Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1129 



?////. Dorsal spines 11, (rarely 10, never 9). 



H. Parietal crests not produced forward on thefrontals; frontals with 

 a process or knob on each side, behind interorbital area; pre- 

 maxillary processes fitting into a cavity at the anterior extrem- 

 ity of the frontals, or into an emargination of these bones; anal 

 rays III, 8, or III, 9. 



o. Scales of the lateral line normal, marked by radiating ridges. 



p. Cranium narrow above the interorbital space, deeply 



concave; occipital crest meeting interorbital region. 



EPINEPHELUS, 500. 



pp. Cranium very broad and flat above, the interorbital little 



concave, the occipital crest disappearing before 



reaching interorbital region. GARRUPA, 501. 



oo. Scales of the lateral line each with 4 to 6 strong radiating 



ridges ; cranium short, extremely broad, and depressed 



between the eyes; the anterior profile of head a little 



concave; dorsal spines low; dorsal rays XI, 16. 



PBOMICROPS, 502. 

 nn. Parietal crests produced forward on the frontals. 



q. Frontals with a process or knob on each side behind the 

 interorbital area; premaxillaries fitting into a cavity at 

 anterior extremity of frontals; anal rays III, 8, rarely 

 III, 9. 



. Preopercle with a single autrorse hook or spine near the 

 angle; supraoccipital and parietal crests not extending 

 to between orbits; scales ctenoid. ALPHESTES, 503. 



rr. Preopercle without antrorse spine; supraoccipital and 

 parietal crests extending to between orbits; scales 

 smooth; canine teeth small or obsolete; head small 

 much compressed, the interorbital area in the adult 

 not broader than the eye; supraoccipital crest low; 

 soft dorsal unusually long, the rays XI, 17 to 20; 

 dorsal spines low; vertical fins all rounded pos- 

 teriorly. DERMATOLEPIS, 504. 

 qq. Frontals without processes on the upper surface; parietal 

 crests extending to between orbits; premaxillary pro- 

 cesses not extending to the frontals. Anal fin elongate, 

 its rays III, 11 or III, 12, (very rarely III, 9 or III, 10); 

 caudal fin lunate or truncate; spines slender, those of the 

 anal fin graduated; lower jaws strongly projecting; cra- 

 nium rather broad and transversely concave between the 

 eyes, its lateral crests very strong, nearly parallel with 

 the supraoccipital crest and extending farther forward 

 than the latter, joining the supraocular crest above the 

 eye; scales small, largely cycloid, those of the lateral 

 line simple; pyloric coeca few (12 to 20); dorsal rays XI, 

 16 to 18. MYCTEROPERCA, 505. 



dd. Maxillary without supplemental bone; canine teeth, if present, usually developed on 

 the side of the lower jaw as well as in front; no depressible teeth; scales mostly 

 ctenoid, including those of the lateral line; tubes of lateral line straight or with 

 an ascending tubule, covering most of the length of scale. Temporal crests on 

 cranium almost obsolete. 

 SERRANINJE : 



s. Gill rakers comparatively short and wide apart; lateral line not running close 

 to the back (except in Serranus); dorsal rays X, 11 to 15; anal rays usually 

 III, 7; supraoccipital crest not extending far forward on top of the skull, 

 a more or less distinct convex smooth area being left on the vertex between 

 the supraoccipital and the interorbital area; mouth not very oblique; ver- 

 tebrse about 10 + 14 = 24. Chiefly shore fishes of olivaceous colors. 



