Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 261 



9b. Last ray of dorsal little if any longer than the preceding ones; 

 anal with about 15—20 rays. 



10 a. Last two rays of anal not enlarged; gill rakers about 25— 

 40 on lower limb; scales about 34—41 oblique series cross- 

 ing middle of side; pelvic with 8 rays. 



Harengula Cuvier and Valenciennes 1847, P- 3^6. 



lob. Last two rays of anal enlarged, finlet-like (Fig. 100); gill 



rakers about 70—130 on lower limb; scales about 41—47 



oblique series crossing middle of side; pelvics with 9 rays. 



Sardinella Cuvier and Valenciennes 1847, P- 397- 



4b. Pelvic fin small or wanting, inserted in advance of dorsal fin if present; 



mouth strongly oblique to nearly vertical, the lower jaw projecting; body 



strongly to excessively compressed. 



1 1 a. Teeth in jaws all small, without canines; vomer toothless. 



Subfamily Pristigasterinae. 

 12 a. Maxillary with a short sharp spine near anterior end, just 

 behind premaxillary (Fig. 103); anal fin small, beginning far 

 behind base of dorsal, with only about 15—18 rays. 



Rhtnosardinia Eigenmann 19 12, p. 411. 

 12b. Maxillary without a spine; anal fin much longer, beginning 

 in front of dorsal fin, under it, or immediately behind it, 

 with more than 30 rays. 



13a. Pelvic fin present; dorsal fin moderately large, with 

 about 15—20 rays. Ilisha Gray 1846, p. 415. 



13b. Pelvic fin wanting; dorsal fin with about 10—15 rays. 

 14 a. Body with chest and abdomen greatly dilated, 

 more or less half-moon shaped (Fig. 108), its 

 greatest depth about half of its SL; median line of 

 back in front of dorsal fin with several short spines. 

 Pristigaster Cuvier 18 17, p. 427. 

 1 4 b. Body elongate, with chest and abdomen not greatly 

 dilated, its greatest depth less than a third of its 

 SL; no external spines on median line of back. 

 15a. Body excessively compressed; dorsal outline 

 more or less concave over the head; a tooth- 

 less membranous section between maxillary 

 and premaxillary, the three elements form- 

 ing a continuous margin; maxillary greatly 

 produced in large adults (Fig. 1 1 1); anal fin 

 with about 52—80 rays. 



Odontognathus Lacepede 1800, p. 430. 

 15 b. Body rather strongly but not excessively 



