446 BULLETIN 188, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



The Thailand records are two fish, 9.4 and 11 cm. long, from the 

 Menam Chao Phya at Paknam, reported by Fowler ; one fish, 16 cm. 

 long, from the Chantabun Eiver at Chant abun, collected by Luang 

 Masya in August 1927 ; and one taken in salt water at Sriracha, South- 

 eastern Thailand, June 14, 1927. This was a male, 13.4 cm. long, with 

 the brood pouch full of young. 



SYNGNATHUS DJARONG Sleeker 



Syngnathus djarong Bleeker, 1853 (89), p. 22 (Panimbang, Java). — Fowleb, 

 1935a, p. 133 (Bangkok) ; 1937, p. 219, fig. 196 (Bangkok). 



This species is distributed widely through the Indo-Australian 

 Archipelago, New South Wales, the Philippines, and Ceylon. While 

 it occurs in brackish water, it also frequents fresh-water brooks and 

 ponds, and it is known from Thailand by two specimens, 9 and 12.2 

 cm. long, from the Menam Chao Phya at Bangkok. 



Order Labyrinthici : Labyrinth Fishes 

 Family ANABANTIDAE 



The anabantids are among the most interesting and outstanding 

 of the fresh-water fishes of Thailand. They present a wide range in 

 shape, size, and coloration, but have as a characteristic feature the 

 possession of an accessory respiratory organ, situated in a cavity above 

 the gills, by means of which oxygen may be taken directly from the 

 atmosphere. While the gills are functional, they appear inadequate 

 to sustain life, and all the numerous members of the family living in 

 Thailand are partly dependent on atmospheric air, which they take in 

 through the mouth. 



Associated with the air-breathing habit is the blowing by the male 

 fish of air-bubbles which form into clusters at the surface and serve 

 as nests in which the eggs are laid and hatched. A mucous secretion 

 from the buccal cavity strengthens the bubble walls. 



This family in Thailand has 10 members belonging in 6 very dis- 

 tinct genera, as follows : 



la. Origin of dorsal fin over or slightly in advance of base of pectorals ; dorsal 



fin longer than anal ; ventral fins with a spine and 5 soft rays, none of 



which is produced into a filament. 



2«. Fixed conical teeth in jaws ; a band of teeth on vomer ; mouth rather 



large, oblique, nonprotractile, cleft extending to or beyond edge of orbit ; 



opercle and preopercle serrated ; dorsal soft rays 7 to 11 ; anal soft rays 



8 to 12 Anabas 



2b. No teeth in jaws, movable teeth on lips; no teeth on vomer; mouth small, 

 horizontal, protractile, cleft extending about halfway to orbit; opercle 

 and preopercle entire; dorsal soft rays 13 to 16, anal soft rays 

 17 to 19 Helostoma 



