508 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTEBYGn. 



Seventh group. PEISTIPOMATINA. 



15. Genus PRISTIPOMA, Cuv. 



Syn. Genytremus, Genyatremus, Anisotremus, and Pristocantharus, 

 Gill ; Hamulopsis, Steind. ; Pomaclasys, Bleeker. 



Branch iostegals seven ; pseudobranchiaj. Body oblong, com- 

 pressed. Eyes moderate. Cleft of mouth horizontal; gape not- 

 very wide ; jaws of nearly equal length ; a central longitudinal and 

 deep groove below the symphysis of the lower jaw, and two small 

 open pores under the chin ; no barbels. Preopercle serrated ; 

 opercle with indistinct points. Teeth in the jaws villiform, without 

 canines ; palate edentulous. Dorsal with from eleven to fourteen 

 spines ; anal with three. Scales ctenoid and of moderate or small 

 size, present on the head, including the preorbital and lower jaw. 

 Air-bladder simple, destitute of any constriction. Pyloric appen- 

 dages few. 



Geographical Distribution. All tropical seas and the Mediterranean. 

 The young of the Indian species are often taken in backwaters. 



Uses. Pair as food, but not much esteemed : the air-bladder in 

 some places collected as isinglass. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Second anal spine not longer, or scarcely 



longer, than 3rd. 



A. 3/9. Longitudinal bands on side 1. P. stridens, p. 508. 



A. 3/12. No blotches nor longitudinal bands 



on side 2. P. olivacemn, p. 509. 



A. 3/7. Black blotches on side 3. P. mactilattnn, p. 6]0. 



B. Second anal spine much longer than 3rd. 



L. tr. 7/18. Six horizontal dark bands on 



each side 4. P. furcatvm, p. 510. 



L. tr. 7/10. Four or 5 interrupted lines along 



sides 5. P. haatn, p. 510. 



L. tr. 6/13. Sinuous lines of black spots on 



sides 6. P. argentevm, p. 51 1 . 



L. tr. G|/15, Two golden lateral bands 7. P. dussumieri, p. 511. 



L. tr. 6/12. No lateral bands in adult nor 



spots 8. P. ffuoraca, p. 512. 



L. tr. 9/19. Upper half of side with numerous 



black spots 9. P. operculare, p. 612. 



673. (1.) Pristipoma stridens. 



Sciaena stridens, Forsk. Descr. Anim. p. 60, no. 58. 

 Pristipoma stridens, Day, Fish. India, p. 72, pi. xviii, fig. 8 (marked 

 P. nageli) (see synon.). 



D. 12/13-16. A.3/9. L.r. 95-1 00/80-85. L.tr. 8-9/18. Ca?c.pyl.5-6. 



Length of head 4, height of body 4 in the total length. Eyes 



diameter 3| to 4 in length of head, 1 to 1 1 from end of snout, and 



1 apart. Upper profile of head somewhat rounded. Vertical 



