhitoideu for the ,single specie:;
bimacula, a p p a r e n t l y Cirrhitichthys Lileekor, a
gonus into which bindcula fits very nicely. Jenkins is
mistaken in stating that there are no pa1i:tlne teeth on.
biinacula, I examined the holotype and found teeth ;)rec.ent
at this location. Paracirrhites cinctus Jenkine (z Cirrhites
fasciatus Bennett, T828) anTCTFrhites -- - oxgcephnlus Bleeker
elso belong in? the genus Cirrhitichthys.
. . -
Schultz (1943) listed apsinus in the genus Cirrhitictt~ys ... y
but placed ----.- biruacula in Paracizhitcs,
-- Cirrhites eprinus Cuvier and Valenciennes 1829. Hist, nat.
pols::. , vol. 3T p. 76. (Type locality, Timor).
3 specimens. 34 - lc9 mnl. Onotoa lagoon.
Color in alcohol tan with lerge brown blotches on dorsal
half of body, largest and most prominent adJacent to dorsal
fin (the upper part of the latter spots, extendins. on t3
basal parts of dorsal fin rays); a black. spot at base of
first 2 or 3 dorsal spines; head with,scgtte:.ed small. brown
spots.
-
. .
Genus 1'-4RACIRR3ITEs
Paracirrhites Bleeker 1874. Poiss. Viadag~scar et duni ion,
Amblycirrhitus Rchultz (not of Gill) 19LL3. Bull, U. S. Wet.
I i u ~ u s . 132. ~ ~ .
Gymnoc$rrhites Smith 1951. Ann. blj. Nat. Iiist, , ser, 12,
vol. 4, pp. 627, 638. (Type species, Cirrhites arcatus
Cuvier and Valenciennes). . ,
The type species of the genus Amblycirrhitus Gill is
Cirrhites fasciatus Cuvier and Valenciennes (1g29: 76, p1.
47). Fowler (1938: 49), noting that this name was preoccupied
by Cirrhites fasciatus Bennett (1828: 39), proposed
~rnb~ycirrhitus -- indicus to replcce it . This species, accordi
n to ~ the plate of Cuvier and Valenciennes, is a deen-bodied
forin .v

Gymocirrhites for these $h,ree:y$pecies . . by Sraith (195:L) is
also not well founded.
. . .. , I :. :
. ,.
. , . ".., . . . . , '. .
, . s
..
Para'cirrhites arcatus
Cirrhites arca,tus Cuvier and Valenciennes 1829. Hist. nat .
poise., vol. 3, p. 74. (Type locality, Mauritius and
Tahiti).
7 specimens. 49 - 85 m. Onotoa.
Color in alcohol brown, darker on dorsal half of body,
. . with a broad pale band running on back From base of caudal
fin to a point beneath the 7th. dorsal spine (the lateral
line runs through the vsntral part of this pnle ban$); a
IfUv shaped pale line (red ill life) edged in black,. :extend-
. . .. ing diagonally upward from hind part of' eye; 2 or 3 dlagonel
pnle dark-edged lines on opercle at lev.el of base of pectoral
fin.
., .. . , ,
There ia variability in,,color in this s,pecies as shown in
pl. 49, figs. B arid C of Gunt~k~er
. .
,11873) ;:,
P. arcatus was alwafs seen in association with:l~v.~coral.
~itii the possible exbsption of P. - forsteri it was th6' f11ost
abundant cirrhftid at Onoboti. ..; . . . .
. .. ,
. . . .
. . , .
-_
Paracirrhites forsteri
.. . .
,.
, . Gramlilistes forsteri Bloch and ~chneider '1801. Sgstema ichth.,
'' . ..: ,
. . . ; p. 191. (Type locality, , St; Chrfstine or Waitaho,
,
' ' .' 14drquesas Islands) ;'
i .. .
, .. . .,. . ::
; ":I1 specimens. , :6i4 . . . . 120-ma. Onotoa..
, . . ., 2 . ,. . ,
-
. . . . ,
. .. . . . . .
,.
' : Colof from '35 rm iCodachrorne*transpirency: ' barn dnQ .bead
. .. , : ,dorsal to level of eye dark purple; below this a broad band
. ; . : ,el' pqlh_jieildw; head and.anteri.0~. part of.bod.g.:vith small
... ,
:,. ., .darl,c ,r6cl.df b$ brown spots ;,raed.ian.'fins pink; pelvic fins light
.. . , .,,.
. - -. . . , ye.JJ.ih7o~aqqe; 'pejctoral f lns palepink$sh.. . .. . .
: . . ,%.
i ,. .; . .. ..~.
. . ., . . . : . , :..
'.'?his spc?'dfos was coioiaon in .cora~.
. . regions of.:the,;l.agoon
and. outer re&. . . .
. . . , . (
.-.
. ..
The stomachs of four specimens, 82 to 112 mil in standard
length, were opened. Three were empty, and one contained a
sma 11 shrimp.

-
Paraoirrhites polgstictus
~%rrriii'tes polystictus ~{nther 1873.. Jour,. Mus. &odeffsoy,
VOI.. 2, pt. 3, p. 70, pl. 50, fig. 6. (Type locality,
Society Islands and Kingsmill Islands) .
3 specimens. 147 --. 190 run. Onotoa .
Color from 35 .ma Kodachroil?e transparency dark brow, heed
brownish red, with a bright pinkish wk~ite spot: almost as
large as eye just 'abiive kid-line of body below 8th an2 9th
dorsal spines;, rows ,of, dark brown or blac:: spt son .side of
body (ventrnllj on bQdy these 'fuse to f.orin lengthwise !lines) ;
r;~edian f iris datk bl;'o$n ivi th still darker, spots: faint lj
visible: ' pelvic f,Ln:s dark brotvn; ~ectoral' i'i:n.s orange.
Girrhites heraistictus dnther 1873. Jour. .. ms, -
--- G.odeffr-oy,
0 1 2, . . 3;-9, pL. 50, fig.. E. (Type, locality,
Kingsmill Islands and. society . Islan~s ), . .
1 specimen. 110 urn. ' Onotoa.
1 specimen. 168 ru?. Taratria.
. .
Color from 35 igm Kodachroine transparency of 1.85 r m specinlen
collected by me at -4rll9, Marshall Islmds: upper half of
body dark greenl~h, lower half iight greenish, these two
regions separated. by a pinkish white bend: dark greenish
part of body densely spotted with black; light preenish ventral
region with brownish yellow spots or brownish yellow
dotted lengthwise lines; head gray; d.orsal fin. dusky yellow;
caudal and anal fins yellow; paired fins yellow-orange.
Marshall (1950: 153, p1. 14, 10bierr;lost f iguue) .described
a forin from Cocos-:;eeling Islailds which he believed .interme-
diate to polystictus and-hemistictus, and placed polystictus
in the synonyny of hernistlctus.' I believe that t m r
are valid species, and the inrernediate specirueri should be
re-examined-on the possibility of its being a hybrid,

- - -- - -- - - --
- - -- ---
Table 3 Counts Made on the Cirrhitidae Collected
in the Gilbert Islands
Dorsal - fin
shines -. *.. rays
' 'C. - pinnulatus -~ ~~~ -- ~ ' 3 5
- C. aprinu:
*-
P. arcatus . . 7 7
F. forstei?i. .. v. '11
,-.. F. pol?stietus . .3 3
..- - .-
P. . homiilstictun .-- 2 2
- --
... . d I1 Ld
Anal f'ln L '
spines rays fin .rays
-- I11 7 -T4---
'3' 5 5 7
3 3
---. . nrctoral
Transverse scale rows
- 40 3-7 a Q _50 2
2 3
Only six species of scorpion fishes were:collected at
Onotoa. Two s.r~al.1 juvenile specimens; however, wePe.nOt
id.entified. to s~ecies. Fowler (I328 renorted u snediineri
,c,o,llect,ed by ~airett from the Gilbert 1s'i.ands as 1)r;nilrochirucr
zebra. - Whitleg and; Colefax (1938) listed Pterois 5?7K&ns^- ---
froru Nauru. This is less than :half the number of scorpaenlds
which I $v,ould ,exoeCCt :to occur in.'th& ~ilbert Xsladds.
. .
. ._.I Synanced w4s"not seen but is proba'bly presciit throu&hout
the Gilberts. . I ~.y&s.'told that a British girl at Tr,rn:.w was
spines- by a .'stone .fish and suffered severs1 day$ tinti: a
Gilbertese volunteered his services and stopped the po1.u.
Xe would not divulge the secret of his cure; this was
supposedly gassed. on from- father to son, and by virtue of it,
the possessor maintainec? a .lofty position in the cnmaunity.
. .
. .
, Genus SCOI?I'XEXA
. .
....- Scorpaepa Linnaeusz1758. Syst. nat.,.ed. 10, p. ,266. . . (Type
: species, Scorpaena porcus Linnakus). .' . .
. . --A
- -
, . .Scorpaena albobrunnea ,
. , . .
11 ''
-. Gunther lfl73. Jour .: ku::.. Godef:Croy,
Scor~aena albo-brunnea
vol. 2, pt . 3,, . p. . 7.7. (Type loca'lity,' Palau Islands). . .

8 specimens. 26 - 64 mm. Onotoa.
D XII,Y; B III,5; P 15 or 16; transverse scale rows fro.%
upper enu. of gill opening to laid-base oT caudal fin 49 to
51'. (3 spec5.niens) .
Color from 35 rm Kodachrome transpwrencg brown cvi. th large
blotches of chartreuse; pectoral. fin yellow.
The speciiiiens '$ere collected ir; cornllifzrous RrEc?S Of
the lagoon, outer reef, and a shallcw cb.ance1.
-.-. Scorpsenodaii -- -...- Hleeker 1857. Nat. Tijfischr . ;$&d .-In&. , vol.
13, p. 3'71. (Type species, @rj?aena fiolglepis Bleexe~) .
- Scorpnenodes -- & lloggi -
----. Sebastc2is kellopgi Jenkins 1903. Ekxll. U. S. B!)iP.' Fish. ,
I- ....,A
vol, 22, p. 492, fig. 37. (Type l.ocality,.Iionolui~~).
. .
2 specimens. 23 and 24. mn. Cnotoa lap,oon.
D .XIII,O; A llIj5; 'I? 19; transverse scal~: rows fro% upper
end of gill opnlng to mid-base of .c-?udal fin 30. (1 specia:en
) .
Color in alcohol: head. brown, body with 4 broad vertical
brown bars, the intervening areas light brown dorsal1.v a.nd
pale tan ventrally except on cnu&al peiiuncle where entire
zreu is pale; dusky areas basally in dorsal fin above wch
broiv.2 bar; ti dusky brown area at base of anel fin; ceudal
fin hyaline uii tll small brown spots; pectoral fins hyaline
with dusky area basally on rays; pelvic fins dusky.
3 speciUlens. 62 - GO mm. Onotoa.
D hII1,lO; R III,5; P.I.7 or 18; tronsverse scale rows
f'ro~.~ upper end. of' gill opening to mid-base of oqudnl fin 47
or 48 (2 specimens).
Color in alcohol light brow11 with 5 irregular broad. brown
bars on upper one-balf to t7,vo-iihirds of boay which. c;xt(xiJ up
into dorsal. fin; he,-.d and lips v:it.h irre~:rl.rjr b:'ow,'n r.ipts
ell fins with sinall blackish spots. A color note froi-:. li.:LVci:
mottled orange.

