Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

1975

Journal

Bulletin of Marine Science

Volume

25

Issue

2

First Page

259

Last Page

271

Abstract

The genus Sciaena , heretofore monotypic, is characterized by the lack of mental barbels and an elongate swimbladder with no appendages. Two new species S. trewavasae and S. bathytatos are described herein. The new species differ from S. umbra, the type species of the genus, and from one another in the following characters: S. umbra has 11 + 14 vertebrae, 15-20 gill rakers, 23-26 soft dorsal rays, 9-13 inner gill rakers; S. trewavasae has 10 + 15 vertebrae, 19-21 gill rakers, 24-26 soft dorsal rays, 13-16 inner gill rakers; S. baillylalos has 11 + 14 vertebrae, 22-27 gill rakers, 21-23 soft dorsal rays, 17-20 inner gill rakers. Atlantic sciaenids can be divided into two groups based on their otoliths. One group is characterized by an enlarged lapillus and sagitta and includes the genera Bairdiella, Odontoscion, Ophioscion and Slel/ifer. The other group has only an enlarged sagitta and includes the other Atlantic American sciaenid genera, e.g., Leiostomus, Micropogon, and Sciaenops. Sciaena is included in the latter group, but at present we cannot say to which genera it is most closely related.

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