472 BULLETIN 188, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



The figure ascribed to this species by Fowler from a specimen about 

 7 cm. long from Mepoon differs in some essential features from the 

 descriptions of Bleeker and of Weber and de Beaufort. Thus, these 

 latter authors represent the lateral line as dropping abruptly for three 

 scales at the fourteenth or fifteenth perforated scale, whereas in 

 Fowler's figure the lateral line drops abruptly for one scale after the 

 tenth perforated scale — a difference that seems too great to fall within 

 the limits of individual variation. Another difference is in the lateral 

 line scales, given as 50 to 52 by Weber and de Beaufort and as 54 or 55 

 by Giinther but represented as 44 in Fowler's figure. 



This fish is rare in Thailand and seems to be unknown to the fisher- 

 men, having received no distinctive name that has been recorded. 



OPHICEPHALUS LUCIUS Cuvier and Valenciennes 



OpMoephalus lucius Cxtvier and Valenciennes, 1831, vol. 7, p. 416 (Java). — 

 FowLEB, 1934a, p. 149 (Bangkok) ; 1934b, p. 350 (Southeastern Siam). 



Ophiocephalus lucius Bleekee, 1865 (356), p. 174 (Siam). — Weber and de Beau- 

 fort, 1922, vol. 4, p. 326 (Siam).— Hoba, 1923b, p. 181 (Bangkok). 



Channa lucius Fowles, 1935a, p. 138 (Bangkok) ; 1937, p. 224 (Bangkok, Pitsanu- 

 lok, Mepoon). 



Besides inhabiting Thailand, this species occurs in Java, Sumatra, 

 Borneo, and other islands of the Indo-Australian Archipelago, Malaya, 

 Indo-China, and China. The range covers most of Central Thailand, 

 and extends to the Southeastern district (Chantabun River) and to the 

 Peninsula (upper tributaries of the Tapi River and Patani Province). 

 No specimens are known from Northern, Eastern, and Western Thai- 

 land. Most of the local records are for streams, but the fish inhabits 

 also lakes and ponds. 



The maximum length of the fish is 35 to 40 cm. Of the various 

 adult examples preserved or examined in Thailand, the usual length 

 has been from 22 to 25 cm. The head has a more snaky appearance 

 than in most of the other local species. 



The Thai vernacular name for the fish is pla Jcasong, applied to no 

 other fish. Malays in some parts of Patani Province call the fish ikan 

 hujok. 



OPHICEPHALUS SIAMENSIS Giinther 



Ophiocephalus siamensis Gunther, 1861, vol. 3, p. 476 (Siam) ; 1864, p. 178 

 (Siam and Cambodia). — Bleeker, 1865 (356), p. 174 (Siam). — Sauvage, 

 1881, p. 160 (Siam).— Kaeoli, 1882, p. 171 (Siam).— Sauvage, 1883b, p. 151 

 (Menam Chao Pbya). 



This species was based on a single specimen collected in Thailand 

 by Mouhot, and is the only ophicephalid peculiar to this country. 



Following Giinther's description in 1861, the species was cited by 

 Bleeker in 1865 and recorded by Karoli in 1882 and by Sauvage in 

 1883. Since Sauvage's citation of a specimen from the Menam Chao 

 Phya, the species has not been detected in the extensive collections 



