54 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



water. An air-bladder. One long dorsal and anal fin without 

 spines. Ventrals absent or thoracic, of six rays, the outer not 

 branched. Vertebra) numerous ; the caudal vertebra) provided 

 with ribs, the abdominal cavity being continued to below the 

 caudal portion. 



Genus Ophiocepiialus, Bl. 



Ventral fins present. Pyloric appendages two. Fine teeth in 

 the jaws, on the vomer and tho palatino bones, sometimes inter- 

 mixed with larger ones. 



Freshwaters of the East Indies. 



650. Opiiiocepiialus striatus, Bl. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes III., p. 474.— Bleek., Atl. Ichth. Oph., Tab. 



3, fig. r. 



D. 40 45. A. 26-27. L. lat. 57. L. tr. 5-6/12-13. Vert. 53-55. 



Several large teeth on the side of the lower jaw, those of the 

 palatine bones cardiform. Height of body nearly seven times in 

 the total length ; the length of the head three times and three- 

 fourths, the length of the caudal six times ; the width of the 

 interorbital space is rather more than the length of the snout and 

 two-ninths of the length of the head. Cleft of the mouth large, 

 the maxillary extending behind the orbit. Eight or ten scales 

 between the orbit and the angle of the pra)operculum. The 

 pectoral fin does not reach to the origin of the anal, and its length 

 is one-half of that of the head ; the length of the]ventral is three- 

 fourths of that of the pectoral. Brownish-grey (in spirits) on 

 the back and the sides, emitting vertical processes towards the 

 belly, which is white. Dorsal and anal fins sometimes with oblique 

 dark streaks ; frequently some white dots on a black ground on 

 the hindmost part of these fins. 



Sydney (Kuer., Voy. Novara, p. 234). 



