780 



COMPENDIUM OF GENERIC DISTINCTIONS. 



Order. ACANTHOPTERYGII Part of the rays of 

 the dorsal, ventral, and anal fins not jointed, and forming 

 spines. 



Family. GASTEROSTEID.8!. Body long and rather 

 compressed ; teeth in both jaws, not on tongue or palate. 

 Three branchiostegals (i.e. the slender curved bones by 

 moans of which the gill-aperture is closed). Bones of oper- 

 culum (or gill-cover) not armed. Parts of skeleton forming 

 external armour. Scales none, or in plates along side. 

 Single spine before dorsal fin, and ventral armed with a 

 strong spine, and sometimes a short ray. 



Genus. GASTEROSTEUS. As family. Rivers and brackish 

 waters of cool latitudes. 



Family. BEEYCID5!. Body rather deep and com- 

 pressed ; eyes large and lateral. Slender teeth in both 

 jaws, often on palate. Branchiostegals, four or eight. 

 Bones of operculum armed. Scales, rarely bony, ctenoid (i.e. 

 with comb-like edge), or wanting. Ventrals under breast. 



Genus. MONOCENTRIS. Scales forming a bony mail, a 

 few isolated spines before dorsal. Seas of Japan. 



Genus. HOPLOSTETHUS. Abdomen notched. No teeth 

 on vomer. One dorsal. Mediterranean. 



Genus. MYRIFRISTIS. Two dorsals. No preeopercular 

 spine (see page 197). Indian seas. 



Genus. HOLOCENTRUM. Two dorsals. Praeopercular 

 spine Upper jaw not projecting. Asiatic seas. 



Family. PERCID.ffi. Scales ctenoid, lateral line mostly 

 continuous. Operculum armed. Branchiostegals, seven or 

 eight. Teeth large, pointed, on jaws, palate, and vomer. 

 Dorsal with spiny and soft portion ; ventrals under breast, 

 with one-spine and five soft rays. 



Genus. PEHCA. Dorsal with thirteen to fifteen spiues. 

 Prseoperculum and prseorbital (i.e. the bone before the orbit 

 of the eye) notched ; head naked above ; scales small. 

 Many fresh waters. 



Genus. LABRAX. Dorsal, nine spines. Teeth on tongue ; 

 prseoperculum toothed beneath. Many seas. 



Genus. ACERINA. No bony ridge on operculum, no teeth 

 on palatine bones. Opercula armed ; scales small. Many 

 fresh waters. 



Genus. LUCIOPERCA. Two dorsals, two spines on anal. 

 Dorsal spines twelve to fotirteen. Operculum armed, prae- 

 operculum notched. European rivers and lakes. 



Genus. CENTROPOMUS. Body flattened, operculum not 



spiiit .1. North America. 



Genus. CENTROPRISTIS. One dorsal. Canine teeth very 

 small ; teeth on vomer in angular or triangular patch. 

 Operculum spined, praeoperculum serrated. North America. 



Genus. SERRANUS. Scales small, teeth on palatine 

 bones. Dorsal nine to eleven spines, anal with three. Oper- 

 culum spined. Many warm seas. 



Genus. POLTPRION. One dorsal ; anal two or three 

 spines. Operculum with strong bony ridge, and the bones 

 toothed. Many seas. 



Genus. OREOSOMA. Anal spines wanting. Scales none, 

 bony protuberances on body. Atlantic. 



Genus. APOGON. Lateral line commencing behind head. 

 Teeth on palatines. Prseoperculum with double serrated 

 ridge. First dorsal with six seven spines, anal with two ; 

 operculum spined. Indian and Australian seas. 



Family. PBISTIPOMATID5!. Body compressed, scaled, 

 teeth of scales sometimes wanting. Branchiostegals five, 

 six, or seven. Barbels none. Dorsal one ; no molar or cutting 

 teeth. 



