210 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Color in life: Pale-silvery, with about six bronze or blackish stripes above lateral line, upper 
two ceasing at origin of dorsal, and about nine similar but fainter longitudinal stripes below lateral line, 
upper two of which unite at anterior end; fins all dark except pectoral, which is pale; dorsal fin 
black-edged; anterior edge of second dorsal spine black; axil dusky. 
The range of this species extends from Cuba to Bahia. It is generally common, but our collec- 
tion contains only two specimens, one from the San Juan market, the other from Puerto Real, 10 
and 9 inches long, respectively. 
Gerres brasilianus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., VI, 458, 1830, Brazil; Poey, Fauna Puerto-Riquena, 327, 
1881; Jordan & Evermann, l.c., 1378,1898. 
166. Gerres plumieri Cuvier & Valenciennes. Mojarra. 
Head 3; depth 2.16; eye rather large, 3 in head; snout 4 in head; scales 5-37-11; D. ix, 10; A. 
hi, 8. Body compressed, rhomboidal in form, back very much elevated. Mouth rather large, maxillary 
extending slightly beyond vertical from anterior margin of pupil, its length 2.8 in head; exposed 
portion of maxillary oblong, its width 2.5 in length, which is 4.75 in length of head; preorbital and 
preopercle serrate; premaxillary groove broad and entirely free from scales; gillrakers small, weak, 13 
below the angle; distance from tip of snout to dorsal fin equal to greatest depth of fish; upper margin 
of dorsal fin much concave; second dorsal spine very strong and long, its length equaling length of 
head; second anal spine stronger and slightly shorter than second dorsal spine, its tip reaching to 
vertical from base of caudal rays; third spine shorter and much weaker than second; pectoral fins 
reaching beyond front of anal, their length 2.66 in length of body; ventral fins reaching past vent, 
almost to front of anal, their length 3.4 in length of body. Length 10 inches. 
Color, bluish-silvery above, silvery below; very distinct dark longitudinal lines along each row of 
scales; dorsal, caudal, and anal fins dusky; margin of dorsal fin black; a dark supraorbital spot; 
pectoral and ventral fins pale. 
Found on the Atlantic coast of tropical America and among the West Indies; rather common; 
known from Havana, Porto Rico, Santo Domingo, Jamaica, Martinique, Indian River, Florida, Pernam- 
buco, Bahia, Aspinwall, and Guatemala. Not seen by us in Porto Rico, but included here on the 
authority of Cuvier & Valenciennes and of Poey. 
Gerres plumieri Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., VI, 452, 1830, Antilles, Porto Rico; Poey, Fauna Puerto- 
Riquena, 327, 1881; Jordan & Evermann, 1. c., 1379, 1898. 
Family XIV1II. KYPHOSIDtE. The Rudder-fishes. 
Herbivorous fishes, with incisor teeth only in front of jaws. Body oblong or elevated, with 
moderate or small scales, ctenoid or not. Mouth moderate, with incisor-like teeth in front of each 
jaw; no molars; teeth on vomer and palatines present or absent; premaxillaries moderately protractile; 
preorbital rather narrow, sheathing maxillary. Gillrakers moderate ; pseudobran chise well developed ; 
opercles entire. Gills 4, a slit behind fourth; gill -membranes separate, free from isthmus; dorsal fin 
continuous or divided, with 10 to 15 rather strong spines, soft dorsal naked or scaly; anal with 3 spines; 
ventrals thoracic, raysi, 5, an accessory scale at base; caudal lunate or forked; pectoral fin with all its 
rays branched. Intestinal canal elongate, with few or many pyloric caeca. Air-bladder usually with 
2 posterior horns. Vertebrae in ordinary or slightly increased number, 24 to 28. Post-temporal of 
normal percoid form, the stout forks not adnate to cranium. 
Shore fishes, feeding largely on green or olive algae; chiefly of the Mediterranean Sea and the 
Pacific Ocean; most of them valued as food. Genera 20, species about 70. 
Genus 93. KYPHOSUS Lacepede. Chopas. 
Body elongate-ovate, regularly elliptical, moderately compressed; head short, with blunt snout; 
eye large; mouth small, horizontal; maxillary barely reaching front of eye; each jaw with a single 
series of rather narrow, obtusely lanceolate incisors, implanted with compressed conspicuous roots 
posteriorly; behind these a narrow band of villiform teeth; fine teeth on vomer, palatines, and tongue. 
Branchiostegals 7; gillrakers long. Preopercle obsoletely serrate ; preorbital narrow, covering but little 
of the maxillary. Squamation very complete, space between and about eyes being the only naked part; 
scales smallish, thick, ctenoid, 60 to 70 in lateral line, which is continuous; similar scales entirely 
covering soft parts of vertical fins and extending up on paired fins. Dorsal fin low, with about 11 