The specimens were taken in two divorse habitsts, 8 surge
channel and a coral head in the lagoon.
Genug SCORPAENOPSIS
Scorpacno tsis Heckel 1839. ~nn. Vfiener Mus., vol. 2, D. 158.
- - e e s , Scorpaena nesogallica Cuvier and
Valenciennes).
Scorpaenopsis p,i bbosa
Bloch and Schneider 1801. Systema ichth.,
(~ypt? locelity, America).
2 specimens. 93 and 95 ~ I I . Onotoa.
D XII,9; 'A II1,S; P 18; transverse scale rovls frorn upper
end of' gill opening to mid-base of caudal fin 43. (1 speci-
,men ) .
. Color rrom 35 mm I(odachrometransparency: head aid body
i.rregularly mottled with white., brown, end red (except
abdomen which is white); ceudal fin white with a broad.
reddish submarginal band spotted with brown and a blackish
. ..
hand at the base. . , . ,. . ,
Both specimens were collected from the same locality, a
poorly-defined surgechannel zone on the leeward side of the
atoll.
. .
Genus BRACImUS
F3rachyfus .-- Swainson 1839. Ikt. hist. and class. fishes,
amphibians,..., vol, 2 p. 264. (Type species; Pterois
zebra C&oy arid ~airnardj
-
.
--+ T3rachyrus - zebra
., , .
ptercf's -- zebra Quoy and Gainard 1824.. Voyage..autour du.
monde.. .tfUranie't, Zool., p. 329. (Type ldcality, Coupang
I3ay , Tinlor ). .: . .
. .
Dendrochirus zebra Fowler l92e.. p m . 3. 2. ,$ishop. Mus., vol..
- 10, p* , . 7,. ,. 9T.mbert Islands).
,- , .
. ., ~. ... .
Pterois Oken 1817. Isis, p. 1782. (Type species, Gasterosteus -.voli-tans
Linnaeus 1 .

, ..
Pterois volitans Whitley and Colcfax 1933. Proc. Linn. Sac.
-.- N. S. Wales, vol.. 63, p. 299. (Nauru).
. .
Pterois radiatn
. .
Pterois radiata Cuvier and Valenciennes 1829. Hist. nst.
-. I.-polss.,
vol. 4, p. 369. (Type locelity, Society Ishnfls).
8 spocirflens. 50 - 130 ma. Onotoa.
I) M1,ll; A SJI,6; I, 16; transverse sca1.e rows :tror-; up:,er
end of g.ill opening to mid-base of caudal fin 50 to 51. (2
specimens).
Color fro1n 35 m ICodachroms' tra.ris,pareney liclit brownis:;
red with broad reddish brown, white-edged band:; on' head and.
body (all of these 'uands are more-or-less vertical except
one on caudal. pedunc1.e which is horizontal.. r,nd one on head
running cliagonally fro: eye toward lower base of p~ctoral
fin) ; fills hyaline,with the long rays light red or white;
supraorbital tentscle not dark and whits bzniletl..
All of the specimefis froli! Onotoa were collected from
around isolated coral heads in calm lagoon or chonncl. vvatcrs.
i \
Taenianotus Lacepecie 1802. Hist. nat. i~oisi:., vol, 4, p. 303.
(Type species, - Tnenianotus. - triacanthus ~act?$5de)
-
Taenianotus triacanthus
. .
----- T1aenianotus triacanthus ~ace/p;de 1802. Kist. nat pox^^. ,
vol. 4, p. 303.
. . . . ., , . . . , . . , . ...
1 specimen. 35 nm. Onotoa channel .' .
D XII,11; A III,6; P.ll+.
Color in alcohol d&rk .brown mottled with. white.
.

-
Family PLATY CEPHALIDAE
Genus TI.1YSANOPERYS
Thysanophrys Ogilby 1898. Pros. Linn. Boc, N. 3. Weles, vol.
23, p. 40: (Type . species, Platycep11alu.s cirronasus
~ichardson)
.
Thysaaophrys sp .
2 specimens. 62 and 100 fun. Onotoa iegoon.
D VIII-11; .A 12; P 20; scale rows from gill openiag to
base of cauiial fir; 55 (1 specimen).
Color from 35 mm Kodachrome trnns9arency in dorsal view
lig,ht reddish brown, spotted and mottled with white; 3 fal.nt
broad reddish brown bands across body, the first fron back
of head to posterior end of spinous dorsnl, the second,
narrower, ecrosa niddle of soft dorsal, and the t;hird, ::till
narrower, on caudal. peduncle; a transverse band ecross head
at level i)S eyes, this band about 1/3 greetest eye diamter;
fins with smll dark brown blotches.
1n.terorbital width 2.2 in gre~test diameter of eye;
margins of lips papillate.
This species will be descrlbed as new by Schultz in vol.. 2
of Fishes of the Marshall, end JM?ianas 1sl.anrls.
-.- - - --- - -- ---
Caracanthus Kroyer 184.5. Netur. Tidsskr,, vol. 1, p. 267.
--species, Caracanthus &ygicus Kroyer = :%i&Iyepu~
raaculatus G~ayj.
--
- ---
Caracanthue maculatus
Micropus maculatus Gray 1831. 2001. Misc., p. 20. (Type
locality, seas of Owaihi and Hao).
1 specimen. 40 ma. Onotoa.
D VIIT, 12; A 11, 11; Y 14.
Color in. alcohol brown with black dots or, heed aai! boay,
especially do~salljr: 8th dorsal spine about half an long as
3rd dorsal spine; a single knob-like projection on ventro-
anterior edge of preorbital spine.

!"his specj.iwn was sect?.-ed with rotenone frofii u poorly-.
defined surge channel region in the northcrn part of the
atoll.
Caracanthus unipinnus ' . ' - -.- - ..-.-
. .
. . :
. . .
,.. ,. . , , .'
Micro~ uni~innus Gray 1831. 2001. Nisc., p. 20. (Type
-.
locality, Pacific Ocean).
2 sbeciraens. 12 and 22 mm. Onoto:?.
D VT:CI, '12; A 11, 11 or 12; P 12 or 13.
Color in nlcohol brown with no spots; 8th drsal spine
only slightl;; shorter than 3rfi darsal spine; two knob-like
proJections on ventro-anterior ed@ of oreorbital. . . spine.
-. &thus?,afinesque -- 1810. Caratteri di 2ilcun.i nuovi generi e
-*move
specie di uninali e piante della Sicilia, p. 23.
(Typc, specias, -.--.-- Bothus rurnu.lo - -.- Rcfinesque).
. .
-- Bothus -- mancus
Pl.r;u.ro.nectes -.- --.- maacus Broussonet 1782. Ichthyologia.. . , (no
pagination), pl. (Type locnlity, Tahiti) .
2 specimens, 43 and 47 -mi. Onotoo .
.:. ..
,,. . . .
;;. . ... i . .'.
1. .specine'n. . . 150 m. Tara:ya, '.
. . ,
D 99 to 101; A 77 to 78; scale rows 82 to 84. (3 speci-
mens) . ~ . .
, . , - .. . .
Color ia alcoiz6i tan hit63 large black spots widely
separated along lateral line, the one ii..the nit1 regiod'of
the body beiug the largest and darkest; body and Tins
covered with small black spots.
Both Onotoa specimens were collected with rotenone from
the lagoon over a sandy bottom, oile fron 11 feet and the
other from 6 feet of water.

: ' in
Rho~bus pantherinus - ~ i:~~ell 1828, Atlas zu der Reise im
nordlichen Afrika, Tische, p. 121, pl. 3, fig. 1. (Type
locality, Bed Sea) .
--- 20th~~ pantherinus Whitley acd Colefax 1938. Proc. X,inn.
SO~. Wales, vol: 63, p. 297. (Bauru).
KS.
1 specimen. 102 mm. Onotoa. ....
1 specimen. 57 im. ~arswa.
D 89 to 92; A 71 to 72; scale rows 8f+ (last b smSl
(2 specimens).
. .
. . . . .
Colo~ very similar .to Bothus - mancus, -- The .tisu~-1, \k,y to
seoarate these two bothidFT to count tlorsal. and acal fin
reys . ~chult i (191,.3) has shciv~i t;h@ ',&&i; r@er .......... :eaun.tfi vdil.1
effect a separation. A more convGnient'metBod'lies ill the
natu?e of the squomatiorl of the interorbital space. In 13..
---- pa~~tilorlnus t,his space is entirely scnled except, for regTons
close to the eyes; in - g. mancus --- the anterior half is naked.
. . - ~
The si:@'e Onotoa specimen was speared by D. l??. .Straeburg
a sandy lasoon area of. about 5 .feetin depti. ,. . '
:.~ .
. . .
. . . .
. . . . -
Pami.3. y .PLE'URO~CTID.k.X
. . . . . .
.. ... ...... . . . . .
. .,.
. . ,.
: . . . . . . .
. . . , ',:
Saciariscus Gilbert 1905. Eull. U. S. Fish comr:;. , v01.'.23, pt.
72-7jT7782. (Type species, Samariscus - ---".-- corallinu:? Gilbert).
. . Sarnariscus sp. ,. : . . . .
-.-
% . . . ! .:;;i,: . . . .
... ,
, . 1 specinen.. 32-ma. ' Onotoa .i , . ,* . ;.
:., . . . . . .
: . . . . .
. .
.......
. . .
color' in aicohol ....... t%n with fiiat ; ?.rre&rilar, 'brown blotcl.ies;
3 conspicuous d~rk brown cii;clKF.,s'l.i't~h.e midline of the body,
the first lying on the lateral ljne at the leve?. of the end
of the pectoral fin, tho second 'just below the lateral. line
at the level of the 45th dorsal say, and the last touoh.in6:
the laterel line with the upper rl.iil of the circle at the
level of the posterior ends of the soft dorsal snd anal. fins;
. dorsal, . ,. anal, and caudal fins pale with scattered small dark
. bTown epotk; oiiter. haJf OF- pectokal, fin' rays. bleck: ...
. . . . . . .. , I . . . . .
. . .. ,
.. ........
The one smell specimen was taken with rotenone in the
lagoon over send in 11 Feet of water.

This species will be describcc! by Woods i n voi. 2 of
Sishes of the Marshall and Idfiriana:: Islands.
-.- - - - -- -
3;cheneis Lin~iaeus 1758. Syst. net., e&.. 10, !:. 260. (Type
species, Xcheneis iiaucrates - Linnaeus) .
Echeneis naucratcs
Echeneis nau'crates Linnaeus 1758. S,yst. net., ed.. 10, p. 260.
(Typoloculity, Pelago ~ndico).
Leptechetieis naucrates Whit ley and Colefax 1938, ?roc. Linn.
Soc. il'. S. Wiles, vol. 63, p. 299. (Nauru).
An estinated 11. species of gobies were collected by the
author in ths 'ilbert Islands. 'Iheae have b6e.n turned over
to Dr. Xrnest A. Lacilner of the Vnitei! States ~ ~~ Xational.
~ ~.
Museum who will iaclude them in his write-up of thc:. Gobiidoe
for volurae 2 of Pishes of the l\!urshall - and - 1;iarienas islands.
i!no.m tile field Tdentif~a~ns !.:she f ollowir~e:
AII estiriated five species of elsotrids were tu~ned over to
. n e s t A, Lachner of the Tjnited States National Nuseui~~
in order th.at they mii:ht be incorr)oratsd with Bikini matoriol
for volume 2 of ~ishes -- of the liarshsll --- end liarisnss islands.
Field identifications of two of the specles areeE-a -.--stri~8ta
( = Eleotriodes strigatus) and Va.lenci.ennen .-
violifera
--
( = Eleotriodes sexguttatus).
3rotul.a Cuvier 1829. l?agne animal, ed. 2, vol. 2;.~. 335.
ape oies , Enchelyopus bnrhnttis Bloch and ~chnaider ) .

