FAMILY, IV— NANDID^. 127 



Family, IV— NANDID^, Gimther. 



Pseudochromides, pt., et Moenoidei, pt. Mtill. & Trosch. 



Branchiostegals from five to six : pseudobranchisB present in marine genera, but sometimes concealed 

 or absent in those of the fresh-water. Body oblong and compressed. Teeth feeble, but dentition more or 

 less complete. Dorsal fin single : the length of the base of the spinous portion of greater or equal extent to 

 that of the soft : anal with three spines, its rays similar to those of the dorsal : ventrals thoracic, with 

 one spine and four or five rays. Scales ctenoid, covering the body. Lateral line interrupted or absent. No 

 super-branchial organ. Air-vessel present. Pyloric appendages few or absent. 



Dr. Giinther's family Nandidce is composed of three groups, his Nandina being similar to Nandoldes, 

 Bleeker, containing the Genera Nandus, C.V., Badis, Bleeker, and Pristolepis, Jerdon=Cato2mi, Bleeker, wHcli 

 Bleeker' observes belong to the great Family Percidce* Thus restricted, this small group would find a natural 

 place between the Centrarchmi (Gnjstina, pt.) and the Ospkromenoides (LahyrinthibranchU) and the Pohjcentroides. 

 It also approaches the Psewdochromidoides and the Cichloides. The dentition inside its mouth distmguishes it 

 from the groups enumerated. 



Geographical distriUitim.—Oi the Asiatic Genera of Family Nandkke, Giinther, some are marine, others 

 fresh-water fishes, extending their range from the Red Sea and East coast of Africa, through those of India, the 

 Malay Archipelago and beyond. 



The colours in some are liable to considerable variations, due to age, probably season, and the locality 

 they inhabit. The number of spines, rays, and even scales, as in the indigenous fresh- water Acanthopterygian 

 genera, Amhassis, Anabas, Polyacanthus and Trkhogaster are by no means fixed, a few more or less being of no 

 uifrequent occurrence. The same remark applies to the serrations of the bones of the head as they often vary m 

 specimens from different parts, which however can merely aUow their being classed as local varieties and not 

 distinct species. 



SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. 



First group — Plesiopina. 

 Pseudobranchiffi present : ventral with four rays. 



1. Plesiops. Pseudobranchise. None of the bones of head serrated. Villiform teeth in jaws and palate,^ 

 none on tongue. The first one or two of the ventral rays elongated and bifid. Red Sea, through those of 

 India to the Malay Archipelago. 



Second group — Nandina. 

 Pseudobranchise absent : ventral with five rays. 



2. Badis. None of the bones of head serrated. ViUiform teeth in jaws, palate, root of tongue and roof 

 of cavity of mouth. Fresh waters of India and Burma. 



3. Nandtis. Opercles may be serrated or armed. Villiform teeth in jaws, palate, root of tongue and cavity 

 of mouth. Fresh waters of India and Bui-ma. 



4. Pristolepis. Opercles serrated or armed. Villiform teeth in jaws and palate, with globular crowns at 

 the root of tongue and roof of cavity of mouth. Fresh waters of India, Burma, Siam to the Malay Archipelago. 



' First group — Plesiopina. 



Pseudobranchiae present : ventral with four rays. 



Genus, I — Plesiops, Cuv. 

 PJiaropteryx, Rupp. 



BrancMostegals six : pseiidobranchice. Body oblong and compressed. Mouth moderately protractile. JVoJie 

 of the hones of the head serrated. Villiform teeth on the jaws, vomer, and palatines, none on the tongue. Eleven to 

 tioelve spjines in the dorsal fin, three in the anal : ventral with one spine and four rays, the outer ones being elongated 

 OAid bifid. Scales cycloid, of moderate size. Lateral-line interrupted. Air-vessel present. Pyloric appendages 

 absent. 



Geographical distribution. — Red Sea, through those of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDTJAL SPECIES. 



1. Plesiops nigricans, D. ^ |-, A. f , L. 1. 23-28. Each scale on the body with a blue central spot : a large 



* Dr. Giinther's classification is adhered to for reasons stated in note at p. 2. 



