468 OPniOCEPHALID-E. 



Fam. 39. OPHIOCEPHALIDiE. 



Labyrinthici, part., Cuv. Rhgne Anini. ; 3IiUl. Berl. Ahhandl. 1844, 



t). 201. 

 Labyrinthibrancliii, part., Oweti, Led. Comp. Anat. i. p. 49. 

 Ophiocephaloidei, Bleak, Enum. Spec. p. xxiv. 



Body elongate, anteriorly suhcylindrical, covered with scales of 

 moderate size ; head depressed, covered with shield-Mke scales sii- 

 periorly ; lateral line "with an abrupt curve, or subinterrupted. Cleft 

 of the mouth lateral, wide ; teeth in the jaws and on the palate. 

 Eye lateral. GiU-opening wide, the gill-membranes of both sides 

 joined below the isthmus ; four gills ; pseudobranchiae none. A 

 cavity accessory to the gill-cavity, for the purpose of retaining water 

 in it, a superbranchial organ not being developed. An air-bladder. 

 One long dorsal and anal Jin, ivithout spiiies ; ventral fins absent or 

 thoracic, and composed of six rays, the outer of which is not branched. 

 Vertebra) in considerable number (52-61) ; the caudal vertebrte are 

 provided with ribs, the abdominal cavity being continued to below 

 the caudal portion. 



FresliAvater fishes of the East Indies : able to live and move withoiit 

 the water for a short time. Feeding on small animals. 



Every ichthyologist wiU acknowledge the necessity of separating 

 these fishes from the Lahyrinthici, their entire external and internal 

 structure being -wadely different. The only character by which their 

 position in this Order appears to be justified is the insertion and the 

 sti'ucture of the ventral fins ; they are composed of six rays, the 

 outer of which is not even a true spine, but articulated towards its 

 extremity. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



Ventral fins present 1. Ophiockphalus, p. 4(i8. 



Ventral fins none 2. Channa, p. 483. 



1. OPHIOCEPHALUS*. 



Ophicoplialus, Block, Atisl. Ftschc, \\n. p. 137. 



Ventral fins present. Pyloric appendages two. Fine teeth in the 

 jaws, on the vomer and the palatine bones, sometimes intermixed 

 with larger ones. 



Fresh waters of the East Indies. 



* 1. Sowara, Ruf,s. pi. 163. — Ophicephalus sowara, Cuv. Sf Val. vii. p. 426. — 

 Vizagapatanii 

 2. Bostrichoidcs ocellatus, Lacep. iii. pp. 144, 145, ii. pi. 14. fig. 3. — Ophi- 

 cephalus ocellatus, Cuv. ^ Val. vii. p. 434. — China. 3. 



