Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1127 



and adherent to the wall of the abdomen. Stomach cascal, with few or many 

 pyloric appendages ; intestines short, as is usual in carnivorous fishes. 

 Genera 60 to 70. Species about 400.t Carnivorous fishes, chiefly marine, 

 and found in all warm seas; several genera found in fresh waters. As 

 here understood, the Serranidce comprise the most of the family of Per- 

 cid<t' as understood by Giinther and others, exclusive of those with imper- 

 fect pseudobranchiae, those with one or two anal spines, those with the 

 number of vertebrae increased, those in which the whole length of the 

 maxillary slips under the preorbital, and those with the anal fin many 

 rayed, and the cranium shortened behind. As here understood, the 

 Serranidce are essentially equivalent to the Serranince and Grammistinas 

 of Boulenger's Catalogue. Even after these eliminations, the family is 

 considerably varied. (Percidce, part, Giinther, Cat., I, 61-220.) 



I. Anal spines 3, well developed. 



a. Dorsal fins 2; vertebra? 25 to 36, 11 lo 15 in precaudal portion. 

 MORONIN^E: 



b. Maxillary without supplemental bone; teeth all pointed; pectoral unsymmetrical, its 

 upper' rays longest; dorsal (in our genera) X-14; skull without cavernous struc- 

 ture; preopercle strongly serrate; caudal fin forked; tongue with teeth; ventral 

 fins inserted behind axil of pectorals; teeth all alike, usually villifonn, without 

 canines; preorbital narrow; lateral line normal, straight, or bent upward at base; 

 preopercle serrate; gill rakers moderately long and slender; species generally of 

 large size, and silvery-olive coloration, mostly inhabiting fresh or brackish waters. 

 Preopercle without antrorse spines on its lower limb. 



e. Dorsal fins separate; spines of fius weak; anal rays III, 12, the spines graduated; 

 lower jaw projecting; base of tongue with teeth. Roccus, 491. 



cc. Dorsal fins joined; spines of fins strong; anal rays III, 9, the spines not gradu- 

 ated; jaws subequal; base of tongue toothless. MORONE, 492. 

 an. Dorsal fin single, sometimes deeply divided. 



d. Maxillary with a distinct supplemental bone (rarely obscured by the skin); dorsal 



usually divided or deeply notched. 

 e. Inner teeth of jaws not depressible or hinged. 



LIOPROPOMIN.S:: 



/. Soft dorsal longer than spinous part; dorsal deeply divided, the spines 6 to 9 in 

 number; preopercle entire; vertebras 10 + 14 = 24; lateral line arched 

 anteriorly. 



g. Dorsal spines 9; caudal lunate. LIOPROPOMA, 493. 



gg. Dorsal spines 6; caudal truncate. CHORISTISTIUM, 494. 



Bodianug taeniops 10 + 14 = 24 



Epinephelus areolatus 10 + 14 = 24 



Epinephelus striatus 10 + 14 = 24 



Epinephelus fasciatus 10 + 14=24 



Epinephelus tauvina 10 + 14 = 24 



rromicropsguttatus 10 + 14= 24 



AlphesteH afer 10 + 14 = 24 



Mycteroperca bonaci 10 + 14 = 24 



Anyperodon leucogrammi- 



cns 10 + 14 = 24 



Paranthias furcifor 10'+ 14 = 24 



Parolabrax humeralis 10 + 14 = 24 



Serranus cabrilla 10 + 14 = 24 



Serranus scriba 10 + 14 = 24 



Gilbertiasemicincta 10 + 17 = 27 



Csesioperca lepidoptera 10 + 16 = 2 



Caprodon longimanus 10 + 16 = 26 



Holanthias borbonius 10 + 16 = 26 



Anthiassacer 10 + 16 = 26 



Plectranthias anthioides 10 + 16 = 26 



Callanthiaspeloritanus 11 + 13 =24 



Paraplesiops meleagris 10 + 16 = 26 



Plesiops nigricans 10 + 15 = 25 



Rypticus saponaceus 10 + 14 = 24 



f A review of the genera and species of Serranidee found in the waters of America and Europe, 

 by David Starr Jordan and Carl II. Eigenmann, was published in Bulletin vm of the U. S. Fish , 

 Commission, 1888 (1890), 329-433, plates 60 to 69. In that paper may be found full synonymy 

 of all the genera and species. A most excellent account is given inBouleuger's Catalogue of 

 Teleostean Fishes, Vol. i, just published as these pages are going through the press. 



