SPAROID FISHES OF AMERICA AND EUROPE. 489 



XV. POMADASIS. 



Pomadasis Lac6pMe., Hist. Niit. Poiss., iv, 1803, 516 {arrjenieu^). 

 Les Pristiponies Cnvier, Ri^gue Animal, ed. 1, 1817, 279 (hasta, etc.). 

 Pristipoma Ciivier, Rt'giio Auiinal, etl. 2, 1829 (hasta, etc.). 

 Biachydeuterus* Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 17 (auritus). 

 Pseudopristiponia Sauvage, P>till. Sci. Pliilom., iv, 220, 1880 {hiicuritm). 

 Haeiuulopsis Steiud., Ichtliyologisclie Notizeii, viir, 1869, 9 {corvina'forme). 



Type : Scicena argentca Forskal. 



Etymology: Trcufia, operculum; (larrfx;^ rougli, hence more correctly 

 written Pomadasys. 



This genus is comi^osed of small shore fishes, some of its representa- 

 tives being found in most tropical seas. The three i)rincipal types, or 

 subgenera, are all represented in American waters. The Pacific coast 

 species of this genus are well known, but those of the Atlantic need 

 further study and comparison. Several of the sjiecies enter fresh 

 waters, and perhaps belong to the brackish-water fauna. Kumerous 

 species are found on the west coast of Africa and about the Cape 

 Verde Islands, but so far as known none enter European waters. 



ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN SPECIKS OF POMADASIS. 



a. Anal spine strong, tho second mnch longer and stronger than tbe third; soft 

 dorsal and anal nearly or quite naked. 

 1). Teeth in upper jaw in villiform bands, those in front more or less enlarged, 

 acute (^roinadasis). 

 c. Dorsal spines, xii ; preorbital broad. 

 d. Mouth large, maxillary reaching to anterior third of eye, about 2\ in head. 

 e. Scales rather small, 8-56-20. Body elongate-elliptical, compressed, some- 

 what elevated at nape ; anterior profile straight from nape 

 to end of snout; snout produced, blunt, rounded; preop- 

 ercle and suprascapular scale coarsely serrated; dorsal fin 

 deeply notched; dorsal spines low, the longest about 2f in 

 head ; soft dorsal short, its base contained about 2^^ times 

 in base of spinous portion ; second anal spine very long and 

 strong, about If in head ; soft dorsal and aual slightly scaly 

 at base; pectoral short, not reaching vent. Coloration 

 uniform. Head, 2^, depth, .3i; scales 8-56-20 ; D. xii, 12; 

 A. Ill, 7; eye, 5; preorbital, 6.^; snout, .SJ; maxillary 2f ; 

 pectoral, 5 in body; fourth dorsal spine, 2^; second anal 



spine, 1|; soft dorsal, 2^ in spinous IIumilis, 64. 



ee. (Scales still smaller, 65 iu a longitudinal scries; body elongate, the 

 depth 4J^ iu total length with caudal ; head nearly 4; eye, 

 4 in head; maxillary extending a little beyond front of 

 eye; anal spines strong, the second % tho dei>th of body. 

 Color nearly plain, silvery Itelow. D. xii, 12; A. iii, 7.) 

 ( I'ocii) Productus, 65. 



"Erroneously suppo.si'd to be a genus of Seicvnidw., its typical species having been 

 placed by Cuvier iu Latimus. 



