122 



Second dorsal spine from a half to two-thirds the length of the head. The 

 upper pectoral rays vary from about two-thirds (adults) the length of the head 

 to the entire length of the head (young). The outer ventral ray is about equal 

 to the post-orbital portion of the head in the adult, but is equal to the post- 

 rostral portion of the head in the young. 



There are 20 very large pyloric casca. 



The longest specimen is 20- inches in length. 



Arabian Sea, 406, 480, 719 fathoms ; Gulf of Manar, 142 to 400 fathoms ; 

 Bay of Bengal, 410 fathoms ; Andaman Sea 405 fathoms. 



Regd.Nos. 13213, 13470, 13550, ^_ 3 - 3 , !£ ^ 5 ^- 9 . 



This species may possibly be identical with B. melanobranchus Vaillant. 



Family Ateleopodid.ee. 



Head rather large, with the muciferous cavities fairly well developed ; 

 trunk short ; tail long, compressed, gradually tapering to a filament. 



A single, short, dorsal fin, situated above the pectorals. A long anal 

 fin, continuous with the caudal. 



Ventrals jugular. 



No pseudobranchiae : no air-bladder : no pyloric appendages. 



This is another family which has been found to range into Indian waters 

 since the publication of the Fishes and Fauna of India. 



Ateleopus, Schleg. 



Ateleopus, Temminck and Schlegel, Faun. Japon., Poiss, p. 255 : Giinther, Cat. Fishes IV., p. 398. 



Skeleton semi-cartilaginous. 



The snout projects well beyond the mouth, which is small, quite inferior 

 and strongly protractile downwards. Teeth villiform, minute ; in a band in the 

 upper jaw only, or in both jaws : palate smooth. No barbel. 



Gill-openings fairly wide, the gill-membranes slightly united anteriorly. 

 The first branchial arch is rather broadly connected, at its upper part, by mem- 

 brane, with the wall of the gill-chamber, so that the slit between that arch and 

 the gill-cover is narrower than the other branchial clefts. Gill-rakers on the 

 outer side of the first branchial arch cartilaginous, tuberculiform. Eight bran- 

 chiostegals. 



Head and body covered with a thick, gelatinous, scaleless skin. 



The ventrals arise immediately behind the clavicular symphysis : each con- 

 sists of a single stout filament made up of two intimately coherent rays. 



Distribution : Japan, Andaman Sea, Laccadive Sea. 



