THE BARRACUDAS 



Family XXVII. SphyrcenidtB 



Body elongate, subterete, covered with small cycloid scales; 

 head very long, pointed, pike-like, scaly above and on sides; 

 mouth large, horizontal; jaws long, lower projecting; upper jaw 

 not protractile, its border formed by the premaxillaries behind 

 which are the broad maxillaries; large, sharp, unequal teeth on 

 both jaws and palatines, none on vomer; usually a very strong, 

 sharp canine near tip of lower jaw; opercular bones without 

 spines or serrations; gill-openings wide, the membranes not united, 

 free from the isthmus; gillrakers very short or obsolete; pseudo- 

 branchiae well developed; lateral line well developed and straight. 



The family contains a single genus with about 20 species, 6 

 or 7 of which occur within our limits; only i or 2 of them are 

 much valued as food. 



a. Scales large, 75 to 85 in lateral line; origin of first dorsal 

 behind root of ventrals, over last third or fourth of pecto- 

 ral ; body compressed ; barracuda, 259 



aa. Scales moderate, no to 130 in lateral line; body subterete 

 or compressed. 



/'. Pectoral reaching front of spinous dorsal; maxillary reaching 

 front of orbit. 



c. Lower jaw with fleshy tip; teeth very strong; scales no; 



en sis, 2^9 



cc. Lower jaw without fleshy tip; teeth strong; scales 130; 



guachancho, 2^9 



bb. Pectoral not reaching front of first dorsal; maxillary not 

 reaching front of orbit. 



</. Eye large; teeth small; interorbital area convex; median ridge 

 of frontal groove not well developed; picudilla, 260 



d3. Eye small; teeth larger; interorbital area flattish; median ridge 

 of frontal groove prominent ; boi\\ilis, 260 



aaa. Scales very small, 150 to 170 in lateral line; origin of first 

 dorsal well behind tip of pectoral; body slender, subterete. 



i,. Body less slender, the depth 7.!; scales 160 to 170; . arircnlea, 260 



ee. Body very slender, the depth 9 or 10; scales about 150; 



sphyrcena, 260 



358 



