272 PRISTIP0MATID.1^. 



Fam. 5. PRISTIPOMATID.E. 



Percoidei pt., Scisenoidei pt., Sparoidei pt., et Mffinides, Cuv. Rkpie 



Anim. ; Miille); Berl. Abhandl. 1844, p. 201. 

 Percidfe pt., et Scifenidse pt., Owen, Lect. Comp. Anat. Vert. i. p. 49. 

 Theraponidas pt., Sciteuklaj pt., Sparida3 pt., et Msenides, Richards. 



Body compressed and oblong, covered with scales, the serrature 

 of which is sometimes exceedingly fine and sometunes wanting. 

 Lateral line continuous, not continued on the caudal fin*. Mouth 

 in front of the snout, ^ath lateral cleft. Eye lateral, of moderate 

 size. Five, six, or seven branchiostegalsf. Teeth in \-illiform bands, 

 with pointed and conical canines in some of the genera ; no molars 

 or trenchant teeth in the jaws, generally no teeth on the palate ; 

 jaws toothless in two of the genera. No barbels. Cheek not cuirased. 

 One doi-sal fin, fomied by a spinous and soft portion of nearly equal 

 development, the former of which either contains strong spines or is 

 continuous with the latter; anal similarly developed as the soft dorsal; 

 the lower rays of the pectorals branched ; ventrals thoracic, with one 

 spine and five soft rays. The bones of the head with a rudimentary 

 or moderately developed muciferous system. Stomach ca^cal ; pj'loric 

 appendages in small or moderate number J. Air-ljladder present, 

 more or less simple. Pseudobranchiaj well developed §. 



Carnivorous fishes, without molar or trenchant teeth, inhabiting 

 the seas of the temperate and tropical regions ; a few entering fresh 

 waters. 



The fishes united by the above characters into a family form a 

 very natural group, in therr external structure as well as in their in- 

 ternal organization. A few of the members continue to have vomeiine 

 teeth, Hke Percidce ; but they are either deciduous or absent in species 

 closest allied to them. At the end of the family there are some fishes 

 with a more cylindrical habit, and En/thrlcJifhys has some resemblance 

 to the Scomhrido'. There is a South American freshwater fi.sh, Poly- 

 centrvs, and Bijptroghjplie from Australia, ■\\hich disturb the har- 

 mony of the characters of this family ; but not knowing a better place 

 for them, I thought it best to leave them where they were placed by 

 their fii'st discoverers. 



Si/nopsis of the Genera. 



I. Anal Jin iviih three S2)ines. 



A. Air-hlaclder separated hi/ a contraction into an anterior and posterior 



portion. 



All the teeth villiform and conical 1 . 'f herapon. 



Teeth of the outer row with a small lobe on each side 2. Helotes. 



* In rolycrnfrus absent. \ Except in Ht/pcrofflyphe 



t In Chcefopfirus foiu-. § In Polycemtrus hidden. 



