LABRIDA. — LXX. 145 
bre 10 + 14. Oviparous, carnivorous. One genus, with 30 species; 
in the warm seas. Silvery fishes, probably allied to the Sparide, 
but with no near relatives. 
181. GERRES Cuvier. (Old name of some fish.) 
a. Preopercle and preorbital entire; body oblong; spines moderate. (Diapte- 
rus Ranzani.) 
6, Premaxillary groove scaled across anteriorly so that the posterior part 
appears as a naked pit. 
399. G. gula Cuv. & Val. Silvery, faintly barred ; 3d D. spine 
not half head; 2d A. spine short. Head 3}; depth 2}. D. IX, 10. 
A. III, 8 Scales 5-43-10. L. 6. N.J. to Brazil, common S. 
(Lat., throat, the fish being called “ Petite-Gueule” in W. I.) 
PHARYNGOGNATHI. This family closes the series of fishes hav- 
ing Percoid affinities. We now pass to the group or suborder 
PHARYNGOGNATHI, those forms allied to the Labroids, and distin- 
guished especially by the complete union of the lower pharyngeal 
bones. Of these, the typical forms, Labride, Pomacentride have 
the gills reduced, 34 in number ; the last gill slit wanting or nearly 
so. Some of them (Pomacentride, Cichlide) differ from other 
spiny-rayed fishes in having but one nostril on each side; still others 
(Embiotocide) are viviparous. The Pharyngognathi being chiefly 
tropical are scantily represented within our limits. 
Famity LXX. LABRIDA. (THE Wrassszs.) 
Body oblong, covered with cycloid scales; lateral line usually in- 
terrupted or angularly bent. Mouth terminal, protractile ; the 
teeth of the jaws generally strong ; no teeth on vomer or palatines; 
maxillaries simple, slipping under membranous edge of preorbital ; 
lower pharyngeals solidly united, with blunt teeth ; D. continuous, 
with 8 to 20 spines, the number greatest in Northern forms, which, 
as usual among fishes, have also an increased number of vertebre ; 
anal spines 2 to 6, usually 3. V. normal. Pseudobranchiz present. 
Gills 3}, usually no slit behind the last; nostrils double; air-bladder 
present. Genera 65; species 450, chiefly of the tropical seas. 
Many of them are brilliantly colored and some are valued as food. 
The teeth are adapted for the crushing of shells. (Labrus, an old 
name from labrum, lip.) 
a. Vertebre in increased number, 30 to 38; dorsal spines 16 to 20; teeth in 
jaws distinct, the anterior canine; no posterior canines; lateral line con- 
tinuous; lips thick. (Labrine.) 
6 Preopercle serrate; cheeks and opercles scaly; teeth in more than two 
series, the outer enlarged. . . . . . . . CTENOLABRUS, 182. 
bb. Preopercle entire; cheeks scaly; Spee naked; teeth in about two 
series. So Mee an ty oes ae + + + .« . Hratua, 183, 
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