Order PERCESOCES. 



Airbladder, if present, without open duct. Ventral fins with 

 i spine and 5 rays, abdominal, by exception subabdominal 

 or secondarily thoracal. The pelvic bones are free, or attached to 

 the pectoral arch by ligament only. Two dorsal fins, the first, 

 with pungent or flexible spines, is more or less remote from 

 the second. Pectorals more or less elevated, generally about 

 on a level with the upper posterior angle of operculum. Maxil- 

 laries excluded from border of mouth. Eyes lateral, with or 

 without gelatinous eyelids. Teeth present or absent, minute, 

 setiform, villiform or large and cutting. Scales generally cycloid 

 or ctenoid, with or without a lateral line. Gillopenings wide, 

 gillmembranes free from isthmus, not connected. Branchios- 

 tegals 5 7. Opercles usually unarmed. Lower pharyngeals 

 separate, third and fourth superior pharyngeals on each side 

 separate or anchylosed. No suprabranchial organ. Parietals 

 separated by supraoccipital. Bones of skull generally without 

 muciferous canals. 



Key to the indo-australian families ofPercesoces. 



I. Pectorals placed low down with a lower detached portion 

 of free, articulated filaments, which can be moved in- 

 dependently. Lateral line well developed, continued on 

 tail. Maxillaries without a supplemental bone. Snout 

 obtusely conical, projecting over the wide mouth. Small 

 villiform teeth on jaws, palatines and sometimes on 



vomer. Gillrakers long and slender Polynemidae p. 196. 



II. Pectorals normal, without detached rays. 



1. Lateral line well developed. Maxillaries with a sup- 

 plemental bone. Mouth very wide. Large fang-like 

 teeth, implanted in sockets. Pectorals below middle 

 of height. Third and fourth upper pharyngeals sepa- 

 rate. Gillrakers obsolete Sphyraenidae p. 218. 



2. Lateral line absent or only rudimentary. Maxillaries 



