OCR Text |
Show 1871.] FRESHWATER SILUROIDS OF INDIA. 713 AILIICHTHYS PUNCTATA, sp. nov. P. -5. A. 76-82. C. 17. Length of head \, of caudal \, height of body T 2 r of the total length. Eyes situated more than half below the angle of the mouth, being partly on the lower side of the head. Diameter -\ of length of head, | a diameter from end of snout, 1 diameter apart. Body compressed, upper profile of head somewhat concave. Upper jaw slightly the longest, the cleft of the mouth only extending about halfway to the anterior margin of the eye, opposite to its centre. Barbels all much of the same length, reaching to the middle of the length of the fish. Teeth villiform in the jaws. Fins. Adipose dorsal minute. Pectoral spine one half longer than the head. Ventrals absent. Caudal forked, lower lobe the longest. Air-vessel tubular, placed across the bodies of the anterior vertebra, and more or less enclosed in bone. Colours. Silvery, upper surface of head nearly black, a large black spot before tbe base of the caudal fin. Hab. Jumna at and below Delhi, also in the Lower Punjaub rivers. It is rather numerous, apparently more common in the Punjaub than the A. bengaliensis. I obtained numerous specimens up to 4 inches in length. EUTROPIICHTHYS VACHA, H. B. pl. 19. f. 64. Air-vessel narrow, tubiform, placed transversely across the body of the anterior vertebrae, and all but its central portion enclosed in bone, either expanded extremity being within a bony capsule. Geographical distribution.-Large rivers of India and Burmah. It appears to prefer estuaries and the lower portion of rivers. Genus SISOR, H. B. Air-vessel. Having only small specimens to dissect, a further examination of this species is desirable. Subvertebral bony capsules were present, and apparently contained an air-vessel, whilst none could be detected in the abdomen. Geographical distribution.-Ganges and Jumna rivers. Genus GAGATA, Bleeker. P I M E L O D U S GAGATA, H. B. pl. 39. f. 65. Air-vessel in two globular portions, enclosed in bony capsules, placed on either side of the body of the anterior vertebrae, and having a transverse communicating tube. Geographical distribution.-Large rivers of India and Burmah, and generally not far from their mouths. Genus HEMIPIMELODUS, Bleeker. In both H. cenia, H. B., and H. viridescens, H. B., the air-vessel |