_S. lateribus maculis albis serie longitudinali dispositis; dentibus
velutinis; paucis, hic et illic sparsis, fortioribus,
aculeiformibus, vel subconicis; preoperculo margine adscendenti
convexiusculo, denticulato; denticulis ad et infrà angulum paulò
majoribus; operculo mucronibus duobus parvis, et spinâ intermediâ
forti, armato; rostro et maxillis nudis; squamis corporis leviter
ciliatis; pinnâ caudali æquali._
B. 7; D. 10/13; A. 3/7; C. 17, &c.—P. 17; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 16; lin. 9.
FORM.—Of an oblong-oval form, with the greatest depth about one-fourth
of the entire length. The dorsal and ventral lines are of nearly
equal curvature. The profile is nearly rectilineal, falling very
gradually from the commencement of the dorsal to the end of the
snout, without any elevation at the nape. The head is one-third of
the entire length. The lower jaw projects beyond the upper. The
maxillary, which is broad, and cut quite square at its extremity,
reaches to beneath the middle of the orbit. The suborbital has the
margin entire and nearly straight. The upper jaw has a band of
velutine teeth, broadish in front, but narrowing (the teeth at the
same time becoming smaller and finer) posteriorly; with an outer row
of not much longer, but considerably stronger, subconic teeth,
placed at rather wide intervals; besides these, there are three or
four teeth on each side of the anterior portion of the jaw, equally
strong as those last mentioned, but more curved, the points
reclining backwards, and set within the velutine band. In the lower
jaw, there is the same band as above, but narrower, and with the
teeth more in fine card than velutine, with stronger ones
anteriorly, and along the posterior half of each side, where there
are six or eight, standing nearly in a single row, very stout and
curved, though scarcely longer than the others; outside the band,
and on each side of the symphysis, there are three or four
moderately strong subconic teeth, at short distances from each
other, which may be considered as small canines. On the vomer and
palatines, the teeth are velutine. The eyes are rather large, and
placed high in the cheeks; their diameter is about one-sixth the
length of the head: the distance between them equals one diameter
and a quarter. The nostrils consist of two orifices, placed one
before the other, a little in advance of the eyes, roundish-oval,
the posterior one largest. The preopercle has the ascending margin
not quite rectilineal, being slightly convex, and the angle at
bottom rounded; the denticulations on the former are fine, but very
perceptible; they become rather stronger and more distant at the
angle, and a few of this character are continued along the posterior
half of the basal margin. The opercle is armed with three points;
the upper one is triangular, small, and not very obvious; the middle
one is a moderately strong spine, about a quarter of an inch in
length; the third is a little below this last, and resembles it in
form, but is much smaller. The membrane of the opercle terminates in
a sharp angle, and is produced considerably beyond the middle spine.
The line of separation between the opercle and subopercle is not
visible. The gill-opening is large, and has seven rays. There are no
scales on the snout or jaws, or between the eyes, or on the anterior
portion of the suborbital; but they are present on the cranium
behind the eyes, cheeks, (where they are numerous), and pieces of
the gill-cover; the limb of the preopercle, and the lower margin of
the interopercle, however, are nearly free from them. Those on the
opercle are larger than those on the cheeks. All these scales, as
well as those on the body, are finely ciliated, communicating a
slight roughness to the touch. The suprascapular is represented by a
larger and harder scale than the rest, of a semi-elliptic form,
striated on its surface, and obsoletely denticulated on the margin.
The lateral line is parallel to the back, at between one-third and
one-fourth of the depth. The pectorals are attached below the
middle, of a rounded form, the middle rays being longest, and about
half the length of the head. The dorsal commences exactly above
them, and occupies a space equalling half the entire length,
excluding the caudal. The spines are sharp, and moderately strong:
the first is rather more than half the length of the second, but
scarcely more than one-fifth of the length of the third, which is
longest, equalling more than half the depth of the body: from the
third they decrease very gradually to the ninth, which is of the
same length as the second; the tenth is again a little higher; this
is followed by the soft rays, which are nearly even, and about
one-third higher than the last spine; the last two or three,
however, are a little shorter than the others. The anal commences in
a line with the fifth soft ray of the dorsal, and ends a little
before that fin: the second spine is strongest, and twice the length
of the first: the soft rays are longer than those of the dorsal.
There are a few minute scales between the soft rays of both dorsal
and anal, to about one quarter of their height. The caudal is even,
but may possibly have been worn so by use. The ventrals are directly
under the pectorals, a little shorter than them, and pointed.
COLOUR.—“Varies much. Above pale blackish-green; belly white; fins,
gill-covers, and part of the sides, dirty reddish orange: on the
side of the back, six or seven good-sized snow white spots, with not
a very regular outline.—In some specimens, the blackish-green above
becomes dark, and is separated by a straight line from the paler
under parts.—Again, other specimens are coloured dirty ‘reddish
orange,’ and ‘gallstone yellow,’[2] the upper parts only rather
darker. But in all, the white spots are clear; five or six in one
row, and one placed above. Sometimes the fins are banded
longitudinally with orange and black-green.”—D.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.
This species, which is undoubtedly new, was obtained by Mr. Darwin at
Charles Island, in the Galapagos Archipelago. As many specimens were
seen, it is probably not uncommon there. It appears to be a _Serranus_,
but its canines, if they can be so called, are very small and
inconspicuous. Its naked jaws require it to be placed in Cuvier’s first
section of that genus, though much larger than most of the species
contained in it, and rather differing from them in general form. In some
of its characters, it would seem to make a near approach to
_Centropristes_, between which and _Serranus_, there is undoubtedly a
very close affinity.