Mouth moderate, protractile, with gape often
oblique, sometimes horizontal; jaws typically equal, sometimes upper jaw longer, the upper jaw not
extending beyond centre of orbit; jaw teeth usually in villiform bands (reduced to 2 or 3 distinct rows in
some species), with teeth of outer row distinctly larger than those in remainder of band; shape of jaw teeth
conical, flattened, or tricuspidate; teeth also present on roof of mouth (vomer and palatines) in juveniles
of many species, lacking in adults of most species. Posterior and ventral margins of preopercle variably
serrate, serrations more prominent in juveniles, usually more developed on vertical margin; first infraorbital
(lacrimal) with serrations along ventral margin, serrations less developed with age in some species