96 \ FISH AND FISH-LIKE ANIMALS OP N.S.W., 



255. Chrohis Cuvier, Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris i, 1815, p. 353 (chromis). 

 255a. C. hypsilepis. Brown Puller. Heliastes hypsilepis Gunther. 



A.M.N.H. (3) xx, 1867, p. 66. Chromic hypsilepis MeCulloch, Zool. 

 Ees. Endeavour i. 1, 1911, p. 73, pi. 14 (PL xxviii). 

 Not uncommon around rocky places on the coast. Length 7£ inches. 



Division Labriformes. Parrot-pishes. 



Percoid fishes, usually brilliantly coloured, and characterised by having the 

 lower pharyngeals ankylosed to form a single bone; two nostrils are present 

 on each side of the snout. 



A. Anterior teeth of jaws separate, lateral teeth usually separate from one another. 



Fam. Labridae (cxix). 

 AA. Teeth of jaws coalesced to form sharp edged plates. 



B. Dorsal fin with 15-24 spines, ventrals with 4 rays. Fam. Neoodacidae (cxx). 



BB. Dorsal fin with 9 spines, ventrals with 5 rays. Fam Scaridae. 



CXIX. Family Labridae. 



A. Lateral teeth of jaws free, not confluent. 

 B. 8-9 dorsal spines. 

 C. Operculum scaly. 

 D. 11 dorsal rays. 



E. Margin of spinous dorsal with free points behind each spine 



Pseudola.br us (256). 

 EE. Margin of spinous dorsal without such free points. 



Pictilabrus (257). 

 DD. 12 dorsal rays. Eupetrichthys (258). 



CC. Operculum naked. 



F. Lateral line interrupted; forehead elevated and sharp edged 



Novaculichlhys (259 1. 

 FF. Lateral line continuous; forehead not elevated or sharp edged. 

 G. Scales larger, less than 40 in a longitudinal row. 



H. 9 dorsal spines. Halichoeres (260). 



HH. 8 dorsal spines. Thalassemia (261). 



GG. Scales smaller, more than 40 in a longitudinal row. 



I. A few small scales behind eye; lateral line less than 60. 



Ophthalmolepis (262). 



II. No scales behind eye; lateral line more than 60. Coris (263). 

 AA. Some of the lateral teeth united to form a bony ridge on each side. 



J. 13 dorsal spines. Choerodon (264). 



J J. 11-12 dorsal spines. 



K. 45 or more scales on the lateral line. Achoerodus (265). 



KK. 37 or less scales on the lateral line. 



L. Whole upper lip exposed when mouth is closed; snout obtuse. 



Lepidaplois (266). 



LL. Upper lip hidden posteriorly beneath preorbital when mouth is 



closed; snout slender. Verreo (267). 



256. Psetjdolabrtjs Bleeker, P. Zool. Soc. 1861 (1862), p. 415 (rubiginosus). 

 A. Cheek-scales in 4 or more rows, extending forward to below middle of eye. 



B. Dorsal and anal fins with large scales covering their bases. 



C. Broad bands from the snout and interorbital space passing through the 

 eye onto the body- guntheri (256a). 



CC. Only narrow bands radiating from the eye, sometimes wanting. 



luculentus (256b). 



BB. Dorsal and anal fins without scaly bases. celidotus (256c). 



AA. Cheek-scales in 1-3 rows, rarely 4 rows, usually confined to postorbital portion 



" of head. ■ 



D. Cheek-scales in 1 row above, usually 3 below. tetricus (256d). 



DD. Cheek-scales in 1 row. gymnogenis (256e). 



