COMMON MARINE FISHES 21 



21b. Pectoral short, rarely reaching to anal insertion. 



23a. Vent round, pectoral not reaching beyond the 11th or 

 12th dorsal spine ; ventral surface of liver striated. 



Bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (page 60). 

 23b. Vent oval, pectoral reaching past the insertion of the 

 soft dorsal, ventral surface of liver plain. 



Yellowfin tuna, Neothunnus mncropterus (page 61). 

 15b. Either no finlets or only one after soft dorsal and anal fins. 

 24a. Lateral line with bony shields along all or part of its length. 

 25a. Shields along entire length ; no definite finlet. 



Jack mackerel, Trachurus symmetricus (page 57) . 

 25b. Shield along back portion only ; a single detached finlet. 



Scad, genus Decapterus (not illustrated). 

 24b. Lateral line without bony shields. 



26a. A low ridge-like keel runs along the caudal peduncle. 



Yellowtail, Seriola dorsalis (page 56). 

 26b. No keel on the caudal peduncle. 



27a. Anal fin with 3 spines in front (may be difficult to see; scrape the 

 front of the fin if in doubt) . 

 28a. Anal fin with 16 or less soft rays. 



29a. Sides with 6-8 definite horizontal stripes. 



.30a. Stripes blackish ; eye moderate, less than i the head length ; 

 pectoral fins do not reach to tips of ventral (both fins 

 extended). 



Striped bass, Roccus saxatilis (page 52) . 

 30b Stripes orange-brown ; eye large, about i head length ; 

 pectoral fins reach to ventral tips. 



Big-eye bass, Xenistius californiensis (page 53). 

 29b. Sides not so striped. 



31a. Teeth present on the vomer. 



32a. More spines than rays in the 2 dorsal fins which touch 

 but are scarcely united ; longest spine shorter than longest 

 ray. 



Black sea bass, Stcreolepis gigas (page 51) . 



.32b. More rays than spines in the 2 dorsal fins, which are 



definitely connected by a membrane ; longest spine as long 



as or longer than the longest ray. 



33a. Third, 4th and 5th dorsal spines about the same length. 



Kelp bass, Paralahrax clathratus (page 48). 



33b. Third dorsal spine longer than the rest. 



34a. Heavily covered with dark spots ; about 90 scales 

 along the lateral line. 

 Spotted sand bass, Paralabraa; maculato-fasciatus 



(page 50). 

 34b. Lightly, if at all, spotted ; about 70 scales along the 

 lateral line. 



Sand bass, Paralabyaw neinlifer (page 49). 

 31b. No teeth on vomer. 



35a. Dorsal with 9 (rarely 10) spines; body very slender, 

 black blotch at base of caudal. 



Sefiorita, Oxyjulis calif ornica (page 93). 

 35b. Dorsal with 11 or more spines ; body not slender ; no 

 blotch at caudal base. 

 36a. Teeth large, canine, sloping obliquely forward. 



Sheepshead, Pimelometopon pulchrum (page 92). 

 36b. Teeth small, not canine-like or noticeably sloped for- 

 ward. 

 37a. Distinct black band across the body ; teeth immovable, 

 single-pointed. 



Sargo, Anisotremus davidsonii (page 75). 

 37b. No black band across body ; teeth freely moveable, 

 each with 3 points. 



Opaleye, Girella nigricans (page 90). 

 28b. Anal fin with 17 or more soft rays. 



