A Synopsis of the Fishes of China
Order PERCESOCES.
The Perch Pikes.
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present
Opercle unarmed. Branchial arches well developed, all bones except fourth upper branchial. Third upper pharyngeal much enlarged and lower pharyngeals distinct from one another. Pelvic bones not joined to shoulder girdle. Lateral line median or obsolete. Spinous armature of fins but moderately developed. Spinous dorsal usually present and other fins also with spines. Pectoral elevated, about level with upper hind opercle angle. Ventral abdominal, graduated from outer rays, which longest, inner shortest, with one spine and 5 rays.
An interesting transition group from soft rayed to spiny rayed fishes. Chiefly shore and fresh water forms, many of small size, some large and
very voracious.
Synopsis of the Families.
a'. Head short, usually less pointed; teeth small or absent; gill rakers long,
slender; lateral line absent.
b' Head and body elongate; stomach not gizzard like; carnivorous.
ATHERINIDAE.
b2. Head short, broad; stomach gizzard like; intestines long; mud and
vegetation feeders.
MUGILIDAE.
a2. Head long, pointed; teeth very strong, unequal; gill rakers obsolete;
lateral line present.
SPHYRAENIDAE.
Family Atherinidae.
The Silversides.
Body rather elongate, subcylindrical or somewhat compressed. Eyes lateral, without adipose lids. Mouth cleft moderate, usually terminal, oblique, reaches to or beyond front of eye. Jaws equal or not. Teeth small in jaws, sometimes on vomer, palatines or pterygoids, rarely absent. Oper- cular bones without spines or serratures. Gill openings wide, membranes not united, free from isthmus. Gills 4, slit behind fourth. Gill rakers long and slender. Pseudobranchiae present. Branchiostegals 5 or 6. Third and fourth upper pharyngeals joined together, with teeth. Air bladder present. No pyloric appendages. Vertebrae 32 to 60, of which 23 caudal. ́ Scales No lateral line, moderate or small, usually cycloid, sometimes ctenoid.
Two dorsals, some scales often with pits or rudimentary mucous tubes. well separated, first with 3 to 8 slender flexible spines, second of 4 or 5 soft Anal like soft dorsal, often rays or spine and 3 to 6 unbranched rays. larger, with weak spine. Caudal emarginate. Pectorals high, moderate or small. Ventrals small, usually abdominal, not far back, with small spine and 5 rays.
Mostly small carnivorous fishes, abounding in great schools near the Most have a shores of temperate and tropical seas, a few in fresh water. silvery band along the sides, sometimes underlaid by dark pigment. Those of sufficient size are valued food fishes,
July 1935.
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