Plate 11

Lethrinus amboinensis Bleeker, 1854b: 490, Amboina; 1855: 436, type; 1873a: 331,type; 1873-76: p1. 311, type; Sato, 1971: 139, ?loc (?Ryukyus), Nuguria Atoll, New Ireland; Gushiken, 1972: 39, fig. 191, Okinawa I.

Specimens examined.

Syntypes. —RMNH3542 (3 individuals: 58, 77 and 88mm standard length) from Amboina.
UMUTZ52574 (290) from ?loc (?Ryukyus).
UMUTZ52657 (328) from Nuguria Atoll.
UMUTZ53995 (333) from Tutuila I., Samoas.
UMUTZ52660 (354) from New Ireland.
BPBM11065 (312) from Marquesas.

D. X, 9; A. III, 8; P₁. 13; P₂. I, 5; C. 8 + 7; L. lat. 46 to 49; Ltr. 6 or 7/i/15 to 17.

Proportional measurements of some specimens are shown in Table 24.

Head length more than body depth. Snout pointed. End of jaws on the vertical through anterior nostril. Interorbital area convex. Third to fifth dorsal spines longest.

5 scale rows between lateral line and median dorsal spines. Inner base of pectoral without scales. Lateral teeth of jaws conical.

Color. —Brownish-yellow, paler below. Vertical fins and pectoral yellow, mottled or striped with orange. Pelvic pink.

Distribution. —East Indies to Ryukyus and Marquesas.

Remarks. —The syntypes in Leiden are juveniles and not in good condition. Only the body shape agrees well with the present species. This is one of the most difficult species because it does not have any particular color markings. More detailed study in the future may prove that it contains more than one species.