LABEIDjE. — LXX. 145 



brse 10 + 14. Oviparous, carnivorous. One genus, with 30 species; 

 in the warm seas. Silvery fishes, probably allied to the Sparidm, 

 but with no near relatives. 



181. GERRES Cuvier. (Old name of some fish.) 



a. Preopercle and preorbital entire ; body oblong ; spines moderate. {Diapte- 

 rus Raazani.) 

 b. 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 J. D. IX, 10. 

 A. Ill, 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 Luhroids, and distin- 

 guished especially by the complete union of the lower pharyngeal 

 bones. Of these, the typical forms, Labridoe, Pomacentridce have 

 the giUs reduced, 3^ in number ; the last gill slit wanting or nearly 

 so. Some of them (^Pomacentridce, Cichlidce) differ from other 

 spiny-rayed fishes in having but one nostril on each side; still others 

 (EmbiotocidcE) are viviparous. The Pharyngognathi being chiefly 

 tropical are scantily represented within our limits. 



Family LXX. LABRID^. (The Wrasses.) 



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; 

 maxiUaries 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 vertebrae ; 

 anal spines 2 to 6, usually 3. V. normal. Pseudobrancliise 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. {Lah-us, an old 

 name from labrum, lip.) 



1*. Vertebrse 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 thicli. (LabrimB.) 

 b. Preopercle serrate ; cheeks and opercles scaly; teeth in more than two 



aeries, the outer enlarged. Ctenolabhus, 182. 



46. Preopercle entire; cheeks scaly; opercles naked; teeth in about two 



series Hiatula, 183. 



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