Mouth very protractile; palate toothless; praemaxillary with an upwardly directed lateral process .......... 17. Gerridae.
Mouth moderately protractile; palate toothed; anal longer than soft dorsal; body scaly .......... 18. Lactariidae.
Mouth moderately protractile; palate toothless; anal much longer than soft dorsal; body naked .......... 19. Trichodontidae.
†† Transverse processes developed on the third vertebra and bearing the ribs; palate usually toothless.
No subocular shelf; teeth small .......... 22. Pristipomatidae.
A subocular shelf; teeth often large, either cutting in front or molar-like on the sides .......... 23. Sparidae.
A subocular shelf; teeth very small or absent; a pair of barbels on the throat .......... 24. Mullidae.
** Ventrals rather far behind the base of the pectorals; lower pectoral rays unbranched, often thickened; no subocular shelf.
Anal fin nearly as long as the soft dorsal .......... 20. Latrididae.
Anal fin much shorter than the soft dorsal .......... 21. Haplodactylidae.