THE FISHES OF PORTO RICO. 
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6 spines. Ventrals thoracic, r, 5, inserted below pectorals. Branch iostegals 5 or 6; psendobranchise 
well developed; gills 3.5, slit behind last arch small or obsolete; gill-membranes somewhat connected, 
sometimes joined to narrow isthmus. Air-bladder present; no pyloric caeca. 
This family comprises 60 genera and 450 species, chiefly of the tropical seas, living among rocks 
or kelp, many of them brilliantly colored and some valued as food-fish. Most of them feed upon 
mollusks, the dentition being adapted for crushing shells. As in most other large groups there is con- 
siderable difference of opinion as to the characters which should be used in dividing the Labroids into 
genera. The tendency with all recent writers has been toward a rather minute subdivision. The 
numbers of vertebrae seem to us to yield characters of the highest importance. Cither characters not 
to be neglected can be drawn from the size of the scales, the numbers of the dorsal spines, and the 
dentition. The degree of squamation of the head seems to us to have an importance lower than that 
attributed to it by Bleeker and Gunther, but it may be used for generic subdivision. 
a. Dorsal spines 8 or more, usually well distinguished from soft rays; anal spines 2 to 6. 
b. Vertebrse and dorsal spines not in greatly increased numbers; vertebra; 22 to 29; dorsal spines 8 to 13; anal spines 
2 or 3; species of tropical or subtropical seas. 
c. Vertebrse 27 to 29 (so far as known) ; dorsal spines usually 12 (11 to 14) ; sides of head more or less scaly; preopercle 
serrulate or entire. 
Harpinje: 
d. Anterior canines strong; lower pharyngeals large, with large, tubercular teeth; spinous dorsal not enveloped in 
scales; lower jaw naked; species mostly of large size and bright coloration, inhabiting semitropical seas. 
e. Dorsal spines about 14, the 3 or 4 anterior falcate, produced in long streamers; body deep and compressed, anterior 
profile steep; teeth uniserial; no posterior canine; cheek and opercles scaly; bases of soft dorsal and anal 
scaly; soft parts of vertical fins produced; scales moderate (40) Lachnolaimus, 106 
ee. Dorsal spines 11 or 12 (rarely 13), none of them produced in filaments; cheek and opercles scaly; body oblong; 
back not greatly elevated. 
/. Soft dorsal and anal each with a scaly sheath at base; scales large (about 32); posterior canine present; soft dorsal 
and anal elevated, produced behind Harpe 
ff. Soft dorsal and anal without sheath of scales; preopercle serrulate (at least in young); soft dorsal and anal more or 
less falcate. 
g. Scales large, about 30; lower limb of preopercle scaly; posterior canine present; anterior canines j Decodon 
CLEPTICINiE: 
dd. Anterior teeth small, bluntish, not canine-like; no posterior canine; mouth very small, terminal; snout short and 
blunt; dorsal and anal enveloped in scales, except produced tips of both fins; caudal deeply forked; dorsal 
spines almost hidden by series of scales; head everywhere closely scaled, except on lips and snout; scales of 
body large; preopercle serrulate; gillrakers slender, short; pectoral falcate; lower pharyngeals very small, 
Y-shaped, their teeth small, very blunt, and coalescent; vertebrae 10 + 17=27; dorsal spines, 12 Clepticus 
cc. Vertebrae 23 to 26; dorsal spines 8 or 9; anterior canines strong, 2 to 4 on each side in each jaw; head mostly naked; 
preopercle entire. Species of the Tropics, mostly of small size and bright coloration. 
Juudina?: 
h. Lateral line complete and continuous. 
i. Snout not tubiform; preopercle entire; teeth uniserial, none chisel-shaped. 
j. Cheeks and opercles naked. 
Jc. Scales large, 25 to 30 in lateral line; anal spines 2 or 3. 
I. Dorsal spines 9; dorsal enlarged, without scaly sheath; scales of breast not enlarged. 
m. Anterior canines all normal in position; lower pharyngeals T-shaped, with numerous teeth; anal spines 3. 
n. Posterior canine well developed on both sides; dorsal spines pungent; anterior canines | iPviDio, 107 
II. Dorsal spines 8; no posterior canines; anterior canines g, normal in position; a low sheath of scales at base of 
dorsal; dorsal spines pungent; anal spines 3, never 2 Chlorichthys 
Xyrichthyinte: 
hh. Lateral line interrupted posteriorly, beginning again on level of axis of body, on caudal peduncle; scales large, 20 
to 30 in lateral line; dorsal spines 9; anal spines 3; anterior canines -g. 
o. Posterior canine present; snout slender, anterior profile not convex; cheek and opercles scaly; dorsal spines 
pungent, the three anterior longer and with filamentous appendages; dorsal and anal with a scaly sheath; scales 
very large Doratonotus, 108 
oo. Posterior canine none; anterior profile more or less convex; head naked, except usually a few scales below eye; 
body more or less strongly compressed; ventrals thoracic, inserted below the pectorals. 
p. Scales very large, about 20 in lateral line, which is placed on first row of large scales below dorsal sheath; anterior 
dorsal spines not detached; head not trenchant above Xvrula 
-pp. Scales large, about 26 in lateral line, which is placed on second row of large scales below dorsal sheath. 
q. First two dorsal spines joined by membrane to the others and inserted nearly above base of pectoral. 
r. Upper anterior profile of head not trenchant, curve of head not parabolic; cheek not very deep. .. Novaculichthys 
it. Upper anterior profile of the head sharply trenchant, its curve parabolic; cheek very deep, eye near upper 
profile Xyrichthys 
