1394 BiiUetin //, Ihiitcd S/a/rs Nafhvial Museum. 



shorter than the latter; dorsal fins well separated ; body compressed ; scales 



large, ctenoid ; lateral line straight ; gill rakers long and slender ; caudal 



fin lunate. Seeiphus, 569. 



bb. Teeth larger, very unequal ; tip of upper jaw with one or two strong canines ; 



enlarged teeth or canines on sides of lower Jaw ; anal fin J shorter than soft 



dorsal, with 15 to 18 soft rays ; dorsal fins well separated, the interspace 



about equal to eye ; soft dorsal of 24 rays ; body compressed ; scales rather 



small, cycloid. Tsopisthus, 570. 



ua. Aual flu moderate, or short, of 7 to 13 soft rays, its length less tbau J that of second 



dorsal ; dorsal fins contiguous; lateral line arched in front. 



e. Canine teeth, if ]>rcsen1, imt lance-shaped, tapering from base to tip. 



d. Lower .jaw wifhont canines at its tip, some of its lateral teeth sometimes 

 enlarged ; tip of upper jaw usually with canines. 

 e. Mouth very oblique, the lower jaw little projecting, the angle at base 

 of mandible very prominent; body compressed. Buccone, 571. 

 ee. Mouth little oblique, the lower jaw projecting at tip; angle at base 

 of mandible little prominent; body snbfusiform. Cynoscion, 572. 

 cc. Canine teeth lance-shaped, widened toward the tip, then abruptly pointed ; 

 (•auines of front of premaxillary largest; about 2 canines on front of lower 

 jaw on each side; outer teeth of upper jaw enlarged, somewhat lance- 

 shaped ; outer teeth of lower jaw compressed ; air bladder with 2 horn-like 

 processes; gill rakers moderate, slender; soft dorsal and anal fin scaly. 



SAdENICHTHYS, 57:!. 



II. \'crtebrai 9 to 12+ 13 to 20, typically 10+14, tbe number in the abdominal part of tli(- 

 body being always less than in the caudal part; dorsal flns contiguous, tbe soft 

 dorsal being long, much longer than the anal. 

 /. Dorsal spines well separated, the first dorsal spine attached to the third or fourth inter- 

 neural, not more than 2 of the spine-bearing interneurals being placed between the 

 same pair of vertebrse ; soft rays of dorsal fin usually 17 to 32 (37 to 40 in Lonchmrus, 

 45 to 50 in Scicenoides) ; occipital crest not greatly elevated. 



(J. Lower pharyngeals separate. 

 h. Lower jaw without barbels. 



1. Caudal fin moderately scaly, its distal portion usually more or less naked, 

 the scales not numerous enough to give a thickened appearance to the fin. 

 j. Teeth well developed, permanent in both jaws. 



k: Lower pharyngeals rather narrow, their teeth conic and mostly 



sharp, none of them molar; outer teeth of upjicr Jaw lunre or 



less enlarged. 



I.' Gill rakers comparatively long and slender; mouth more or 



less oblique; anal fin usually (but not always) inserted 



po.steriorly ; preorbital usually narrow, fiat ; edge of snout 



above upper jaw with tbe pores and slits little conspicuous 



or obsolete. 



m. Skull excessively cavernous, soft and spongy to the 



touch, tbe interorbital space very broad; eye very 



small; mouth large, oblique; preoperclc with a broad 



membranaceous bordtr, which is striated and fringed ; 



scales small; spinous dorsal short and weak; anal 



spines weak ; caudal fin pointed. 



n. Pseudobranchia? present; teeth subequal, all villi 



form, in narrow bands; soft dorsal long, of ;!0 



to 35 rays ; anal fin rather long ; soft dorsal and 



anal scaly; lower jaw projecting; vertebra' 



10 + 14; gill rakers long and slender ; air bladder 



with two horns. Nebbis, .574. 



-This character like many others jiasses away bv degrees, leaving no sharp divisinn 

 between I and II. 



