Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1667 



gill rakers very short; pseudobranchiae present. Dorsal fins 2, somewhat 

 connected, the first of 8 to 11 spines, which are depressible in a groove; 

 soft dorsal and anal fins anteriorly high, their bases thickened by the 

 scales ; anal spines 3 or 4, short ; caudal fin truncate or doubly concave ; 

 pectorals short, the rays all branched ; ventrals thoracic, normally I, 5 ; 

 sometimes rudimentary; a large accessory scale as in the Sparidce; air 

 bladder large, commonly bifurcate in front, and with 2 slender horns 

 behind. Vertebra? 10 + 14 = 24. Post-temporal bifurcate as usual among 

 fishes, not joined to the skull. As here understood, a group of about 4 

 genera and 10 or 12 species, related to the Chcetodontidw but showing 

 important differences in the skeleton, which shows resemblances to both 

 Scombroid and Sparoid forms. Shore fishes mostly of large size, in warm 

 seas, often valued as food. 



The following diagnosis of this family is given by Dr. Gill : Chsetodon- 

 toidea with a wide scaly isthmus extending from pectoral region to the 

 chin and separating the branchial apertures ; spinous partially differen- 

 tiated from the soft portion of dorsal; upper jaw scarcely protractile; 

 ethmoid cariniform above (not sunk and concave) and vomer declivous 

 (not projecting forward or retuse), parapophyses spiniform and posteriorly 

 inclosing a haemal canal, and post-temporal bones bifurcated. (Ephippus, 

 etc., Giinther, Cat., n, 61, 1860.) 



EPHIPPIN^J : 

 a. First dorsal fin composed of spines connected by membrane, the third spine highest ; 



ventrals well developed, I, 5. 

 b. Scales small, 55 to 70 in the lateral line. CHVETODIPTERUS, 655. 



MONODACTYLIN^E : 



art. First dorsal fin composed of short free spines, the last one highest; ventrals small 



or rudimentary. 



c. Ventrals small but normally developed, the rays I, 5; body not deeper than 

 long. PARAPSETTUS, 656. 



655. CH^TODIPTERUS, Lacepede. 

 Chcetodipterus, LACEPEDE, Hist. Uat. Poiss., iv, 503, 1802 (plumierifaber). 



Body much elevated and compressed, its outline nearly orbicular, the 

 anterior profile nearly vertical. Scales small, 55 to 70 in the course of the 

 lateral line. Jaws about equal; no teeth on vomer or palatines; teeth on 

 jaws slender, somewhat movable; preopercle finely serrulate. Branchios- 

 tegals 6. Dorsal fins 2, somewhat connected, the first of usually 9 spines, 

 the third of which is elongate ; anal spines 3, small, the second the longest ; 

 ventral with a large accessory scale. Pyloric caeca 4 to 6. American; 

 distinguished from the Asiatic genus Eplilppus, by the very much smaller 

 scales. (xcciTodaov, Chratodon; 6Ys; two; Ttrepov, fin, the dorsal being 

 divided.) 



a. Third dorsal spine more or less elevated, especially in the young. Atlantic. 



FABER, 2080. 



aa. Third dorsal spine scarcely higher than fourth, not more than $ length of head. 

 Pacific. ZONATDS, 2081. 



