FISHES 137 



Family 5. Serranidae. — Sea bass. Body elliptical, more or less 

 compressed; scales usually ctenoid; lateral line present; caudal margin 

 of fresh water forms concave; ventral tins thoracic; branchiostegals 

 normally 7; pseudobranchiae large; spines of dorsal fin 2 to 15; of anal 

 fin 3; cheeks and opercles always scaly; teeth on vomers and palatines: 

 about 70 genera and 400 species, mostly marine; 2 genera and 4 species 

 in fresh water, which are important food and game fishes. 



Key to the Fresh Water Genera of Serranidae 



ai Two dorsal fins present and separate i. Rocciis. 



32 Two dorsal fins present, joined by a membrane 2. Morone. 



1. Roccus Mitchill. Body deep and strongly compressed; lower 

 jaw projecting; two dorsal fins present; teeth on the base of the tongue: 



•2 species. 



Key to the Species of Roccus 



ai In the Atlantic and its tributary streams R. lineatus. 



Si-2 In the Mississippi Valley R. chrysops. 



R. lineatus (Bloch). Striped bass. Length up to 1,500 mm.; 

 weight up to 90 lbs.; head 3.25 to 3.5; depth 3.5 to 4; color olivaceous, 

 silvery, with 7 to 8 narrow longitudinal stripes on the middle and upper 

 portions of the body; 2 patches of teeth at the base of the tongue; 

 rays of dorsal fins IX-I, 12; anal III, 11; scales 8-67-1 1: Atlantic 

 Ocean from New Brunswick to the Gulf of Mexico, entering the rivers 

 in the spring to spawn; occasionally in Lake Ontario; abundant. 



R. chrysops (Rafinesque). White bass. Length 450 mm.; head 3.5; 

 depth 2.5; back with a high arch; color silvery, with about 6 narrow 

 dark longitudinal stripes on the upper and middle portions of the body; 

 I patch of teeth at the base of the tongue; rays of dorsal fins IX-I, 

 14; anal III, 11 or 12; scales 10-55 to 65-15: Great Lakes region to 

 Manitoba; southward in Mississippi Valley to Arkansas; in deeper 

 waters; abundant. 



2. Morone Mitchill. Body elliptical, compressed; spinous and 

 soft-rayed portions of dorsal fins confluent; lower jaw slightly project- 

 ing; base of tongue without teeth: 2 species. 



Key to the Species of Morone 



ai In the lower Mississippi Valley M. interrupta. 



Z.2 In the Atlantic and its tributary rivers M. americana. 



M. interrupta Gill. Yellow bass. Length 450 mm.; head 3; 

 depth 2.6; color brassy yellow, with 7 distinct black longitudinal 



