Genus: Parascombrops, Keelcheek Ocean Bass, Ocean Basses

PARASCOMBROPS

OCEAN BASSES

Body elongate, tapering, body depth 26-33% of SL, depth distinctly < head length; snout very short; eye huge; broad and flat between eyes; mouth large, bone of top jaw expanded at rear & largely exposed when mouth is closed, ends ~under mid-eye; top jaws with 1 pair of canines at front, then bands of simple teeth, lower jaw with 1-2 pairs of canines at front, then simple teeth, also with canines at sides; preopercle with strong teeth, 2-3 small keels at lower rear edge; rear of opercle with 1-2 flat points; gill membranes separate, free from underside of head; gill rakers: 11-16 lower, total 17-20; dorsal fin IX (all spines visible) + I, 8-9, a distinct gap between the 2 sections; anal fin II, 7 or III, 6 (spine III weaker) rays; front edge serrated on 1st pelvic spine; tail fin forked; pectorals longer than pelvics; scales large, smooth, easily shed; scales on cheeks, operculum with or without scales; lateral line continuous, with 29-31 tubed scales.

A pantropical genus with 13 species, one in the Greater Caribbean