--
Brotula multibarbsa
Brotula multib&?b-bG Tevminck and Schlegel 18L6. Fauna
Japonica. Pisces, a. 251, p1. 111, fig. 2.
Simabara Bay, ~a~an)
(Type locality,
.
6 specimens. 143 - 200 mm. Onotoa.
D 128 to 130; li 104 to 106; P 25; V 2; barbels on knout 6;
barbels on chin 6 (2 specimens).
Color in alcohol grayish brown with very faint narrow
lengthwise derk lines on'body; outer half of dorsal and anal
fins black, mar!;in white.
. .
Posterior part of body ends in a gradually tapering point,
and dorsal and anal fin-rays are not separable from caudal
rays (dorsal md anal fin rays were counted to posterior tip
of body); eye about 4. In heed length; depth of body 5 to 6
in total length. '
---
No specimens of Brot~11a towns~g Fowler were taken.
Genus DINZYATICHTHYS
Dinematichthy~. Bleelcer 1855. NaL. Ti jdschr. Ned.-Ind., vol. 8,
, pp. 3r319. (Type species, Dinemati_c_h_~_h~s&~~c,o~~e~~_d~~).
Dinematichthys iluocoetgo&g
Dinematichthys --a iluocoeteoides Bleeker 1855. Nat. Tijdschr.
Ned.-Ind., v o n , p. 319. (Type locality, Brtu Archipelaqo) .
22 specimens.
Onotoa.
7 sp&imens.
n 72 io , 63; A 59,
35 - 79 mm. 1 spcimen. 130 mn.
. .
Coldr in alcohol* li~ht grayish tb yellowish brovm with 3
narrow gelloxrish longitudinal stripes faintly visible on side
of body.; Color in life variable, eitilzer orange, yell.ow, or
. ,
.. gray
.
' ~?ocim,ens were t alten from 'numerous shallow water habitats.
There was no tendency for grouping fin ray counts among
the 6 specimens checked,' and. it is assumed that all specimens
except pbssibly the 130 mi one represmt one '6igh.l~ variable
species. 'The 130 mm specimen, bright yellorr with reddish.
fins in life, and 7 smaller specjmens were sent to Boyd IiJ.
Vailcer of .:the University of California at Los Angeles who is
working on this group of fishes.

- --
Par%ercis BleeXer. 1863. Ned. Tiidschr. Dierk., vol.. 1,
p. 236. (Type species, Scinens cylindrica i3looh = per::i:;
cyliiid~:.ica Cu.vior and Valenciennes) .
---
Parapecis cephalopuncta - tus
--
Percis - ce&alopuiictatus lieale 1901. . Occ. Pap. B. ?. Bishop
MUs., vol. 1, p. 12r: (Type locality, Guam).
10 specimens. 87 - 122 mm. Onotoa.
D ~~,il; A I,17; P 17; scale rows from uppcr end or gill
opening to base of caudal fin 60 or 61; gill rakers 14 and
16. (2 specimensj .
Color from 35 mm Xodachrome transparency white wlth 9
vertical reddish browu bars on the side of the body, each
broadest below lateral line, and all connec-ted Sg reddish
brown region on back an& by a narrow blackish. linc below
lateral line; a b1ackii:h spot at lower base of pectoral fin:
u large blackish area centro-baselly in caudal. fi:l; .5.'ljrownish
spots in a horizontal line from tip of lower jaw to chee!~;
dorsal and caudal fins l~ith small blackish spots.
Most of the specimens were taken in sandy areas of the
: lagoon.
Pami l y BLENhTII~AE
The blennies are here considered in two subfamilies, the
Petroscirtinae and the Salariinac. Species of the former
group are genebelly longer bodied, have gill membranes
broadly attached to the isthmus, a somewhat pointed snout
and. ventral mouth, and. an exceedingly large canine tooth
posteriorly on each side of the lo-uer jaw, The salnrien.
blennies are usually more robust i.n f orrc, (thoi~.gh aang are
(~,uite elongate) , have gi 11 nen~branes free froa the is thmus, a
blunt snout, and lack the large canine teeth. Tkis group,
along with the gobies, dominated the tide pools of the reef
flat at Onotoa and were cormon ic other environmcnt~? s;s well.
The idelitificstions and couilts on all of. the Onotos
Blenniidae and Tripterygiidae were made by D, TIT. Ftrosburg,
now of' Duke University. iiis able hel$ in this rc;

."
Runula Jordan and Bollrilan 1890. Proc. 11. S. ikL, c,I~.?;. , ~ 31.
12, 171, (Type species,. Runu1.a azalea Jordail and ~oll~han).
> 5 ..
. . . . .. . . .
Petroskirtes tapeinosorua Dleekex 1857. Act. Sac. ,303.. 1n:io-
Keerl., vol. 2, .p. 64. (Type locality, Ambon, !%st Indies).
Color in life: a broad blacti band from snout through €ye
to ba:;e of caudal, fin and narro7$$i.ng out 0.1 cnud.al fin reys,
this band. broken. uy iiiit,o. bl.otch'es *on 'a bout terior t~wthirds
of body; body greenish above this; 'band, v~hitish below:
n small yellow spot at base of caudal Tin just above mdisn
6ar.k band; dorsal fin wit11 a narrow pale mrg3.n md a blsCk
su'bmarginal band; anal fin d-usky with narrov; ::pale 1Csrgifl.
This slender little fish often. made its presence known by
fiirect attack on E stvlymer. The bi$e was usual>y:, bar,e:;x:
hsrceptible for the. teoth could not .norrcallg he i~isertied.;
' nevertheless this""'Bc4havior wes distinctly annoying.
.. .
ksnid.ontus C&oy and~:111nard. 1834. Voyage lfjistrnl~ihew,
0
tm Guoy
and Gaimard.) .
vol. 3, p. ,719. {Type specigs , -. Asp.iGoptus' ta'eilip -
Zool. ,
.Rspidom -. taeniatus Quoy and. G~imard 1834.. V.oy;if:e tf34r:trolnbe",
"IZZl., vol.. 3,.p. 719, p1. .19, fig.. I,.. '[Type lo@ality,
Guam and northern New, ~uineu) i
. .
2 specineils. , 5l+ ~ n d 57 mu. Onotoa. '.
' ~olo!r in lire bright hiue with o bl.ac!c banci running fron
snoat through eye down middle of slde of body to txid of
ca~dal fin, this band becoming broader. posterlosly such thet
the caudal fin is entirely black e:ccfipt Ui)1)6T a~id lotver lobes
which are narrowly blue.
, .
:

, .
See further remarks on this species under the lsbrid
species - Labroides dinidiatus.
---
Meiacanthus --- Norman 1943. Ann. Mag. IJat. Iiist. ser. 11. voi.
10, p. 805. (Type species, P~troscirteo oualcnsis - dnthtr) .
Meicnnthus ----- - atrodorsalis -
If
--.-.--.-- Petroscirtes ------- atrodorsalis Gunther lZY7. Jour. ME::. Godeffroy,
vol.. 4, pt. 13, p. 198, pl. 115, fig. 13. (~ype locelitg,
Samoa ) .
2 specimens. 36 and 46 mn. Onotoa lagoon..
D IV, 26 or 27; A 11, 16 or 17; I? 14. (2 specinen,?).
Color in life brilliant dark b1u.e-psen with caudal
peduncle, caudal fin, and' caudal filaments bright gellow; 9
black band at base of dorsal fin.
. ,
Genus PETE0 SCIHti.'X;
1)etroscirte.s - ~ilppel.1 1828. ntlas Reise ndrdlichen Afri~a,
1, p. 110. (Type species, Petroscirtes mitrntus Idppell) .
Petroscirtes sp.
'2 specimens. 37 and 42 nm. 0noto.r legoon.
Li IX, 28; A 11, 22 or 23; 7 or fi chin barbels. (2 specimens)
.
. Color in life: anterior half of body blue dorsally shadirig
.
'to purple ventrally; posterior half bright; yellow.
. .. .
This saeciks is tentatively " * laced in the genus
~etroscirtes. It could not properly be induzed in any of
tile genera of th.e subfamily as defined by Morman (l.943). It
hns a body depth about 6 in standard len&h: the iG.11 -.
opening is smiill and just above base of pectoral; the dorsal
profile of the head is steep and unifomly convex; the
interorbital is slightly wider than eye diameter; the
antorfor edge of the lower jaw is. tranSversely truncate.
~03..

- -
Genus CIRIiIPXCTIJS
Cirr-tus S~~ainson 1839. iht. hist. and class. fishes,
amphibians, ... vol. 2, pp. 79, 80 (Cirripectes on i,D. 182,
'--i--
275). (Type species, =erias variolosus -- Cuvler an;'
Valenciennes).
Cirripectus var iolosus,
Salarias --- vario1osu.s Cuvier arid Valenciennes 1836. Hist. not.
poiss., vol. 11, p. 317. (Type locality, Guam!.
3 specimens. 57 - 59 rorn. Onoto~,.
D XII, 14; A II,l5 :' (3 spe:cimens) .
: .' Color irialcohol retldieh brovin'wl.th a ,few tin? pale spots
anteriorly on iiead;.fins dusky except anteriorpart of dorsal,
outer .upper part Of caudal, an2 pectoral. membranes.
Cirri~ectus sebae
Salarias - sebae Cuvier and Valenciennes 1836. Hist. not,
. .
poiss., vol. 11; 'p. 323. :,
8 spe cimens . 30 - 48 mi. 0notoi.l.
3 specinens.. ..: i;? .- 38,rm.., Tarawa surge channel.
D XII, 14; k Is, 14. (2 specim6ns).
. ~
. . , .
Color in alcohol brown with Vertical 8ark brown bars; hand
with a faint reticulated pattern of ii!hitish linc. One
small specirce~i has a 1ength.wi:ie .blaclr,band. along side of body
from upper edfp of gill opening to caudal fin. In another
speci~nen v ~ th i a similar band, vertical bars are . forring
ventrally from the band.
Rupiscartfs -- Qua .d Fowler aria Ball. 1924. Proc, Acad. N3b. SCi.
7%ila.. , vor* p. 2 . (Type locality, Wake Island).
6 spe",inens. 47 - 59 ram. Onotoa.
D XII, 15; A 11, 16. (2 specimens).
Color in alcohol brow 7~it;h vertical dark brown bars on
side of boity; some specinens with numerous sranll pale spots;
head with~"frregu1ar dark lines. and pale spots.

