1909.] 



B. L. Chaudhuri : New species of Caranx. 



143 



appears perpendicularly below the depression in front of the 

 spinous dorsal. The ventral fin is comparatively large and fan-like, 

 the rays being long enough to reach the anterior root of the anal 

 fin. All the rays are joined together by parachute-like thin black 

 membrane of considerable width. The ventral fin appears to cover 

 completely a trenchant space with a groove which extends from the 

 root of the ventral to the anterior root of the anal. Within this 

 trenchant groove, at about its middle, the cloacal opening is situa- 

 ted, posterior to which are two rather long detached anal spines. 

 The position and character of the parachute-like covering of the 

 ventral fin suggests some accessory function subserving breeding or 

 development. Pectoral nearly i^ times as long as the head No 

 filiform prolongation of rays in the anal fin either in the male or 

 female, but the anterior rays slighth' longer than the more posterior 

 ones. The caudal fin is deepl}^ forked. 



Fig. 2. — Caranx anvicoroncB , sp. nov. 



Colour. — Upper half steel-grey ; eyes, body of fins and lower 

 posterior half golden, and lower anterior half silvery ; the edge of 

 the caudal fin and soft dorsal black. The fold of thin membrane 

 between the rays of the ventral fin quite black. There are, however, 

 neither opercular spots nor any vertical bands or stripes of any 

 kind in the adult. 



Scales. — Present, small and deciduous, mostly in the caudal 

 region. 



Lateral line. — Covered with 30 plates which are not armed with 

 spines nor keeled. 



Two specimens, one male and one female with matured ova, 

 caught by the steam trawler ''Golden Crown" in the month of 

 September, 1908, off the coast of Chittagong. 



Length of specimens. — 14 cm. 



