466 BULLETIN 188, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



iO. stinatus) may be considered the commonest of the staple food 

 fishes of the country. The various species are very hardy and, if kept 

 moist, can remain alive for a long time out of water, owing to the 

 possession of a suprabranchial cavity. This cavity, communicating 

 with the pharynx, is not nearly so complicated as in Anaha^ and other 

 members of the Anabantidae; it has no labyrinthine organ but is lined 

 with a thin epithelium. The assertion by Giinther (1861, vol. 3) that 

 the purpose of this cavity is to retain water is open to question. The 

 obvious function of the cavity in the ophicephalids (in which it is of 

 simplest form) as in other fishes of the order Labyrinthici is to permit 

 aerial respiration. 



Under the strict rules of zoological nomenclature, the proper generic 

 name for these fishes is Channa. The present writer feels, however, 

 that the time-honored name of Ophicephal/us should, if possible, be 

 retained and that the International Commission on Zoological 

 Nomenclature might very properly bring in a special rule to cover the 

 case. 



The eight species of Ophicephalus from Thailand may be diiferen- 

 tiated as follows : 



la. Vomer and palatines with a more or less continuous pluriserial band of small 

 teeth, none of them canine. 

 2a. A conspicuous black light-edged ocellus at upper base of caudal fin. 

 3a. A posterior row of about 12 large conical teeth on each ramus of lower 

 jaw ; lateral line scales 60 to 70, dropping 2 rows at 16th to 18th per- 

 forated scale ; scales in transverse series 4.5-1-11 to 13 ; rows of scales 

 between ej'e and angle of preopercle 10 ; dorsal rays 45 to 55 ; anal rays 



28 to 36; 4 or 5 dark blotches along side below lateral line marulius 



36. Posterior teeth in lower jaw uniserial, small, interspersed with widely 

 separated blunt caniniform teeth; lateral line scales 55 to 08, dropping 

 abruptly 2 rows at 17th to 20th perforated scale ; scales in transverse 

 series 35-1-10 ; rows of scales between eye and angle of preopercle 5 ; 

 dorsal rays 45 to 47; anal rays 30 or 31; no dark blotches on 



side marulioides 



26. No ocellus at base of caudal fin ; a posterior row of about 5 canine teeth 

 on each ramus of lower jaw; lateral line scales 52 to 57, dropping 

 abruptly 2 rows at 17th to 20th perforated scale ; scales in transverse line 

 4 to 5.5-1-8 to 10 ; dorsal rays 37 to 45 ; anal rays 21 to 27 ; back dark 

 green, dark brown, or black; side usually with dark strii)es running 

 obliquely upward above, obliquely downward below; underparts white, 



irregularly blotched with black or brown striatus 



16. Vomer and palatines with 1 or 2 series of teeth which are mostly canine or 

 caniniform. 

 4a. Lateral line scales 41 to 45, dropping 1 row at 10th to 13th perforated 

 scale ; scales in transverse series 3 or 4.5-1-7 ; rows of scales between eye 

 and angle of preopercle 4 or 5 ; rows of scales on opercle 3 ; dorsal, caudal, 

 and anal fins with a narrow bright red margin (turning white in 

 alcohol ) , „ .V g-achua 



