53 



Family VI. SCORP^ENID^. 



Sclerogenida, pt., Owen. 



Branchiostegals five to seven ; pseudobranchise. Body oblong, 

 compressed or subcylindrical. Some of the bones of the head 

 armed ; suborbital ring articulated with the preopercle by a bony 

 process. Teeth in villiform bands. A single dorsal fin ; the anal 

 usually similar to the soft dorsal ; ventrals thoracic. Air-bladder 

 generally present. Pyloric appendages, when present, few or in 

 moderate numbers. 



Geographical Distribution. Some of these fishes are found in 

 most seas. 



Synopsis of Indian Genera. 



A. Body \vith distinct scales. 



a. No occipital groove. No barbel or free 



pectoral ray. Pins not elongate. Inter- 

 orbital space convex, scaly. No long 

 spines on preopercle or preorbital 1. SEBASTICHTHYS. 



b. An occipital groove ; interorbital space 



concave. 



Teeth in jaws, vomer, and palatines 2. SCOBP^ENA. 



No palatine teeth 3. SCORP^NOPSIS. 



c. No occipital groove. 



luterorbital space concave ; some spines 



and rays greatly elongate and free 4. PTEROIS. 



A mandibular barbel and a free pectoral ray 5. APISTUS. 



Interorbital space concave. Sharp and long 

 preorbital and preopercular spines .... 6. CENTROPOGON. 



B. Scales rudimentary or wanting. 



. Articulated fin-rays branched ; no free 



pectoral rays ; upper profile of head not 



in a straight line with the back. 



a'. Dorsal fin high, ventrals well developed. 



Three anterior dorsal spines distinct from 



others 7. GYMNAPISTUS. 



No division in dorsal spines 8. AMBLYAPISTUS. 



b'. Dorsal fin low, ventrals rudimentary . . 9. MICROPUS. 



b. Articulated fin-rays unbranched. 



One free pectoral ray 10. MINOTJS. 



No free pectoral ray 11. COCOTBOPUS. 



c. Articulated fin- rays mostly branched. 



'. Two free pectoral rays 12. PELOR. 



b'. Three free pectoral rays 13. CHOBIDACTYLUS. 



c'. No free pectoral rays ; upper profile of 



head in almost a straight line with back. 

 a". Head large, -| of total length or more. 



Teeth in jaws and vomer, not on palate 14. SYNANCIDUJM. 



Teeth in jaws, not on vomer or palate 15. SYNANCEIA. 

 b". Head less than total length. 



Three anal spines 16. LEPTOSYNANCEIA. 



No anal spines 17. POLYCAULIS. 



