Chorinemus.—Body compressed, oblong; covered with small scales, singularly shaped, lanceolate, and hidden in the skin. The first dorsal is formed by free spines in small numbers; the posterior rays of the second dorsal and anal are detached finlets. Small teeth in the jaws, on the vomer and palatine bones.
Twelve species are known from the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific; some enter brackish water, whilst others are more numerous at some distance from the shore. They attain to a length of from 2 to 4 feet. In the young, which have been described as Porthmeus, the spines and finlets are connected by membrane with the rest of the fin.
Lichia is an allied genus from the Mediterranean, tropical Atlantic, and the coast of Chili; five species.
Temnodon.—Body oblong, compressed, covered with cycloid scales of moderate size. Cleft of the mouth rather wide. Jaws with a series of strong teeth; smaller ones on the vomer and the palatine bones. The first dorsal with eight feeble spines connected by membrane; finlets none. Lateral line not shielded. The second dorsal and anal covered with very small scales.
Temnodon saltator, sometimes called “Skip-jack,” is spread over nearly all the tropical and sub-tropical seas; it frequents principally the coasts, but is also met with in the open sea. On the coasts of the United States it is well known by the name of “Blue-fish,” being highly esteemed as food, and furnishing excellent sport. It is one of the most rapacious fishes, destroying an immense number of other shore-fishes, and killing many more than they can devour. It grows to a length of 5 feet, but the majority of those brought to market are not half that length.
Trachynotus.—Body more or less elevated, compressed, covered with very small scales. Cleft of the mouth rather small, with short convex snout. Opercles entire. The first dorsal composed of free spines in small number. No finlets. Teeth always small, and generally lost with age.
Ten species are known from the tropical Atlantic and Indo-Pacific; they rarely exceed a length of 20 inches. Some of the most common marine fishes belong to this genus, for instance T. ovatus, which ranges over the entire tropical zone.
Pammelas (perciformis) is allied to the preceding genus; from the coast of New York.
Fig. 198.—Magnified scale of Psettus argenteus.