Jor(]an and Evermann. — Fishes of JSTorth America. 901 



413. SERIOLA, Cuvier. 

 (Amber-fishks.) 



Serinla, CuviER, Regno Anini., Ed. 2, ir, 218, 1829, (dnmeriU). 



Balalractux, GiLi,, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1862, 442, (diimmli; substitute for Seriida, iise.l in 



botany). 

 Microplerijr, Ag,\.<SI7, Pise. Brasil., 1820, {ilnmerili; siil)stitufi' for f^eriulu, iise<l in bolany ; not 



Miernplerh; HtinNEu, ISlfi, a genus of insects). 

 Zonichihys, Swainson, Nat. Hist. Classn. Fislies, ir, 1839, 248, (fascUUns). 

 Lepidomegax*, Tiiominot, Bull. Sci. Philom. Paris, 1880, iv, 17.'5, {mitelleri). 



Body oblong, moderately compressed, not elevated. Occipnt and breast 

 not trenchant. Head usually more or less conical, not very blunt. 

 Mouth comparatively large, with broad bauds of villiforiu teeth on both 

 jaws, tongue, vomer, and palatines ; a broad, strong, supplemental max- 

 illary bone; premaxillaries protractile. Scales small; lateral line 

 scarcely arched, forming a keel on the caudal peduncle, not armed with 

 bony plates; sidesof head with small scales. First dorsal with about seven 

 low spines, connected by membrane; second dorsal very long, elevated 

 in front ; anal similar to the soft dorsal but not nearly so long, shorter 

 than the abdomen, preceded by two very small free spines, which dis- 

 appear in old fishes ; no finlets ; ventral fins very long ; pectorals short 

 and broad. Gill rakers moderate. Species of moderate or large size, 

 often gracefully colored ; most of them valued as food-fishes. {Seriola, 

 the Italian name of Seriola ditmerili.) 



Seriola : 



a. Head longer than deep, tlie profile not very steep. Dorsal and anal fins not falcate, the 

 height of their lobes less than half depth of body. Dorsal rays .30 to 38 ; species of 

 largo size, elongate, with 5 or G broad, dark cross bars when young, these becoming 

 obsolete with age; a yellow lateral band; nuchal bar pale. 

 b. Dorsal rays 36 to 38 ; dark bands on young very broad. 



0. Mouth smaller, the maxillary barely reaching- front of pupil, 2% in head. Head 

 4 in length. dorsai.is, 1288. 



cr. Slonth large, the maxillary reaching middle of orbit, 2i,< in head. Head 3}^ in 

 length. ZONATA, 1289. 



bh. Dorsal rays 30 to 34. Mouth rather large, the maxillary reaching middle of pupil ; 

 dai'k bands on young broad. 

 d. Body slendei', depth 3J^ to 3% in length. lalandi, 1290. 



d<l. Body deeper, the depth 3 in length. DUMnuir.i, 1291. 



ZoNiniTHYS (foi'ds, band; ix^"?, fish): 

 aa. Head deeper than long, the anterior profile steep ; no yellow longitudinal band ; size 

 small. 

 e. Dorsal not falcate, its soft rays 32; young with about 12 narrow dark cross bars. 

 /. Body rather elongate, the depth 3J in length; nuchal band obscure. 



mazatt.ana, 1292. 

 ff. Body rather ilecp, the depth 3 in li-ngtli; dark nu<'lial baiul distinct. 



FASIMATA, 1293. 



et'. Dorsal and .anal falcate, their anterior lobes more than half d(^pth of liody ; head 

 deeper than long ; body deep; dorsal rays 27 to 30. 



g. Nuchal band dark brown or black. rivomana, 1294. 



gij. Nuchal band pale yellowish. fai.cata, 1295. 



* Said to diflfer from Seriola in having no free anal spines and the first dorsal spine not turned 

 forward, both characters being probably due to age. 



