PRISTIPOMA. 125 



Fam. 6. PRISTIPOMATIDiE. 



Perciform fishes with the suborbitals not produced into a subocular 

 lamina, without teeth on the palate, separate lower pharyngeal bones, 

 gill-membranes free from isthmus, 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays, and two 

 nostrils on each side. Spinous dorsal well developed, usually as long as 

 or longer than the soft, which is often much longer than the anal; 

 latter usually with 3 spines. Pra;caudal vertebra with transverse 

 processes from the third, these processes bearing the ribs. 



Seas of the temperate and tropical regions, a few species in fresh 

 waters. 



llepresentatives of three genera enter rivers in Africa. 

 I. Maxillary nearly entirely concealed when the mouth is closed. 

 A central groove behind the symj.hysis of the lower 



jaw ; ventrals below base of pectorals ... 1. Pristipoma, Cuv., p. 125. 

 Lower jaw with pits, but without central groove ; 

 ventrals a little behind vertical of base of 



pectorals 2. Biagramma, Cm'.,-p. 127 . 



II. Maxillary exposed. 

 Ventrals below base of pectorals 3. Otoperca, Blgr., p. 130. 



1. PRISTIPOMA. 



Cuv. Eegne Anim. 2nd ed. ii. p. 17G (1829); Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. v. p. 243 

 (1830) ; Gunth. Cat. Fish. i. p. 286 (1859) ; Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Congo, 

 p. 386 (1901). 



Body oblong, compressed; scales moderate or rather large, ctenoid; 

 lateral line complete. Mouth moderately large, protractile ; maxillary 

 folding under the prseorbital ; bauds of villiform teeth in the jaws ; 

 a central groove behind the symphysis of the lower jaw ; prseoperculum 

 denticulate ; no opercular spines. 7 branchiostegal rays ; pseudo- 

 branchise large. Dorsal with 11 to 14 spines, anal with 3, both fins 

 vvith a scaly sheath at the base. Ventrals below base of pectorals, with 

 a scaly basal process. Vertebrae 26-27 (10-11 + 16). 



Tropical and subtropical seas, Mediterranean. 



One species has been reported from West African rivers in perfectly 

 fresh water. 



