Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Atoll of Funafuti, Ellice group : its zoology, botany, ethnology and general structure based on collections made by Charles Hedley of the Australian Museum, Sydney, N.S.W.

Sparidæ

Sparidæ.

Lethrinus, Cuvier.
Lethrinus rostratus, Cuv. & Val.

Lethrinus rostratus, Cuv. & Val., sp., Hist. Nat., vi., p. 296; Playfair, Fishes of Zanzibar, p. 44, pl. vii., fig. 2.

Said to be common and a favorite food-fish. When the more esteemed species are not caught in sufficient numbers, inferior kinds are eaten in consequence of the limited flesh-foods on the island. A small example only was brought to Sydney.

Known to the natives as "Nutta."

Lethrinus ramak, Forsk,

Lathrinus ramak, Forsk., sp., Descr. Anim., p. 52; Günther, Fische der Südsee, p. 64, pl. xlvi., fig. 13.

The two yellow longitudinal bands which Günther remarks are such a striking feature in the living fish, are very conspicuous in two of our three examples. There is also a third fainter and page 186narrower band immediately below the lateral line, this is indicated in Günther's figure but is not referred to in the text. These specimens appear to be rather larger than any previously recorded, measuring 315, 307 and 287 millim. respectively.

The native name is "Gropa."

Sphærodon,Rüppell.
Sphærodon grandoculis, Forsk.

Splicerodon grandoculis, Forsk., sp., Descr. Anim., p. 53; Bleeker, Atlas Ichth., pl. ccxcix., fig. 1.

Found widely distributed in the South Seas, and extending across the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea, this species is now recorded from the Ellice Group. The example examined totals a length of 312 millim. The figure referred to represents a young individual showing the white transverse body bands.