86. SERRANID.E EPINEPHELUS. 539 



jaw with two series of conical teetli, the inner the largest and movable ; 

 voiner and palatines with very small villiforni teeth. Preopercle with 

 fine denticulations on its posterior margin and some coarser ones at the 

 angle. Third and fourth dorsal spines highest, the first slightly higher 

 than the second. Color not described. Head 2J-2f ; depth 3. D. 

 XI, 18; A. Ill, 10; L. lat, 145; L. traiisv. f. (Goode & Bean.) 

 Western coast of Florida. 



(Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. ii, 1879, 141.) 



276.-EPBNEPHELUS Bloch. 



Gro upers * ; Merous. 



(Bloch, Ichth. 1793 ; Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 1601, 299 : type Epincplielus niber 

 Bloch.) 



Body stout, compressed, covered with small ctenoid scales, which are 

 often somewhat embedded in the skin ; 75-140 in the course of the lat- 

 eral line ; scales of the lateral line triangular, cycloid ; soft parts of the 

 vertical fins generally more or less scaly. Top of cranium narrow, with 

 the median crest only developed, the lateral keels being obsolete. Pre- 

 opercle moderately serrate behind, its lower limb nearly or quite entire, 

 rarely with an antrorse spine; opercle with two strong spines. Mouth 

 large ; maxillary with a well-developed supplemental bone. Canine 

 teeth few, large, in the front of the jaws; enlarged teeth of the inner 

 series of each jaw depressible. Gill-rakers short. Dorsal spines usually 

 9 or 11, not filamentous, the last ones somewhat shorter than the middle 

 ones. Anal spines 3, the second usually the larger ; the number of soft 

 rays 7-9. Caudal fin rounded. Pyloric cceca usually few (usually 10- 

 20). Species very numerous, most of them of large size, abounding 

 in all the tropical seas, where they are among the most valuable food- 

 fishes. (ixtvstpsXos, clouded; in allusion to a supposed adipose mem- 

 brane covering the eye.) 



* Dorsal spines 11. 



a. Pyloric cceca less than 35. (Epinepheliis.) 



84T. E. capreolus (Poey) J. & G.Calrilla. 



Brown, everywhere covered with round dark spots regularly placed, 

 largest below, smallest near the dorsal fin, those below about as large 

 as the pupil; two larger black spots at base of spinous dorsal, partly on 

 the fin; a few roundish pale spots on the body; fins all spotted; pec- 



*A corruption of the Portuguese name, G-arrupa. 



