Dorsal very short, with few graduated, adnate spines, anal very long .......... 3. Pempheridae.
Spinous dorsal usually well developed, soft dorsal usually not much more developed than the anal; palate usually toothed .......... 11. Serranidae.
Dorsal and anal fins elongate and formed mostly of articulated soft rays, the spines feeble and few .......... 12. Pseudochromididae.
Dorsal and anal fins much elongate, without distinct spines; body band-like .......... 13. Cepolidae.
Teeth in the jaws fused to form a beak .......... 14. Hoplognathidae.
Soft dorsal and anal much elongate; a separate spinous dorsal .......... 15. Sillaginidae.
Soft dorsal much longer than the anal; a separate spinous dorsal .......... 16. Sciaenidae.
‖‖ Ribs mostly sessile, behind the parapophyses; body deep; mouth moderately large and protractile.
Post-temporal forked, distinct from skull .......... 25. Scorpididae.
Post-temporal completely ankylosed to the skull; mouth very protractile .......... 26. Caproidae.