Comparative Osteology of the Sciaenid Fishes from Japan and Its Adjacent Waters-III.Premaxillary.and Dentary

Abstract

The sciaenid hshes collected from the waters around Japan and the China Sea are divided into three groups on the basis of characteristics of the premaxillary: the Johnius-form is represented by the hshes of two genera Johnius and Wak;Nibea-form by the genera Nibea, Megalonibea, Miich-thys, Argyrosomus, and Atrobucca;Pseudosciaena-form by the genera Pseudosciaena and Collichthys. These hshes are also grouped into two forms by the features of the dentary: the Nibea-form is represented by the genera Nibea, Megalonibea, Johnius, Wak, and Argyrosomus; Pseudosciaena-form by the genera Pseudosciaena, Collichthys, Miichthys, and Atrobucca.The grouping of those bones does not conhict fundamentally with those of the sagitta, cranium, and vertebrae.