CHIBOCENIBID^. 475 



Fam. 22. CHIROCENTRID.E. 



Ohirocentridse, Cuv. (§• Val. xix, p. 153. 



Body covered with thin, deciduous scales; barbels 

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

 maxillaries mesially, 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. Pseudobranchia? none ; air-bladder 

 incompletely divided into cells ; gill-opening wide. 



Indian Ocean and Archipelago. 

 Only one genus is known. 



1. CHIEOCENTRUS. 



Chirocentrus, Cuv. R^gne Anim. 



Body elongate, compressed, with the abdomen trenchant • cloft 

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

 jaw "wdth 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, Forsk. Descr, An, p. 72 ; Lacep. v. p. 425 ; Russell, ii. 



pi, 199, 



dentex, Bl. Schn. p. 428. 



Esox chirocentrus, Laccp. v. p. 29(3. 



Chirocentrus dorab, Cini. Rcqne Anvii. ; Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 81 



Richards. Ichthyol. Chin. p. 311 ; Cue. 8f Val. xix. p. 150, pi. 565 



Hleeh. Vcrh. Bat. Gen. xxii. Madura, p. 6 ; Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 277 



Day, Fish. Malab. p. 223. 

 hypselosoma, Block. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxiv. Cliiroc. p. 25 ; or 



Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ltd. iii. p. 71. 



B. 8. D. 16-17. A. 33-34. V. 7. Vert. 29/46. 

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



