XXII ACANTHOPTERYGII 665 
Crenidens, Pachymetopon, Dipterodon, Surgus, Charax, Lethrinus, 
Sphaerodon, Sparus, Pagrus, Pagellus. 
Abundantly represented in Eocene and Miocene beds by 
remains of Sargus, Sparus, Pagrus, Pagellus, and by the extinct 
genera Clenodentex, Sparnodus, and Trigonodon. Some species 
grow to a length of three feet, such as the “Sheep’s-Head” of 
North America, one of the best salt-water fishes of the United 
States, and the “ Schnapper” (Sparus wnicolor), of Australia, also 
much esteemed. Some of the Atlantic and Mediterranean species 
of Box, Sargus, Charax, Sparus, and Pagellus are known to be 
normally, cr at least very frequently, hermaphrodite. 
Fia. 406.—Gilt-head Sea-Bream (Pagrus auratus). A, its dentition. 
(After Cuvier and Valenciennes. ) 
Fam. 24. Mullidae.—The “Red Mullets” are very nearly 
related to the Sparidae, with which they agree in the structure 
of the vertebral column and the presence of a subocular shelf. 
They differ in the very weak dentition, the presence of a pair of 
hyoid barbels, the reduced number (4) of branchiostegal rays, 
and the double perforation of the scapula. Two short dorsal 
fins, remote from each other, the anterior with weak spines. 
Small marine and brackish-water fishes, feeding on animal- 
cules and decomposing matter; inhabitants of nearly all the 
tropical seas and extending to Northern Europe. About 50 
species are known, referred to 5 genera: Upeneoides, Upeneichthys, 
Mullus, Mulloides, and Upeneus. 
