FAMILY, III— PLEURONECTID^. 425 



Genus, 4 — Platophrts, Svjainson. 



Buthus, Bp. ; Rhomhoidicldliys, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals six. Cleft of mouth moderate or of small extent, the maxilla being ahout one-third or less in 

 the length of the head. Eyes on the left side separated by a concave interorlital space of varying extent. Jaws and 

 dentition nearly equally developed on both sides : teeth minute, of an equal size and in a single or double row. 

 Vomerine and jmlatine teeth, as a rule, absent. The dorsal fin commences on the snout, its rays and those of the anal 

 are simple. Scales ctenoid, and extended on to the dorsal and anal rays. Lateral-line having a strong curve 

 anteriorly. 



This genus has been divided into sub-genera as follows : — (1) scales very small, Rhomboidicldhys : (2) of 

 moderate size (40 rows in lateral-line) and deciduous, Platophrys: (3) of moderate size and not deciduous, 

 Engyprosopon. 



Geographical distrihition. — From the Red Sea, through tropical seas to Japan, also in the Mediterranean. 



SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIES. 



1. Platophrys pantherinus, D. 85-91, A. 65-70, L. 1. 75-85. Upper pectoral rays may be elongated. 

 Purplish, with 3 large spots along the middle of the body, and dark rings scattered over the body and fins. 

 Red Sea, east coast of Africa, Andamans, to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. 



1. Platophrys pantherinus, Plate XCII, figs. 3 and 4. 



Rhombus pantherinus, Rupp. Atl. p. 121, t. 31, f. 1, and N.W. Fische, p. 84; Bleeker, Kokos, iii, p. 178. 



Rhombus paviinanus, Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1831, p. 168. 



Rhombus sumatranus, Bleeker, Pleuron. p. 14. 



Rhomboidichthys leopardinus, Giinther, Catal. iv, p. 434 (? female). 



Rhomboidichthys pantherinus, Ganther, Catal. iv, p. 436; Klunz. Verb. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1871, p. 671. 



Platophrys pantherinus. Blocker, Atl. Ich. Pleuron. p. 11, t. 233, f. 3. 



B. vi, D. 85-91, P. 10, V. 6, A. 65-70, C. 18, L. 1. 76-85. 



Length of head 4J, height of body 2 J- in the total length. %es— diameter 3| to 4 in the length of head, 

 3/4 to 1 diameter from end of snout, and 1 diameter apart : one half of the lower eye anterior to the 

 upper orbit. Lower jaw somewhat the longer : the maxilla reaches to below the first third of the lower orbit, 

 there is a knob on its upper portion, sometimes also one on the orbit. Head one-fourth higher than long. Some 

 have a barbel above the eye, others have none. Teeth — small, in two rows in the maxilla. Fins — anterior 

 dorsal rays not longer than the middle ones, which are nearly half the length of the head. Pectoral not so long 

 as the head, except in the upper elongated rays, which may be present or absent, and are probably distinctive of 

 sex. Colours — of a purplish-brown on the coloured side, with three dark spots along the middle of the body, 

 others variously scattered, also some rings of a dark colour : vertical fins with brown spots and white dots. 



Habitat. — Red Sea, east coast of Africa, Andamans to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. The two 

 figured (life-size) were from Port Blair. 



Genus, 5 — Solea, Klein. , 



Cleft of mouth narrow, twisted round to the left side. Eyes on the rigid side, the upper being partially 

 or entirely in advance of the lower. Nostrils variously formed. Bentition most developed on the blind side, ivhere the 

 teeth in the jaws are in, villiform rows, none on vomer or palate. Tlie dorsal fin commences on the snout, and is not 

 confluent with the caudal : pectorals present or absent. Scales small, ctenoid. Lateral-line straight. 



This genus has been sub-divided : — 



A. — Pectorals developed, Microbuglossus. 



a. — Nostrils on blind side not dilated, Solea. 



b. — One of nostrils on blind side dilated and broadly fringed, Pegnsa. 

 B. — Pectorals on both sides rudimentary or small, Bnglussus. 



Pectorals absent, Aseraggodes. 



Geographical distribution. — All tropical as well as temperate seas. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



A. Pectorcds present. 



1. Solea heterorhina, D. 87-94, P. 8, A. 78-82, L. 1. 105-110. Anterior nostril tubular, longer than the 

 orbit. Brown, with vertical bands, blotches or spots edged with black. Andamans to the ]\Ialay Archipelago. 



2. Solea elongata, D. 70-73, P. 9, A. 60-62, L. 1. 120. Height of body 3 in the total. Scales strongly 

 ctenoid. Stone colour, with black spots and blotches. Madras. 



3. Solea ovata, D. 60-66, P. 9, A. 42-49, L. 1. 110. Height of body 21 in the total. Scales strongly 

 ctenoid. Stone colour with black spots and blotches. Coromandel coast of India to China. 



3 I 



