Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 2879 



G. Dorsal spines 4 ; lips fringed ; eyes superior. 



CXCVII, URANOSCOPID.E, 2305. 

 GG. Dorsal spines 8 to 17. 



H. Anal spines 3 ; body scaly CLXX VI, SCORP^ENID^E, 1758. 



HH. Anal spines obsolete ; body partly or wholly naked. 



CLXXIX, COTTID.E, 1879. 

 FF. Slit behind fourth gill large; body scaled. 



I. Nostril single on each side, a small pore above it; dorsal fin 



continuous CLXX VIII, HEXAGRAMMID/E, 1863. 



II. Nostrils 2 on each side; dorsal fins 2, separate, except in the 



genus Erilepis CLXX VII, ANOPLOPOMATID.E, 1861. 



DD. Suborbital stay wanting; cheeks not mailed. 



J. Spiuous dorsal transformed into a sucking disk on top of head, 

 composed of 8 to 30 transverse plates. 



CLXXXIX, ECHENEIDID.E, 2265. 



JJ. Spinous dorsal (if present) not transformed into a sucking disk. 

 K. Dorsal spines all or nearly all disconnected from each other. 

 L. Body elongate, spindle-shaped ..CXXVII, RACHYCENTRID.E, 947. 

 LL. Body oblong or ovate, compressed. 

 M. Caudal peduncle very slender, the fin widely forked; preopercle 



entire CXXV, CARANGID.E, 895. 



MM. Caudal peduncle stoutish, the fin little forked. 



N. Gill membranes free from the isthmus ; preopercle serrulate. 



CXXXIV, CENTROLOPHID.E, 962. 



NN. Gill membranes broadly united to the isthmus ; preopercle entire. 



CLXIV, EPHIPPID^E, 1666. 

 KK. Dorsal spines (if present) all, or most of them, connected by 



membrane. 

 O. Pectoral fin with 4 to 9 lowermost rays detached and filiform. 



CIX, POLYNEMID^, 827. 

 OO. Pectoral fin entire. 

 P. Dorsal and anal each with 1 or more detached finlets. 



Q. Anal preceded by 2 free spines . .CXXV, CARANGID^E, 895. 



QQ. Anal not preceded by 2 free spines. 



R. Caudal peduncle keeled CXVIII, SCOMBRID.E, 863. 



RR. Caudal peduncle not keeled , CXIX, GEMPYLHXE, 877. 



PP. Dorsal and anal without finlets. 



S. Lateral line armed posteriorly with a series of keeled plates; 2 

 free anal spines; gill membranes free from isthmus. 



CXXV, CARANGID.E, 895. 



SS. Lateral line armed posteriorly with a sharp, movable, lancet- 

 like spine, -or with a few bony tubercles; scales small, 

 rough; gill membranes adherent to isthmus. 



CLXVII, TEUTHIDID.E, 1688. 

 SSS. Lateral line unarmed. 



T. Throat with 2 long barbels (placed just behind chin); dorsal 



fins 2 CXVII, MuLuuxas, 855. 



TT. Throat without long barbels. 



U. Head with a short bony horn before each eye ; gill membranes 

 united to isthmus; scales very small, rough. 



CLXVI, ZANCLIDJE, 1687. 



UU. Head without bony prominence or horns. 

 V. Anal fin preceded by 2 free spines (these obsolete in the very 



old, joined by membrane in the very young). 

 W. Preopercle entire; teeth moderate if present. 



CXXV, CARANGID.E, 895. 

 WW. Preopercle serrate ; teeth unequal, some of them very strong. 



CXXVI, POMATOMID.E, 945. 

 VV. Anal fin not preceded by free spines. 



X. Nostril single on each side; lateral line interrupted; lower phar- 

 yngeals united. 