- - -.L-
Cirripectus ,j enningsi
CirrAectes Lenninpsi Schultz 1943. Bull. U. S. Nat. Nus. 1.Z9,
pn.. 273, 271,, fig. 27. (Type 'locality, Swains Island).
1 specinen. 76 m. Onotoa.
D XII, 15; A 11, 16.
Color in alcohol: anterjor .half of ,body tan wit&.:.?.:~ertical
dark 'brow.n bars 'fiil.nir.fn(i,"-from 'dorsal , f i,n, tti+er:j. elklo~~efi,;
posterior half of body dark brown; bdy covere? ~itl~~s~ml~
whitish spots (more evident on dark bro!vn portions) : henc'r
with small dark 8;)ots (nlso feintly evident or1 aaterior half
of body) .. . .. . .
. . ' .. ../.
- Cirripectus fuscsputtetis -
Cirri~ectus fusco~cuttatus Strasburg and Schu1.t~ ,1953. Tour.
Wa~hiugton Acad. Ycl., vol. b3, pp. 129, 130, fig. $.
(Type local,itg, Rongerik Atoll, Mershall Islands).
. .
-.- --- --
D X II, 14; A 11, 15.
The t w specinens were used as paratypes by Strasburg end
sohultz.
. , .- ,. . . :. . , .. .
- -
,
' . . .. .,,
... ..
.. .
Cirripectus st~.~,:.il~ticus , .
, . , ..,
. . . . . ..
Cirrlpectu s stigmaticus Stresburg and. Schu1.t~ 1953. ~%r.
Wabhington Acad. Sci,, vol.. 43, pp. 130, 132', fig. 2.
(Type locality, Hongerik BtollC, Marshall Islands).
,. .
16 specimens. 36' - 76 mrfl.. Qnotoa.
.., ., . .
, .. ,
D XIT, 15; A.11, 16. . . :
. ,'
~he~e' specimens were used as~paratYpes by:'S$rasburg- and
Soilultz: . .
., .
Cirripectus sp.
. .
l+ specimens. 0 - 6 r . Onotoa.
D XII, 14; A 11,..15 or 16. (4 spsclmens).
. .
Color in alcohol: body and fins 'uniform dark. .brown,
This species ig. distinctive in lacking a notch. in the
dorsal fin between the sIjinous. and sort portions.
. ..

~habdoblennius Whitley 1930. Mem. r;ueensland Kus., vo I., 10,
p. 20. (Type species, ---- Blennius rhab4otrachelu3 - Fowler and
Ball 1.
Rha bdoLlemius -- snowi
Fowler 1928, Men. 33. P. Bishop MU~. , vol.. 10,
71. (Type locality, Strong's Island, Caroline
Nixi'olennius snowi 'Nhitley and Solefax 1938. Proc. Linn. Soc.
i?. S. Wales, vol. 63, p. 298 (Nauru y~ef f:.at.j.
. .
Color in elcohol light tan with 7 whi.te rmrks in liaear
series on side of body, the anterior 4 or 5 each in the form
of the lctt,~,r 'W; most specimens with irregulsr dark brow1
blotches espsciully anteriorly on body; head with widdyscattered
sixall white spots.
All of the slmcinens were coilectofi from the highest tide
pools of ti;e outer reef flat which are nornally covered by
high tide.
Rhabdoblenni~tc sp.
2 specirnens. 22 and 23 Onotoa,
Color in alcohol light brown with 2 lenp,thruise rows of
about 12 brownish spots down the side of the body (these spots
tend to be a.rmnged ir. groups of 4) ;. 2 irregular oblique dark
brown lines on head behind eye which Qoin below eye gad
continue on to chia; a dark brown spot ventrally on gill.
membranes Just anterior to base of pelvic fin; anterior pnrt
of head and upper lip with a concentrotion of dark pigment
spats r
3od.y elongate, its depth contained ab0u.t 6.5 times in
standard length; one broad simple nuchal cirrns on eech side;
anterior nostril with a tubular rim, one edge of which is
produced into a broud, sl.niple flap: a median cephal!.~ crest
with a dark brown spot in its center (and an anterior ani!
posterior spot os well in the larger specimen).
.The two specimens were collected by use of rotenone on the
outer reef in an area of the northern payt of the atoll with

... ."
. ,
nuiilcrous small heads of coral reaching to within a Toot of
the surface; rfiaximum depth of the wster was 7 feet.
. . . .
. .
. . . . . . 'lstihlen~iius.
!
Whitley 1943. .4ustrglian Zool., vol. 10, p.
( T y p species, Salarias mulleri 1:lunzl.nger) .
---
Istiblennius edentulus -
, ...
Blennius eden tulus Blocb and. Schneider "lg0l. :jys tena ichth. ,
p. l1?2.7ype locality, Huahine Island, Society Islasds) .
Salarias ~ ~ t u l Whitley u s and Colefax l93k'. Yroc. Linn. Soc.
. . K. S. ViaAes, vol. 63, p. 298. (Wauru). . .
5 specimens. 35 - 81' , . am. dnotoa.
5 specimens. 51 - 92 ~halys.
D Yll:I, 19 to 21; A 11, 21 or 22. (!, specimens).
Coior in alcohol br~wi.:wi th pairs of' vertical derk brown
bnrs on the side of body; roeciian fins. darker than body.
All sGecirflens from tide pools o!' outer reef flet.
Istiblennius lineatus
. . . . .
.. .
. * .
8
~iiarias lineatus Cuvier and ValencLennes 1836. 'xist. .' ht .
, . .--- -
polss., vol. 11, p. 314. (Type locality, Java). .
.. ,
8 specimens. 31 - 108 mm. . Onotoa.
. .
D .;YIII, 22 to 24; A 11, 2% to 24. (8 speoirasns) .
Color in a1coho.l light brown hith pairs of' bpown spots on
back adjacent to torsal fin and i:n line with these on the
side brown brrs which follow myotoroe contours;; aSout 10 or
12 .small dark brown spots on side ox 'cuuc?al peduncle; f.in.s
light brown:
The speciL?ens were collected from tide pools on the outer
reef flet.
, . ..
s Istiblennius pnulus
Salarias paulus Bryan and Herre 1903. Occ. Pap. B. P. Bisho~
- Kus., vol. 2, p. 136. (Type locality, Marcus Island).
m
.,.

Salarins priophtlialmus Whitley and ~olefux 1938. Proc. Linn.
soc. K. S. Wales, vol. 63, p. 299. (Nauru). .. .
. .
12 specimens. 18 - 69 mm. Onotoa.
. . Color in alcohol. &in with ,about 7 browni'sh: Wf shaped
narks in linear series on side of body, the upper part oi"
the "HY less distinct; two tiny elliptic@ dnrir-edged white
sDots, one above the otrher.; .within eaci?. Yiv: -%hn,pec? alark;
soft dorsal fin with basal .half dusky, .'outer lhlf pale; om1
fin !;vit!l outer one-th.ird dilsicy , inner two-tbirds pele; lower
nortion of caudal fin dusky (orangish in life), upper half
pule. . .
This species was taken both from tido'pools of tb'e outer
reef flak,. .and in. deeper water (about 5 .feat) o:f' tbk. , .., outer
reer and lacoon.
Salarias gibbifronsQ~lioy aA GaiSlard 1~'2&. ~~oyzige' sutour du
aQild6.. .,,?~railie~. . .Zool. ?,,p. 253. ('i'ype locality, Knwaii~ri
IMen(3s)'. . ~ .. . ,. ,
;,:
.3. 'specimens ; 35 - y/ m. Onotoa .
. .
Color of reinale specimr1 "in 'f;l:cohol light t:in tijzt h very
Paint .irregular vertical dark :aarl?ings., on sid< ,of horly j a jet
.' black: su'ot: on fin iiienibrane between ?;if st 2 dor'sol 'rn::'~;
, ...
dorsal and. caudal fins pale with sioal.1 bln'ck' spoti forriiing
irregular, lines. . .
> ,. . . .. .
..
: "The sp6cimens were collectefi from tide' 1,061s. ,find' water up
to 7 feet: i,n. depth on the outer'reef .' . . ,
.. .
.. :
. ,
, .
Family TItITITERYGIIDAI;
... .., . ,
. . , ~
. ,
. . .. . . . , .
, :i. .. . . . .
Genus TRIPTERV-GION
Tript~ry~jon
,:-.L- Risso 1626. I-Iist. Nat;.. l3ur. Merid., vol. 3,
p. 241. (Type species, Tripterygion nasus Risso) .

5 specimens. 1 - 1 . Onotoa.
D 111-XI-9; anterior lateral line pores 13 or lk. (5 specimns)
.
Color in alcohol pale with tiny small black spots
(melanophores) on body and fins, most concentrated. on edger:
of body scales, caudal fib, anal fin,, and veritrel. half of
head and chest. . .
'llnis ~111811 species was taken in tider,ools or, the outer
reef flat about 200 feet from shore.
---
Helcogramma %c~ulloch and Vaite 1918. Rec. South Australian.
Mvs., vol. 1, p. 57, (Type species, @Lcop,raima docurren~
McCulloch and Wafte).
Helco6zramm sp.
4 specimens. 30 - 31 m!:. Onotoa
n 111-xr11 or XIV-11, or 12; n I, 20 or 21; P 16. (14. spe-
cimens); anterior lateral line scales 25. (2 specinms);
posterior scales ll+; obliyue scale I'CINS 39. (1 speci.men).
Color in life light brown with 7 pairs of vertical red
lines on each side of body extending froin mid-dorsal line
about four-fifths the body depth (the members of each pair
of lines tend to meet ventrally); head blackish due to
nur:lerous black dots (except occipital region which is bright
red); eyes red,
The species was taken & hvo dik~rent lociilitios at the
atoll.; one was in the lugoon near the'west reef with. consi-.
derable coral and in 11 feet 01: water; tile other was a
similar region though on the outer reef, the depth being 8
feet.
These specimens have been sent to C. W, Strasburg. 3.t Duke
University who believes they may represent an undescribed.
species.

