15a. Two separate doesal fine.......................................................16
15b. One continuous dorsal fin, at least connected at base...........21
16a. Two spines detached from anal fin..........................CARANGIDAE
16b. No spines or simple rays detached from anal fin....................17
17a.Two long barbels behind symphysis of lower jaw...................MULLIDAE
17b. No barbels behind symphysis of lower jaw........................................18
18a. Dorsal with 8-10 rays....................................................APOGONIDAE
18b. Dorsal with 16 or more rays..................................................................19
19a. Dorsal spines short , strong and disconnected, scales small..........................................RACHYCENTRIDAE
19b.Dorsal spines long and connected by wide membrane, scales moderately large............................................20
20a. Body oval , compressed; teeth on palate.........................LACTARTIDAE
20b. Body elongate, subcylindrcal. teeth on vomer.
21a. Two spines detached from anal fin................................................................CARANGIDAE
21b. no spines detached from anal fin.....................................................................22
22a. Anal with one or two spines................................................23
22b. Anal with 3 to 12 spines...................................................................24
23a. Body oblong to elongate, soft dorsal long;with more than 20 rays, opercle with 2 soft spines..................................SCIAENIDAE