Mycteroperca 



This species reaches 8 inches in length and is rather common on 

 our Pacific coast from Mazatlan to Panama. 



The genus Dermatolepis resembles Epinephelus, but it has the body 

 shorter and deeper, the head small and much compressed, the interor- 

 bital narrow, the soft dorsal very long, the anal short, and the scales 

 all cycloid, small, and embedded. 



Four species are known, 3 of which occur in our waters. None 

 of them is of much value as food. The accompanying illustration of 

 our most interesting species, D. ^anclus, will serve to indicate the 



character of this group. This species reaches 2 feet in length, and is 

 known only from Key West. 



GENUS MYCTEROPERCA GILL 



Cranium broad and transversely concave between the eyes, its 

 lateral crests very strong, nearly parallel with the supraoccipital crest, 

 and extending much farther forward than the latter; lower jaw strongly 

 projecting; anal fin long, usually with n or 12 rays; caudal lunate; 

 spines of fins slender, none much elevated; scales small, mostly cy- 

 cloid, those of the lateral line simple; pyloric creca few. From Epine- 

 phelus this genus maybe distinguished by its longer anal, larger mouth, 

 and more slender body. 



389 



