]o2 SPAEID-^^. 



Fam. 7. SPARID^. 



Pcrcifoiin fislics with a subociilar shelf, usually without teeth on the 

 })alate, the teeth in the jaws often either cuttiiif^ in front or inolar-like 

 on tlie sides, separate lower pharyngeal bones, gill-membranes free from 

 isthmus, 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays, and two nostrils on each side. 

 Spinous dorsal well developed, the soft not much more developed than 

 the anal ; latter with 3 spines. Praecaudal vertebrae with transverse 

 processes from the second or third, these processes bearing the ribs. 



Seas of the temperate and tropical regions; one representative in the 

 fresh waters of Africa. 



1. SPARUS. 

 Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 4(17 (ITOGj, part. ; Cuv. Regne Anlin. ii. p. 271 (1817), 



part. 

 Pagrits, Cuv. t. c. ]). 272 ; Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. vi. p. 141 (1830) ; CTUiith. 



Cat. Fish. i. p. 465 (1859). 

 Chrysophrys, Cuv. & Val. t. c. p. 81 ; Gihitli. t. c. p. 483. 



Body oblong or short, compressed ; scales moderate, feebly ctenoid ; 

 lateral line complete. Mouth moderate or rather large, protractile ; 

 maxillary folding under the praeorbital ; canine teeth in front of the 

 jaws and rounded, molar-like teeth in two or three rows on the sides. 

 6 branchiostegal rays; pseudobranchiae large. Dorsal with 11 or 12 

 spines, anal with 3, both fins with a scaly sheath at the base. Ventrals 

 below base of pectorals, with a scaly basal process. Vertebrae 24 

 (10 + 14). 



Distributed over the tropical and temperate seas of the world. 



1. SPARUS VAGUS. 



CJivj/sophrys vagus, Peteis, Mon. Borl. Ac. 1852, p. (581, and Rci!*e Mossatnb, iv. 

 p. 11, pi. ii. fig. 1 (18G8). 



Depth of body about 2^ times in total length, length of head about 3 

 times. Snout with straight upper profile ; snout a little longer than 

 eye, which is 4 times in length of head; upper jaw projecting a little 

 beyond lower ; maxillary extending to below anterior third of eye ; lips 

 thick; six conical, curved teeth in front of each jaw; molariform teeth 

 on the sides in 3 rows in u{)per jaw, in 2 in lower ; 6 series of scales on 