-- ---
Oxybeies honei ~icha'rdson' .18'46 .' Ichthyology voyage TWeb~s'~
and "Terror'', D, 74, pl.'-&l+, figs. 7 - 19.. (Type locality,
seas of ~ustsaiia? and Timor).
Color in tiicon01 uniform pale yellowish. Pectoral rays
counted as 17. 3 elongate gill rakers orlupper .la rt of first
arch, remaining rakers rudimentary. 3 stout teeth in :aid-
line on vornel> with small teeth in a single row on either
side; 2 rovusof teeth on,palatfne,; teeth in jaws in 2 row,
those near sjnphysis about 2 or 3 times lbnger than remain-
ing teeth. . .
. .
. Six of, the .specimens were brobp,h.lt to ne by Gilbcrtese
chil.dren; when queried 89 ts how the rish ::sert., ,c0:.16c$ed,
.they replied tilet they were taken fron sea CucGSersfri the
la~oon. . , .
. .
One specinen of 'this speci&s;' 'in length, ~vas
, - inndvertentl:~ ~co1~ected'b.V 'P: 'E.. CloQd tit: '0fi0f233.. ??e picked
up 8 sea urchin with 10~~"bended spines (either Di&e.c~a or
Echinotbrix) and placed i,t in a face plate. ' Latbr th6'-little
,. -
% pearl 11.sh~m~ discovered in the sane face pl.cte.' Because
' . .Of the btibits .of tKese fishes, it was at first assumed that
this individual. rish heE bsen inside the test of the urchin
when it rives pic~ed up. In view of thedi.ffl.culty in visuali-
'zing q mans of .exit from $n ecLinaid., especielly: one sz1B11
enough to -?it into' a face .pla be, I now believe the fish night
have hidden among the Gpiiles oi' the urchin when it wns
col2eeted. Dr. CLou6,' howevkr; still. sus$ects tikt the fish
nay have bsen within the urchin and soneho7.v menaged to
extriccte itself. ..
.~ ., . . . . . , .. . . . , . . , . . , .
Family Bf:I;ISr~ID.A;l .
. s . .
, . T11k tri@ger fishes, :kt!:. their unuc;ual structure, bright
'color, and peculiar mode of stvimaing by undulation of the
.. . Sbft 'dorsal and analifins, proved to be a grominent group of
.:. fishes on Gilbert Island reefs;' TKeg'1bei.6 '-akw&y S' seen as
solitary individuals, gild were usually wary of ail observer.
The, na.tives referred,..to species in this fii,l;ly, as . te -- bubu.
K0s.t are readily caught with hook: ?nd,,line. . ,
. , 7
lit Onotoa Rh:necapihus a'culeatu,~ vms .the most abundant in
typical lngoon areas ,?bile %lista~us pnhulatus gFnernlly
.pr edoninated elsewharB. ~ h m i v Rhinecanthus
e
rectangulus was'.cbmbfily ' $em bli the'onter'r6ef; ' Beeking
,refuge in very suiall . ~ noles in the reef ... when ap7roached.
Only six spcci&s were taken at 0,notoa. , Another,
vidua, was often seen' underwater at this atoll. It ~ G s

pI'evi0Usly collected by Andrew Garrett at Abainru and
- " ~
reported by ~hther (1910) . Also. collected by Garrett fron
the Kingsmill Islands were Pseudobalistes fuscus and
--- Sufflamen -.- chrysoptera.
- .*- - --..
Odonun ni~er, Ralistoides niger ( = B. conspicillurn),
"-"
Pseudobalistes flavimarginatuz, and Sufflamen Tursawere not
seen nor are they recorded from the xlbert Islands, but
these species, and possibly others, may occur thkre.
Key to the Species of Balistidae
Recorded, from the Gilbert Isl~nd~
la. A short groove running forward below the nostrils from
'the roost anterior part of eye. ....................... 2
I'D. No groove running forward fron eye ...................... 13
2a; .Third dorsal spine not visible in elevated fin; ventral
profile from mouth to pelvic spi.ne prominently conve~.................'..........~~..~~..,.:..
......... 3
2b. Third dorsal spine readily visiblein elevated fin;
ventral profi1.e fron mouth to pelvic spine straight
or only slightly convex.. ......... ; ............... 5
3u4 A series of 5 long oblique grooves on cheek, the 3
aentral. one8 moat prominent; b0d.y aepth not @eat,
2.5 in standnrd length; color of body in alcohol
light brow.n"with a single round brown spot on. each
scale .............................. - Xanthichthys - rlngens
3b. No series of long grooves on cheek body depth great,
about, 2 in standard length; ,color of body very dark
brown to black.......................................4
La. A series of 8 to 10 conspi&.ous lengthwise ridges on
posterior third of b0d.y; caudal fin lunate; all fins
dark except a narrow pale (light blue in life) line
at the base of the soft dorsal and anal fins
.....................................
..........
IJelichthys --- buniva
hb. No series of conspicuous lengthwise ridges on posterior
third of body; caudal fin double emargLna te to
truncate; pectoral fin pale. (>iglit yellow in life),
soft dorsal and anal' fins white with narrow black
margins, caudal fin pa1.e '(in life with basal. third
white and distal two-thirds bright salmon-pink) .......
IJelichthys vidua
......................................
--
5a. No rows of spines on caudal peduncle; head naked mte-
riorly, scaled posteriorly; 4 short horizontal. grooves
011 cheek; soft dorsal find anal fins marksdly elevated

anteriorly; caudal fin With prolonged pointed upper
and lower lobes; mar&.ns of pectoral, soft dors:?l,
anal, and caudal fins abruptly 'yhle..
..................................
..................
Pse~tdobalistes -.- --." ---- fuscus
5b. Row of smdT f orward-projecting spines on caudal
~eduncle; tiead. completely scaled; no horizontal
shallow grooves on oheek; soft dorsal and anal fins
not riiarkedlg elevated nn.tt:riorly; margins of nectorsl,
soft dorsul., ~nal, and caudal rins not abruptly
pule...... ............................................. 6
Ga. Dorsal profile of head frm mouth to origin of ?;pinous
:lors::: Pin slightly convex; body with d~~l'stil. sadillelike
black areas extendin:: nidl.ater8l.l.y; eye lar&;e,
coiltained about 4 times (3 in young) I.n distance
frox snout to upper enc? of gill opening; crudal fit1
nariiedly rounded.. ............ ,&listoi

9a. Spinos on CzudaL peauncle in 4 ho~izont&l'rbws, the
. . :up;jer row about ,haif tho le11gtb:of the lower 3;
w:i:ne.s 'on. d?_udr?l pecur~cle' contal.ned in 0. triangular
, black srea, the anteriqr .paint of -vihlcil 'te'rminates
. . . .
at aBou:t .the TeVe'l' 'of the 8th dorscl ray.,
.Rhini:canthus' rectangulus
. . . ... , ...............................
. .
....
-
, .
...............
9b. Spines on CaQdal .peduncle in. 3 horizontal.roi.ws, the
lovvermont of v~hich,is less .tli~n hcLf :the.len.gth of
. . the upiser 2;' spines on oaiidnl ...p eduncle not' contsined
ill. a triangular black area *.,.,,..,... Bhi.necmthus --- acule~tus
................
-
....... .....
......
, .
. . . .
Genus :U\~~'IR~CRTHIT;.
..... . . . . ,, .
Xanthichthys - (- ex i~aup) ~iehardsoh 1856. Zr~cycL. ?Wit., ed.
: ti, vol. 12, p. 313. ,('Type sl~ecies, Balistes curassavicus
,GGelin 1788 ' Balistes ringens Linnaeus 1758') .-
.......
. .
.,..
. ~anthichthys
- r9nr{~infi~infilj$'hi - tley and hlefax 1938. Proc. Lirm.
.Sac. Ti. S. Wales, vo:. 63, p. 299. (Nsuru).' . L
. .
~nlistes radula Solander ; -. in .Richardson 1@+8.. ...
~0.01.. Wamarangtf ,
p. 22. . ,
. : , ,. ,
. .
3 specimens. 106 - 215 mm. Onotoa. *
. .Color lin life dsr$, blue-green with bl8kk lo'ngituhi&l
lines; a narrow bright light blue line at base of the:soft-:
?loi?sal and anal fins, this line being slightly broader postsriorly.
Blue lims radia,te clorsa1ly':~nd anteriorly from tho
eye. Just visible in the dark caudal 'fi:o. is a somewhat
darKer sub~nsrginal, vertical line ,, f.ai,atly, edged in l.i(:ht
blue, which curves posteriorly -to .extend -to' t,h$ cxds o:C t;he
somewhat prolonged upper and lower lobes of thc cciidal fin.
Immediately upon death the fish takes on a uniforin grer,nis.h
-

la.c,k huc, thus obliterating the longitudinel lines on the
body'; the blue lines radiating fron the eye disa!,'ear. The
nost consnicuous color, the light blue line at the base of
j;he soft dorsal and anal fins, remains, ultimately Cading
. .
to white. in preserved specimens.
-411 specimens were speared on the corullifcrous terreoe
of the outer reel', the only habitat where they were seen.
'ilhey were often observed, well above the coral-covered botto!:~.
Iiap id swi.%nrrs ::or ba1i.stid.s , they usually rooveil .. swiftly
away fron .... an area intruded by a swimmer.
There has been coasl.derable confusion with respect to the
correct name for this circumtroplcal specins. Three ::>ecif ic
names have been in common use bunivn radula and rl.ngeg.
-) L - - . . ? -
The rinp-ns .s- of ~l.nns6us (17583 is clearly not this specres,
~. for &,.'mention.jd the three ~rrooves on the ct!.eek sucb 8s We
see ihthe Atlantic Xanthichthys -- 9 and these are not present;
in Melicht&. --- The name -- buniva l"eckp5de predates --- raflu1.u
Solander.
: '&li~tes:'vi~&ii~.'Sola~idec;, in.Ricllerdson 18k4. Z60i. .. ~f%llph!Ur",
Pisiles;x 128, pl. 59, Ties. 9 , 10.. (Type loCnl:ity,
. . . . ... . . . .
' Tahit'i). ' . . . . . .
, . . . . . . ,
. . . .
Melichthys -- vidua 'WhhitTey:.and Colefax L938. ;?roc. Linn: S30.
N. S. Wales, vol. 63, p. 299. (Nauru).
. .
-.- . -
: , >
......... .....
. ,, , . ,. . . .
... . .
. .
-
An e1udiv.e epesies at Onotoa j it was frequently seeri on
the c~rall~if er6us' t ercace af 'tkie router reef near the entrance
to surge. ckmne'1.s.: It avoided capture by retir:ing .to .;deep
recesses: .:$n the reef. A specimen procured l'n thwUarshal1
Islands .pPovidkd the following .col'or c7escription:;. bUd,yYY
purplish blacii; ,ba:sal: third. of caudal. fin !snow %htl;e,. listal.
two-thirds bri&ht:saMm @:ink; pectoral f~in .clear yellow;
soft dorsal and anal fins eQe@ 'in. black; within the black
iaacgins fin rays white,., menbranes hyaline; spinous ,dorsal fin
black; lips faintly reddish;, 'iris .yeWm,. . .-I:. ..
. .
. . . .
! . , . ,
... . . ~seuYtobs1~1.8tes fuscus
- . ..I .... - --
Balistes fuscus 1-3loch.-and'~~ch~eld.er 1801. :;~sterna ic.h!h.,
-.p.
471 I- Baliste grande-teche ~acdphde 1799).

