THE BARRACUDAS 



Family XXVII . SphyrcBtiidcB 



Body elongate, subterete, covered with small cycloid scales; 

 head very long, pointed, pike-like, scaly above and on sides; 

 mouth large, horizontal; jaws long, lower projecting; upper jaw 

 not protractile, its border formed by the premaxillaries behind 

 which are the broad maxillaries; large, sharp, unequal teeth on 

 both jaws and palatines, none on vomer; usually a very strong, 

 sharp canine near tip of lower jaw; opercular bones without 

 spines or serrations; gill-openings wide, the membranes not united, 

 free from the isthmus; gillrakers very short or obsolete; pseudo- 

 branchiae well developed; lateral line well developed and straight. 



The family contains a single genus with about 20 species, 6 

 or 7 of which occur within our limits; only i or 2 of them are 

 much valued as food. 



a. Scales large^ 75 to 85 in lateral line; origin of first dorsal 



behind root of ventrals, over last third or fourth of pecto- 

 ral; body compressed; barracuda, 239 



aa. Scales moderate, no to 130 in lateral line; body subterete 

 or compressed. 



b. Pectoral reaching front of spinous dorsal; maxillary reaching 



front of orbit. 



c. Lower jaw with fleshy tip; teeth very strong; scales iio; 



ensis, 259 

 cc. Lower jaw without fleshy tip; teeth strong; scales 130; 



guachancho, 2=^9 

 bb. Pectoral not reaching front of first dorsal; maxillary not 

 reaching front of orbit. 



d. Eye large; teeth small; interorbital area convex; median ridge 



of frontal groove not well developed; picudilla, 260 



dd. Eye small; teeth larger; interorbital area flattish; median ridge 



of frontal groove prominent ; borealis, 260 



aaa. Scales very small, 150 to 170 in lateral line; origin of first 



dorsal well behind tip of pectoral; body slender, subterete. 



e. Body less slender, the depth ']\] scales 160 to \']o;.argeniea, 260 

 ee. Body very slender, the depth 9 or 10; scales about 150; 



sphyrcena, 260 



258 



