FRESH-WATER FISHES OF SIAM, OR THAILAND 105 



conclusion seems justified that L. harmandi is a synonym of L. 

 hleekeri. Steindachner wrote: 



This species is very closely related to Luciosoma setigerum Blkr. from the 

 rivers of Java and Sumatra, but the lateral line extends through 46-47 scales 

 (43 in L. setigerum) and the fii'st ventral ray is considerably shorter than in 

 the last-named species. In L. bleekeri the dark band on the upper and lower 

 caudal next to the upper and lower margins is missing while a central band is 

 present as a direct continuation of the lateral band. 



In the description of Weber and de Beaufort and in specimens at 

 hand the black lateral band is continued as the band on the upper 

 caudal lobe, but in the figure of L. setigerum in Bleeker (301) (1863, 

 vol. 3, pi. 142, fig, 2) the two bands are not connected and are on 

 different levels. 



While the fish is usually known as fla ai ao among the Thai, that 

 name is frequently shortened to pla ao. Another variant, on the 

 Nakon Nay ok, is pla slew ao. 



Genus FILIRASBORA Fowler 



Filirasbora Fowler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 89, p. 172, 1937. 

 (Type, Filbasbora rubripinna Fowler.) 



FILIRASBORA RUBRIPINNA Fowler 



Filirashora rubripimia Fowleb, 1937, p. 172, fig. 107 (Kemarat). 



Known from a single specimen 8.5 cm. long, taken in the Mekong 

 at Kemarat. This is a rasboridlike fish but differs from all species 

 of Rasbora in having two pairs of short barbels. The original de- 

 scription made no mention of a symphyseal knob on the lower jaw; 

 this knob is assumed to be present in assigning the genus a place in the 

 key. 



Genus RASBORA Bleeker 



Rasbora Bleeker (261), Act. Soc. Sci. Indo-Neerl. (Cyprinormn), vol. 7, 

 p. 435, 1860. (Type, Cyprinus rasbora Hamilton.) 



These are among the commonest of the minor fresh-water fishes in 

 many parts of Thailand. Although mostly small, they have a place 

 in the dietary of the country people, and several species are large 

 enough to be sent to the city markets. Their chief value, however, 

 is as food for the predatory fishes. Several of them, because of their 

 beauty and hardiness, have proved popular in small aquaria both in 

 Thailand and abroad. 



The general vernacular name is pla sieio. 



The Thai species may be distinguished as follows : 



la. Lateral line incomplete. 



2a. Lateral line formed of 8 or 9 perforated scales ; circumpeduncular scales 

 9 ; origin of dorsal fin opposite base of ventrals ; a large black triangular 

 patch on side, its base between dorsal and ventrals, its apex toward 

 caudal base heteromorpha 



