CHIKOCENXEID^. 475 



Fam. 22. CHIROCENTRIDiE. 



Chirocentrida3, C'uv. ^- Val. xix. p. 15-]. 



Body covered with thin, deciduous scales; barbels 

 none. Margin of the upper jaw formed by the inter- 

 maxillaries mcsially, and by the maxillaries laterally, 

 both bones being firmly united by juxtaposition. Oper- 

 cular apparatus complete. Adipose fin none ; the dor- 

 sal fin belongs to the caudal portion of the vertebral 

 column. Stomach with a blind sac ; intestine short, 

 the mucous membrane forming a spiral fold ; pyloric 

 appendages none. Pseudobranchias none ; air-bladder 

 incompletely divided into cells ; gill-opening wide. 



Indian Ocean and Archipelago. 

 Only one genus is known. 



1. CHIEOCENTRUS. 



Cbirocenti'iis, Cuv. Rhjia' Anim. 



Body elongate, compressed, with, the abdomen trenchant ; cleft 

 of the mouth wide, oblique, with the lower jaw prominent. Lower 

 jaw ■with a series of large canine teeth ; intermaxillary with a pair 

 of horizontal canines. Narrow bands of minute teeth on the pala- 

 tine and pterygoid bones and on the tongue. Dorsal fin short, 

 opposite to the anal, which is long. A long pointed osseous append- 

 age at the base of the pectoral; ventral fins very small. Gill- 

 membranes united for a short distance, with eight branchiostegals. 



From the eastern coasts of Africa to China. 



1: Chirocentrus dorab. 



Clupea dorab, Forsh. Descr. An. p. 72; Lacep. v. p. 425 ; Jiussell, ii. 



pi. 199. 



dentex, Bl. Sc/iti. p. 428. 



Esox chiroceutrus, Lacvp. v. p. 290. 



Chirocentrus dorab, Cuv. liit/ne Anim. ; Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 81 ; 



Richards. Ichthjol. Chin. p. 311 ; Cuv. ct Val. xix. p. loO, pi. 5Go; 



Bleek. I'crh. Bat. Gen. xxii. Madura, p. G ; Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 277 ; 



Dm/, Fish. Malab. p. 223. 

 hypselosoma, BIcek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxiv. CJiiroc. p. 25 ; or 



Nat. 'Ti/dschr. Ned. Ind. iii. p. 71. 

 B. y. D. lG-17. A. 33-34. Y. 7. Vert. 20/46. 

 The height of the body is less than the length of the head, which 



