FISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS AND ADJACENT WATERS 351 



Tokyo, p. 57, 1897. — Franz, Abh. Bayer. Akad. Wiss., vol. 4, suppl. vol. 1, 

 p. 47, 1910 (Yokohama). 



Depth 3%; head 4. Snout 4% in head from snout tip; eye S%, little 

 greater than snout; maxillary reaches % in eye, expansion 2% in eye, 

 length 3 in head from snout tip; teeth minute, in narrow band in jaws, 

 also patch on vomer and palatines; interorbital 3K, convex; preopercle 

 edge denticulate (entire on figure); suborbital very narrow, only % 

 width of maxillary expansion. 



Scales 75 in lateral line; 5 or 6 above, 11 below (13 on figure above 

 anal origin), predorsal forward at least opposite front of eye, 5 rows 

 across cheek to premaxillary ridge and 4 more rows across preopercle 

 flange; muzzle, inclusive of maxillary, naked. 



D. X, 26 or 27, fifth spine 2 in total head length, first branched ray 

 2%; A. Ill, 23 or 24, third spine 3%, first ray 2%; least depth of caudal 

 peduncle 3%; pectoral 1%; ventral 1%; caudal 3% in combined head and 

 body to caudal base, fin mdely forked. 



Upper half of body blue-gray, below silvery white. Dorsal and anal 

 dark brownish gray. Caudal and paired fins paler, with tinge of 

 yellowish or greenish. Large dark blotch at pectoral origin. Length, 

 185 mm. (Steindachner and Doderlein.) 



Japan. 



Family SCIAENIDAE 



Body somewhat elongated, oblong. Mouth variously moderate to 

 large, more or less protractile. Maxillary entirely or partly slips below 

 preorbital, without supplementary maxillary. Teeth mostly villi- 

 form, an enlarged row of canines sometimes present. Palate and 

 tongue toothless. Nostrils double. Suboculars, when present, nar- 

 row. Gill membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, slit -behind fourth. 

 Pseudobranchiae usually present, mostly large and with lateral 

 appendages. Otoliths large. Vertebrae 24 to 30. Stomach coecal, 

 intestine wdth 2 convolutions. Pyloric appendage few, feeble. Scales 

 cycloid or more or less finely ctenoid. Lateral line single, tubes 

 frequently branched. Dorsal deeply notched or divided as spinous 

 and soft rayed sections, latter usually longer. Anal usually much 

 shorter than soft dorsal, spines 1 or 2, rarely 3. Caudal variably 

 truncate, cuneate or pointed, never forked. Ventrals thoracic, with 

 spine and 5 rays. 



A large group of perchlike fishes, living in most warm seas except 

 Oceania. All are shore forms and none live in the deep seas, though a 

 few live in fresh water. Many are highly valued food fishes, some with 

 choice well-flavored flesh. Several species of large size are important 

 fishery products, though the average is from 12 to 18 inches. In 

 some countries the large air bladder is valued as isinglass of inferior 

 quality. Some species are hunted by anglers as they furnish sport. 



These fishes are often known as croakers, grunters, or drums, 

 because they produce sounds, usually heard under the water during 