%listes chrysG2ilus Bleeker 1065. Atlas icht},., v3:i. 5,
- - .-
p. 111, pI. 225, fig. 3.
---.. Balister; -.-- fuscus Ghther 1910. Jour. Eus. Godeffroy, vol. 9,
pt. n, p. 442, pl., 168. (Kingsmill Islands).
Genus .3ALI:ITOIDES
Ea1.istoid.e~ Fraser-Brunner 1935. .Ann. ;via{?. Nat. Hiut., ser.
-.- 10, vol. 15, p. 662. (Type species, Balistes viridescens
-.-
Bloch) ,
--- Bilistoides viridescens
13al.istes viridtjscens Eloch Bnd Schneider 1801.. Systena ichth.,
- p. L77 -(ZTi:LeTaTTste verdatre Lacdpbde 1799) . (Type
locality, IiGuritius). . .
6 specimens. 23 - 29 rm. Onotoa.
. .,
Color of juveniles in life light golden :'lit?; scattered
dark brown spots on head and body. R faint dark aree occurs
beneath the soft dorsal fin; a. similar blotch can be seen
adjacent to the base of the spinous dorsal fin; do?sal., anal,
and pectoral fins unspotted except in the largest specima
which. possesses 3 faint spots in the soft dorsal fin; cau.dal
fin dusky with small blotches centrally.
These small specimens were identified a9 viridencens on
the basis of fin ray c0un.t~ which were consistent ~i+~th.o,~e
of specimen:; from ths Philippines, East Indies, 98n10:1, ancl
the ,Marshall Islands i$nd by comparison with progressively
I.cr&r specimens from these areas which' gradually assume
typical adult coloration. An 80 rm speciiien froc; the
Philippines displayed the characteristic broed dark band
extendl-ng and narrowing posteriorly frou; the upper 110 and
containing a thin pale line. Bleeker has portrayed. this
species in color as Figure 2 of Plate 131 in Volume 5 of his
Atlas Zchthyologique (1865).
5 specinens (22-23 m) were collecte(l by hmid in a sandy
channel region %here the water was only a few inckes deep.
!?he 29 mm specimeri was secured with rotenone I2-m e depth of
about 5 feet in the Onotoa lagoon.
Adults ure stated by Ghther (191.0) to reach a length of
2 feet. A speciiiien of nearly this size from the Line Islands,
erroneously identifietj zs fuscus, 1s preserit in the aernice
1'. Bishop Museum, I-Ipnolulu; The adults v??re not infra~p.ently
seen in the Onotoa lagoon well out of speeriii~ rznge. It .is
possibl.e, how~;ver, that they might be coflfused n,t this
distanco with 1. fuscus or P. - flavimargin~tus - tq?hich aiso
reach large size.

. .
. .
,Sufflamen -,- Jordan 1916. Copeia, no. 29, p. 27. (~e3 natfle for
Pachynathus Swainson 1839 preoccupied). '(~ype spccies,
Balistes capistratus ~hawj.
-
Suff'lanen cagistrata
Palisteu -.- 9istrat;us Shaw 1804. General ?oologg, vo1 . , 5,
pt;. 2, p. -7bne %lists bride Lac~p'ede 1799). (Type
locality, Indian Ocean).
- -
Sufflamen fraenatus r?mitley and Golefax 1938. PrOC. LinIi.
Sot; N. S. Wales, vol.. 63, p. 299. (Nauru).
1 s$?ciillen. 135 an. 0not;oa. . .
Color from 35 ram Kodachrome transparency brownish gray;
proximal half of 'lov~er lip. bright yellow; remainder of this
lip and upper lip bluish;. a pale line on ch:n extending
upwerGs almost to rictus; spinous dorsal and caudal f4.n~
dark brown, the former fin with a black spot distally in tho
fin mrnbrane; pectoral, soft dorsal, end anal fills brownish,
beooiiiing yellowish distally. , .
. , ,:. .
A second line under.th.e chi0 gnd a prominent line extending
from the rictus almost to the base of the pector:.rl. fin
were not pres,ent in the Onotoa spscimen. Such marklnfts are
shown in LaceP&de's plate and. are included in Shawls description.
The absence of such markings, however, is coilsidered
wit;hin . . . tho variability of this specles by Fowler (192G).
. .
Suf f lams ctiry soGera .-- ,
i > * : ,
-. Palistes chrysopterus 13loch;and Schnei.der 1g01., &ysteria"ichth.,
6- 70.0 Le Raliste arme Lacdphdo 1799). :(Type locozity,
Indian Ooeall).
11
i3alistes n i Gunther, ~ 1910, Jour .

6 specimens. 32 - 153 mn. Onotoa.
Color from 35 rim Kodachrome transparency metallic bluish
brown witn. about 20 narrow bright orange lines, occasionally
broken, running somewhat irregularly in a diagonal fashion
across body antero-dorsally to postero-ventrally; a broad.
orange li.ne extending from above upper lip Ciagonally across
chest to pelvic spine (this line is joined at about the level
of the eye with a similar orange 1i.ne which circles the
chin); a third and narrower orange Line runs above anrl just
parallel to the first; lower 1i.p with a broad orange .line:
a round, jet black area surrounding. caudal. pcd.uncl&spines;
spinous dorsal f1.n dusky with a prominent black spot
distally in the membrane between the first and second dorsal
spines, and. a lesser blacli spot in the next interspinous
membrane; rays of soft dorsal and anal fins orange, membranes
clesr; caudal fin rays dark brown; mercbranes of caudal fin
orange in dorsal and ventral part of the fin, yellowish
centrally. Some variability in color pattern, espec5.elly of
the ora~lge lilies on the body, was appareiit from ~pscimen to
specimen.
The 32 rnril specisnen, displaying> the juvenile balis tid
feature of a relatively long first dorsal spir~e, h ~ a s color
pattern very sini1:ir to thnt of adult fish. Instend of
about 20 oblique orange lioes on the body, however, it has 8.
B. - undulatus VJaS probably the most abundant balistid at
0noFoa and was taken fron outer reef, iagoon, and channel
areas.
The stomach and intestinal. contents of 8 adult specimens
from Onotoa were examined. On137 one contained a fish, this
being in the :forepart of the stomach znd probably a prior
victim $0 rotenone than the bal-istid itself . Three snecimens
had eaten largely green algae; one of these had a good-
sized brachyuran crab, an.other a nu.mber of small .Acropora
fragmeats, and posteriorly in the in test in^ of the thnd
were the broken spines and test of n sea urchia. Included
also in the green algae were several srilslll sponges, tun.icate
fragments, an egg mass, a few small foraminifera, and con-
siderable bottom debris. Three other specimens contained
mostly the coralline red alga Jania, one of these having in.
the posterior p~rt of the stomach mass of coral fragments.
One specimen contained only u little bottom debris 8nB an
isopod. The last had made a meal of what appears to be a
large polychaete.
It seems, therefore, ihat this species does not have spe-
cialized food habits, but is a rather genera!. bottos!~ feeder.
By virtue of its rugged dentition it i.s able to cope with
such unusual food items as coral and sea urckics. 111. :;r?ite
of the preponderance of algae in some specimens it is doubti':l
if algae constitutss important food to the specis8, for the
gut is very short.

Genus RiilNECAiJTHUS
- Rhineconthuo Swainson 1839. Nat. hist. e.nd clsss. fishes,
aniphibian

front of eye parallels th.e blue-bordered. band and curves
to join it at pectoral base; interorbitel space blue wi.th
3 blacir lines running fromleyc ts eye; e large dusky
black area centrally on Pody.'$ending an oran@.sil blac!~
. .
band up*dard to origin of.:scif.t ,.dorsal fin and a second.
dusky branch to posterior part of soft dorsai fin; vetl-
trally the central dusky area is dissected by 4. light blue
bands running diagonally b.wck ta.the anal fia; a 5th bend
is marginal, running, to region of anu;:; imnedi?,t e circum-
anal region black; caudal 'peduncle spines black end
contained within a light blue irea; lips bright 9rmge,
this color extendiug broadly from lips to lower bas3 of
pectoral fin, narrowint; as it approaches this location and
displaying a. slight hook at the end; a blue line occurs
within the orange yellow area just above the upper lip;
pectoral, .soft. dorsal, ;.end anal -fins pr!le: spinous dorsai
almost black, caudal fln dusky.
The 28 rim speciolen has typical aduli; coloration.
This species was observed only in sandy lagoon areas
around mall coral heads.
, . -- Soft rBys of the dorsnl -- fin*:
. .,
., . .
Anal fin rays*

hl - . buniva
- S. canistrnta
D. undulatus
g. rretanpulus
R. - aculeatus
Scale rows*"
..-A.
5L - 55
.b7
35 - 38
33 - 36
33 - 36
"A11 elements of soft dorsal an& anal fins, whether articu-
lated or not, were counted as rays.
**scale rows were counted from the upper exid of the gill open-
ing to the end of the hypurnlplate. No scale counts could
be made for B. viridescens, for they were not completely
formed in th; juvenile specimelw which were collectad.
Family MONACANTFIIDAE
The file fishes were not abundant at Onotoa, with only
nine specimens of four species being taken. Garrett collected
---- Aleutera scripta at .Abemama, general Gilbertese name for
the monacanthids at Oaotoa was te bubuawai.
- --
K& to the Species of Monacanthidae
Recorded from the Gilbert Islands
la. Caudal fin very large, its length contained about 2.5
times in standard length; dorsal. spine saall and.
feeble, contained more than 5 times in standard
length; body gray or brown in life with black spots
and short curved blue lines ----.--... Aleutera script8 -.-
...........
lb. Caudal fin not very large, its length contaiaed to
4.5 times in standard length; dorsal spine not
..............................
..small and feeble, contained 3 to 5 times i.11 standard
. . . . . .
length; color not as in la 2
2a. Snout long and tubular; mouth very s~;~all and. directed
sharply upwards; gill opening small (less than half
an eye diar~ieter in length), vertical, and posterior
to eye; body light brown (blue-green in life) and
covered with numerous roundish pale (orengf? in life)
spots.. .Oxynonacanthus longirostris
...................
- -- --
2b. Snout not long and tubular; mouth not very small and
directed only slightly upwards; gill opening not
smll (.8 to 2 eye diameters in lsngth), oblique, and
not posterior to eye.. ..3
...............................
...

3a. Dorsal spine with a lster~l serics of 8 to 12 prorninent
downward-curved spines; pdvi c spine long,
with 2 outer srticulated portions bearing stout
spines; gill opening re1etivc;ly short (about .8
eye diameters) and contained in a black area; body
scr,leo (in s>eci.mens over 50 nin) with a vertical
series of 3 to 5 large spinules (the central one
being about twice as long as adjacent 2), these
spinules becoming coaspicuouslg longer on caudal
peduncle, giving it 8 marked brush-like texture...;...
..............................
.
Pervapor nelan:~ckphali~s
. .
3b. Dorsal spine without prominent series of spine$; pe1v.i~
spine short, without outer articulated portions; @ill
opening relatively large, 1.2 to 2 eye dia~neters in
length, and not contained in a black area; spinules
on body scales srnall and, not as in 3a.. ........... ...4.
ha. 4 prouin~nt (at Least i:~ adults) anteriorly curvea ...
spines in 2 rows oil caudal peduncle; caudal fin
orange in life.. ...................... .Aiuanses carolae
..............
-- ----
4b. NO spines on caudel psduiicle;. cauha,~ fin grayish-.
brown in life.. ;.. .... .&mnses sandiuichiensis
. -- AIeutera Oken 1817. Isis, p. 1183. (Type species, 33alistes
:. . . . . monqceros Linnaeus) .
. .
Balistes scriptus Osbec,~ 1765. Reise nacll Ostindien und
China..,, p. 145. (V?ype locality, China yen).
Monacanthus scriptus ~hther 1910. Jour. ,tius. Godef'froy, vol.
9, pt. 17, p. 452; bemam mama).
. .
Osbeckia scrip% Whitley and olefa fax 1938. roc. ~ inh. Soc .
.. . . N. S. Wales, vol. 63, p. 300. (Nauru).
. . . ,.
. . ~xymonacanthus Bleeker lg66. Nat. Tijdschr. D?erk. Amst.,
vol. 3;p. 13, (Type species, Oxymonacanthus chrysospilus
Bleeker = Balistes longirostris i3loch) . .
Oxymonacanthus lonc,irostris -
Balistes hispidus var. longirostris ~lodh and Schn6idc.r
' : :-:. .1801. Systema Tchth. p. 464. ....
-

