LABRIDiE. — LXX. 145 



brae 10 + 14. Oviparous, carnivorous. One genus, with 30 species; 

 in the warm seas. Silvery fishes, probably allied to the Sparidce, 

 but with no near relatives. 



181. GERRES Cuvier. (Old name of some fish.) 



a. Preopercle and preorbital entire ; body oblong; spines moderate. (Diapte- 

 rus Kanzani.) 



b. Premaxillary groove scaled across anteriorly so that the posterior part 

 appears as a naked pit. 



399. G. gula Cuv. & Val. Silvery, faintly barred ; 3d D. spine 

 not half head: 2d A. spine short. Head 3£; depth 2£. D. IX, 10. 

 A. Ill, 8. Scales 5-43-10. L. 6. N.J. to Brazil, common S. 

 (Lat., throat, the fish being called " Petite-Gueule " in W. I.) 



Pharyxoohnatiii. This family closes the series of fishes hav- 

 ing Percoid affinities. We now pass to the group or suborder 

 Phauyxgognathi, those forms allied to the Lobroids, and distin- 

 guished especially by the complete union of the lower pharyngeal 

 bones. Of these, the typical forms, Labridce, Pomacentridm have 

 the gills reduced, 3^ in number ; the last gill slit wanting or nearly 

 so. Some of them (Pomacentridce, Cichlicla) differ from other 

 spiny-rayed fishes in having but one nostril on each side; still others 

 (Embiolocidce) are viviparous. The Pharyngognathi being chiefly 

 tropical are scantily represented within our limits. 



Family LXX. LABRIDCE. (The Wrasses.) 



Body oblon_r. covered with cycloid scales; lateral line usually in- 

 terrupted or angularly bent. Mouth terminal, protractile ; the 

 teeth of the jaws generally strong ; no teeth on vomer or palatines; 

 maxillaries simple, slipping under membranous ed<j;e of preorbital ; 

 lower pharyngeals solidly united, with blunt teeth ; I), continuous, 

 with 8 to 20 spines, the number greatest in Northern forms, which, 

 as usual among fishes, have also an increased number of vertebra ; 

 anal spines 2 to 6, usually 3. V. normal. Pseudobranchiae present. 

 Gills 31, usually no slit behind the last; nostrils double; air-bladder 

 present. Genera 65 ; species 450, chiefly of the tropical seas. 

 Many of them are brilliantly colored and some are valued as food. 

 The teeth are adapted for the crushing of shells. (Labrus, an old 

 name from labrutn, lip.) 



a. Vertebrae in increased number, 30 to 38; dorsal spines 16 to 20; teeth in 

 jaws distinct, the anterior canine: no posterior canines ; lateral line con- 

 tinuous; lips thick. (Labrinas.) 

 b. Preopercle serrate; cheeks and opercles scaly; teeth in more than two 



series, the outer enlarged Ctexolabkcs, 182. 



bb. Preopercle entire; cheeks scaly; opercles naked; teeth in about two 



series Hiatula, 183. 



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