The Groupers 



Head 2|; depth 2f; eye 5I; D. IX, 14 or 15; A. Ill, 8; scales 

 8-85 to 95-30, about 50 to 55 pores. Body oblong, rather deep and 

 compressed, its width 2^ in its greatest depth; head moderate, a little 

 acute anteriorly, the profile nearly straight from snout to nape, where 

 it is rather convex; mouth rather large, maxillary extending some- 

 what beyond eye, i| in head; lower jaw not strongly projecting; 

 teeth in narrow bands, the depressible teeth of the inner series very 

 long and slender, longer than in any other of our species, those of the 

 lower jaw and front of upper especially enlarged, longer than the 

 small, subeqUal canines; interorbital space narrow, with a median de- 

 pression, its width 7 in head; preopercle convex, very weakly serrate; 

 opercle with 3 distinct spines; nostrils small, subequal; scales rather 

 large, mostly strongly ctenoid; dorsal spines slender and pungent, 

 the fourth and fifth highest, 3f in head; caudal very convex, the mid- 

 dle rays longest; anal rounded. 



Colour in life, livid reddish gray, paler below; spots vermilion, usu- 

 ally darker posteriorly, larger anteriorly. 



The brown hind may be merely a colour variety of the cony. 



GENUS EPINEPHELUS BLOCH 



The Groupers 



This is one of the most important genera of American fishes. 



Body stout, compressed, covered with small, ctenoid scales which 

 are often embedded in the skin ; scales of lateral line triangular, cycloid ; 

 soft parts of vertical fins generally more or less scaly; cranium narrow 

 above; preopercle moderately serrate behind, its lower limb entire, 

 without distinct antrorse spine; opercle with 2 strong spines; nostrils 

 well separated; mouth large; maxillary large, with a well-developed 

 supplemental bone, its surface usually with small scales; canine teeth 

 few, those in front large; enlarged teeth of inner series in each jaw 

 depressible; gill-rakers short and rather few; caudal fin rounded or 

 lunate; pectorals rounded, shortish; ventrals moderate, inserted below 

 pectorals, close together, each with a strong spine. 



Species numerous, most of them of large size, abounding in all 

 tropical seas, and all highly valued as food. The species all possess 

 some game qualities, and, on account of their large size and fighting 

 qualities, afford real sport in their capture. In our waters about a 

 dozen species are known. 



381 



