24 
Fishery Bulletin 96 ( 1 ), 1998 
14a Dorsal and anal fins with alternating series of pigmented blotches and unpigmented areas; lower 
jaw on ocular-side without fleshy ridge (Fig. 3E); snout pointed; distance between upper eye and 
dorsal-fin base only slightly greater than eye diameter; ocular surface usually with 9-15, promi- 
nent, narrow crossbands; eye relatively large, usually 9.0-10.0% of HL S. caribbeanus 
14b Dorsal and anal fins without alternating series of pigmented blotches and unpigmented areas; 
lower jaw on ocular-side with fleshy ridge (Fig. 3D); snout squarish; distance from upper eye to 
dorsal-fin base much greater than eye diameter; ocular surface uniformly pigmented or with faint 
crossbands occasionally present; eye relatively small, usually only 6. 4-9. 4% of HL 15 
15a Total vertebrae 47-51, usually 49-51; dorsal-fin rays 89-97; anal-fin rays 73-81; 79-89 scales 
in longitudinal series; eye relatively small, usually only 6. 4-9. 4% of HL S. plagusia 
15b Total vertebrae 46-50, usually 47-49; dorsal-fin rays 86-93; anal-fin rays 70-78; 66-83 scales 
in longitudinal series; eye relatively large (7.0-11% of HL) S. civitatium 
16a Caudal-fin rays usually 11; large ocellated spot on caudal fin; dorsal and anal fins without 
spots; pupillary operculum well developed (Fig. 3A) S. urospilus 
16b Caudal-fin rays usually 10; no ocellated spot on caudal fin; if spot present on caudal fin (occa- 
sionally in S. diomedeanus), then spots also present on posterior dorsal and anal fins; 
pupillary operculum present or absent 17 
17a Dark brown blotch on caudal region of ocular surface of body (see Figs. 38, 40, and 42) or single 
ocellated spot on posterior dorsal and anal fins (see Fig. 44); pupillary operculum present (Fig. 
3A); no fleshy ridge on ocular-side lower jaw (Fig. 3E); ostia present in bases of 
membranes of dorsal and anal fins; ID patterns usually 1-4-2 (Fig. ID) or 1-5-2 18 
17b No dark brown blotch on caudal region of ocular surface of body; no ocellated spots on posterior 
dorsal and anal fins; pupillary operculum and fleshy ridge on ocular-side lower jaw present or 
absent; no ostia in membranes at bases of dorsal and anal fins; ID patterns usually 1-3-3 
(Fig. 1C) or 1-4-3 (Fig. IE) 21 
18a Single ocellated spot on posterior region of dorsal and anal fins (see Fig. 44); ocular surface 
whitish or yellowish-white without dark brown blotch in caudal region S. ommaspilus 
18b No ocellated spots on dorsal and anal fins; ocular surface straw-colored to dark brown with 
dark brown blotch on caudal region (see Figs. 38, 40, 42) 19 
19a Dorsal-fin rays 80-87; anal-fin rays 67-72; total vertebrae 46-49, usually 47-48; scales in 
longitudinal series 73-81; (continental shelf off southern Brazil) S. kyaropterygium 
19b Dorsal-fin rays 69-86, usually less than 83; anal-fin rays usually less than 68; total vertebrae 
usually less than 47; scales in longitudinal series usually less than 78; (continental shelf off 
eastern United States, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea) 
20 
