i()2i.] vS- h. HORA : Fishes of the genus Gayra. 66g 



Garra prashadi, sp. nov. 



Plate XXIV, fig. 3. 



D. 3/7-8. A. 2/5. V. 8-9. P. 13. 



The fish is subcylindrical with the head and body some- 

 what flattened on the under surface. Tlie dorsal profile rises 

 considerably from the tip of the snout to the origin of the dorsal 

 fin, beyond which it gradually slopes to the base of the caudal ; 

 the ventral profile is straight and horizontal in front of the anal 

 fin, beyond which it rises to the base of the caudal. The head 

 is short and bluntly pointed; its length is contained 45 to 5 times 

 in the length of the fish without the caudal fin ; the head is almost 



1 I times as long as broad. The depth of the body near the 

 origin of the dorsal fin is slightly greater than the length of the 

 bead. The eyes are lateral and are in the upper half of the head ; 

 their diameter is contained 4'3 times in the length of the head and 



2 to 2" I times in the length of the snout and in the interorbital 

 width. The eyes are situated slightly in the posterior half of the 

 head. The mouth is on the under surface, somewhat behind the 

 tip of the snout ; its gape is half as broad as the width of the head. 

 The mental disc is comparatively small but is well developed. 

 There are two pairs of short barbels, shorter than the diameter 

 of the eye. The dorsal fin commences nearer the tip of the snout 

 than the base of the caudal fin ; it is almost as high as the depth 

 of the body below it. The ventrals are situated below the middle 

 of the dorsal and their commencement is midway between the tip 

 of the snout and the base of the caudal fin. The pectorals are 

 longer than the head and are horizontally placed; they are sharp 

 in the middle and are separated from the ventrals by half their 

 own length. The ventrals extend to the anus and are provided 

 with scaly appendages near their bases. The anal is considerably 

 removed from the ventrals and does not extend to the base of the 

 caudal fin. The caudal fin is deeply emarginate ; the caudal 

 peduncle is rz times as long as high. 



The air-bladder is minute but of the normal Cyprinid type. 

 In a male specimen 82 mm. in length the following are its measure- 

 ments : — 



Lenglh ol anterior cliambcr ... ... ... 5'5 mm. 



,, ,, posterior ,, ,, ... ... 6'5 ,, 



Greatest diameter of anterior chamber 4'n ,, 



,, posterior ., ,. ... i'2 ,, 



The scales in Garra prashadi, though well developed, are rather 

 obscure. I have been able to make out 32 along the lateral line 

 and 6J longitudinal series of scales between the bases of the dorsal 

 and the ventral fins. The scales are poorly develoi^ed on the 

 abdomen and are absent on the chest. 



The colour is rather characteristic, the dorsal surface of the 

 head is dusky ; it is dirty white on the under surface. The 

 upper surface of the body and its sides above the lateral line are 



