THE FISHES OF MALABAR. ' '•' 



membrane deeply notched. Second dorsal trapezoid, its rays branched. Caudal wedge-shaped, 



its central rays the longest. Pectoral pointed, itscentral rays produced. Ventrals joined together. 

 Anal trapezoid, its rays filamentous. 



Scales — Exposed portions quadrangular, longest diameter from above downwards, striated 

 iu very fine raised lines converging posteriorly. No scales on cheek, a very few over base of 



caudal. 



Colours — Greyish brown above, whitish brown underneath : four or five dull blotches, almost 

 forming bands, pass from the back to the sides, and a deep brown mark exists at the base of the 

 caudal. A brownish line descends from the lower margin of the eye to the angle of the mouth. 

 The first dorsal has four rows of brown spots, almost forming lines, the colour and size of which 

 are most distinct on the first spine, and less so towards the last ; the rows of spots again become 

 well-marked on the anterior portion of the second dorsal, but are lost towards its posterior 

 extremity. There are some obscure brownish bars on the posterior half of the caudal, which are 

 most distinct on its central rays. Pectoral, ventral and anal are stained with darkish slate colour, 

 which tint also forms the ground of the other fins. 



Grows to four inches in length. 



Habitat — Seas and estuaries of India. 



Genus APOCEYPTES, Owner. 



Branchiostegals, five: pseudobranchi*. rudimentary. Body elongated. Infraorbital ring of bones 

 does not articulate with the preopercle. The first dorsal fin separated from or continuous with the second 

 dorsal. Ventrals united. Gill openings of moderate width, united to the isthmus. Scales small, generally 

 larger posteriorly. 



APOCEYPTES EICTUOSUS. 



Apoceyptes eictuosus, Guv. & Val. xii. p. 151 ; Giinther, Catal. iii. p. 82. 



B. iv. D. 6 | 24-27. P. 20. V. \. A. 26-29. L. 1. about 75. 



Length of head ft, of pectoral 1, of caudal J to \, of base of first dorsal ft, of base of 

 second dorsal J, of base of anal \ of total length. Height of head ft, of body ft, of first dorsal 

 ft, of second dorsal ft, of anal ft, of ventral ft of total length. 



Eyes-Looking upwards and outwards, horizontal diameter \, vertical diameter £ of length of 

 head, \ of a transverse diameter apart, rather more than 1 diameter from end of snout. 



Body elongated, rather compressed, head depressed. 



Mouth rounded anteriorly, cleft oblique, its depth one quarter greater than its width, and 

 extending to beneath the posterior margin of the orbit : upper jaw notched anteriorly : lower jaw 

 slightly prominent. Preopercle, its vertical and horizontal limbs of equal length, angle rounded. 

 Op°ercle large, rounded posteriorly. An elevated longitudinal crest extends backwards from the 

 centre of the interorbital space. Nostrils opposite the anterior superior angle of the orbit. 



Teeth— Rather long and curved, in a single closely set series in both jaws, about twenty-eight 

 in the lower, and thirty-two in the upper. Two large teeth inside the lower jaw on either side of 

 the symphysis. 



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