PEJ1CID.E. 403 



8. Genus LUTJANUS, Bloch. 



Syn. Diacope and Mesoprion, Cuv. & Val. ; Genyoroye, Ctintor ; Ma- 

 color, Bleeker ; Proamblys, Hypoplita, Rhomboplites, Oj,yunts, Eooplites, 

 and Tropidinius, Gill. 



Branchiostegals seven. Body oblong, compressed ; snout elon- 

 gated. Preopercle serrated, with or without a notch on its vertical 

 border to receive a knob, which, is sometimes developed on the in- 

 teropercle. Opercle rarely with one, more generally with two or 

 three indistinct points. Villiform teeth in both jaws ; canines in 

 the upper, with smaller ones in the lower jaw, and laterally a row 

 of canine-like teeth ; villiforin teeth likewise on the vomer and 

 palate ; when present on 'the tdiigue, minute. Dorsal tin single, 

 with from 9 to 12 spines ; anal with 3. Pectorals pointed; caudal 

 rounded, truncated, or emarginate. Scales ctenoid, of moderate or 

 rather' small size, one or two enlarged rows over the nape. Pyloric 

 appendages few or absent. Air-bladder simple. 



Geographical Distribution. Tropical seas. 



Uses. All these fishes are good as food, though some are insipid. 

 They are extensively salted and dried in many localities. 



Amongst the Lutjani, when immature (as in a few Serrani), a 

 spine sometimes exists at the angle of the preopercle; as age ad- 

 vances it becomes gradually absorbed. Instead of one there may 

 be several spine-like denticulations at this spot in the fry, which also 

 disappear. The interopercular knob (fig. 146), in those species 

 which possess one (= genus Diacope, Cuv. & Val., or Genyoroge, 

 Cantor), appears in two distinct modes either as well formed from 

 birth, with a notch in the vertical border of the preopercle or else 

 the knob is gradually formed, and as it increases in size it presses 



Fig. 146. Gill-covers of Lutjanus. The interopercular knob and preopercular 

 notch are present in the left-hand figure (Diacope), wanting in the right 

 (Mesoprioii). 



against the vertical border of the preopercle, causing absorption of 

 the spot above it, and thus creates a notch. It has been remarked 

 of the Serrani that one dorsal ray occasionally assumes the form of 

 a spine ; but this seems to be rather rare among the Indian Lutjani, 

 in which, although the spines may be increased, the rays are not 

 usually diminished in number ; an increase in the number of rays 

 is of more frequent occurrence than in the spines. 



The lateral blotch is sometimes most decided in the young, but 

 whether it is a specific character or not remains to be solved. 



