LABRIDiE. — LXX. 145 



br« 10 + 14. Oviparous, carnivorous. One genus, with 30 species; 

 in the warm seas. Silvery fishes, probably allied to the Sparidce, 

 but with no near relatives. 



181. GERRES Cuvier. (Old name of some fish.) 



o. Preopercle and preorbital entire ; body oblong ; spines moderate. (Diapte- 

 rus Kanzani.) 

 b. Premaxillary groove scaled across anteriorly so that the posterior part 

 appears as a nalted pit. 



399. G. gula Cuv. & Val. Silvery, faintly barred ; 3d D. spine 

 not half head; ■2d A. spine short. Head 3^; depth 2 J. D. IX, 10. 

 A. Ill, 8. Scales 5-43-10. L. 6. N. J. to Brazil, common S. 

 (Lat., throat, the fish being called " Petite-Gueule " in W. I.) 



Pharyngognathi. This family closes the series of fishes hav- 

 ing Percoid affinities. We now pass to the group or suborder 

 Pharyngognathi, those forms allied to the Labroids, and distin- 

 guisiied especially by the complete union of the lower pharyngeal 

 bones. Of these, the typical forms, Labridce, Pomacentridce have 

 the gills reduced, 3^ in number ; the last gill slit wanting or nearly 

 so. Some of them (^PomacentridcB, CicJdidce) differ from other 

 spiny-rayed fishes in having but one nostril on each side ; still others 

 (Emhiotocidce) are viviparous. The Pharynr/ognathi being chiefly 

 tropical are scantily represented within our limits. 



Family LXX. LABRID^. (The Wrasses.) 



Body oblong, covered with cycloid scales ; lateral line usually in- 

 terrupted or angularly bent. Mouth terminal, protractile ; the 

 teeth of the jaws generally strong ; no teeth on vomer or palatines ; 

 maxillaries simple, slipping under membranous edge of preorbital ; 

 lower pharyngeals solidly united, with blunt teeth ; D. continuous, 

 with 8 to 20 spines, the number greatest in Northern forms, which, 

 as usual among fishes, have also an increased number of vertebrae ; 

 anal spines 2 to 6, usually 3. V. normal. Pseudobranchiae present. 

 Gills 3-^, usually no slit behind the last; nostrils double; air-bladder 

 present. Genera 65 ; species 450, chiefly of the tropical seas. 

 jVIany of them are brilliantly colored and some are valued as food. 

 The teeth are adapted for the crushing of shells. (Labrus, an old 

 name from labrum, lip.) 



a. Vertebvte in increased number, 30 to 38; dorsal spines IG to 20; teeth m 

 jaws distinct, the anterior cannie: no posterior canines ; lateral line con- 

 tinuous; lips thick. (Labiinte.) 

 b. Preopercle serrate; cheeks and opercles scaly; teeth in more than two 



series, the outer enlarged Ctenolabkus, 182. 



bb. Preopercle entire ; cheeks scaly ; opercles naked ; teeth in about two 



series Hiatula, 183. 



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