110 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
the gill-membranes not connected, free from isthmus; gills 4, a slit behind fourth. Pseudobranchiae 
present; gillrakers usually long and slender. Branchiostegals 5 or 6. Dorsal fins 2, well separated, 
the first of 3 to 8 slender flexible spines, second of soft rays; anal with a weak spine similar to soft 
dorsal, but usually larger; ventral fins small, abdominal, not far back, 1 small spine and 5 soft rays; 
pectorals moderate, inserted high. Air-bladder present. No pyloric caeca. Vertebrae numerous, 
usually about 23 + 23 = 46; third and fourth superior pharyngeals coossified, with teeth. 
This family comprises about 15 genera and 60 species of carnivorous fishes, mostly of small size, 
living in great schools near shore in temperate and tropical seas; a few species in fresh water; all the 
species have a silvery band along side; this is sometimes underlaid by black pigment. All which are 
large enough are highly valued as food; hence the common name of “fishes of the king” (pescadosdel 
rev, or pesce re, or peixe rey). 
a. Premaxillary narrow posteriorly, its edge nearly straight. Body little compressed, belly rounded; pectorals short; 
scales cycloid; vomer with teeth; first dorsal with 5 to 9 spines, inserted in front of the rather short anal; 
mouth short , Atherina, 4 
aa. Premaxillary broad posteriorly, its edge strongly curved. 
6. Lower jaw strong, projecting beyond upper. 
c. Scales small, rough, in 70 series; teeth well developed; vomer usually with a few teeth; jaws long Lethostole 
cc. Scales large, smooth, in 38 to 50 series Chirostoma 
66. Lower jaw moderate, its tip included; vomer without teeth. 
d. Scales laciniate; dorsal and anal scaly Kirtlandia 
dd. Scales cycloid; soft dorsal and anal mostly without scales Menidia 
Genus 43. ATHERINA (Artedi) Linnaeus. 
Body oblong, compressed. Mouth large, terminal, oblique; jaws about equal, their edges nearly 
straight; maxillary extending to front of eye. Premaxillaries narrow posteriorly, strongly protractile. 
Villiform teeth in bands on jaws, vomer, and palatines. Species numerous, mostly European. 
а. Anal fin rather short, of 10 to 16 rays. 
б. Scales large, 36 to 40; first dorsal with 5 or 6 spines. 
c. Head very broad, interorbital width about equal to the large eye, which is about 2.33 in head. Scales 36 to 41. 
d. Anal rays I, 12, or I, 13; head about 4 in length stipes, 63 
dd. Anal rays i, 10 or 11; head 3.5 to 3.66 in length laticeps, 64 
cc. Head narrow and pointed, the large eye much greater than interorbital width; body slender and weak, depth 6 in 
length; anal I, 12; scales 38 to 41 arsea, 65 
66. Scales small, 45 to 52; body very slender; first dorsal long, with 7 or 8 spines. 
e. Anal rays I, 11; eye 3 in head; scales 45 harringtonensis 
ee. Anal rays I, 15; eye 2.5 in head; scales 52 Carolina 
aa. Anal fin longer, of about 20 rays; dorsal rays v-i, 15 microps 
63. Atherina stipes (Muller & Troschel) . 
Head 4; depth 5.3; eye 2.5; snout 4; maxillary 2.7; mandible 2.3; interorbital 3; D. v-i, 9; 
A. i, 12 or 13; pectoral 1.6; ventral 2.3; caudal 1.2; scales 41. 
Close to A. laticeps, but with top of head narrower and more pointed, eye smaller, lateral band 
much wider, about 4.5 in head, equal to length of snout. Known only from the Barbados and Porto 
Rico; apparently rare, only two specimens collected, about 2.5 inches long, these being taken with the 
abundant A. laticeps at Culebra. 
Atherina stipes Muller & Troschel. in Schomburgk, Hist. Barb., 671, 1848, Barbados; .Jordan & Evermann, 1. c., 790, 1896. 
