Kyphosidae, sensu Randall, 2005

Knudsen, Steen Wilhelm & Clements, Kendall D., 2013, Revision of the fish family Kyphosidae (Teleostei: Perciformes), Zootaxa 3751 (1), pp. 1-101 : 10-11

Key to the East Pacific species of Kyphosidae :

1. Scales absent on interorbital region; fewer than 9 postorbital scales (7–8); 25 vertebrae in total; 10–11 soft dorsal fin rays; 5–6 vertical dark green bands across body (southern California to Baja)..................... Kyphosus azureus Zebraperch

– Scales present on interorbital region; more than 9 postorbital scales (10–21); 26 vertebrae in total; 11 or more soft dorsal fin rays (11–15); no distinct vertical green bands across body...................................................... 2

2. No more than 12 soft dorsal fin rays (11–12); 10–12 soft anal-fin rays (usually 11); never more than 33 pterygiophores in total (32–33); not more than 69 scale rows along longitudinal row (60–69); more than 21 total gill rakers (22–25); body colour can be grey without obvious golden horizontal scale rows or be wholly or partly yellow (xanthic) (Atlantic Ocean, Indo-Pacific Ocean).................................................................... Kyphosus sectatrix Beaked chub

– Thirteen or more soft dorsal fin rays (13–15); 12–14 soft anal fin rays; 34 or more pterygiophores in total (34–39); often more than 70 scale rows along longitudinal row (52–77); 23–32 total gill rakers; body colour can be bronzed or brown and can have white blotches, or the body is grey with golden horizontal scale rows, or partly yellow and blue and have a yellow wavy stripe horizontally across body from operculum to caudal fin and blue streak behind eye.................................. 3

3. Soft part of dorsal fin with 13 rays; anal fin with 12 soft rays; interorbital width 11.0–13.8 %SL; 21–22 dorsal pterygiophores; 13 anal pterygiophores; 52–57 pored scales in lateral line; not more than 69 total scales along lateral line (61–69); relative low number scale rows in the longitudinal row (52–62); body colour uniform grey or bronzed brown or mottled with white spots; no conspicuous golden horizontal scale rows along body (east Pacific).................. Kyphosus elegans Cortez chub

– Soft part of dorsal fin with 13 or more rays (13–15); anal fin with 12–15 soft rays; interorbital width 9.6–14.2 %SL; more than 22 dorsal pterygiophores (22–24); 13 or more anal pterygiophores (13–15); 52–64 pored scales in lateral line; regularly with 70 or more scales in total along lateral line (63–85); relative high number scale rows in the longitudinal row (56–77); body with either clear golden horizontal scale rows or with large distinct yellow and blue wavy stripe horizontally along body.... 4

4. Soft part of dorsal fin with 13–14 rays; soft part of anal fin with 11–14 rays; 22–24 dorsal pterygiophores; 12–14 anal pterygiophores; golden yellow horizontal scale rows along body from operculum to caudal fin; caudal fin not deep emarginated (Atlantic Ocean, Indo-Pacific Ocean)................................................ Kyphosus vaigiensis Lowfin chub

– Soft part of dorsal fin with 15 rays or more; soft part of anal fin with 14 rays or more; 24 dorsal pterygiophores; 15 or more anal pterygiophores; a blue and yellow wavy stripe horizontally across body from operculum to caudal fin; blue streak behind eye; caudal fin deeply emarginated (Pacific Ocean)................................ Kyphosus ocyurus Rainbow chub