1 specimen. 60 lorn. Onotoa.
Color in alcohol light brown with 7 series of prominent
roundish pale spots on body; short longitudinal pale lines
on head; tip of snout pale, this puie nl'ea with. a black
posterior iaargin; pelvic spin

Amanses Gray 1832-35, '111. Indian Zool.. , vol. 2, pi, 98..
-(Type species, Morlacanthus (Amansss) -- -t----.._- hvstrix Gray =
Monacanthus scoFas Cuvier) .
Arnanses carolae
Cantherines carolse Jordan and i~tc~regor in Jordan. and
Evermanil 1999. Rep. U. S. Fish Cowfl. fG 199~3. p. 281, pl.
6. (Type locality, Socono Island). . .
. .
1 spe ciinen. 245 ion. Onotoa.
-.-.-. --
Color in life grayi.sh brown with sligbt yellowish cast
vsn. trally; posterior two-th.irds of body with about 12 faint
vertical dark broym bands; lips flesh colored, darker on
distal margins; bony potubcrmces bearing caudnl poduncle
spines orange; d-orsal, nnel, and pectoral fins pale yellow-
ish, caudal fin orange wi.th dclsky rays; iris orange-yello::~.
' .. .
The Onoton spec.inen ~vas speared in. a recess in coral in
about 20' fket of. water on the coralligercous terrace of the
outer r eef .
. .:
...,
. . .
. . Arnanses sandwi chiensi. s
-.- ~alis'tes sandwickiensis Quoy and Gairard 1824. Togage autour
L[u ~~.on(le. . . Wranielf, 2,001. , p. 21Lc. (Type locelity ,
Iiawaiia~ Islands) .
Cantherines pardalis Whitley arid ~6lefax 1935. Froc. Linn.
Foc. ,?T. 9. Wales; vol. 63, p.: 299.
. .
3 specimens. 48 - 95 mm.':Ono'toa.
Color froa 35:,?lm.Kodachrol;le transparency light gray with
a faint reticulation of light blue on body and narrow lines
on head'; a prominent whits spot (disap,pearing in preserved
specimens) dorsally on the caudal peduncleat posterior end
of th'Ci'do,rsal fin; pectoral, dorsal., and anal fins faintly
yell~wi'sh;caudal' fin dark gray.
The speciuens. were taken with rotenone on west reef of
atoll.
. .
. .

Tnble - - 7 Fin -- Koy Counts of the Monacanthidae --.-----.---- Collected
in theiirm Islands
--
Dorsal fin
-.-
--
Anal fin
-.-
--3---
31 2 3 & 2 28 ?O 30 31 32
-" 0. long,irostris 1
P. melanocephxus 2 1
2 1
A. - carolae I_- 1 1 1 1
- A. sandwichiensi s 3 3
- -
- -
-
11 12 Q & lJ
0. longirostris
2
- P. - melsnocephalus ..' 4 2
A. carolae
1 3
x. sandwi chiensis
2 4
- -
Family OSTRA GI ONIDAE
Genus OSTHARION
Pectoral fin (both sides counted)
Ostracion Linnaeus 1758. Sys t. fiat., ed. 10, ,pi 330. (~ype
... . ,
. species, cubicus %innweus).
Ostracion -- cubicus
...
. . . ...
Ostracion cubicus ~i:m&us 1758. 3ysti nat., eil. 10, p. 332.
7Type~ocality ,, .India). .. . ,. . . . ..~
. . .a :
0straoion cubicus .Fowler 1928. Mem, -B. F.' Bis+o!: JJus., vol.
10, p. @=baianp,, iCingsnii3.1 Islands).
No specinens 'were collect& by rue in the Gilbert Islands.
Color from 35 mi ;Codachrome .transparency of a 132 ira specimen
which I speared at firno Atoll in the Marsha21 Islsnds:
carapace dull yellow wi,th scattered small b.1z.c~ spots, alore
ilumerous anteriorly.;. caudal peduncle, fins, and lips bright
yellow.
Ostracion rneleagris --
Ostracion mleagris Shaw 1796. Nat. Misc., vol. 7, p3.. 253.
(Type locality, Southern Ocean ) .
' Ostracion sebae Ghther 1910. Jour. Jvlus. Godeffroy, vol. 6,
pt. 17, p. 454. (Kingsmill Islands).
.! .

1 specimen. 83 mm. Onotoa.
D LO; A 10; P 10.
. . ,
cdior'.fr.i;$: 3% &: Kodachrbme trailspar. ency dark purplish
blue with n~ihnrous white dots on carapace, caudal peduncle,
and tail; spots on bssd rjrmll~r and less nist5.nct than those
on b0d.y; d-orsal, anal,,and pectoral . . fins hyaline with blackish
rays. ...
. .
. . . .
'i'his was the only trur~k fish taken at Onotoa, qnd no
otlisrs were seen.
--"-- --
According to Fraser-:?runner (191c0 : 391) Ostracion sebae
Bleeker is the male form of - 0. --. lentiginosus = m_elengrig).
I on unable to sex i~y speciineri for the gomiid is very small,
,but I bdieve it is a l'e~?ale. The gut - is tfiree ,_. 6,i.~@s as
, ..
long as the standard length and its contents i.q&::yl: elgal.
(yossi bly Dict.yosa1iaerj.a) with bits of bottom s~ijir~erit .' .
T%e peri toneuu is ,transparent with scattered .sua11 . . black dots..
Canthisaster Swainson 1.839. Nat. hist. and class. fishes,
amphibians ,... vol. 2, 1). 194. (Type, species, Tetraodon-. -
-.-- rostratus Bloch) . . .
. .
, ,
-
Tetrodon eolan.dri Richarcisoil 1845. 7,001. voyage *~nl.~hurf;.,
Pishes, p. 125, pl. 57, Pigs. f+ to 6. (Type locality,
Polynesia), ,
18 specimens. 16 - 62 w. Onotoa.
1 specimen. 47 m. Taraws
D 9; . A . 9; P.16 or 17 (mostly 17); (8 specimens).
. .
&lor froin 35 inn Kodachrome transparency reddish tan with;
numerous small- bright blue spots on head .and. body; blue lines
radiating from eye; a black, blue-edged spot beneath dorsal
fin; caudal fin orange with bright blue spots arranged in
vertical rows; other fins hyaline; throat orangs, uid-portion
witliou t blue spots. . . .. . . .
,..
This was the most abundant sharp-no',sed puffer :it 39otoa.
It was. taksn, in.relai;Pvely shallow water of lagoon, cl:a:inci 9
and outer reef. . -
: ..
.!

Tropidichthys jactator Jenkins 1901. Bu1.l. U. S. .Fish Comm.,
vol. 19, p. 399, fig. 11. (Type loozdity, Honolulu).
2 specimens. 52 and 55 mm.
D 9; A 9; P 17. (2 specimens).
Onotoa lagoon.
~oior . . in ',alcohol grayish brown with numerous: 'close-set
pale spots oa bsdy, somewhat larger and closer: togetlitx
ventrally; dark brown. lines radiating fro1aeye'ar.A two short
diagonal dark lines just beneathdorsal fih; all fins pale
without spots.
- Psilonotus a.mboinensis Bleeker 1865. Ned. Tijdschr . Dierk.,
. voi. 2, p.q%-me locality, Ambon, East ~adies)
5 speciinens. 39 - 83 ma. Onotoa.
. . .
.. .. ,. . .
D 11 or 12 (mostly 12); A 11; P 16 or, 17 (ruosi;ly :I?).
(5 speciwens) .
Color in life dark olive, shading to orcnge-brown ventrally
with small light blue spots and tl f6w brown s$at's oh: side of
body; light blue lines' extending dorsally from eye; dnrK
blue lines ventro-a~lteriorly from base of pectoral fin; anus
and bese of a.nal fin brilliant sapphire blue.
The specimens, .%$ere collected fro~l. rich: coral. areas bf the
. ,lagoon near the Cest reef end from a si.pilar area of the
, outer reef in the northern part of .the atoll. .:
Puffers were infrequently seen .in the Gilbert Islands and
only four species were collected. ' The Gilbertese called
the? all by the name -- Tebuni. ,They were we11 aware of., the
pbisonous nature of tetraodont &,onads.
. ,
It
Genus AROTHWi$
, .
. .
Arothron Muller 1841. Abh. preuss. Akad, viss., p. 252.
'-(Type-speci6s, Arothron --- . testud inarius Muller = Tetrorlon
stellatus - Bloch and Schneider).
.

'2etrttodo.n hispidi:s Linnaeus 1758. Syst. nn.t., (&, 10, p. 333.
~ijCToEE1 i t y , India ) .
Color from 35 m:i Kodaclwons trrnspa~,e.ncy i.rryis!i :brown
dorsally with white ficcts ebout size of ?:~unil, v~hitr+
ventrally v!it!~ faint ieiip,t,hiuise yello~rish b.rovm l..Lner, below
pectoral; area around base of ;.wctoral fin end &;;ill. open?np,
blackish, with ci.rcular -uiiLte i5.m~; ciorszl, anal, and
pectorel fins pzle yellawl sh; czuri.al :i'in ;~rnyish brown wit.Li
smll white spots on basal tws-thirc!~; 'ilbis br3i,"ht o;'arlseyellow.
A11 of the Orioton specimens were colloctiid by spear in^ in
a Th~lassia area of' the lagoon of about 5 feet in ii~ptli,
Aro thron irmn:i.culat~.ls
-.>- .- .---
Tetrocion i.mmaculatus Sloch end ':
--- - .--.- .~cbneiikr 1G01. System ichth.,
P. 5c7. . .
Color in uScohol [gray lsh brown dorstlly shstii!n&~ to light
brow ventrally with lengthwise blacic lines or; hmC1 znd bod:;
(two of' these iines rrre confluerit in front of gill openi~u(.):
dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins pale: caudal fin du3kg with
upper and lower rmrp,ins dark. Caudal fin loni:, its length
conteineii 3 tiriies in standard length.
Arothron - stolla tus
Tetrodon lagocepl~alus -- var. - stell-atus 131och end Schnaider
TCmjyStei;~: ichth., p. 503.*e locelitg, 1Jau:citius).
Tetrodor: stellntus Powlor 1928. Eeu. 3. P. Sishor? Hus. , vol..
10, p. Lmb&ang, Kings;mlll 1sl:inds).
-- ---We-
----- I' \
Arothron neleapvis
Tetrodon neleagris L?cepde 1798. 3ir;t. ntit. pol ns., vol. I,
p. 505.7Type locality, seas sf .A~iii).
,*

