OCR Text |
Show 706 MR. F. DAY ON NKW INDIAN FISHKS. [Julie 27, PANCHAX ARGENTEUS, sp. nov. B.iv. D. 6. P.15. V.6. A. 20. C. 13. L. 1. 27. L.tr. 11. Length of specimens from i to 1T 2 0 inch. Length of head nearly 4, of pectoral \, of base of dorsal y1^, of base of anal f, of caudal \ of the total length. Height of head \, of body \, of dorsal fin \, of ventral g, of anal \ of the total length. Eyes. Diameter f- of length of head, f of a diameter from end of snout, nearly 1 diameter apart. Teeth in a narrow villiform row, directed at first almost horizontally, and bent near their extremities. Fins. Dorsal is situated over the last few rays of the anal, which last commences midway between end of snout and termination of the caudal fin, which is cut square. Ventrals, if laid forwards, just reach to the opercles ; if in their natural position, they extend beyond the vent to the first anal ray. Scales on the top of the head with smooth edges and not festooned ; those on chest much smaller than those on the body. Body very compressed; back wide and flat. Colours. Of a dullish green along the back, becoming dirty white along the abdomen. The back and also between the rays of the anal and caudal fins finely dotted with black points ; otherwise the fins are diaphanous. Eyes blue. This species, which appears never to grow to a large size, seems allied to the Panchax cyanophthalmus, Blyth, which, however, is said to have 22-23 anal rays. It differs from the Panchax (Pcecilia) latipes, Schleg., in the length of the head, and in the number of the dorsal and anal rays, in the number of scales, and in the position of the ventral fin. It may be the Panchax m'clellandi, Bleeker; but as that species is only known from a drawing, it is impossible to decide the question. PANCHAX RUEROSTIGMA, Jerdon. B.iv. D. 8. P.15. V. 6. A. 14-15. C. 15. L.l. 27. L. tr. 7. Length of specimens from ly2^ to ly6^ inch. Length of head -§, of pectoral T, of base of dorsal T ly, of base of anal \, of caudal Ty of the total length. Height of head T, of body f, of dorsal T, of ventral T, of anal \ of the total length. Eyes oval, f of length of head, f of a diameter from end of snout, 1 \ diameter apart. Body elongated; back moderately flat from the snout to the base of the dorsal fin ; sides compressed. Length of intermaxillaries in central line equal to about half the diameter of the eye. The posterior extremity of the maxilla extending to beneath the centre of the orbit. Angle of praeoperculum rounded, but not produced. Teeth in both jaws villiform, recurved, and in a narrow band. Fins. Anal commences midway between snout and termination of caudal fin. The dorsal begins over the last four anal rays. Caudal wedge-shaped, its central rays the longest. |