303 
granulated at its front and hind-border. Base of adipose fin a 
little less than that of dorsal, 2'/, to 3 times (in adult speci- 
mens) in its distance from that fin. Height of anal equal to 
postorbital part of head, ventrals scarcely shorter and not or 
scarcely reaching anal. Pectorals pointed, as long as the head 
without snout, their flattened spine one eyediameter shorter, 
its frontborder feebly and its hindborder strongly serrated or 
granulated, about as long as that of the dorsal. Caudal deeply 
forked. Axillary pore present. Villiform teeth in an arcuate 
band in the jaws, 
in 4 patches on the 
palate, the two oval 
median ones their 
own diameter apart 
and separated from 
the two outer late- 
ral ones, which are 
slightly curved and 
a 
LE ity 
OY, 
3 times as broad as -<ZReKKY 
long. 9 stiff, broa- LEE 
dened and pointed ion 
gillrakers, decreas- 
ing in size anteri- 
orly, the longest equal to length of branchial filaments. Silvery, 
upper surface of head and body bluish grey, dorsal and caudal 
with black edgings, sometimes the entire lobes of lastnamed 
fin blackish. Length about 240 mm. 
Habitat: South New Guinea (Lorentz river!). 
In tidal reach of river and above it. 
A - Cy. 4 
5 os 9 rel | 
RE fase Asia 
Fig. 127. Arius acrocephalus M. Web. 1/,. 
20. Arius leptaspis (Blkr.). 
Hexanematichthys leptaspis Bleeker, Atl. Ichth. II. 1862, p. 27. 
Arius leptaspis Max Weber, Nova Guinea V. livr. 2. 1908, p. 227. 
Arius leptaspis Max Weber, Nova Guinea IX. livr. 4. 1913, p. 544. 
Pee Dien. Alec PY 19s Vi 6. 
Elongate; height under the dorsal spine somewhat more 
than 5. Head about 3'/,, much broader than high, its width 
about '/, shorter than head. Headshields corrugate; occipital 
process triangular, longer than broad at its base, its rather 
broad, truncate hindborder touching the narrow, crescentic 
basal bone, mesially with a longitudinal, blunt elevation. 
