1920.] S. L. HORA : Indian Homalopteridae. 203 



Bhavania annandalei, sp. n. 

 (Plate X, figs. 1—3 ; pi. XI, figs. 5—7.) 



1878. Homaloptera maciilata (in part), Day, Fishes of India, II, 



P- 526, 

 1889. Homaloptera maciilata (in part), Day, Fauna Br. hid.., Fish. 



I. P- 243- 

 1909. Homaloptera maciilata, Jenkins {nee Grayj, Rec. Ind. Miis., Ill, 



pp. 289. 



Day has figured in the Fishes of India a male specimen from 

 the Wynaad, but his figures are far from being accurate. In- 

 stead of the usual three pairs of barbels he figures only two and 

 does not show anything of the musculature of the lower lip. His 

 specimen No. 1510 in the Indian Museum from the Wynaad, 

 perhaps the original of his figure, is in a very bad state as it has 

 been allowed to desiccate. 



I have taken specimen No. ^i^-s l of the Zoological Survey of 

 India from Tenmalai as the type-specimen for this species. 



Like the other members of its family, the fish is highly 

 specialised for an existence in rapid-running waters. The mouth 

 is provided with thick lips, the lower one being Vv^idel}^ interrupted 

 on both sides near the angle of the mouth. Posterior to but 

 immediately following upon the middle piece of the lower lip, 

 there is a pair of prominent papillae which probably act as 

 adhesive organs. The musculature connected with the lower lip 

 is very interesting. Two bands of muscles proceed backwards 

 from these papillae along the middle line for a short distance 

 and then diverge from each other, thus appearing like an in- 

 verted letter Y. There are two more bands on either side run- 

 ning from the angle of the mouth outwards and backwards. The 

 former pair pulls the middle piece of the lower lip in a back- 

 ward direction, while the latter pulls the angle of the mouth 

 outwards, thus straightening the flexure near the angle. When 

 all the muscles act simultaneously the mouth is converted into 

 a circular adhesive disc. The function is probably that of 

 decreasing the air pressure in the cavity as in other adhesive 

 organs. 



The fish has a very graceful form, its ventral profile being 

 almost straight and the dorsal slightly arched ; it is highest near 

 the beginning of the dorsal fin and sinks gradually towards both 

 ends. The head and body are depressed. The length of the 

 caudal is contained 6^, the height of the body 9, the length of 

 head 6-|- times in the total length including the caudal. The eyes 

 are dorso-lateral in position, their diameter being contained 5 

 times in the length of the head. 



Barbels : — In all there are six barbels, 2 pairs rostral situated 

 close together and i pair maxillar^^, situated slightly anterior to 

 the angle of the mouth. All of them are well developed, the 

 outer rostral pair being slightly shorter than the others. 



Fins : — The pectoral fins have eight simple rays, followed by 

 9 branched ones, which are in their turn followed by two more 



