Plate 1

Lethrinus amamianus Akazaki, 1962: 259, 363, fig. 46, Amami Is. (Japan); Shinohara, 1963: 43, fig. 4, Ryukyus; Kamohara & Yamakawa, 1968: 11, Amami Is.; Sato, 1971: 131, fig. 4, Ryukyus; Gushiken, 1972: 39, fig. 189, Okinawa Is.; Masuda et al., 1975: 60, fig. B, 234, southern Japan.

Specimens examined.

Holotype. —MIKU1980 (200 mm standard length) from Amami Is.
UMUTZ52435 (270), 52438 (400), 52437 (430) from Ishigaki I., Ryukyus.
UMUTZ40413 (233) from Ryukyus.
UMUTZ52643 (245), 53986 (410), 53987 (460) from ?loc (?Ryukyus).
ABE4024 (255) from Palau.

D. X, 9; A. III, 8; P₁. 13; P₂. I, 5; C. 8 + 7; L. lat. 47 to 49; Ltr. 5 or 6/i/14 to 16.

Proportional measurements of some specimens are shown in Table 6.

Head length about equal to body depth. End of jaws on the vertical through anterior or posterior nostril. Interorbital area flat or a little convex. Third dorsal spine distinctly longer than others. 5 scale rows between lateral line and median dorsal spines. Inner base of pectoal densely covered with scales. Lateral teeth of jaws small and pointed.

Color. —Head dark purple. Operculum and body lighter yellowish-gray. Lips pink. Red line backwards from corner of mouth. Bright red spot on outer pectoral base. Anterior half of each scale black, which collectively comprises longitudinal streaks on side. Vertical fin bright red, paler in spinous portion. Pectoral yellow. Pelvic black.

Distribution. —Palau to Ryukyus, Amami Is. (Japan).

Remarks. —This species seems to be distributed in a rather restricted area. See also the remarks for L. chrysostomus. Common around Ryukyus.