Reidentification of Seven Tropical Pacific Fishes Collected and Observed by the Forsters during the Voyage of HMS Resolution, 1772-75

Abstract

A catalog prepared by A. Wheeler of the 95 paintings and drawings of fishes made by George Forster during Captain James Cook's second voyage around the world in HMS Resolution (1772-75) related them to early publications dealing with these illustrations and to the current accepted scientific names of fishes. Additional information on seven of these fishes from tropical Pacific localities, some represented by Forster drawings, has enabled us to alter the names used by Wheeler: Albula vulpes = Albula glossodonta; Callechelys catastomus is the senior synonym of C. melanotaenia; Cephalopholis urodelus = C. urodeta; ?Variola louti = Ephinephelus irroratus; Sciaena mugil (Species inquirendae) = Kuhlia mugil, a senior synonym of K. taeniura; Lethrinus miniatus is the senior synonym of L. chrysostomus, and the long-nosed Lethrinus most authors have identified as L. miniatus is now L. olivaceus; and Alticus saliens = Andamia amphibius.