The scales are developed all over the body with the 

 exception of the haad„ On the head there are long narrow scales 

 on the pre-opercleo The development of the corselet is generally 

 not as clear as in the Katsxiwonidaeo Around the base of the 

 first dorsal fin and above the origin of the pectoral fins there 

 are large scales of somewhat modified formu 



The lateral line is clear and forms a wide V=shaped bend 

 above the base of the pectoral fins, while its posterior part 

 is fairly straight. It is simple in form and does not give rise 

 to any branches or loopso 



The dorsal fin is divided into the first and second dorsal 

 finsc The rays of the first dorsal are all spines^, while the 

 second dorsal has soft rays set thickly and strongly togethero 

 Posterior to it there are 8=9 finletSo At the base of the 

 first dorsal there is a dermal groove within which the greater 

 part of the fin can be folded awayc The pectoi-al fins are 

 generally iargej, and their shape is distinctive in the different 

 specieso The ventral fins have 1 spine and 5 soft rays and are 

 of ordinary sizeo The anal fin is made up of soft rays and its 

 form is roughly similar to that of the second dorsalo Posterior 

 to the anal J, just as posterior to the second dorsalp there are 

 finletSj, but their number is usually one less than that of the 

 dorsal oneso The caudal fin is large and strong and is shaped 

 like the crescent moonr Its rays are extremely stiff and both 

 the upper and lower lobes are of roughly the same shapeo The 

 angle formed by their longest rays is greater than a right angloo 



The color on the back is generally black with an indigo 

 tinge y somewhat lighter in some specie s^ and the coloration 

 changes markedly after death, The color of the back changes with 

 excitement, and when the fish is caught it sometimes takes on 

 more or less of a purplish sheerio The color of the back becomes 

 progressively paler toward the belly and does not extend below 

 the middle part of the sides, The belly is generally white andj 

 depending on the direction of the light raySj, in many cases has 

 clearly discernible diagonal lines alternating with round or ob= 

 long spotso These markings are particularly conspicuous in- 

 juvenile specimensc The pectorals^, second dorsal^, and caudal 

 fin generally approximate the coloring of the backj, and in some 

 species a development of yellow coloration can be seen on the 

 second dorsal ^ the analj, and the finletso The ventral fins are 

 generally pale gray or colorless » 



bo Internal morphology 



io Skeleton 



The skeletons of the fishes of this family differ rather 

 markedly from, those of the fishes of the families Katsuwonidae 

 and Cybiidae, but they show a close relationship to the 



