604 Chromides and Pharyngognathi 
ancients, is found in the Mediterranean, being the only member 
of the family known in Europe and the only Sparisoma known 
from outside the West Indian fauna. 
Other West Indian species are the red parrot-fish, Spartsoma 
abildgaardi, Sparisoma xystrodon, Sparisoma hoplomystax, the 
last two being small species about the Florida Keys, and the 
handsome Sparisoma viride from the West Indies. 
Scarus is the great central genus of parrot-fishes. Its mem- 
bers are especially abundant in Polynesia and the East Indies, 
the center of distribution of the group, 
although some extend their range to 
western Mexico, Japan, the Red Sea, and 
Australia, and a large number are found 
in the West Indies. Most of them are 
fishes of large size, but a few, as the West 
Indian Scarus croicensis, reach the length 
of less than a foot, and other still smaller 
species (Scarus evermanni, Scarus boll- 
mant) are found only in water of consider- 
able depth (200 fathoms). 
The genus Scarus is characterized by gen arg a ee 
not only the almost complete fusion of its vs (Bloch). 
teeth, but by numerous other characters. 
Its lower pharyngeals are oblong and spoon-shaped, the teeth 
appearing as a mosaic on the concave surface. The gill-mem- 
Fig. 498. 
Fie. 498.—Upper pharyngeals of an Indian Parrot-fish, Scarus strongylocephalus. 
Fig. 499.—Lower pharyngeals of a Parrot-fish, Scarus strongylocephalus (Bleeker). 
branes are scarcely united to the narrow isthmus, the lateral 
line is interrupted, the dorsal spines are flexible, and there 
