Fam. 19. Trichodontidae.—Agree in the character of the vertebral column with the Serranidae, but have no subocular shelf; body naked, and anal much longer than the soft dorsal; palate toothless; only 5 branchiostegal rays.
Two genera, each with a single species, from the North Pacific, Trichodon and Arctoscopus, bearing some resemblance to the Trachinidae, with which they have usually been associated.
Fam. 20. Latrididae.—Marine Fishes intermediate between the Serranidae and the Haplodactylidae, agreeing with the former in the extent of the anal fin, which is nearly as long as the soft dorsal, and with the latter in the absence of a subocular shelf and the posterior position of the ventrals. A single genus, Latris, with 3 or 4 species, from the coasts of Australia and New Zealand.
Fam. 21. Haplodactylidae.—No subocular shelf; entopterygoid present; palate usually toothless. Vertebrae with transverse processes from the third or fourth; all the ribs attached to the transverse processes when these are present; anterior epipleurals strong. Two nostrils on each side. Gill-membranes free from the isthmus; 5 or 6 branchiostegal rays; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth; pseudobranchiae present. Lower pharyngeal bones separate. Soft portion of the dorsal fin much more developed than the anal. Ventral fins with 1 spine and 5 soft rays, inserted far back behind the pectorals, the lower rays of which are simple and more or less thickened.
This family embraces the genera Haplodactylus, Chilodactylus, Chironemus, and Threpterius, with some 30 species from the seas of the Southern Hemisphere and Japan. They feed chiefly on crustaceans, molluscs, and other invertebrates living among sea-weed.
Fam. 22. Pristipomatidae.—No subocular shelf; entopterygoid present; palate toothless. Vertebrae with transverse processes from the third; all the ribs attached to the transverse processes. Two nostrils on each side. Gill-membranes free from isthmus; 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth; pseudobranchiae present. Lower pharyngeal bones separate. Ventral fins with 1 spine and 5 soft rays.
Pristipoma, Haemulon, Diagramma, and Pentapus, distributed over all the tropical and subtropical seas, a few entering fresh waters. About 130 species are known.
Fam. 23. Sparidae.—Second suborbital with an internal lamina supporting the globe of the eye; entopterygoid present; palate usually toothless; teeth often either cutting in front, or molar-like on the sides. Vertebrae with transverse processes from the second or third; all the ribs attached to the transverse processes. Two nostrils on each side. Gill-membranes free from isthmus; 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth; pseudobranchiae present. Lower pharyngeal bones separate. Soft portion of dorsal fin not much more developed than the anal. Ventral fins with 1 spine and 5 soft rays.
The Sea-Breams embrace some 200 species, distributed over the coasts of nearly the whole world. Some are herbivorous, but the majority are carnivorous.
Principal genera: Scolopsis, Dentex, Synagris, Caesio, Maena, Oblata, Melambaphes, Girella, Doydixodon, Cantharus, Box, Crenidens, Pachymetopon, Dipterodon, Sargus, Charax, Lethrinus, Sphaerodon, Sparus, Pagrus, Pagellus.