THE FISHES OF PORTO RICO. 
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or behind pectorals. Pectoral fin normal. Caudal fin usually not forked. Ear bones very large. 
Pyloric caeca usually rather few. Air-bladder usually large and complicated (wanting in Menticirrhus) . 
An important family of 30 genera and about 150 species, found on sandy shores in all warm seas, 
a few being confined to fresh waters. None occurs in deep water and none among rocks. Many of 
them reach a large size, and nearly all are valued for food. All are carnivorous and some are of 
interest as game-fishes. Most of the species make a peculiar noise, called variously croaking, grunting, 
drumming, and snoring; this sound is supposed to be caused by forcing air from the air-bladder into 
one of the lateral horns. 
Otolithinjs: 
I. Vertebrse 14 or 15 + 10 or 11, abdominal portion of spinal column having always more vertebrae than caudal 
portion, anal fin being posterior in its insertion; body more or less elongate, mouth large, lower jaw projecting; 
preopercle with a crenulate, membranaceous border; snout without distinct pores or slits; no barbels, 
preorbital narrow; gillrakers slender, moderate, or rather long; anal fin with 1 or 2 very weak spines, second 
closely connected with first soft ray; scales small, smoothish. 
a. Anal fin long, of 15 to 21 soft rays, its length more than half that of soft dorsal; dorsal fins more or less separated; 
soft dorsal and anal fins closely scaled. 
b. Teeth large, very unequal; tip of upper jaw with one or two strong canines; enlarged teeth or canines on sides of 
lower jaw; anal fin one-fourth shorter than soft dorsal, 15 to 18 soft rays; dorsal fins well separated, interspace 
about equal to. eye; soft dorsal of 24 rays; body compressed; scales rather small, cycloid Isopisthus 
aa. Anal fin moderate, or short, of 7 to 13 soft rays, its length less than one-half that of second dorsal; dorsal fins con- 
tiguous; lateral line arched in front. 
c. Canine teeth, if present, not lance-shaped, tapering from base to tip. 
d. Lower jaw without canines at its tip, some of its lateral teeth sometimes enlarged; tip of upper jaw usually with 
canines Cynoscion, 94 
cc. Canine teeth lance-shaped, widened toward tip, then abruptly pointed; canines of front of premaxillary largest; 
about 2 canines on frontof lower jaw on each side; outer teeth of upper jaw enlarged, somewhat lance-shaped; 
outer teeth of lower jaw compressed; air-bladder with 2 horn-like processes; gillrakers moderate, slender; 
soft dorsal and anal fin scaly Sagenichthys 
II. Vertebrae 9 to 12+13 to 20, typically 10+14, number in abdominal part of body being always fewer than in caudal 
part; dorsal fins contiguous, soft dorsal being long, much longer than anal. 
e. Dorsal spines well separated, first dorsal spine attached to third or fourth interneural, not more than 2 of spine- 
bearing interneurals being placed between same pair of vertebrse; soft rays of dorsal fin usually 17 to 32 (37 to 
40 in Lonchiurus, 45 to 50 in Seisenoides); occipital crest not greatly elevated. 
SCIAtNINAt: 
/. Lower pharyngeals separate. 
g. Lower jaw without barbfels. 
h. Caudal fin moderately scaly, its distal portion usually more or less naked, scales not numerous enough to give a 
thickened appearance to fin. 
i. Teeth well developed, permanent in both jaws. 
j. Lower pharyngeals rather narrow, their teeth conic and mostly sharp, none of them molar; outer teeth of upper 
jaw more or less enlarged. 
k. Gillrakers comparatively long and slender; mouth more or less oblique; anal fin usually (but not always) inserted 
posteriorly; preorbital usually narrow, flat; edge of snout above upper jaw with pores and slits little conspicuous 
or obsolete. 
l. Skull excessively cavernous, soft and spongy to touch, interorbital space very broad; eye very small, mouth large, 
oblique; preopercle with a broad membranaceous border, which is striated and fringed; scales small; spinous 
dorsal short and weak; anal spines weak; caudal fin pointed. 
m. Pseudobranchiae present; teeth subequal, all villiform, in narrow bands; soft dorsal long, of 30 to 35 rays; anal fin 
rather long, soft dorsal and anal scaly; lower jaw projecting; vertebrae 10+14; gillrakers long and slender; air- 
bladder with two horns Nebris 
U. Skull firm, not excessively cavernous, interorbital space less broad; preorbital not turgid; soft dorsal of fewer than 
30 rays. 
n. Scales of lateral line considerably enlarged, almost entirely concealed by smaller ones; anal fin small, inserted 
well forward, its first spine usually as near ventrals as caudal; caudal fin pointed, its peduncle long and slender; 
soft dorsal, and anal scaly; scales small; preopercle without bony serrse; pseudobranchiae small, often obsolete 
on one side. (Fluviatile species.) Pi.agioscion 
nn. Scales of lateral line similar to the others, not concealed by smaller ones; anal fin inserted more or less posteriorly, 
first spine usually nearer caudal than ventrals; caudal peduncle rather short; pseudobranchiae well developed. 
o. Head not very broad, the interorbital space not notably spongy nor deeply cavernous. 
p. Preopercle with its membranaceous edge entire, crenulate or ciliate, with no bony teeth; teeth in lower jaw m 
few series. 
q. Teeth very small, equal, uniserial or very nearly so; snout very short; cleft of mouth oblique or even vertical, 
lower jaw projecting Larimtjs,95 
qq. Teeth larger, more or less unequal, those of lower jaw in one or two series or in bands; cleft of mouth not vertical. 
r. Upper jaw with some of the teeth enlarged, forming canines; some canines in lower jaw; lower jaw projecting. 
Odontoscion, 96 
