Genus: Xyrichtys, Razorfish Wrasse, Razorfishes
head profile steep, eye on top 1/2 head
XYRICHTYS
RAZORFISHES
Oblong, strongly compressed; head profile steep (up to ~ 70 degrees), with a fleshy longitudinal keel at front; eye on upper ½ of head; mouth protrusible, opens at front, thick lips; rear of top jawbone not visible on cheek; toothed grinding plates in throat; both jaws with canines at front, no rear canine tooth; gill membranes fused under throat; dorsal fin with IX spines that are regularly spaced, not obviously notched between spiny and soft parts; anal fin III, 12-13; lateral line in 2 sections, rear section on tail base, 19-22 + 5-6; head scaleless except for few scales below eye.
A tropical to warm temperate genus found throughout the Pacific and in the Atlantic; with about 27 species; 1 endemic and 2 West Atlantic species in our region.
