GENERA OP PERCro^. 



Family, I— PERCID^. 



Percoidei, pt, Sdcemidci, pt., et Mmnides, pt., Cuv. : Perddm, pt., Tlierapomd<y, pt., Hcemidonidce, pt, 

 Richardson: Percidce, pt., et Pmif^wwaiicZo;, pt, Giinther, Catal, and PeretVte, Fische d. Sudsee: Amhassoidei, 

 pt. Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals from five to seven : pseudobranchise present. Form of body generally oblong, and not 

 elongated. Muciferous system of head rudimentary, or but slightly developed. Eyes lateral. No super- 

 branchial organ. Preopercle entire or serrated : cheeks not cuirassed. Mouth in front of snout, having a 

 lateral cleft, occasionally on the lower side : moderately or in some cases very protractile. Teeth in the jaws 

 villiform, with or without canines, present or absent on the vomer, and palatines. Anterior portion of the 

 dorsal fin spinous : ventrals thoracic, 1/5 or sometimes 1/4. Scales ctenoid or cycloid. Lateral line when 

 present continuous, (except in some species of Ambassis.) Air-vessel usually present and more or less simple. 

 Pyloric appendages in varying numbers. 



SYNOPSIS OF INDIAN GENERA. 



First group — Percina. 

 Form of body oblong. Opercles strongly denticulated or armed. Cleft of mouth rather oblique. Two 

 dorsal fins : three anal spines. Scales of moderate size, usually ctenoid. Pyloric appendages few. 



1. Lates. Branchiostegals seven. Preorbital and opercle serrated, the latter denticulated at its angle. 

 VUliform teeth on jaws, vomer, and palate. 



Second group— Serranina. 

 Form of body oblong, sometimes elevated. Opercles serrated or armed. Cleft of mouth rather oblique. 

 One, or more rarely two dorsal fins. 



2. Gmmileptes. Branchiostegals seven. Opercles aiTned. Fine teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate, without 

 canines. A single elevated dorsal fin : three anal spines. Scales small, cycloid. 



3. Serranus. Branchiostegals seven. Opercles armed. Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate : 

 canines present. A single dorsal fin : three anal spines. Scales small, cycloid or ctenoid. 



4. Variola. Branchiostegals seven. Opercles armed. Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate : 

 canines present : lateral conical teeth in lower jaw. A single dorsal fin : three anal spines : caudal deeply 

 forked. Scales small, ctenoid. 



5. Antldas. Branchiostegals seven. Opercles armed. Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate : 

 canines present. A single dorsal fin : three anal spines : caudal deeply forked. Scales of moderate size. 



6. G-rammistes. Branchiostegals seven. Opercle spinate. VilUform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate. 

 Two dorsal fins : no anal spines. Scales minute. 



7. Diploprion. Branchiostegals seven. Opercle spinate : preopercle with a double denticulated limb. 

 Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate. Two dorsal fins : anal with two spines. Scales small, adherent. _ 



8. Lutianus. Branchiostegals seven. Opercle scarcely spinate : preopercle serrated, and its vertical 

 border may be notched to receive an interopercular spinate knob, which is sometimes present. Villiform teeth 

 in jaws, vomer, and palate, generally canines in both jaws, and an outer row of conical lateral ones. A single 

 dorsal fin : anal with three spines. Caudal more or less emarginate. Ctenoid scales of moderate or smaU size. 



Third group— Priacanthina. 

 Lower jaw prominent. Cleft of mouth almost vertical. Scales ctenoid, small. Caecal pylori few. 



9. Priacanthus as defined in group. 



Fourth group — Apogonina. 

 Form of body more or less elevated and compressed. Opercles mostly denticulated or armed. Cleft of 

 mouth oblique or even nearly vertical. One or two dorsal fins. 



10. Ambassis. Branchiostegals six. Horizontal limb of preopercle with a double serrated border : 

 opercle without a prominent spine. VUliform teeth on the jaws and palate. A recumbent spine anterior to 

 the first dorsal fin : three anal spines. Scales of moderate or small size, deciduous. 



11. Apogoti. Branchiostegals seven. Preopercle with a double border: serrated or entire. Opercle 

 spinate. Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate. Two anal spines. Scales large, deciduous. 



12. Cheilodipterus. Branchiostegals seven. Preopercle with an inner ridge, and sometimes with a 

 double serrature : opercle not spinate. Canines, also villiform teeth in the jaws and palatines. Two anal spines. 

 Scales large, deciduous. 



Fifth group— Grystina. 



Body oblong or elevated. Opercles entire, or variously serrated. Cleft of mouth more or less oblique. 

 One or two dorsal fins. 



