j^2 Records of the Indian Museum. [Voi,. XIX, 



lar or pentagonal areas, distinctly marked on both dorsal and 

 ventral surfaces. 



Coloiir olive-brown dorsally ; borders of the disc, ventrals, 

 the posterior margin of the dorsal and the caudal creamy white; 

 a circular white spot on each side behind the electric organs and a 

 similar but larger one at the junction of the pectorals and the 

 body on each side ; ventral surface creamy white. 



For the sake of comparison with B. impennis, photographs of 

 the dorsal and ventral surfaces of a well-preserved specimen of 

 this species (figs, i, 2) from Puri, and those of one of B. impennis 

 (figs. 3, 4) are reproduced on plate vi. 



The species is widely distributed in Indian seas, there being 

 specimens in the collection from the Sandheads, Orissa Coast, 

 Bay of Bengal, off Colombo and from Bombay. 



Bcngalichthys, Annandale. 



1887. Astrape, Day, Fislies of India, p. 734 (in part), fig. 19. 



1889. Astrape, Day, Faun. Brit. hid. Fishes I, p. 46 (in part), fig. 19. 



1909.* Bengalichthys, Annandale, Op. cit., pp. 47, 48. 



1913. Narke, Garman, Op. cif., p. 312 (in part). 



As has been remarked already the two specimens from the 

 late Dr F. Dav's collection in the Indian Museum identified as 

 A. dipterygia really belong to this genus. Unfortunately these 

 specimens escaped Dr. Annandale's attention at the time of his 

 revision of the Indian Batoids, and the creation of his new genus 

 Bengalichthys. His description of this genus was also short owing 

 to his having only two specimens. Probably this, and the rather 

 poor figure of the only species published by him, led Garman to 

 unite the o-enus Bengalichthys with Narke. The two genera, how- 

 ever are quite distinct and with a fair number of specimens 

 before me, I have thought it desirable to redescribe the genus at 

 some length, and publish good photographs of the only known 



species. . , n 1 



Head body and electric organs united m a subcu-cular, fleshy 

 disc ending abruptly in front of the anus and including only a 

 small anterior part of the ventral fins, snout broadly rounded, 

 anterior narial valves confluent in a small quadrangular flap, extend- 

 ing up to the mouth but not covering it. Mouth small, protru- 

 sible enclosed in a thick fold on the two sides. Eyes very small, 

 degenerate, sunken. Spiracles large, with a smooth border with- 

 out raised' edges. Gill-openings small. Electric organs not dis- 

 tinguishable externally in fully grown specimens. Ventrals large, 

 fleshy ; lateral united with the tail and not enclosed by the disc 

 as in Narke. Pectorals except for a narrow fringe entirely enclosed 

 in the fleshy disc. One dorsal. Tail long, without any fold on 

 lateral sides. Skin thick, fleshy, with large numbers of glandular 

 pits on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. 



Type : Bengalichthys impennis, Annandale, the only known 



species. 



The genus though closely allied to Narke, is certainly quite 



