A REVIEW OF THE ATHERINE FISHES OF JAPAN. 
By David Starr Jordan and Edwix Chapin Starks, 
Of the Leland Stanford Junior I'niirrsity. 
In the present paper is given an account of the Japanese species of 
Atherinida?. It is based on the collections made in 1900 by Messrs. 
Jordan and Snyder and upon the specimens contained in the United 
States National Museum. The drawing-s are by Mrs. Chloe Lesley 
Starks. 
Family ATHERINID^^. 
THE SILVERSIDES. 
Bod}^ rather elongate, somewhat compressed, covered with scales of 
moderate or small size, which are usually, but not alwa3^s, cycloid. 
No lateral line; some scales often with rudimentar}' mucous tubes. 
Cleft of the mouth moderate. Teeth small on jaws and sometimes 
on vomer and palatines, rareh^ wanting. Premaxillarics protractile 
or not. Opercular bones usually without spines or serrature. Gill 
openings wide, the gill membranes not connected, free from the 
isthmus; gills I, a slit behind the fourth. Pseudobranchite present; 
gill-rakers usually long and slender. Branchiostegals 5 or 6. Dorsal 
fins 2, well separated, the first of 3 to 8 slender flexible spines, the 
second of soft rays; anal with a weak spine, similar to the soft dorsal, 
Vjut usually larger; ventral fins small, abdominal, not far back, of 
1 small spine and 5 soft rays; pectorals moderate, inserted high. 
Air bladder present. No pyloric caca. . Vertebrte numerous, usually 
about 23 + 23=1:6; third and fourth superior pharyngeals coossified, 
with teeth. Carnivorous fishes, mostly of small size, living in great 
schools near the shore in temperate and tropical seas; a few species in 
fresh w^ater. All the species have a silvery band along the side; this 
is sometimes underlaid by black pigment. All of them which are 
large enough are highly valued as food. 
a. Premaxillaries protractile, the skin not continuous with that of the forehead. 
b. Premaxillary narrow posteriorly, its edge nearly straight. 
c. Body little compressed, the belly rounded; pectorals short; scales cycloid; 
vomer with teeth; first dorsal with 5 or 6 spines, inserted in front 
of the rather short anal; mouth short. 
d. Head without spines Atherina 
dd. Head with rows of small sharp spines along the various ridges. 
Atherion. 
cc. Body much compressed, the breast compressed to a sharp edge; belly 
(in male) with a fleshy fold Iso 
Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXIV— No. 1250. 
199 
