438 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



KEY TO THE GENERA 



a. Dorsal normally with 12 spines, and with lO'soft rays in Peruvian species. 



b. Upper pectoral rays at least in part divided; lower ones simple. 



Scorpaena (p. 438) 



bb. Pectoral rays all simple Pontinus (p. 448) 



aa. Dorsal normally with 13 spines, and 8 to 16 soft rays. 



c. Teeth present on palatines; dorsal with 12 to 16 soft rays. 



Sebastodes (p. 450) 



cc. Teeth missing on palatines; dorsal with 8 to 11 soft rays; 2 to 5 of upper 



rudimentary rays of caudalVith free tips (spiny) in the species occurring 



in Peru Scorpaenodes (p. 452) 



Genus SCORPAENA Linnaeus, 1758 



Body oblong, generally robust, though somewhat compressed ; head 

 large, usually little if at all compressed, with spines and sometimes 

 with dermal tentacles and flaps; mouth large; teeth small, pointed, in 

 bands on jaws, vomer, and palatines; scales small or of moderate size, 

 cycloid or ctenoid, generally not covering entire head, often with 

 dermal flaps; dorsal fin normally with 12 spines, and most frequently 

 with 10 soft rays; anal with 3 strong spines, and generally with 5 or 6 

 soft rays; ventral inserted behind pectoral; pectoral large, at least 

 some of the upper rays divided, the lower simple rays with free tips. 



This genus is represented by four species in the Peruvian collections 

 studied, three of which appear to be new. The species of this genus 

 presumably all possess venom glands and are capable of inflicting a 

 painful "sting" with the dorsal spines. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES 



a. Pectoral with 19 to 20 rays; occipital pit closed by a bony ridge at side; coronal 

 spines missing. 

 b. Head notably deeper than broad at margins of preopercle; maxillary reach- 

 ing nearly or quite under posterior margin of eye; suborbital stay with a 



single spine histrio (p. 439) 



66. Head fully as broad as deep at margins of preopercle; maxillary reaching 



about under middle of eye; suborbital stay with 3 or 4 spines. 



c. A prominent pit under anterior margin of orbit; preopercle with 6 spines, 



next to uppermost one enlarged; occipital pit fully as long as broad; 



bands of teeth of palatines as broad as those on jaws; alternating light 



and dark lines or spots on upper lip tierrae, new species (p. 441) 



cc. Pit under anterior margin of orbit missing: preopercle with 5 spines, the 

 uppermost one enlarged; occipital pit broader than long; bands of 

 teeth on palatines notably narrower than those on jaws; no dark and 



light lines or spots on upper lip afuerae, new species (p. 443) 



aa. Pectoral with 15 or 16 rays; occipital pit not closed at side by a bony ridge; 

 coronal spines present; suborbital stay with a single spine. 



peruana, new species (p. 445) 



