278 BULLETIN 188, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



The known specimens are apparently immature, a condition which 

 would affect their body proportions and coloration, but not tlieir 

 squamation and fin formulae. 



Genus BALITORA Gray 



Balitora Gray, Illustrations of Indian zoology, vol. 2, pi. SS, 1833-34. (Type, 

 Balitora Irucei Gray. ) 



BALITORA BRUCEI Gray 



Balitora irucei Gray, 1833-34, pi. 88, fig. 2 (India).— Hobia, 1932, p. 291 

 (Thaungyin River, Burma-Siam border). 



The British Museum has a specimen of this fish, about 10 cm. long, 

 collected by Stockley in the Thaungyin River between Thailand and 

 Burma. As the dorsal surface is black — differing in this respect from 

 the typical form — Hora has proposed for it the varietal name 

 melanosoTna. The species is known from India and several places in 

 Burma. 



BALITOROPSIS, new genus 



Body cylindrical, its depth and width at origin of dorsal fin about 

 equal, anteriorly slightly depressed ; caudal peduncle moderately com- 

 pressed ; abdomen under surface of head flat ; head greatly depressed, 

 obtusely pointed; mouth moderately arched, small, very near tip of 

 snout; a deep, narrow groove between the anterior lip and the ros- 

 trum, the groove extending around the corners of the mouth; 4 well- 

 developed rostral barbels, in two closely approximated groups, oc- 

 cupying a median rostral lobe ; nostrils rather large, separated by a 

 flap; lips finely papillated, upper lip covering upper jaw, lower lip 

 leaving the sharp-edged lower jaw exposed; scales of back and sides 

 carinated ; head and breast unsealed ; branchial openings oblique, ex- 

 tending a short distance on ventral surface; ventral opening much 

 nearer to ventral base than to anal fin ; dorsal fin arising in advance of 

 ventrals, rays 9, first 2 rays simple; caudal fin long and moderately 

 forked ; anal rays 7, first 2 rays simple ; paired fins horizontal, broad, 

 and rounded ; ventral fins extending far beyond ventral opening but 

 not reaching anal fin, rays 10, of which first 2 rays are simple ; pectoral 

 fins arising under middle of branchial openings, rays 14, first 4 rays 

 simple ; top and sides of head thickly covered with papillae, which are 

 deficient on ventral surface. 



Genotype. — Balitoropsis harfschi, new species. 



This genus is differentiated from the related genera Homaloptera, 

 Balitora, and Hemimyson by the characters shown in the preceding 

 key. In the Chinese genus Sinohomaloptera there are 2 barbels at each 

 angle of the mouth, the ventral opening is posteriorly placed, the body 



