gerridæ

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. A family of water-bugs, or aquatic heteropterous insects, typified by the genus Gerris. See Hydrobatidœ. Also written Gerrida, Gerrides.
2. A family of acanthopterygian fishes, typified by the genus Gerres They have a compressed body, protractile jaws, lower pharyngeal bones generally coalesced in the adult, a long dorsal fin with the anterior portion spinigerous, anal fin moderate or short and with two to four spines, and four complete sets of gills and pseudobranchiæ. The species are numerous, and representatives occur in all tropical and subtropical seas. Most of them are of small size, rarely exceeding 5 or 6 Inches.