SPARID^E. 25 



Family, III SPARIDiE, Garner 



Branchiostegals from five to seven : pseudobranchiaB well-developed. Body 

 oblong and compressed. Eyes of moderate size, lateral. Mouth in front of snout, 

 having a lateral cleft. Bones of the head with a rudimentary muciferous system. 

 No teeth on the palate (except in the Genus Pimelepterus) : more or less broad 

 and cutting or conical teeth in front of the jaws, or a lateral series of molars, or 

 both conjoined. A single dorsal fin formed by a spinous and soft portion, their 

 bases being of nearly equal extent : anal with three spines : lower pectoral rays 

 branched in most of the genera : ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five rays. 

 Lateral-line continuous, not extending on to the caudal fin. Scales cycloid, or 

 feebly ctenoid. 



Geographical distribution. Seas of temperate and tropical regions. Some 

 enter fresh waters. 



SYNOPSIS OF BRITISH GENERA. 



First group Cantharina. 



Broad and cutting teeth in front of the jaws : no molars : palate edentulous. 

 Lower pectoral rays branched. 



1. Cantharus. Cardiform teeth, with the outer row slightly compressed and 

 lanceolate. Cheeks scaly : vertical fins scaleless. 



2. Box. A single row of notched and trenchant teeth in both jaws. Cheeks 

 scaly : vertical fins scaleless. 



Second group Pagrina. 



Cutting teeth in front of the jaws ; and molars along the sides. 



3. Pagrus. Scales on cheeks. Canine teeth: two rows of molars in the 

 upper jaw. 



4. Pagellus. Scales on cheeks. No canine teeth. 



First group Cantharina. 



Broad and cutting teeth in front of the jaws : no molars : palate edentulous. 

 Lower pectoral rays branched. 



Genus I. Cantharus, Cuvier and Valenciennes. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobranchice present. Villiform or cardiform teeth in 

 the jaws, those forming the outer row being compressed and lanceolate. Cheeks 

 scaled. Dorsal fin tvith 10 or 11 spines, which can be received into a scaly sheath. 

 Scales of moderate size. Pyloric appendages few. Air-bladder divided posteriorly 

 into two horns. 



Geographical distribution. rom Scandinavia and the British Isles, through 

 the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope and the Seychelles. Also extended 

 thi-ouo-hout the Mediterranean. 



