NO. 1792. JAPANESE LUTIANID2E— JORDAN AND THOMPSON. 439 



opercle without spines (in typical species) ; sides of head scaly. Dor- 

 sal fin single, continuous, or deeply notched, sometimes divided into 

 two fins, the spines usually strong, depressible in a groove, and 

 heteracanthous, that is, alternating, the one stronger on the right 

 side, the other on the left; the spines 10 to 12 in number. Anal fin 

 similar to soft dorsal and with three spines ; ventral fins thoracic, the 

 rays I, 5, with a more or less distinct scale-like appendage at base; 

 caudal fin usually more or less concave or forked. Air-bladder pres- 

 ent, usually simple. Intestinal canal short. Pyloric caeca few. Ver- 

 tebrae usually 10+14 = 24. No distinct tubercles from the cranium 

 for the articulation of the epipharyngeal bones; enlarged apophyses 

 for the articulation of palatine and preorbital bones; anterior 4 verte- 

 brae without parapophyses. The family comprises about 20 genera and 

 some 250 species, chiefly inhabiting the shores of warm regions. All 

 of them are valued as food, and all are active, carnivorous, and vora- 

 cious. The group is closely related to the Serranidae on the one hand 

 and to the Haemulidae on the other. 



We here exclude from the Lutianidae the genus Xenicliihys and its 

 relatives, more nearly allied to the Haemulidae, and also the genera 

 Dentex, Nemvpterus, and Gymnocranius, which approach the Sparidae. 

 Doderleinia and Glaucosoma should doubtless also be excluded, as more 

 nearly related to the Serranidae. 



In Japan the family is not largely represented, either in number of 

 species or in number of individuals, but two species being abundant 

 enough to have commercial value. 



«'. Maxillary broad, scaly, with a distinct supplemental bone; maxillary scarcely 



sheathed by the preorbital; gill rakers long and slender (genera allied to the 



Anthiinge among the Serranidae). 



6'. Glaucosomatin^. Teeth in bands, without distinct canines; supplementary 



maxillary narrow; preopercle coarsely toothed; pectoral fins short; caudal 



lunate; scales moderate; head entirely scaly; lateral line extending on caudal; 



dorsal continuous, with graduated spines; soft dorsal and anal scaly at base. 



Glaucosoma, 2. 

 h'^. D0DERLEINIIN.E. Teeth unequal, canines moderate, numerous; skull essen- 

 tially as in Etelis, the supraoccipital not encroaching on the cranium; supple- 

 mental maxillary broad; dorsal deeply notched, with 10 spines; soft dorsal 

 and anal scaleless; scales large; pectorals long but not falcate.. DoderZemia, 3. 

 d^. Maxillary without supplemental bone. 

 c^. Vomer and palatines with teeth. 

 d}. Nostrils near together, placed just before eye, the anterior not tubular; 

 vomerine teeth villiform, the patch /\, /[\, or ^ -shaped; no incisors 

 nor molars. 

 e^. LuTiANiN.E. Interorbital area not flat, the frontal region invaded by the 

 occipital and temporal crests which extend forward about to the eye; 

 jaws with canine teeth; dorsal fin continuous. 

 p. Soft dorsal and anal fins more or less scaly; last rays of dorsal and anal 

 not produced; pectoral falcate; tongue usually with teeth. 

 g^. Fronto-occipital crest, not reaching near to front of frontal; caudal 

 fin lunate; gill rakers few, rather short Lutianus, 4. 



