Distribution.—Tropical parts of Pacific and Indian Ocean, less numerous in Tropical Atlantic, a few reaching the Mediterranean, Japan, and South Australia. Pomacentrus, Glyphidodon, and Heliastes are Atlantic genera.
Family 49.—LABRIDÆ. (46 Genera, 396 Species.)
"Herbivorous or carnivorous marine fishes, with elongate bodies covered with cycloid scales, and teeth adapted for crushing the shells of mollusca."
Distribution.—Temperate and tropical regions of all parts of the globe.
The genera Labrus, Crenilabrus, Ctenolabrus, Acantholabrus, Centrolabrus, and Coris, have occurred in British seas, and all of these, except the last, are confined to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic as far as Madeira. Eight other genera are characteristic of the Atlantic, most of them being West Indian, but one from the coasts of North America. Seven genera are common to all the great oceans; the remainder being confined to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, ranging from Japan to New Zealand, but being far more abundant between the Tropics.
Family 50.—EMBROTOCIDÆ. (2 Genera, 17 Species.)
"Marine viviparous fishes, with compressed elevated bodies covered with cycloid scales, and with small teeth."
Distribution.—Pacific Ocean from Japan and California northwards. One species enters the fresh waters of California.
Family 51.—GERRIDÆ. (1 Genus, 28 Species.)
"Marine fishes, with compressed oblong bodies covered with minutely serrated scales, and with small teeth."