Family: SCATOPHAGIDAE, Scat, Scats
body quadrangular, v compressed
head profile steep
head profile steep
D: 1st spine points forwards, deep notch after spines
mouth small, horizontal, not projectable
A IV
FAMILY SCATOPHAGIDAE
SCATS
Body quadrangular, strongly compressed; upper head profile steep; eye large, a little smaller than snout; snout rounded; mouth small, horizontal, not protractile; teeth simple, conical, in several rows on jaws; dorsal fin XI-XII, 16-18, 1st spine points forwards, a deep notch between spines and soft rays; anal fin IV, 13-16; tail fin rounded, truncate; pectoral fins 16-17; pelvic fins I, 5; head, body, caudal fin, and soft parts of anal and dorsal fins covered with small rough scales; body greenish or silvery with black spots or bars; sometimes juveniles and adults with different color patterns.
Indo-west Pacific; two genera with 4 species.
PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER FAO
