THE FISHES OF PORTO RICO. 
235 
FAMILY LI I. SCAR I DAL The Parrot-fishes. 
Body oblong, moderately compressed, covered with large cycloid scales as in the Labridse. 
Mouth moderate, terminal. Teeth in jaws more or less coalescent, at least at base; lower pharyngeals 
much enlarged, united in a concave or spoon-shaped body, their teeth broadest transversely and 
truncate, arranged in mosaic; dorsal continuous, usually ix, 10; A. n, 9; 23 to 25 scales in lateral line; 
vertebra 1 about 11 -j- 14 = 25. Sexes similarly colored, the coloration almost always brilliant. Fin rays 
essentially the same throughout the group, the squamation varying little except on head. 
The Scaridx comprise 7 genera and about 110 sjtecies, herbivorous fishes of the tropical seas, 
especially abundant about coral reefs; often of large size, not much valued as food, the flesh being soft and 
pasty. The species in the various genera are very closely related, being distinguished chiefly by the 
coloration and the dentition, both series of characters being highly specialized. Jordan & Evermann 
recognize 5 genera of Scaridx as inhabiting the waters of America north of Panama, of which only 3 
are as yet known from Porto Bico. 
Sparisomatin^e: 
a. Lower pharyngeal broader than long, flattish or basin-shaped; gill-membranes broadly joined to isthmus, not 
forming a fold across it; lateral line subcontinuous; scales about head few and large, those on cheek in one 
row; lower jaw projecting; teeth whitish or rosy. 
b. Dorsal spines flexible; teeth more or less distinct, at least anteriorly. 
c. Teeth in each jaw in few series, not imbricated or quincunx; lateral teeth of each jaw coalescent in a more or 
less continuous cutting edge, teeth more free anteriorly and not adnate to dental plate Cryptotomus 
bb. Dorsal spines stiff, pungent; teeth of upper jaw more or less coalescent. 
d. Teeth of each jaw chiefly coalescent, jaws divided by a rather indistinct median suture Sparisoma, 109 
Scaring: 
aa. Lower pharyngeal spoon-shaped, much longer than broad; teeth of jaws fully coalesced, each jaw divided by a 
distinct median suture; gill -membranes forming a fold across isthmus; dorsal spines flexible; lateral line 
interrupted behind, beginning again lower down on caudal peduncle of tail; scales about head rather numerous, 
those on cheek in two or more series; lower jaw included. 
e. Teeth and jaws whitish or rosy in color Scarps, 110 
oe. Teeth and jaws blue or bluish-green Pseudoscarus, 111 
Genus 109. SPARISOMA Swainson. Viejas. 
Lower pharyngeal broader than long, subhexagonal, its surface moderately concave or flattish; 
teeth in each jaw largely coalescent in adult, their tips more or less separate in young, the edge, espe- 
cially of lower jaw, remaining uneven; median suture in each jaw present, but not well defined; 1 to 4 
radiating canines sometimes present on each side of upper jaw above its cutting edge; gill-membranes 
broadly united to isthmus; dorsal spines pungent; upper lip double for its entire length; lower jaw 
projecting beyond upper; lateral line not interrupted, passing gradually from its row of scales posteriorly 
to the series next below it; tubes of lateral line much branched; scales about head large, those on cheek 
in a single row, those on median line in front of dorsal 3 or 4 in number. 
Species of rather small size, most of them American; some of them showily colored. 
Sparisoma: 
a. Upper jaw with one or more canines above its cutting edge (these occasionally obsolete on one or both sides) ; col- 
oration often brilliant. 
b. Caudal truncate or slightly rounded, angles not acute. 
c. Posterior canines 2 to 1 on each side. 
d. Caudal fin with more or less of black on posterior margin, yellowish at base. Canines strong, 4 (rarely 3) on each 
side xyslrodon, 189 
dd. Caudal fin without black in adult; 1 or 2 more or less distinct whitish bars across chin. 
c. Canines 3 or 4 on each side, radiating horizontally; axil with little or no blue, but with a dusky blotch partly 
hidden by fin; front steeper and less curved than in S. Iioplomystax; body and fins mottled, but much less so 
than in S. Iioplomystax. 
f. Canines 3 on each side; pores of lateral line with but 2 branches; sides of head much dotted with black; caudal 
barred atomarium 
ff. Canines 4 on each side; tubes of lateral line much branched; a distinct narrow streak of blue downward and for- 
ward from eye; caudal nearly plain dusky-olive; anal mottled radians 
ee. Canines 2 or 3 on each side; axillary region extensively deep-blue in life, this forming a large blotch around and 
on base of pectoral; a curved series of small white specks around the blue on base of pectoral; fins all mottled, 
anal with 3 darker areas; body with 3 faint pale lengthwise streaks, more or less obscure, 2 of these bounding 
a more or less interrupted dusky band from eye to base of caudal Iioplomystax, 190 
cc. Posterior canine single on each side; body rather stout niphobles, 191 
