_P. splendidè rubro variatus; rostro emarginato, utrinque distinctè
denticulato; buccis levissimè granulosis; fossulâ dorsali lateribus
inermibus; squamis corporis parvis, ubique ciliatis; pinnis
pectoralibus modicis, corpore certè triplò brevioribus; radiis
liberis subincrassatis, apicibus dilatatis._
B. 7; D. 10–12; A. 11; C. 12, &c.; P. 13 et 3; V. 1/5.
Long. unc. 10. lin. 3.
FORM.—In general form, that of the head especially, very similar to
the _Trigla Hirundo_ of the British seas. Compared with the _P.
punctatus_ last described, it is rather more elongated, the depth
and thickness being less. Profile falling less obliquely. Space
between the eyes broader, but equally concave. Snout not so obtuse,
and more deeply notched; with six short but well developed teeth on
each side, followed by some minuter denticles. The lines of
granulations on the snout and cheeks are very fine, and not so
strongly marked, or spread over so large a portion of the face. One
principal spine, preceded by two or three small denticles, at the
anterior angle of each orbit; at the posterior angle, a well marked
notch with a small denticle, (in this specimen the denticle on the
left side of the head only,) but no regular spine: these notches are
connected by a transverse line on the cranium, but not by a groove
(as in _P. Carolinus_, Cuv. et Val.). No spines on the temples, or
on the crest at the bottom of the preopercle; but the ordinary spine
of the preopercle, as well as the opercular, suprascapular, and
clavicular spines, appear as usual, though not quite so long as in
the _P. punctatus_; the clavicular spine has one line of points
along its ridge, but the granulations are not very obvious. Band of
palatine teeth much as in _P. punctatus_. First dorsal spine with a
row of granulated points in front; the second spine with a row on
the left side of the fin; the third spine with a very rudimentary
row on the right side; but none of these granulations very obvious:
third spine longest, equalling about three-fourths of the depth of
the body; the fourth and succeeding spines gradually decreasing to
the tenth, which is barely visible, and so reclined as to be easily
overlooked. Dorsal groove shallow, with the sides unarmed. Scales on
the body small, broader than long; their free edges finely ciliated,
communicating a decided roughness to the touch; their concealed
portions crenated at the hinder margin, and marked with a fan of
five or six striæ. Lateral line not distinguished by any particular
scales, but forming a whitish streak from the upper part of the
gill-opening to the caudal. Pectorals relatively shorter than in _P.
punctatus_, contained a little more than three times in the entire
length; when laid back they reach to a vertical line from the fourth
ray of the second dorsal. Free rays rather stout, with their tips
somewhat dilated and approaching to spatuliform; in length about
two-thirds that of the pectorals. Ventrals a trifle longer than the
first or longest of the free rays.
COLOUR.—“Above mottled brilliant tile red; beneath silvery white.”—D.
Mr. Darwin is rather doubtful whether by the above description, he
meant that the entire fish was brilliant red, or only mottled with
red upon some obscure ground.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.
Taken at Chatham Island, in the Galapagos Archipelago, and decidedly
distinct from all the species described by Cuvier and Valenciennes. From
_P. strigatus_ it differs in the finer granulations of the cheeks, less
obtuse and more deeply notched snout, smooth scales, and absence of a
second lateral line; from _P. Carolinus_ in the want of a transverse
groove on the cranium, and in the fin-ray formula, but it resembles this
species in the dilated tips of the free rays; from _P. punctatus_ as
pointed out in the description; from _P. tribulus_ in the want of the
spine on the suborbital, and in its much shorter pectorals. These fins
indeed are shorter than in any of the above mentioned.
As all the species described in the “Histoire des Poissons,” are found
on the Atlantic side of America, the geographical range of this genus is
extended to the Pacific by the discovery of the present one.