A REVIEW OF THE SCI^NOID FISHES OF JAPAN. 



By David Starr Jordan and William Francis Thompson, 



Of Stanford University, California. 



In the present paper is given a review of the Japanese fishes belong- 

 ing to the family of Scisenidie or Croakers. It is based on the 

 collections made by Professors Jordan and Snyder in 1900, series 

 of these being in the United States National Museum and in the 

 Museum of Stanford University. The drawings are by Mr. William 

 S. Atkinson. 



The few Japanese species are all closely interrelated, belonging to 

 the same subfamily, Sciaeninse. They are allied to the numerous Chi- 

 nese and Indian species. 



Family SCI^NID^. 



Body compressed, more or less elongate, covered with rather thin 

 scales which are usually more or less ctenoid. Lateral line continu- 

 ous, more or less concurrent with the back, extending on caudal fin. 

 Head prominent, covered with scales; bones of the skull cavernous, 

 the muciferous system highly developed, the surface of the skull, 

 when the flesh is removed, very uneven. Suborbital bones without 

 a backward projecting ''stay." Chin usually with pores, sometimes 

 with barbels. Mouth small or large, the teeth in one or more series, 

 one series sometimes being enlarged; canines often present. No 

 incisor nor molar teeth ; no teeth on vomer, palatines, pterygoids, 

 nor tongue. Maxillary without supplemental bone, slipping under 

 the free edge of the preorbital, which is usually broad. Premaxil- 

 laries protractile, but not freely movable. Nostrils double, Pseudo- 

 branchise usually large, present in most of the genera. Gills four, a 

 slit behind fourth. Branchiostegals seven. Gill membranes sepa- 

 rate, free from the isthmus. Lower pharyngeals separate or united, 

 often enlarged, the teeth conic or molar. Preopercle serrate or 

 entire. Opercle usually ending in two flat points. Dorsal fin deeply 

 notched or divided into two fins, the soft dorsal being the longer, 

 the spines depressible into a more or less perfect grove. Anal fin 

 with one or two spines, never more than two. Ventral fins thoracic, 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum Vol. 39— No. 1787. 

 Proc.N.M.vol.39— 10 18 241 



