FBESH-WATER FISHES OF SIAM, OR THAILAND 



385 



canals connecting that river and the Menam Chao Phya, as well as in 

 the canals extending eastward from the Menam Chao Phya, the fish is 

 common. 



In the East Indies this species reaches a length of nearly half a 

 meter, but in Thailand 25 cm. seems to be about the maximum, and 

 the usual length of mature specimens is 12 to 15 cm. 



The usual vernacular name borne by this fish is pla mang Jcong. On 

 part of the coast of Nakon Sritamarat, the name is pla yeng nu {nu, 

 mouse). 



MYSTUS VITTATUS (Bloch) 



Figure 85 



Silurus vittatus Bloch, 1797, vol. 11, p. 40, pi. 371, fig. 2 (Tranquebar). 

 Eypsclotagrus tengara BleeivER, 1865 (356), p. 175 (Siam) (not tengara of 



Hamilton). 

 Macrones tengara Peters, 1868, p. 271 (Siam). ---von Martens, 1876, p. 400 



(Petchaburi). — Kakoli, 1882, p. 178 (Siam) (identification doubtful). 

 HypseloMgrus tangara Sauvage, 1881, p. 161 (Siam) (identification doubtful). 

 Mystus vittatus Smith, 1934b, p. 294 (Menam Chao Phya, Menam Bangpa- 



kong).— FowLEK, lS34a, p. 95 (Chiengmai) ; 1934b, p. 337 (Bangliok) ; 1935a, 



p. 104, fig. 28 (Bangkok) ; 1937, p. 146 (Bangkok, Tachin, Pitsanulok, 



Mepoon). 

 Mystus atrifasciatus Fowler, 1937, p. 146, figs. 35, 36 (Pitsanulok, Mepoon). 



This banded m3^stid, known from India, Burma, and Ceylon, is not 

 very common in Thailand and has a limited distribution, according to 

 the observations thus far made. It occurs sparingly in the Menam 



/■; 



Figure 85. — Mystus vittatus (Bloch). Drawn by Luang Masya; courtesy of Thailand 



Government. 



Chao Phya from Paknampo to Bangkok, in Bung Borapet, in the 

 Meping at Chiengmai, in the Menam Bangpakong, and in the Meklong. 

 The largest Thai examples observed have been about 17 cm. long. 

 A female, 13 cm. long, taken in a canal in Bangkok July 18, 1923, had 

 large ovaries. 



