220 
BULLETIN OE THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
gals normally 7 (occasionally 6) ; cheeks and opereles always scaly; preopercle with its margin more or 
less serrate, rarely entire; the opereles usually ending in 1 or 2 flat, spine-like points; nostrils double; 
lateral line single, not extending on the caudal fin; skull without cranial spines, and usually with- 
out well-developed cavernous structure; no suborbital stay; post-temporal normal; second suborbital 
with an internal lamina supporting the globe of the eye; entopterygoid present; all or most of 
the ribs inserted on the transverse processes when these are developed; anterior vertebrae without 
transverse processes; dorsal spines usually stiff, 2 to 15 in number; soft dorsal with 10 to 30 rays; anal 
fin rather short, its soft rays 7 to 12, its spines, if present, always 3, in certain genera ( Granimistinx , 
Rypticinw) altogether wanting; ventrals thoracic, usually i, 5 (i, 4, in Plesiopime). normally developed, 
without distinct axillary scale; pectoral well developed, the rays branched, with narrow base; caudal 
peduncle stout, the fin variously formed; vertebrae typically 1 0 -)- 14 = 24, the number sometimes 
increased, never more than 35; air-bladder present, usually small and adherent t-o the wall of the 
abdomen; stomach ccecal, with few or many pyloric appendages; intestines short, as is usual in car- 
nivorous fishes. Genera 60 to 70; species about 400. Carnivorous fishes, chiefly marine, and found in 
all warm seas; several genera found in fresh waters. As here understood, the Serrauidiv comprise the 
most of the family of PercidUv as understood by Gunther and others, exclusive of these with imperfect 
pseudobranch ite, those with I or 2 anal spines, those with the number of vertebrae increased, those in 
which the whole length of the maxillary slips under the preorbital, and those with the anal fin many- 
rayed and the cranium shortened behind. As here understood, the Serranidx are essentially equiva- 
lent to the Serranirm and Grammistinw of Bouleng'er’l Catalogue. Even after these eliminations, the 
family is 'considerably varied. Of the many recognized genera, only 3 are known to have representa- 
tives among the Hawaiian Islands. 
a. Maxillary with a distinct supplemental bone; inner teeth of jaws depressible or hinged. 
b. Dorsal spines not more than 9. 
c. Dorsal spines vm, the tin divided . . Pikea, p. 220 
cc. Dorsal spines ix Cephaloplwlis , p. 221 
bb. Dorsal spines Xi, rarely x Epinephelus , p. 222 
aa. Maxillary without supplemental bone; inner teeth of jaws not depressible cr hinged. 
d. Patch of fine teeth on tongue; angle of preopercle salient with enlarged teeth; maxillary completely scaled; third 
dorsal spine longest, considerably produced Odontanthias , p. 225 
dd. No teeth on tongue; angle of preopercle rounded, without enlarged teeth; only upper half of maxillary scaled; 
third dorsal spine not the longest and not produced Pseudanthias p. 226 
Genus 124. PIKEA Steindachner. 
Body elongate, the caudal peduncle robust; mouth moderate, the lower jaw projecting; maxillaries 
scaly; teeth small, uniform, the inner depressible; preopercle finely serrate; opercle with 3 flat, spines; 
numerous pores on head; scales large; lateral line with a strong upward curve, as in Anthlas; dorsal 
spines moderate, 8 in number, the third highest, the fin deeply notched; soft dorsal and anal short; 
caudal short, lunate; pectoral long, falcate; vertebrae 10 + 14. Few species known, mostly from deep 
water; only one thus far known from the Hawaiian Islands. 
Pikea Steindachner, Sitzb. Ak. VViss. Wien, LXXI, 1874, 375 ( lunulata ). 
170. Pikea aurora Jordan & Evermann. Plate XIV. 
Head 2.5 in length; depth 3; eye 5 in head; snout 4; interorbital 6.2; maxillary 2.25; D. vm, 
13; A. hi, 8; scales 5-55-22; Br. 7; gillrakers short and rather weak, about 9 + 5. 
Body moderately stout, the back slightly elevated, head rather long and pointed; snout depressed, 
the anterior profile nearly straight from tip of snout to occiput; mouth large, maxillary reaching 
posterior margin of pupil, supplemental bone developed, the tip broad, 1.5 in orbit; mouth some- 
what oblique, the lower jaw strongly projecting; teeth in broad villiform bands on jaws, vomer, and 
palatines; tongue naked; eye moderate, high up, chiefly above axis of body; anterior nostril in a short 
tube at edge of prenasal; posterior nostril small, round, near upper anterior edge of orbit; edge of 
preopercle slightly dentate, especially on lower arm; opercle ending in a broad flap with a weak, fiat 
spine; pseudobranchiae rather small; interorbital low, very little convex; caudal peduncle stout, com- 
pressed, and very deep, the depth equaling snout and eye; fins rather small; origin of dorsal posterior to 
that of pectoral, slightly nearer base of last ray than tip of snout; dorsal spines low and weak, the third 
