Classification of the Percoid Fishes. 123 



Fam. 2 ( J. Mullidae. 



Sj)inous dorsal short, of to 8 slender spines, well 

 Separated from the short soft dorsal, which is similar to the 

 anal ; 1 or 2 anal spines ; caudal with 15 principal rays, 

 13 branched ; pelvics thoracic, each of a Bpine and 5 soft 

 ray 8 j with a scaly axillary process. Two nostrils on each 

 side. Gill-meinbranes free from the isthmus; 4 branchio- 

 stegals; 4 gills; pseudohranchia' present. A pair of long 

 barbels attached to the hyoid behind the symphysis of the 

 lower jaw. Mouth protractile ; villiform teeth in the jaws 

 and often on vomer and palatines ; praemaxillary rami long, 

 without distinct posterior processes or expansions ; maxillary 

 rami usually broadest distal ly, not overlapped externally by 

 the praemaxillaries, sheathed for the greater part of their 

 length. Palatine without ridge. A strong subocular shelf. 

 Occipital and parietal crests developed. Vertebrae 24 

 (10+14) ; all the praecaudals with parapophyses and all the 

 ribs on parapophyses. 



This family differs from the Lutianidse in several characters 

 of specialization. 



Principal genera : Mullus, Mulloides, Upeneus, Upeneoides, 

 Upeneichtlujs. 



Fam. 30. Lethrinidae. 



Closely related to the Lutianidse. Gill-membranes broadly 

 united, but free from the isthmus. Anterior teeth villiform, 

 with canines ; lateral teeth conical or obtuse, in a single 

 series ; palate toothless. Praemaxillaries with rather long 

 pedicels and short rami, the latter without posterior expan- 

 sions or processes and with their distal ends internal to the 

 mamillaries. Occipital crest strong; parietal crests strong 

 or moderate. Vertebrae 24 (10+14), all the prsecaudals 

 with parapophyses, all the ribs, or all but the first, inserted 

 on the parapophj ses. 



The three genera may be grouped thus : — 



I. Subocular shelf small, emitted by the second suborbital but mainly 



internal to the liist; maxillary with a very broad posterior 

 expansion below its articulation with the palatine; maxillary 

 process of palatine normal ; outer face of palatine with a prominent 

 ridge which extends on to the pterygoid, . Pentapus, Spfuerodon, 



II. Subocular shelf vestigial, a minute process of the second suborbital 



at its junction with the first; maxillary with a moderately broad 

 posterior expansion, which is overlapped by a dattisb downwardly 

 curved branch of the maxillary process ol the palatine; outer lace 

 of palatine without ridge Lethrinua, 



