Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 981 



e. Ariiil spines 2 or 1, very rarely obsolete; vertebras in increased number (30 to 46). 



PEBCID^E, CXLIII. 



ee. Auul spines 2 (rarely 3); vertebra 24 or 25; psoudobrauchitu well developed; dorsal 



fin divided. CHEILODIPTEUID^K, CXLIV. 



eee. Anal spines 3 or none, never 2 nor 1; pseudobranchias well developed; dorsal fin 



continuous or divided; vertebra 24 to 35. 

 f. Vomer, and usually palatines also, with teeth. 



g. Lateral line strongly marked, extending to end of caudal fin; body elon- 

 gate; teeth small. CENTROPOMID*:, CXLV. 

 yg. Lateral line not extending on caudal fin. 



A. Anal fin shorter than dorsal; head not everywhere covered with rough 

 scales; postocular part of head not shortened. SERRANID*:, CXLVI. 

 1th. Anal fin scarcely shorter than dorsal and similar to it; head and body 

 everywhere covered with rough scales; body deep, compressed. 



PRIACANTHID^E, CXLVIII. 

 jf'. Vomer without teeth; dorsal fin continuous; body deep, compressed. 



LOBOTIDfl!, CXLVII. 



30. Maxillary slipping for most of its length under the edge of the preorbital, which forms a 

 more or less distinct sheath; ventrals with an accessory scale; opercle without spines; 

 maxillary without supplemental bone; anal spines 3, rarely 2. 

 . Carnivorous species; intestines of moderate length; teeth in jaws not all incisor-like; 



vertebra) usually 24 or 25. 

 j. Spines of premaxillary not greatly produced, not extending backward to the 



occiput; mouth moderately protractile. 

 k. Vomer with teeth. 



i. Teeth in jaws usually unequal, some of them more or less canine-like; 

 no distinct tubercles from the cranium for the articulation of the 

 epipharyngeals; enlarged apophyses for the articulation of the 

 palatines and preorbital; first 4 vertebrae without parapophyses; 

 maxillary long. LUTIANID*:, CXLIX. 



kk. Vomer without teeth; palatines and tongue toothless. 



m. Teeth on sides of jaws not molar; maxillaries formed essentially as in 

 the Serranidse. H^EMULID^E, CL. 



mm. Teeth on sides of jaws molar; maxillaries peculiar in form and in 

 articulation, unlike those of the Serranidse. Anterior teeth coni- 

 cal, or else more or less incisor-like; preopercle entire. 



SPARID^;, CLI. 

 j}. Spines of premaxillary extending backward to the occiput, so that the mouth 



is excessively protractile; preorbital very narrow. 



n. Lower pharyngeals well separated; teeth in jaws small or wanting; vomer 



with minute teeth or none; dorsal fin continuous or deeply notched; 



preopercle entire. M^NID^E, CLII. 



nn. Lower pharyngeals closely approximated, often apparently united; teeth 



present, small ; dorsal fin notched. GERRID;E, CLIII. 



ii. Herbivorous species; intestinal canal elongate; anterior teeth in jaws incisor-like; 



no molars or canines; premaxillaries moderately protractile. 



KYPHOSID^;, CLIV. 



Family CXL. ELASSOMID^. 



(PIGMY SUXFISHES.) 



' Body oblong, compressed, covered with rather large cycloid scales. 

 Mouth small, terminal, the lower jaw projecting ; each jaw with rather 

 strong conic teeth, in few series, directed forward vomer with a few 

 weak teeth ; palatines toothless ; upper jaw very protractile. Bones of 

 head with entire edges. Cheeks and opercles scaly. Gill membranes 



