Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 1667 



gill rakers very short ; pseudobranchite present. Dorsal tins 2, somewhat 

 connected, the first of 8 to 11 spines, which are depressible in a groove; 

 soft dorsal and anal fins anteriorly high, their bases thickened by the 

 scales ; anal spines 3 or 4, short ; caudAl fin truncate or doubly concave ; 

 pectorals short, the rays all branched; ventrals thoracic, normally I, 5; 

 sometimes rudimentary; a large accessory scale as in the Sparidw; air 

 Ijladder large, commonly bifurcate in front, and with 2 slender horns 

 behind. Yertebrte 10 + 14 = 24. Post-temporal bifurcate as usual among 

 fishes, not joined to the skull. As here understood, a group of about 4 

 genera and 10 or 12 species, related to the Chwtodontidw but showing 

 important differences in the skeleton, which shows resemblances to both 

 Scombroid and Sparoid forms. Shore fishes mostly of large size, in warm 

 seas, often valued as food. 



The following diagnosis of this family is given by Dr. Gill : C'ha?todon- 

 toidea with a wide scaly isthmus extending from pectoral region to the 

 chin and separating the branchial apertures; spinous partially difteren- 

 tiated from the soft portion of dorsal; upper jaw scarcely protractile; 

 ethmoid cariniform above (not sunk and concave) and vomer declivous 

 (not projecting forward or retuse), parapophyses spiniform and posteriorly 

 inclosing a h;«mal canal, and post-temporal bones bifurcated. {Epliippus 

 etc., Gunther, Cat., ii, 61, 1860.) 

 Ephippin^ : 



a. First dorsal fin composed of spines connected l>y membrane, the third spine highest ; 

 ventrals well developed, I, 5. 

 h. Scales small, 55 to 70 in the lateral line. Ch.etodipterds, 655. 



MONODACTYLIN.E : 



art. First dorsal fin composed of short free spines, tlie last one highest; ventrals small 

 or rudimentary, 

 c. Ventrals small hut normally developed, th(^ rays I, 5; body not deeper than 

 Jong- Pakapsettus, 656. 



655. CHiETODIPTERUS, Lacop.Mle. 



Chcetodipterui, Lacep^de, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iv, 50.3, 1802 (plumieri —faber). 



Body much elevated and compressed, its outline nearly orbicular, the 

 anterior profile nearly vertical. Scales small, .55 to 70 in the course of the 

 lateral line. Jaws about equal; no teeth on vomer or palatines; teeth on 

 jaws slender, somewhat movable; preopercle finely serrulate. Branchios- 

 tegals 6. Dorsal fins 2, somewhat connected, the first of usually 9 spines, 

 the third of which is elongate ; anal spines 3, small, the second the longest ; 

 ventral with a large accessory scale. Pyloric cicca 4 to 6. American; 

 distinguished from the Asiatic genus EiyUppus, by the very much smaller 

 scales. {xairodGov, Chretodon; 5/?; two; itT£p6\', fin, the dorsal being 

 divided.) 



a. Third dorsal spine more or less elevated, especially in the young. Atlantic. 



FABER, 2080. 



au. Third dorsal spine scarcely higher than fourth, not more than \ length of head. 



Pacific. ZONATDS, 2081. 



