132 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. m 



Family POMADASYIDAE: Grunts; Roncos 



KEY TO GENERA REPORTED FROM VENEZUELA 



la. Gill membranes broadly connected across the isthmus, with a free fold; 2 

 pairs of pores on chin; preopercle serrate, with 2 spines at lower angle a 

 little enlarged; no spines directed forward; snout short; lower jaw a little 

 shorter than upper, mouth short; preorbital very narrow, about 3 times in 

 eye; dorsal with shallow notch between spiny and soft portions; soft rays 

 of dorsal and anal fins with a basal sheath of scales but no scales on inter- 

 radial membranes or on rays; depth about 2 and head 3)^; dorsal rays 



XIII, 12; anal III, 10 Qenyatremus Gill 



16. Gill membranes narrowly connected forward across apex of isthmus, forming 

 a more or less acute angle, with a narrow free fold; on chin, one pair of 

 pores behind which is a median pore. 

 2a. Soft rays of dorsal and anal fins without scales on interradial membranes 

 or on rays except the sheath of scales along base of these fins. 

 3a. Preopercle strongly serrate with 2 or 3 spines somewhat enlarged at 

 lower angle; second anal spine enlarged; lower jaw a little shorter than 

 upper; dorsal fin notched nearly to base between spiny and soft por- 

 tions; preorbital width about two-thirds of or equal to eye; dorsal rays 



XI to XIV, 11 to 15; anal III, 6 to 8 Pomadasya Lacepfede 



3&. Preopercle very finely serrate; second anal spine scarcely larger than 

 third spine; jaws equal; dorsal fin not notched; preorbital wider than 

 or about as -wide as eye; depth 2.5, head about 3; dorsal rays XII or 



XIII, 12 to 17; anal III, 9 to 13._ Orthopristis Girard 



2&. Soft rays of dorsal and anal fins with scales on interradial membranes in 



addition to the basal sheath of scales; second anal spine enlarged; dorsal 



fins deeply notched nearly to base between spiny and soft parts. 



4a. Preopercle strongly serrate with one or two enlarged spines at lower angle 



and the serrae along ventral edge directed forward, at least on adults; 



lower jaw a little longer than upper jaw; depth about 3.4; head about 



3; dorsal rays XII, 12 or 13; anal III, 8 Conodon Cuvier 



46. Preopercle serrate but no spines enlarged and none directed forward; 

 lower jaws slightly shorter than upper jaw; depth about 2.4; head 2.8; 

 dorsal rays XI to XIII, 13 to 18; anal III, 8 to 10. 



Anisotremus Gill 

 2c. Soft rays of dorsal and anal fins profusely covered with scales. 



5o. Second and third anal spines about equally enlarged; preopercular edge 



serrate; lower jaw about equal to upper jaw; preorbital width not as 



wide as eye. 



6a. A shallow depression between spiny and soft part of dorsal fin; base of 



caudal fin with a black spot, extending a little on caudal peduncle; 



depth about 2.8 to 3; head about 2.8; dorsal spines XIII, 13 to 15; 



anal III, 8 or 9 Bathystoma Scudder 



66. Dorsal fin with a deep notch, nearly to base, between spiny and soft 

 parts; base of caudal fin without a black spot; depth about 2.9 to 

 3.25; head about 3 to 3.25; dorsal rays XII, 13; anal III, 9 to 10. 



Brachygenys ^^ Scudder 



56. Second anal spine greatly enlarged; preopercle weakly serrate; lower jaw 



a Uttle shorter than upper jaw; preorbital as wdde as or wider than eye; 



dorsal fin notched nearly to base; back elevated; dorsal rays XI or 



XII, 14 to 17; anal III, 7 to 9; Hps usually thick.. Haemulon Cuvier 



" Not yet reported from Venezuela although found on both sides. 



