FLATFISH ES (HETEROSOMATA) 



Khotnliiniluhlhy^ valih-roslralus. linkjiis. iQlr). Mem. Ind. Mus., ill, p. 

 Platophrys ^randisquama, tlilclinst and Tlionipson. 1917, Ann. Durb 

 Platophrys spinxceps, McCulloch, itj::!, Aust. Zool., ii, p. 4(1. 

 EngypTosopon {Sarops) s^andisquama, McCulloch and Wliitley. i<)25. 



Halhw-iAr 



flin: 



s)p„cilut 



Korinan, 

 , p. 2,1, fig. 5 ; 



1926, Biol. Res. " Endeavour ", v, p. j^^o ; 

 McCulloch, 1929. Mem. Aust. Mus.. v. p. z: 

 Mi Beaufort, 1920, Fish. Indo Austral. Arch., 



t.M.I't; 31 



Uepth of bodv i§ to Ji 111 the k-iiKtli, length of tiead 3? to 4 J. Snout shorter 

 than eye, diameter of which is 25 to nearly 4 in length of head ; interorbital space 

 concave, widtli 5 to i| times (q) or J to | ($) diameter of eye ; anterior edge of upper 

 eye above middle or posterior part of lower. Rostral and orbital spines present 

 in the male, very small or absent in the female. IVfaxillary extending to, nearly 

 to. or beyond anterior edge of eye, length 3 to 3} in that of head. Teeth of upper 

 jaw biserial anteriorly (at least in adults), uniserial laterally : those of lower jaw 

 uniserial. sometimes in two rows posteriorly. 5 to 7 short gill-rakers on lower part 

 of anterior arch. 36 to 45 scales in lateral line. Dorsal 79-89. Anal 59-68. Pectoral 

 of ocular side with 10 to 12 rays, the upper ray sometimes a little prolonged in the 

 male, length equal to or less than that of head. Brownish, generally with some 

 darker spots and other markings ; median fins usually with small brown spots ; 

 a pair of large blackish spots in the middle of upper and lower margins of caudal.^ 



Type. — Leiden Museum. 



Distribution. — East Africa, through the Indian Ocean and .Archipelago to 

 Australia and Japan. 



Specimens Examined : 



Marley. 



Townsend. 



Gardiner. 



I ($, 108 mm.). 



3{2(J, 60, 70; I?, f,4mm.). 



5 (?, 65-82 mm.). 



4 (3<?. 44-72; I ?, 73 nun,), 

 8 l<3. 33-38 mm.). 



5 «, 56-74 ,, ). 

 3W, 63-?9 ,. )■ 

 I (<J, 83 mm.). 

 I (<J, 108 „ ). 

 I (<J, 45 ,. )■ 

 I (<J, 103 ,. )■ Type of Rlu.m- 



boidichlhvs spilums. 

 1(^,83 mm.). 

 3(?. 96; 2 (J, 83, 105 mm). 



2(S, 117; c5. i^"'"'".). 



5 (2<J. 72. .H„; 3$, 80-108 mn- 



3(1$, 105; 2cJ, 106, 127 mm.) 

 7 (3$. 65-67; 4 (J, 67-98 ,, I 

 2(?, 80; <J, 92 mm.). 

 ■! I (9, 65 mm.). 



Also several from the Mekran Coast, Burma, ami the Nicobar Is. (Ind. Mus.) ; 

 and several from New South Wales and Queensland (.Vustr Mus " Endeavour "). 



This species e.xhibits some variation in respect to the relative positions of the 

 eyes, width of the interorbital space, etc., and it is possible that the examination 

 of a large series of specimens from various localities would reveal the existence of 

 more than one species with a pair of dark spots on the caudal fin. 



ck and Schiegel's figure, but the 



:ites sout en graiide 



