FRESH-WATER FISHES OF SIAM, OR THAILAND 



279 



and head are covered with keeled scales, the ventral fins have 10 rays 

 of which the first 2 are simple, and the pectoral fins have 20 rays, with 

 the first 7 or 8 simple. 



BALITOROPSIS BARTSCHI, new species 



FiGUBE 56 



Description. — Head greatly depressed and flattened, obtusely 

 pointed, 4.4 times in standard length, its depth at nape about 0.5 

 its breadth and somewhat less than 0.5 its length; body cylindrical 

 medianly, moderately compressed posteriorly, and depressed an- 

 teriorly, its depth at dorsal origin about equal to head; least depth 

 of caudal peduncle 1.8 times in its length and 2.25 times in head; 

 snout long, bluntly pointed, 0.5 length of head; eyes dorsolateral, 

 entirely in posterior half of head, their diameter five in head, 2.5 in 

 snout, and about two in the flat interorbital space ; two pairs of rostral 

 barbels, less than diameter of eye, arranged in pairs on a moderately 

 developed median rostral lobe, the outer barbel extending to the 

 lower lip; the single barbel at corner of mouth somewhat shorter 

 than outer rostral barbel; rostral fold separated from upper lip by 

 a deep groove extending around corners of mouth to posterior lip; 

 mouth rather strongly arched, placed far forward on underside of 

 snout, its diameter about that of eye, lips thin, finely papillated, 

 leaving exposed the front of lower jaw which has a sharp edge and 

 a corneous covering; the short, oblique gill opening extends a short 

 distance on the ventral surface. 



Figure 56. — Balitoropsis bartschi, new species: Type (U.S.N. M. No. 107963). Drawn by- 

 Miss Jane Roller. 



