Genus: Ocyurus, Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper

OCYURUS

SNAPPER

Body elongate, head pointed, upper and lower profiles similar; front and rear nostrils simple holes; mouth relatively large, top jaw moderately protrusible, slips under cheek bone for most of its length when mouth is closed; one or more rows of pointed conical teeth on jaws, with a few large canines at front; patch of teeth on center of roof of mouth anchor shaped, with a narrow rear extension; each side of roof of mouth with 2 tooth patches; 21-23 lower gill rakers; preopercle serrated, lower margin notched; dorsal continuous, often with slight notch behind spiny part, usually X (rarely IX or XI), 12-13 (rarely14); anal fin III, 9 (rarely 8); tail fin deeply forked, with long lobes in large fish; body, cheek and operculum scaly; snout, below eye and both jaws scale-less; bases of soft dorsal and anal fins scaly.

A genus with a single, W Atlantic species.