Suttonia lineata — Gosline 
35 
TAXONOMIC TREATMENT OF THE 
"PSEUDOGRAMMIDS” 
The above review has indicated that there 
is little basic osteological difference between 
the serranids, "pseudogrammids,” and "pseudo- 
chromids.” Nevertheless there seems to be one 
group, traditionally included in the Serranidae, 
that seems to be far more closely related to the 
"pseudogrammids” than either Epinephelus or 
the "pseudochromids.” This is the "Grammis- 
tinae” containing the genera Rypticus, Gram- 
mistes, Pogonoperca, and Grammistops Schultz, 
1953 (which equals Tulelepis Smith, 1954). In- 
deed, upon analysis of the 14 characters listed 
in Table 3, the "pseudogrammids” fall with the 
"pseudochromids” rather than with the "Gram- 
mistinae” only in the lateral line and scale 
structure. 
If the "Grammistinae” is enlarged to include 
the "pseudogrammids,” the old distinction of 
this "subfamily” from the other serranids by the 
flap connecting the upper portion of the gill 
cover to the body can be retained, for this feature 
applies also to the "pseudogrammids.” The two 
groups combined may be defined as follows 
(though it should be noted that the included 
genus Pogonoperca has not been examined) : 
Whole upper border of opercle attached to 
the body by a flap of skin. Nasal organ dorso- 
ventrally elongate, made up of a number of 
TABLE 3 
Comparison Between "Grammistinae,” "Pseudogrammids,” and "Pseudochromids” 
character 
"GRAMMISTINAE” 
' ' PSEUDOGRAMMIDS” 
' ' PSEUDOCHROMIDS’ ’ 
Operculum 
joined to the skull by a 
membrane above 
joined to the skull by a 
membrane above 
free from the skull above 
Maxillary 
large, with a supramaxil- 
lary 
large, with a supramaxil- 
lary 
moderate to small, with 
or without a suprarnax- 
illary 
Teeth.. 
in bands, many depressi- 
ble 
in bands, many depressi- 
ble 
usually rigid and in one 
row on the lower jaw 
posteriorly 
Nasal organ 
in Grammistes, of numer- 
ous lamellae 
of numerous lamellae 
small, with few lamellae 
Opercle 
with 3 spines 
with spines reduced, not 
visible externally 
without spines 
Preopercle.. 
usually with 1 to 4 spines 
above 
with 1 specialized spine 
above 
without spines 
Branchiostegal rays 
6 or 7 
7 
6 
Opercular scales 
small, similar to those on 
body 
small, similar to those on 
body 
somewhat to greatly en- 
larged 
Body scales 
embedded, in Grammistes 
with concentric rings 
about as in Epinephelus 
about as in Epinephelus 
Lateral line 
single, complete 
incomplete or interrupted 
incomplete or interrupted 
Dorsal and anal spines 
when present, the last 
shorter than the penul- 
timate 
the last shorter than the 
penultimate 
when present, the last 
longer than the penul- 
timate 
Dorsal and anal soft rays 
basally embedded in fatty 
tissue in adult Rypticus 
and Grammistes 
basally embedded in fatty 
tissue in adult 
not embedded in fatty tis- 
sue in adult 
Inner pelvic ray 
attached to abdomen by a 
membrane 
attached to abdomen by a 
membrane 
entirely free from abdo- 
men 
Pyloric caeca..... 
1 or 2 
1 or 2 
none 
