Classijicalion of the Order (h(arioji/i//s/. 21 



A. Teeth well-developed in both jaws, uniserirtl, tixed incisors. 



Anostomu.", Rhytiodvs, Leporirnii, LepofcUus. 



B. Teeth very small, movable, labial, imiserial in both jaws, or in 



the upper only Ccenotropus, 



IT. Mouth wide, non-protractile ; lips thin or absent; jaws toothless. 

 Prj^maxillai'ies expanded transversely, carrying the small luaxil- 

 lavies away from the meoethmoid ; rami of lower jaw moderately 

 loup-, their transverse anterior portions slender. Sus))ensorium as 

 in the Auostominae. {Curimatince.) . . Curimatus, Anodvs. 



III. Mouth terminal, somewhat protractile, with thick lips concealing- 

 the maxillaries ; teeth minute, labial. PrEeraaxilhu'les curved; 

 rami of lower jaw short, but formed as in tlie CnrimatinEe. 

 Quadrate movably articulated with the pterygoid in front and the 

 prffiopercle behind; mesopterygoid and metaplerygoid tirmly 

 united by suture, but only loosely attached to tiie pterygoid and 

 hyomandibular respectively (PI. II. Hg. 2) ; hyomandibnlar with 

 a single head, litting into a groove formed by the spheuotic and 

 pterotic. {PruchilodontincP. ) Frocldlodus. 



Family 5. HemiodontidsB. 



Prsemaxillaiies small, movably attached to the ethmoid ; 

 maxillaries well developed, articulated with or adherent to 

 the prjemaxillaries, their inner extremities articulating with 

 the mesethmoid ; mouth small, subterminal. Teeth uni- 

 serial, in both jaws or in the upper only ; palate toothless. 

 Pterygoid movably articulated with quadrate, narrowed 

 posteriorly, ending in a small condyle ; mesopterygoid hrmly 

 attached to pterygoid and loosely connected with quadrate 

 (PI. II. fig. 4). In other osteological characters essentially 

 similar to the Cliaracidas. Dorsal fin short, median ; anal 

 short ; scales cycloid ; lateral line, when present, straight. 



South American. 



The principal genera may be arranged thus : — 



I. Teeth fixed, conical or cuspidate, forming a single series in both 



jaws. Hyomandibular broad, two-headed. (Nannodomina.) 



Nannostumus, Characidium. 



II. Pree maxillaries with a single series of movable serrated incisors ; 



lower jaw with a rather sharp transverse toothless edge anteriorly, 

 with or without 2 or 3 small teeth laterally. Hyomandibidar with 

 a single head, fitting into a groove formed by the spheuotic and 

 pterotic. {Hemiudontince.) .... Hemiodon, Saccodo7i, Parodon. 



Family 6. Citharinids. 



Upper jaw movable, the proemaxilhuies articulated with a ' 

 pair of anterc -lateral apopliyses of the niesetlinioid ; maxil- 

 laiies articulated with or attached to prajmaxillaries, their 

 inner ends not reaching the mesethmoid. Teeth in jaws 



