STROMATEID^:. 197 



Family XVIII. STROMATEID^. 



Gill-openings wide. Eyes lateral. The infraorbital bones do 

 not articulate with the preopercle. Small teeth in the jaws, palate 

 edentulous ; barbed teeth extend into the oesophagus. One long 

 dorsal fin without any distinct spinous division, or with rudimentary 

 spines anteriorly ; ventrals, when present, thoracic. No prominent 

 papilla near the vent. Air-bladder, when present, small. Pyloric 

 appendages fe\v, in moderate numbers, or numerous. Vertebrae 

 exceed 10 in the dorsal and 14 in the abdominal region. 



Geographical Distribution. Most tropical and temperate seas. 

 One genus only. 



1. Genus STROMATEUS, Artedi. 



Syn. PeprUus, Cuv. ; Apolecttis, Seseritnts, Cuv. & Val. ; Stromateoides, 

 Bleeker ; ChondropUtes and Poronotus, Gill. 



Branchiostegals five to seven ; pseudobranchiae. Body com- 

 pressed, more or less elevated. Cleft of mouth narrow or of 

 moderate depth. Teeth small, in a single row in the jaws. A 

 single long dorsal and anal fin, with rudimentary spines anteriorly : 

 ventral fins not present in adults. Scales small, covering the 

 vertical fins. Lateral line, as a rule, smooth (keeled in S. niger}. 

 Air-bladder absent. Pyloric appendages numerous. 



Geographical Distribution. Tropical and temperate seas. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Lateral line not keeled. 



Height of body much more than half total 



length. No spines before dorsal or anal . . 1. 8. sinensis, p. 197. 

 Height of body about half total length. Short 



spines before dorsal and anal 2. 8. cinema, p. 198. 



B. Hindermost portion of lateral line keeled. 



Height of body f to | total length 3. & niger, p. 199. 



968. (1.) Stromateus sinensis. 



Stromateus sinensis, Euphrasin, Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl Stockh. 

 ix, p. 49, t. ix j Day, Fish. India, p. 246, pi. li C, fig. 6 (young) 

 (see synon.). 



Atoo koia, Tel. ; Vella arwoolee, Mai. ; Mogang voval, Tarn, j Chdndava, 

 Marathi ; Omalayta, Arabi ; White pom/ret. 



B. vi. D. 43-50. P. 25. A. 39-42. C. 19. 



Length of head 44 to 5, of pectoral 3| to 4, of caudal 4| to 5, 



height of body 1| to If in the total length. Eyes diameter 



Qk to 4 in length of head, f to 1 diam. from end of snout, and 



if apart. Dorsal and abdominal profiles about equally convex. 