Genus. PBISTIPOMA. Anal with three spines. Branchio- 

 stegals seven. Groove behind joint of lower jaw. Vertical 

 fins not scaly, or only at base. Indian and Australian seas. 



Genus. H.EMULON. Soft parts of vertical fins scaly. 

 Seas of Tropical America. 



Genus. DIAGRAMMA. Branchiostegals six ^even. Po 

 in lower jaw, no groove ; upper profile of nead rounde 

 Indian seas. 



Family. MTTLLID-E. Body long, sligl >tly compress 

 scales large. Two long barbels from undei jaw. Branchio- 

 stegals four. Dorsal fins two, separate ; vuntrals with one 

 spine and five rays. 



Genus. MULLTJS. No teeth in upper jaw. Many 

 Genus. UPENEUS. No teeth in palate, those of jaw 



Family. SPARID.ffi. -Body as last family ; tail not 

 armed ; lateral line continuous. Branchiostegals five, six, or 

 seven. Teeth, either cutting in front of jaws or lateral 

 series of molars. One dorsal, anal three-spined ; ventrals 

 under thorax, with one spine and five rays. 



Genus. PAGRUS. Teeth conical in front, double ser 

 of upper molars. Canines. Most seas. 



Genus. PAGELLUS. No canines ; rest as Pagrus. 

 seas. 



Genus. CHRYSOPHRTS. Three or more series of uj 

 molars. Canines. Mediterranean. 



Family. SQTTAMIPENNES. Body much compressed and 

 deep, scaled. Lateral line continuous. Branchiostegals six 

 seven. Teeth in broad or narrow bands, sometimes teeth 

 on palate. Dorsal three or four, spined ; vertical fina 

 covered with small scales. Lower rays of pectorals branched ; 

 ventrals under thorax, with one spine and five soft rays. 

 All tropical species. 



Sub-family. Chaetodontinas. No teeth on palate or vomer. 



Genus. CHJETODON. No prseopercular spine. Dorsal 

 not notched. Muzzle short. 



Genus. CHELMO. Muzzle very long. 



Genus. HENIOCHUS. Fourth dorsal spine very long. 



Genus. HOLOCANTHUS. Praeoperculum with strong 

 spine, dorsal with twelve to fifteen spines. 



Sub-family. Toxotina. Teeth on palate. Dorsal fin on 

 latter half of back. 



Genus. TOXOTES. Dorsal with five spines. 



Family. CIRRHITID^!. Body with cycloid (i.e. circular) 

 scales ; lateral line continuous. Branchiostegals three, five, 

 or six. Anal fin three-spined. Lower rays of pectorals 

 simple. Ventrals under thorax, one spine and five rays. 

 Tropical and warm seas. 



Genus. CIRRHITES. No teeth on palate ; dorsal spines 

 ten ; intermaxillary bone not notched. 



Family.- TEIQLID^E. Cleft of mouth extending to 

 sides of muzzle, and partly vertical ; eyes directed upward. 

 Prseoperculum jointed to the sub -orbital ring. Two dorsals. 

 Ventrals under thorax. Branchiostegals five to seven. 

 Most seas, especially the Northern. 



Group I. Body scaled or naked. 



Section I. Spinous dorsal developed as much as or more 

 than the soft and anal. 



Sub-family. Scorpasnina. Anal fin short. 



Genus. ScORP-ffiNA. Body scaled. Occiput with a groove 

 First dorsal with eleven spines, second with one spine and 

 nine or ten soft rays. Anal with three spines and five soft 

 rays. 



Genus. PTEROlS. Body scaled. Many spines and rays 

 isolated, rays branched. No pectoral appendages. Indian 

 seas. 



Genus. APISTOS. One pectoral appendage. Red Sea. 



Genus. HEMITRIPTERUS. Scales rudimentary. Spinous 

 dorsal, with deep notch in front. 



Genus. SYNANCEIA. Scales none. Head grotesque. 

 No teeth on vomer. One dorsal. Indian seas. 



Genus. PELOR. Scales none. Two pectoral appendages. 





