148 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
hli. Dorsal spines 11 (rarely 10, never 9). 
i. Parietal crests not produced forward on frontals; frontals with process or knob on each side, behind interorbital 
area; premaxillary processes fitting into a cavity at anterior extremity of frontals, or into an emargination 
of these bones; anal rays III, 8, or in, 9. 
j. Scales of the lateral line normal, marked by radiating ridges. 
k. Cranium narrow above interorbital space, deeply concave; occipital crest meeting interorbital region. 
Epinephelus, 68 
kk. Cranium very broad and flat above; interorbital little concave, occipital crest disappearing before reaching inter- 
orbital region Garrupa 
jj. Scales of lateral line each with 4 to 6 strong radiating ridges; cranium short, extremely broad, and depressed 
between eyes; anterior profile of head a little concave; dorsal spines low; dorsal rays xi, 16 Promicjrops 
//. Parietal crests produced forward on frontals. 
l. Frontals with a process or knob on each side behind interorbital area; premaxillaries fitting into a cavity at 
anterior extremity of frontals; anal rays hi, 8, rarely m, 9. 
in. Preopercle with a single antrorse hook or spine near angle; supraoccipital and parietal crests not extending to 
between orbits; scales ctenoid Alphestes, 69 
mm. Preopercle without antrorse spine; supraoccipital and parietal crests extending to between orbits; scales smooth. 
Permatolepis 
U. Frontals without processes on upper surface; parietal crests extending to between orbits; premaxillary pro- 
cesses not extending to frontals. Anal fin elongate, its rays in, 11, or in, 12 (very rarely m, 9 or in, 10) 
caudal fin lunate or truncate; dorsal rays XI, 16 to 18 Mycteroperca, 70 
bb. Maxillary without supplemental bone; canine teeth, if present, usually developed on side of lower jaw as well as 
in front; no depressible teeth; scalesmostly ctenoid, including those of lateral line; tubes of lateral line straight 
or with an ascending tubule, covering most of length of scale. Temporal crests on cranium almost obsolete. 
Serranin;e: 
n. Gillrakers comparatively short and wide apart; lateral line not running close to back (except in Serranus ); dorsal 
rays x, 11 to 15; anal rays usually hi, 7; supraoccipital crest not extending far forward on top of skull, a more 
or less distinct convex smooth area being left on vertex between supraoccipital and interorbital area; mouth 
not very oblique; vertebras about 10 -(- 14=24. Chiefly shore fishes of olivaceous colors. 
o. Ventral fins inserted below, or more or less behind, axil of pectoral; branchiostegals 7. 
p. Dorsal without long filamentous spines, not more than one of its spines specially produced. Body short and deep, 
with elevated back, depth more than two-fifths length, usually nearly half; preopercle with a few antrorse seme 
on its lower limb; top of supraoccipital crest very high, about as long as smooth area on vertex of cranium, which 
is well developed, as in Serranus and Prionodes. Top of head naked; dorsal rays usually x, 14. . Hypoplectrus 
oo. Ventral fins anterior, inserted more or less in advance of axil of pectoral, well separated; upper half of pectoral fin 
. usually vertically truncate. 
q. Smooth area on top of cranium very short and small; the long supraoccipital crest encroaching on posterior border 
of cranium so that the latter in profile is not nearly vertical along occipital region. Caudal fin not lunate, 
rounded, or ending in 3 points, middle rays produced like outer ones Centroprist.es 
qq. Smooth area on top of cranium very large, longer than the supraoccipital crest, which is low and short; posterior 
border of cranium at occipital region nearly vertical in profile. Caudal fin lunate or truncate. 
r. Branchiostegals 7; caudal fin forked or lunate; none of dorsal spines elongate. 
s. Preopercle with numerous strong diverging spines at its angle, these spines diverging from one or two centers; 
preorbital broader than maxillary, which is widest near its middle; scales rather large Diplectrum, 71 
s.v. Preopercle simply and rather finely serrate; preorbital narrow Prionodes, 72 
it. Branchiostegals 6; caudal fin truncate Dules, 73 
mi. Gillrakers (in American species) very long, slender, and close-set; lateral line running close to back; supraoccipital 
crest high; occiput with a short convex smooth area; canines strong; no depressible teeth; preorbital narrow; 
maxillary without supplemental bone or with a rudiment only. 
Anthiin.*: 
t. Lateral line complete and continuous, extending to base of caudal; ventral rays I, 5; dorsal rays ix to xii, 9 to 20; 
anal rays m, 7 to 10; pectoral rays branched; snout short, mostly convex in profile. Fishes of rather deep 
waters, chiefly bright-red in life. 
it. Dorsal spines 9, all low; soft rays about 19. Caudal fin deeply forked, lobes produced; scales small, ctenoiu; ventrals 
long, inserted behind axil of pectoral; maxillary scaly; frontal region flattish, supraoccipital crest very 
prominent Paranthias 
mu. Dorsal spines 10 or more; scales not very small; preopercle angular, with salient teeth at its angle; one or more 
dorsal spines sometimes filamentous; ventral fins long. 
r. Maxillary and frontal region naked; tongue mostly toothless; caudal fin lunate; parietals weak; posterior process 
of premaxillary reaching frontals. Ventrals inserted behind axil of pectoral; scales 50 to 60 Hemianthias 
vv. Maxillary scaly; top of head scaled to snout. 
iv. Pterygoids toothless; tongue with few teeth or none; caudal forked Anthias 
ww. Pterygoids with a large patch of teeth; tongue toothed; parietal crest strong, extending to above eye; posterior 
processes of premaxillary not reaching frontals; caudal truncate, with outer rays much produced. Ocyanthias 
It. Lateral line interrupted, running close to back, beginning again on caudal peduncle. 
Gramminje: 
x. Ventral rays i, 5; preopercle serrate; caudal convex; scales rather large, somewhat ctenoid; dorsa l spines 12, Gramma 
It ypticin.e: 
aa. Anal spines wanting; dorsal spines 2 to 4 only; preorbital narrow; no canine teeth; scales small, smooth, embedded. 
Rypticus, 74 
