_S. toto corpore coccineo, pinnis pallidioribus, maculis parvis
irregularibus nigricantibus: capite magnâ ex parte alepidoto, lineis
spinosis solitis armato: pinnâ dorsali spinis inæqualibus, tertiâ
paulo longissimâ: capite et lateribus cirris cutaneis parvis ubique
adornatis; quatuor palpebralibus, præsertim duobus posterioribus,
majoribus, palmatis._
B. 7; D. 12/9; A. 3/5; C. 13, &c.; P. 20; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 9.
FORM.—General form resembling that of the _S. Scrofa_. Depth at the
pectorals just one-fourth of the entire length. Thickness a trifle
more than two-thirds of the depth. Head more than one-third of the
entire length. Eyes large and elevated, distant from the end of the
snout rather more than one diameter; the space between very concave,
twice as long as broad, with two whitish lines in the central
furrow, diverging as they recede backwards towards the nape, but
scarcely elevated into salient ridges. Mouth oblique, with the gape
large and the lower jaw a little the longest; when closed, the end
of the maxillary, which is broad and much dilated, reaches to a
vertical line from the posterior part of the orbit. A broadish band
of velutine teeth in each jaw as well as on the vomer and palatines.
Tongue smooth. A small sharp triangular spine on each of the nasal
bones, (in this specimen that on the left side is double or forked):
upper margin of the orbit, which is much elevated, with three
spines, one strong one at the anterior angle, and two, nearly as
large, further back; beyond which, on the left orbit only, is a
fourth smaller one. Space between the eyes bounded posteriorly by a
raised arc having the curvature inwards, with a spine on each side;
this is followed by the depressed occiput, which forms a hollow; and
on each side of this, at its posterior margin, or at the
commencement of the nape, are two other strong spines: there are
likewise two spines at the suprascapulars, and between these and the
posterior margin of the orbit of the eye, on what may be called the
temples, are two more; of these last, the first, which is small and
close to the orbit, is double; the second, which is larger and
situate a little above the upper angle of the preopercle, is, in
this specimen, double on the right side and single on the left. The
first suborbital has two spines on its anterior margin, the first
directed forwards, and the second downwards; on its disk are two
salient ridges, which are unarmed, and not very conspicuous. The
second suborbital is entirely without spines, but elevated in the
middle into a double smooth ridge or crest. Margin of the preopercle
with six spines; the second longest; the first, as well as the two
lowermost, small and inconspicuous. Opercle with two osseous
diverging ridges terminating in spines: the scapular and clavicular
bones likewise terminate each in a flattened spine. Lateral line and
scales much as in _S. Scrofa_; the latter with their free edges
perfectly smooth.
The cutaneous filaments and appendages on this species are as follows:
three small ones at the extremity of the snout; one small but broad
one at the upper margin of the anterior orifice of the nostril; two
very conspicuous palmated ones on each orbit, especially the
posterior one, which is largest, and very broad; two on the margin
of the first suborbital; some small ones on the cheeks and
maxillaries; six beneath the lower jaw, two being near the
symphysis, and two on each ramus; a row on the margin of the
preopercle, and very numerous small ones scattered about the nape
and sides of the body, of which a row along the lateral line are
rather more conspicuous than the others.
The spines of the dorsal fin are moderately strong, and unequal; the
first is rather more than half the length of the second, which
itself is two-thirds of the third; this last is less than half, but
more than two-fifths, of the depth of the body; from the third, the
spines decrease very gradually to the eleventh, which is a little
longer than the first; the twelfth is higher than the eleventh by
one-third: soft portion of the fin rounded, and where most elevated
just equalling in height the third or longest spine. Anal spines
very unequal; the first not very stout, and less than half the
length of the second, which is very strong indeed, as well as the
longest of the three; the third is stouter than the first, but not
nearly so stout as the second, though nearly equalling that spine in
length: soft portion of this fin with its greatest elevation rather
exceeding the second spine. Caudal slightly rounded. Pectorals
rather more than one-fifth of the entire length; the ten lowermost
rays simple; the nine immediately above these branched; the
uppermost of all simple like the bottom ones, but slenderer as well
as shorter than the others. Ventrals not above two-thirds the length
of the pectorals; in other respects as in _S. Scrofa_.
_A second specimen._—Smaller than the one above described, measuring
seven inches and a half in length. The two diverging lines on the
cranium between the eyes are rather more salient, and the left orbit
is without the fourth spine; but in all other respects, including
the fin-ray formula, the two specimens are exactly similar.
COLOUR.—“Whole body scarlet red, fins rather paler; with small
irregularly-shaped light black spots.”—D.
Habitat, Chatham Island, Galapagos Archipelago.
This species differs more or less in the details of form, as well as
colours, from all those which I can find described by authors. Most of
the foreign species of this genus noticed by Cuvier and Valenciennes,
come either from the eastern coast of America or the East Indies; and
they do not appear to have received any from that part of the Pacific,
whence the present one was obtained.