86. SERRANID^E. 527 



with pointed teeth. Gill-membranes separate, free from the isthmus. 

 Brauchiostegals 7 or 6. Cheeks and opercles scaly; preopercle with 

 its posterior margin usually more or less serrate ; opercles usually ending 

 in one or two flat points or spins. Ncstrils double. Lateral line con- 

 tinuous, single, not running up on the caudal fin (except in Centropomus}. 

 Skull without cranial spines, not cavernous. No suborbital stay. Dorsal 

 fin variously developed, continuous or divided, the spines generally stiff. 

 Anal fin rather short, with 3 spines, which are rarely reduced in number 

 or obsolete. Ventrals separate, throacic, 1, 5. Pectorals well developed. 

 Caudal fin truncate, rounded, or moderately forked, its peduncle stout 

 and not keeled. Vertebrae about 25. Air-bladder present, usually rather 

 small, and adherent to the walls of the abdomen. Intestinal canal 

 short, with several or many pyloric appendages ; the stomach coecal. 



Genera 40; species about 300. Carnivorous fishes, chiefly marine, 

 and found in all warm seas; a few in fresh waters. 



As here understood, the Serranidce comprises the most of the family 

 of Percidcc as understood by Giiuther and others, exclusive of those with 

 imperfect pseudobrauchire, those with one or two anal spines and with 

 the number of vertebra? increased, those in which the whole length of 

 the maxillary slips under the preorbital, and the forms related to 

 Priacantlms. Even after these eliminations the family is considerably 

 varied. The definition of genera in this group ofl'ers many difficulties. 



(Percida 1 , groups Percina, Serranina, exclusive of certain species, Giinther, i, 61-220: 

 Serranidcc, Labracidce, Centropomida, Gill.) 



*Anal spines strong; dorsal spines several. 

 tBranchiostegals seven. 

 a. Teeth all villiforin, without canines. 



b. Caudal fin deeply forked; dorsal divided. 

 c. Tongue toothless ; supplemental maxillary present. (Ccniropomince.') 



d. Second anal spine strong CENTROPOMUS, 270. 



cc. Tongue with teeth ; supplemental maxillary wanting. (Lalracinas.) 



e. First dorsal with 9 spines Eoccus, 271. 



&&. Caudal tin not forked. 



e. Tongue toothless ; head scarcely armed. 



/. First dorsal of 10 spines, depressible in a groove.. STEUEOLEPIS, 272. 

 ee. Tongue with teeth ; head well armed. 



g. Dorsal continuous ; a rough ridge on the operculum. 



POLYPRION, 273. 

 act. Teeth not all villiform, some of them more or less enlarged and canine like. 



(Serranlnce.} 

 h. Maxillary without distinct supplemental bone ; lateral canines 



usually stronger than those in front SERRAXUS, 274. 



hh. Maxillary with a distinct supplemental bone ; anterior canines 



strongest ; inner series of teeth depressible. 



i. Cranium above with three parallel raised crests ; anal rays 

 about III, 11 TRISOTROPIS, 275. 



