148 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
Fusiform . — Tapering gradually at both ends; cigar shaped. 
Inferior mouth . — Directed downward with snout usually projecting beyond. 
Ocellated spot . — An eyelike mark, similar to those of a peacock’s fan. 
Rays . 2 — Flexible rods supporting fin membranes, usually branched at tip. 
Septum . — A thin partition. 
Serrate . — Notched like a saw. 
Spines . 2 — Firm spines supporting the fin membrane, unbranched and more or less stiff. 
Thoracic fins . — Said of ventral fins when attached to body immediately below pectorals. 
All other terms used in key . — Explained in the accompanying diagram (fig. 1). 
DIAGNOSIS OF FAMILY. 
Ventral fins I, 5 thoracic. 
Anal spines, 1 or 2 (never more), soft rays 5 to 13. 
Scales ctenoid. 
Lateral line continuous and extending on caudal fin. 
Dorsal spines X or XI plus I at beginning of soft dorsal, except Eques lanceolatus, which has XIV to 
XVI plus I. 
Scale count varies in the different species from about 45 to 75 along the lateral line. 
KEY TO GENERA AND SPECIES. 3 
A. Dorsal spines well separated; dorsal rays 20 to 32. 
B. No manibulary barbels. 
C. Mouth large, lower jaw excluded, 2 canine teeth at tip of upper jaw, none at tip of lower jaw; 
back not elevated ; body fusiform, little compressed Cynoscion. 4 
D. Soft rays of dorsal and anal fins more or less closely scaled; gill rakers long and slender, 
9 to 12 on lower arm of first arch. 
E. Coloration nearly uniform silvery C. nothus. 
EE. Body marked by numerous irregular dark blotches, some of which form wavy oblique 
lines running forward and downward C. regalis. 
DD. Soft rays of dorsal and anal fins scaleless; gill rakers comparatively short and thick, 6 to 8 
on lower arm of first arch; body covered with round black spots C. nebulosus. 
CC. Body somewhat compressed, back elevated; no canine teeth in jaws. 
F. Teeth well developed, permanent in both jaws. 
G. No black spot at base of caudal fin. . 
H. Lower jaw projecting; interorbital space not cavernous, head not broad above. 
I. Snout less than diameter of eye; mouth large, very oblique, no bony teeth on 
margin of preopercle Larimus fasciatus . 5 
II. Snout equal to or greater than eye; mouth moderate, slightly oblique, margin 
of preopercle serrate Bairdiella chrysura* 
HH. Lower jaw equal to or shorter than upper; interorbital space, cavernous, the septa 
very thin, head broad above Stellifer lanceolatus. 
GG. One or more black ocellated spots at base of caudal fin Sdsenops ocellatus. 
FF. Teeth very small, those in lower jaw deciduous or wanting, mouth inferior and 
small Leiostomus xanthurus. 
J The number of spines and rays in the fins are often expressed in a formula for convenience. The spines are given in Roman 
numerals and the rays in Arabic with a comma between if the fin is continuous and a dash if broken into two fins. Thus, the 
formula for Cynoscion regalis is dorsal X-I, 26 (to 29) anal II, 11 (to 13) ventrals 1, 5. 
» This key is modified from that of Smith (1907). 
1 Cynoscion thalassinus (Holbrook), which has not been recognized since the describer’s time, seems to be merely nominal, 
as the description is close to C. regalis and C. nothus. See page 169 under C. nothus. 
6 Corvula sialis recorded from the Florida Keys is close to Larimus, but the dorsal rays are 28 and anal 8, whereas the latter 
has 24 to 26 dorsal and 5 to 6 anal. 
6 Bairdiella chrysura somewhat resembles Morone americana (Gmelin), a serranid, but the latter has three anal spines. 
