A REVIEW OF THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF JULIDIN^ FOUND 

 IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



By DAVin S. JORDAIV aiifl EfilKABETII Q. HIJOIIES. 



Til the present paper we have attemi)te(l to collect the synonymy of 

 the American species of Lahridcc belonging to Flatyglosms and related 

 genera, and to give analytical keys by which these species may be dis- 

 tinguished. The specimens examined belong to the U. S. Nationjil 

 Musenm and to the museum of the Indiana University. 



The subfamily or groui) of Julidinw, as here understood, may be 

 characterized as follows : 



Labridw with the body oblong, more or less compressed, coveied \\\'l\ 

 scales which are large {Platyglossus, Thalasyioma, &c.) or small [JuUs^ 

 Cons, Eolocii/mnosus, &c.), the lateral line continuous, but abruptly bent 

 downward under the last rays of the dorsal. Head naked or nearly 

 so. Preopercle entire. Teeth large, each jaw with 2 to 4 strong canines 

 in front (usually 2 above, i below), and sometimes an antrorse pos- 

 terior canine. Dorsal spines slender, stiif or flexible, S or in num- 

 ber; the outline of the dorsal fin continuous. Anal spines 3, gradu- 

 ated, weak. Gill membranes slightly joined to the narrow isthmus. 

 Gill-rakers weak. Lower pharyngeals T-shaped or Y-shaped, with 

 rounded teeth ; those on the cross-piece larger. Bright-colored fishes 

 of the tropical seas. 



The American species of this group are certainly very closely related, 

 and might without violence be all placed in a single genus {TJtalassoma), 

 as the characters sei^arating the current genera are to some extent ar- 

 tificial and of slight importance, and not altogether constant in individ- 

 uals. In such large groups, however, subdivision becomes very con- 

 venient, and on the whole it is perhaps best to continue to regard the 

 American species as belonging to four genera, for which the names 

 Plaiyglossns, O.vijjulis, Pseudojnlis, and Thalassoma should be used. 

 These may be thus defined : 



AjN'Alysis of genera. 



a. Scales large, 2') to 30 iu tlie cfmise of the lateral line; uo scales on head ; canine 

 teetli t or 5, none of them directed sti-ougly ontwards or baclvwards; 

 scales oil the breast not larger than the others ; snout of moderate length ; 

 dorsal rays about YIII or IX, 11 or 12 ; anal, III, 12. 

 h. Dorsal spines normally 9 (rarely 8). 



c. Posterior canine tooth present Platyglosstts, 1. 



cc. Posterior canine tooth wanting (or reduced to a rudiment). 



d. Dorsal spines flexible ; body elongate Oxy.tulis, 2. 



(Id. Dorsal spines pungent ; body ol)long Pskudo.ittus, 3. 



bb. Dorsal si)ines 8; no posterior canine (oolli; dorsal spines ])nngent. 



Thalassoma, 4. 

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