Fishes of the Western NortJi Atlantic 261 



9 b. Last ray of dorsal little if any longer than the preceding ones ; 

 anal with about 15-20 rays. 



10 a. Last two rays of anal not enlarged; gill rakers about 25— 

 40 on lower limb; scales about 34—41 oblique series cross- 

 ing middle of side; pelvic with 8 rays. 



Harengula Cuvier and Valenciennes 1847, p. 386. 



lob. Last two rays of anal enlarged, finlet-like (Fig. 100); gill 



rakers about 70—130 on lower limb; scales about 41—47 



oblique series crossing middle of side ; pelvics with 9 rays. 



Sardinella Cuvier and Valenciennes 1847, p. 397. 



4b. Pelvic fin small or wanting, inserted in advance of dorsal fin if present; 



mouth strongly oblique to nearly vertical, the lower jaw projecting; body 



strongly to excessively compressed. 



1 1 a. Teeth in jaws all small, without canines; vomer toothless. 



Subfamily Pristigasterinae. 

 12 a. Maxillary with a short sharp spine near anterior end, just 

 behind premaxillary (Fig. 103); anal fin small, beginning far 

 behind base of dorsal, with only about 15—18 rays. 



Rhinosardinia Eigenmann 1912, p. 411. 

 12b. Maxillary without a spine; anal fin much longer, beginning 

 in front of dorsal fin, under it, or immediately behind it, 

 with more than 30 rays. 



13a. Pelvic fin present; dorsal fin moderately large, with 

 about 15-20 rays. Ilisha Gray 1846, p. 415. 



13b. Pelvic fin wanting; dorsal fin with about 10-15 rays. 

 14 a. Body with chest and abdomen greatly dilated, 

 more or less half-moon shaped (Fig. 108), its 

 greatest depth about half of its SL; median line of 

 back in front of dorsal fin with several short spines. 

 Pristigaster Cuvier 18 17, p. 427. 

 14 b. Body elongate, with chest and abdomen not greatly 

 dilated, its greatest depth less than a third of its 

 SL; no external spines on median line of back. 

 15a. Body excessively compressed; dorsal outline 

 more or less concave over the head ; a tooth- 

 less membranous section between maxillary 

 and premaxillary, the three elements form- 

 ing a continuous margin; maxillary greatly 

 produced in large adults (Fig. 1 1 1); anal fin 

 with about 52-80 rays. 



Odontognathus Lacepede 1800, p. 430. 

 15 b. Body rather strongly but not excessively 



