64 BULLETIN 100, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Family SPARIDAE 



Body compressed, oblong ovate, usually somewhat elevated. 

 Maxillary slips below preorbital most its length. No supplemental 

 maxillary. Mouth small, nearly horizontal, somewhat protractile. 

 Teeth viUiform, conic, incisor or molarlike, seldom present (Evynnis), 

 or absent from vomer or palatines. Nostrils paired. Gill membranes 

 free from isthmus. Gills 4, sUt behind fourth. Pseudobranchiae 

 present. Air bladder present. Pyloric coeca few. Scales mostly large, 

 weakly crenulate or hardly ctenoid. Ventral with axillary flap. 

 Lateral line single. Dorsal single, sometimes deeply notched. Anal 

 spines 3. Caudal forked or emarginate. Ventrals thoracic, with 

 spine and 5 rays. 



A large family of shore fishes, carnivorous, some living in bays and 

 estuaries. Mostly abundant in tropical or subtropical regions. Most 

 all reproduce by pelagic eggs. Many species are valued food fishes, 

 while others are sought for their angling qualities. 



ANALYSIS OF GENERA 



aK Canines in one or both jaws, no incisors, molars on vomerine teeth; fins often 

 with filaments, sometimes produced. 

 bK Symphorinae. Front soft dorsal and anal rays end in long produced rays; 



coloration brilliant Symphorus. 



6^, Dorsals, caudal and ventrals sometimes with filaments, not anal. 



c^ Pentapodinae. Outer of anterior slightly enlarged or front canines in 



jaws usually flaring outward Pentapodus. 



c^. Denticinae. Canines few, anterior, not flaring outward. 



dK Cheek with less than 5, usually 3 (rarely 4), rows of scales.- Synagris. 

 d^. Cheek with more than 5 rows of scales. 



eK Top of head scaly - Dentex. 



e2. Top of head naked Qymnocranius. 



o^. Sparinae. Front teeth conic or incisorlike; lateral teeth molar. 

 p. Front teeth conic, not compressed or incisorlike. 



gK Front teeth in both jaws strong, decidedly caninelike; body 

 mostly deep and compressed. 

 h^. Palate toothless. 



iK Molars uniserial Monotaxis, 



i^. Molars biserial Chrysophrys. 



i^. Molars in 3 or 4 series. 



ji. Some anterior dorsal spines elongate and filamentous, 



longer than head Argyrops. 



f. Dorsal spines moderate, not prolonged, shorter than 

 head. 



kK Molars strong, lateral Sparus. 



fc2. Molars small, form innermost row or band of teeth; 



outer teeth conic but not canine Boopsoidea. 



¥. Vomer with few conic teeth in front Evynnis. 



g2. Front teeth in both jaws cardiform, not caninelike; body 

 more oblong or elongate Pagellua. 