'
-- Ovoides melea@is - 1.Vhitley 2nd Colefax 1938. Proc. Linri. Soc.
N. v$. vol. 63, p. 300. (TL'auru).
3 spe,airoens. 125 - 160 m. Onotoa.
Color in life of 125 filw. specimen: unifori:~ Carl: brow with
numrous ~iii?ll whits spots on head, body, a.~d 1:re:iian fi.ns.
A 130 i.;im spec%oen was grayish with many small dull ye1:low
spots on dorsel part of body and head and oil ch.in, buffcolorea
v.eiitrally, with scattered 2f.t black spots on. head
and bsdy. Color froxi 35 rntx Kod~chrome tra!isperency of the
160 ma spekimen: bright orange-yel.low, whil;S.sh. ventrally,
with ar, irregular patch, of dark browa containinc whit

nro thron nigro~wnct~ tus
Tetrodon nigropunctetus Block and Schneider 1801. System
ichtir, p. 507- locality, Tranquebar).
3 specime.ns. 90 - 169 mii. Onotoa.
Color from 35 mm !Cod.achrome transpareacy of 9G mm
specimen: da~~k~,purplisl~'jirsy on back, nhriiiinp to light
bluish gray ventrally, with occasional, widely-separnted
black ::pots of variable size on head and bocy; dorsril and
anal fin mjrs brownish jellow, ~iicmbranec hyaline; caudnl. Tin
color of boay; pectore: fins hya1j.n~; mils jet blnck.
The gut contents of two of the specir~ens were examined.
They consisted largely of bite-sized pieces of' fresh coral.
- Table - 8 Pin --- Ray Couilts of the Tetraodo~j.tidae -
Dorsel fin rays Anal - fin rays
- 9 11 - - 12 - 9 ~-Tl--i2
A. - hispidus
Gilbert Is. 3 2 1
A. - -- immaculatus
Gilbert Is. 1 1
A. - meleagris
Gilbert Is. 3 1 2
Uarshall Is. 6 1 3 4
A. nigropunctatus
- GTlbert Is. 3 2 1
Marshall Is. 6 1 4 3
A, hispidus
Gilbert Is.
A. - imaculatus
Gilbert Is.
Marshall Is.
A. - nif;ropunctatus .-
Gilbert Is.
Marshall Is.
Pectoral fin rays
- 17 - 18 3-9- --
- -
Only two specimens of frog Tishcs were coll.i;cted by the
author at Onotoa. These and one specimen collected at
Tarawe by Catala were turned over to Leonard P. Sctlilltz of

the United 3totes National Nuseun, who is mo.no,nraphing the
group. The identifications provided by Dr. 8chultz are as
fol.10~~~: Antennarius nunmifer (a 20 :as specimen collected.
from a tide pool on. the outer reef fletat Onotoa),
Antennaxius
. -- - - coccineus - (0notoa spe cirnen) , and -.-.A- Antennarius
mPin.nis (TarGpecimen).
Forul~r (1928 : 47U-ir79) recorded --- Antennarius -.- lenrosus
from Abaiang, Kingsmill Islands.

Gilbertesc Namts of Fishes at Onotoa
Tereibu
TerciL11
Tebukibuki
Tereibu
Tebara
Ter ibi3 t;zu!~~.~:ai;r;i
Tor i bar or o
Teribnbui.
To ba ba
T~ribn.~ti.
Tnreihn
Tekoinawa
Tebu bunwoi
p7 .I. enilsat~ng
Tukuauror i
T'eii~a koa
lCe buni
Te bu ni
Tnbuni
T~bubutakataim
Teuringabo
Term ice
1 .? @ a b .;. ., i bn j.
t%'el:)ei'bai
Te b~:

Teri buroro
Teonaut i
Tsnika tang
~eljulcibuki
Teuringabo
Ternbonotekabanffa
Tekama
..
.
..
.
. .
Teu ianau
?:e:cuamai~ailinga ...,
'Teasne ku
Tekuau . .
Tetawatawa . .
Tekoekoerika ki
Tenib~ngbong,
Te bakou ...
Teneia
Tek ir~oa
Tenareau
Tekaibilii
Terabono
TEYB~O~O
Te bukiroeri
Teimcne
Tenewekabene
Tentabokoi
Tenrinai
Tenei
Tef eia t i
Tekubeibeti
Teku
Teku
Tekubei be ti
Tebuseunnwa
Teku
Tekabu bu
Tekabubu
Ten tarema
Tentarena . .
Ten tar esna
Te beru
Tookaoka
Tekananiugo
~eikanibong
Tetskabc
Tebabeilia
Tebukirabaraba . cr . Tebawe
Tear ina imawa
Temoto
Tebaweinn
Tekungkung
Teaon
Teinon
Te-ingamea
TE toaua
Te bubuawa i.

Tereiawowa
?euriiip,abo
Temaebo
Tekai tewe
Temawa
Te bar ere
Tentaboiioi
Tore,ibu
Tereibu
Taref bu
Ter ei bu
Tenikntang
Teriinawawa
Tenikatang
'i'snt!::reijm
Teikaueo
Tekawori ki . ..
'ilaikauea
Teibabingao '.
Tebubuna bonaba . ...
Te bubu
. . ....
Tebai bai
'Tenunuo . .
Tewibubura .. .
Teouru .. .
'Ceni~iawwa .. .
Ycinai
Teikab~ita
Teikamawa
Teikabatu
Tenimderere
!Cenoui!.ca "
Tekuau
Tenou
Tenou
Tenunua
Teurin:abo
T~niIn~il~i
Tearinai
Tearinaimawa
Tear inaimawa
ymriiiainawa
Tene~wel:eka bime
Terabono
Tmtibetibei
Tei ba ba taranga

Index to Species of Gilbert Islands Fishes,the
Stoinach Contents: of Which Were Examiried
. . .
Belone jjlatyura..... ............................... 28
--7--
- --
Hyporhamphus laticeps ........................... ~.. .
30
Holacentrus tiere.. ... ..'... .:..... ;. ....
2Bripriutis adustus.. ................... .'
-.- -.-
Upeneus %& ...................................
104
Parupeneus trifnsci.atus........................ 105
. . .
Abuderduf -- sordidus,. .............................. 119
Abudefduf' septemfascistu$ ....................... 120
Thulassorua -- trilobatun .... ;..................r..:133
~~lssornt;_ -. umbrostygrma.. ........................ 134
Zalichoeres centriqundr* ...................... 139
-T
Lnbroides -. dim~diutus......,.................... 144
Gsn?hosus tricolor..........................;.. 148
-- 73i&TEEn' - EFZi"ascia tus. ........................... .16k
Zanclus - cornutus.............................. 159
Acanthurus q,utta.tu.a. - ............................ 182 - --
Acanthurus - --- lineutu::. ...................... .'. ... 182.
- Acanthurus p,laucopare&J~.. ........................ 184
Acanthurus gnbhm.... ............................ 186
Acanthurus xanth3)terus ........................ 187 .
, .

References which cite fishes froathe Gilbert Islands
Eanner, A. H., arid J. 'i:. Ra.niial.1. 1953. Preliminary report
on narioe biology staay of Onotos Atoll, Gilbert Islands.
-- Atoll -.- Research - i3ull. 13: i-ii 4 1-62.
Beeufort, L, F. ds. 1.940-1951. The fishes of the Indo-
Australiar? .--.- ---. Arch-ipelt, vols . ~ h d ~ v ~ . ~ w i
collaboration QI V. 1'3. Ciiapinan) X. J. EJri.11, Leifien.
t h t h e
Cloud, P. E. Jr., 1952. Preliminmy report on r;eology md
marim e.nvir0.m-xnts of. Onotoa Atoll, C-ilbert Islanas.
Atoll Reseerc!: Full. 12: 1-77.
-- --- -
---. 9
- -- -
Powle-, B. Y. 1321:. Tile fishes of Oceania. Men]. Bernice 1'.
Eisi-102 Mus vol. 10
Fowler, .fJ. !?r. 1931. The fishes oi' Oceacia - Supplenent 1.
Men. Hernice :!?, - Eis- Mc., vol. ll(5): 314-31:l:.
--.-- .- -..
Yowler , IJ. !:. l!J?l.-l9X. Contributions to the biology of the
Philippine ir s11.j pelago and ad jzcent i'egions. -.. ;&.:i:i.. u. -- - ,s.
IJatl, Mus. ,100, 'vbi:'. 11, 12, and 13.
--
_ __.-..- - -.LA.!
Fowler, a. IW. 1931,. The 'fisi?es or' Ocear!ie - Supplement 2.
B'lerd. Bern'ce 2; Bis'io ++; i s ' vol. ll(6): 385-466.
7
Fowler, ii. T'!., and B. A, Bean. 1928-1930. Contributions to
ths biology of the P1iili;)pine .hrchip-.la.so an2 ad jaao:?.t
. ..
regions. 3~11, U. S. katl. Miiil:j. 100, vois. 7, 8, aad 10.
.
. . -- - - -. - --
Germ:~, S. 1913. Th.e i'l.agi?stor.iic. (Sharks, zlmtes, mdroys)
7 ii;:em. - Kus. Corn? ".i?j
L2!.. , vol. 36.
-- - -.A-:
,,.-.
~hther, A. 1f13-..Ly10. Andrew Gnrrett 's Fische der ddsee.
I .
U. S . -9
: V O ~ S 1-9. , .
Hfrrc, A. !:!. C.. 'l', :~3!+2. i; new' , . iscord. for R lit t,le !inown- r3v.
no, 3:, igL+'. '
', .
.,. .. , . .
,Jordac, TI. . S. , . orid n t . :%%lo. 1906. Tile fj.::l!es oP Ciamoa .. .Eui.! ,
E. ,> + 3p . iil.;?!.xrixc; .vole 25: 175-ii.:j4 4 xxx pp.
- - -- --- . - .... (
. ,
Tiandall, J. F,, 1955, ill ,?res:;. :j';$.tk!ol,,,,' < :; ;.c-.;. c.1 ! :I..). , 'iil~; (2 ,.?,LL:.~>
--- .- -. . - - . .. . - . . .. - - .. - - - -
nalc of the lalwid fish ';i;eti.~.o;i~.i.i~ ~- :;i.~l,:j.ia!itnx, - Coyet?,

Randall, J. E. 1955, in press. A revision of the surgeon
fish genera Zebr~30ma and Paracanthurus. Pacific - Sci.
Randall, J. E. in press. Aaanthurus rackliffei, a possible
hybrid surgeon fish (h.-ac'tllllesXEpareius)
-.- - from
the Phoenix Islands. Copeia.
Rcndall. J. I!:. in rress. A revision of the surgeon fish
(.enus'~canthurus; with a description of one hew specios.
Pacific -- Sci.
*Schultz. L. 1'. 19113. Fishes of the Phoenix and Samoan Islands
collected in 1959 during the expedition of the U.S.S.
~U~shnell~~. -----
Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus. 180
Schultz, L. P. - et - al. 1953. Fishes of the ?Liarshall and
Marianus Islands. Bull. U. 5. Natl. FIus. 220.
-----
Strasbura. D. W.. and L. P. Schultz. 1951. The blenniid fish
and --- Exallias rr. iith'hescrintions of two
new species f r o ~ the ~ ~ tropical Pacific. - Jour. 'Neshington
Acad. Sci vol. 43(4): 128-135.
- - .Y
?iaite, E. R. 1903. Notes on the zoology of Pannopa or Ocean
Island and Nauru or Pleasant Island, Gilbert Group.
Fishes. Rec. - Australian - iVIus., -- vol. 5: 2-3.
Teber, &I., cnd L. F. de Beaufort. 1911-1936. The fishes of
-- the Indo-Australian .Arch.ipelag