132 ACANTHOPTEEYGH. 



Family, V— SPAEID^, Cuv. 



Squamijnnnes, pt. Cuv. : Ghcetodantidce, pt. Richards. 



Branchiostegals from five to seven: pseudobranchisB well developed. Body oblong and compressed. 

 Eyes of moderate size, lateral. Mouth in front of snout, having a lateral cleft. Bones of the head with a 

 rudimentary muciferous system. No teeth on the palate (except in Genus Fimelepterus) : more or less broad 

 and cutting or conical teeth in front of the jaws, or a lateral series of molars, or both conjoined. A single 

 dorsal fin formed by a spinous and soft portion, their bases being of nearly equal extent ; anal witn tnree 

 spines: lower pectoral rays generally branched, but not so in some genera : ventrals thoracic, with one spine 

 and five rays. Lateral-line continuous, not extending on to the caudal fin. Scales cycloid or minutely ctenoid. 



Geographical distribution.— Seas of temperate and tropical regions, some entering fresh waters. 



SYNOPSIS OF GENERA 

 First group— Cantharina. 

 Broad cutting teeth in front of the jaws : no molars : palate edentulous. Lower pectoral rays branched. 



1. Crenidens. One or more rows of broad cutting teeth and with a posterior band of granular ones : no 

 pointed lateral tooth. Scales on cheeks and opercles, none on the vertical fins. 



Second group— Sargina. 

 Cutting teeth in front of jaws : no molars. Lower pectoral rays simple. 



2. Sargus. Molar teeth in several rows along the sides of the jaws. 



Third group — Pagrina. 

 Cutting teeth in front of the jaws and molars along the sides. 



3. Lethrirms. No scales on the cheeks. 



4. Sphmrodon. Scales on cheeks. Canine teeth and a single row of molars. 



6. Pagrus. Scales on cheeks. Canine teeth, two rows of molars in the upper jaw. 



6. Chrysophrys. Scales on cheeks. Canine teeth, three or more rows of molars in the upper jaw. 



Fourth group — Pimelepterina.* 

 Cutting teeth in front of the jaws, and teeth on the palate. 

 Pimelepterus, as defined above. 



First group — Cantharina. 

 Broad cutting teeth in front of the jaws : no molars : palate edentulous. Lower pectoral rays branched. 



Genus, 1 — Ceenidens, Guv. and Val. 

 Branchiostegals five: pseudohranchioe. One or two rows of iroad teeth in both jaws, with tloeir cutting edges 

 crenulated : a ha/nd of granula/r teeth posteriorly hut no pointed lateral ones : neither molars nor vomerine teeth. A 

 single dorsal with eleven spines which cam he received into a groove : three anal spines : lower pectoral rays branched. 

 Scales ctenoid, of moderate size, covering cheeks and opercles, but not the vertical fins. Air-vessel simple. Pyloric 

 appendages in small nwmbers. 



Geographical distribution. — Red Sea, coasts of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. 



SYNOPSIS OP SPECIES. 



1. Crenidens Indicus, D. tt-tSi -^- to-tt> ^- 1- 53-57, L. tr. 7/13, Csec. pyl. 5. Dorsal spiues very strong. 

 Greyish, fins black. Red Sea and seas of India. 



2. Crerddens Forslcdlii, D. W, A. -g.^, L. 1. 62-54, L. tr. 5/15, Caec. pyl. 3. Dorsal spines comparatively 

 weak. Silvery, fins grey. Red Sea and seas of India. 



1. Crenidens Indicus, Plate XXXII, fig. 4. 



Day, Report on the Sea Fish and Fisheries of India, Nov. 15th, 1873, p. clxxxvi. No. 184. 

 ? Crenidens Forskdlii, Kner, Novara Pische, p. 74. 



* Klunzinger, in his elaborate paper on the Fishes of the Red Sea, considers this group as distinct from the Sjwridce. 



