CARANGID^. 123 



Family, XII— CARANGlDiE, Giinther. 



Scomheroidei pt. et Squamipinnes, pt. Cuvier : Saomhrioidce, pt. Richardson. 



Branchiostegals seven, occasionally less: pseudobranchiae present (absent 

 in Lichia and Trachynotus). Body oblong, elevated, or sub-cylindrical and 

 compressed. Gill-openings wide. Eyes lateral. No bony articulation between 

 preopercle and infraorbitals. Dentition varied: teeth, when present, conical. 

 Base of spinous dorsal of less extent than the rayed portion, and occasionally 

 formed of isolated spines : sometimes detached finlets at the end of dorsal and 

 anal fins. Anal spines, when present, may or may not be continuous with 

 the fin. Ventrals, when present, thoracic, sometimes rudimentary. Scales 

 usually small or absent. Lateral-line may be partially or entirely armed 

 with shield-like plates. Air-bladder present. Pyloric appendages usually 

 numerous. Vertebrae 10/14 {Naucrates 10/16). 



The young of many genera of fishes of this family have the head Tariously 

 armed, but such armature is absorbed before they reach the adult age. 



Geographical distribution. — From as far north as Denmark and Sweden, 

 through most of the temperate and tropical seas of both hemispheres. 



Genus I.— Caeasx, Lacepede. 



Trachurus, Olistus, BlepJiaris, Gallichthys, Scyris, and Hynnis, Cuv. and Val. ; 

 TracJiinus, Swainson ; Megalaspis, Becapterus, Selar, Carangicfdhys, Garangoides, 

 Leioglossus, JJraspis, Selaroides, Gnathanodon, and Hemicaranx, Bleeker ; Carangus, 

 Girard ; Trachurops, Garaugops, and Faratractus, Gill. 



Branchiostegals seven : pseiidohranchia present. Body ohiong, sub-cylhidrical, 

 and more or less compressed. Cleft of mouth of moderate depth. Eyes lateral, 

 with or without adipose lids. Teeth generally weak. Two dorsal fins : the first 

 continuous, having about eight iveah spines, which are sometimes rudimentary, at 

 its base anteriorly is a recumbent, forwardly- directed spine : the second dorsal of 

 greater extent than the first and similar to the anal : sometimes the last rays of 

 both tliese fins are semi or wholly detached : two pre-anal spines which occasionally 

 are rudimentary, they are separated by an interspace from the anal fin. Scales 

 minute. Lateral-line with an anterior curved portion, while the posterior is straight 

 and covered with large plate-lihe scales which are usually keeled and sometimes spinate, 

 these may be continued on to the anterior curved portion of the lateral-line 

 (Trachurus). Air-bladder bifurcated posteriorly. Pyloric appendages in large 

 numbers. 



Considering the numerous species and varieties of form which are found in 

 the genus it is not surprising that many sub-divisions of it have been 

 proposed. The characters employed for this purpose have been the dentition, 

 the form of the fins, the serrations or the reverse of the preopercle, and the 

 armature of the scales on the lateral-line, the scales on the body, and the 

 adipose eyelids. But the single British species is well characterized by its 

 entire lateral-line being armed with large keeled plates. 



Geographical distribution. — The fishes composing the genus Garanx, or " Horse- 

 mackerels," are spread from Norway and Sweden throughout most of the 

 temperate and tropical seas, more especially abounding in the latter, where they 

 attain to a large size, and are not considered unsuitable for the table : though 

 some have been reported as poisonous at certain times in particular localities 

 in the tropics, probably due to the food on which they have been living. 



