Scarus prasiognathos Valenciennes 1840

Scarus janthochir Bleeker

Scarus janthochir Bleeker, 1853, p. 139.—Schultz, 1958, p. 83, pl. 16B.

Pseudoscarcus janthochir.—Bleeker, 1862, p. 30, pl. 5.

Callyodon janthochir.—Smith, 1956, p. 14; 1959, p. 279.

Pseudoscarus falcipinnis Playfair, 1867, p. 865, fig. 3.

Callyodon falcipinnis.—Smith, 1956, p. 12, pl. 44I [Xanothon falcipinnis on pl. 44]; 1959, p. 279, pl. 44I.

Characterized by having 6 median predorsal scales, 3 rows of scales on cheek with 1 or 2 scales in ventral row, pectoral fin rays ii,13, and green teeth. Coloration green or blue-green, with dorsal half of head reddish or light brownish, contrasting sharply with bright green side of head below a line from middle of snout past lower edge of eye toward pectoral base; upper and lower lips set off by a wide red band (nearly equal to eye diameter) that may continue to eye; wide green band extending forward from eye across middle of snout, above which head is reddish brown. Edges of dorsal and anal fins blue, centers of these fins yellowish brown to reddish with green blotches on interradial membranes; pectoral fin dark blue. Center of anal fin crossed with red stripe; middle rays of caudal fin green, lobes with red streak, and edges blue.

Smith (1956, p. 12; 1959, p. 279) recognized S. falcipinnis as a valid species. A study of additional specimens indicates that S. falcipinnis should be removed from the synonymy of S. globiceps where Schultz (1958, p. 75) placed it; however, there are ii,12 pectoral rays in globiceps and ii,13 in falcipinnis. The type of S. falcipinnis (Playfair) in the British Museum (no. 820) is 350 mm in standard length and has predorsal scales 6; cheek scales dorsal row 5 and 6; middle row 7 and 6, and ventral row 1 and 1; pectoral rays ii,13–ii,13; green teeth; base of pectoral brown; anal fin with a single pale streak through middle of fin; no ocellate spot in spiny dorsal fin. These characters are the same as found in S. janthochir, to which falcipinnis is referred as a synonym.

Recently the following specimens were collected on the Te Vega Cruise 6: USNM 202669, Sta. 216, 2 February 1965, Borneo, 2 spec., 116–180 mm; Sta. TV–247, 11 March 1965, Tautsina Island, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, 2 spec, 133–183 mm. Specimens 116–183 mm in standard length are plain dark chocolate brown, including all fins; teeth green; no color marks in any fins.

One specimen was collected by the Anton Bruun, 16 October 1964, Sta. 408F, Chesterfield Island, 16°21′ S, 43°59′ E.

RANGE.—Western Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.

Scarus chlorodon Jenyns

Scarus chlorodon Jenyns, 1842, p. 105, pl. 21.—Schultz, 1958, p. 86, fig. 15, pl. 17B, C; 1960, p. 249.—Kamohara and Yamakawa, 1967, p. 14 [Ishigakijima].

Callyodon chlorodon.—Munro, 1967, p. 439, fig. 835 [New Guinea].

Scarus singaporensis Bleeker, 1852, p. 69.

Pseudoscarus singaporensis.—Bleeker, 1862, p. 31, pl. 13: fig. 1.

Callyodon singaporensis.—Smith, 1956, p. 12; 1959, pp. 272, 279.

Scarus xanthopleura Bleeker, 1853, p. 499.

Pseudoscarus xanthopleura.—Bleeker, 1862, p. 24, pl. 7: fig. 1.

Pseudoscarus altipinnis Steindachner, 1879, p. 18.—Günther, 1909, p. 326, pl. 160.

Callyodon waitei Seale, 1906, p. 60, fig. 15.

Pseudoscarus godeffroyi Günther, 1909, p. 326, pl. 159.

Pseudoscarus brevifilis Günther, 1909, p. 327, pl. 161.

Scarus brevifilis.—Schultz, 1958, p. 76, pl. 13B-D 1960, p. 248.—Kamohara, 1963, p. 14.

Callyodon improvisus Smith, 1956, p. 12, pl. 41E; 1959, pp. 272, 279, pl. 41E.

Callyodon aeruginosus [not Cuvier and Valenciennes; in part C. pindae].—Smith, 1959, p. 279.

Callyodon pindae Smith, 1956, p. 11, pl. 45I; 1959, p. 272.

Callyodon ovifrons [not Temminck and Schlegel].—Masuda and Tanaka, 1962, p. 91, figs. 40, 41 [young from Japan].

Characterized by having 5 to 7 medium predorsal scales, 3 rows of scales on cheek, with 1 to 3 scales in ventral row; ii,13 pectoral rays; lips not covering green teeth. Large adults with a characteristically elongate dorsal fin ray near middle of length of that fin. Coloration of immature brownish violet or greenish violet; numerous scales with a white spot, a few white spots as large as pupil; some white on pectoral base; greenish spots may occur on head; lips dark red; distal edge of dorsal and anal fins violet or brownish violet.

Coloration of large adult males dark greenish with lighter green spots on scales, mostly posteriorly; head marked with orange bars, brightest around mouth; eye orange; dorsal and anal fins edged with dark green or blue, then yellowish submarginally, green elongate blotches near rays; central area of anal fin orange basally green; caudal fin green, except that distal margin orange, basally there is mixture of orange and brownish-green blotches.

Lower part of head behind mouth with characteristically V-shaped or double V-shaped green blotches, sometimes joined so as to cover most of underside of head.

Schultz (1958, p. 96) placed Callyodon pindae Smith as a synonym of S. aeruginosus Cuvier and Valenciennes; however, a restudy indicates it is the juvenile of S. singaporensis Bleeker. The young of S. aeruginosus do not have a white caudal peduncle or a white caudal fin.

A study of recently collected specimens from the Indian Ocean indicates that the white spots on the side of the body of this species are variable in number and position, making it quite impossible to distinguish two distinct color patterns; the specimens have the same general number of scales and pectoral fin rays. Therefore, it is probable that S. brevifilis is the central Pacific population of S. singaporensis. This problem needs a field study made on freshly caught specimens. Until this is done, the two species tentatively are considered as one.

Dr. Randall has suggested that S. chlorodon Jenyns is the large adult male, an opinion with which I concur.

RANGE.—Central and western Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.