329 



laterally in one or two rows. Immediately behind these a row 

 of distant strong canines. There are 15 — 17 rows of scales 

 between the eye and the hindborder of the praeoperculuni 

 and about 8 rows on the operculum. Lateral line without abrupt 

 curve, but sloping down in a more or less regular way in 

 the fore part of its course. Dorsal beginning above or even 

 somewhat before base of pectorals and ending scarcely behind 

 end of anal; its origin separated by about 28 scales from snout. 

 None of those scales on the head very much larger than the 

 others. Origin of anal below 16^" — iS^h dorsal ray. Pectorals 

 about 1.5 or somewhat more in postorbital part of head. Ven- 

 trals originating at some distance behind pectorals and only 

 a little shorter than lastnamed fins. Dark brown or bluish 

 above, whitish below; two black parallel longitudinal bands, 

 the upper one running from point of snout through eye to 



Fig. 85. Ophioccpha.tis micropcltes (K. v. II.) C.V. Y^\.\ 



end of caudal, the lower one beginning somewhat above corner 

 of mouth, running through base of pectoral and also continued 

 to end of caudal, the interspace between these bands brick-red 

 in living specimens, but generally faded in preserved ones. 

 In older specimens the black bands break up into irregular 

 blotches and quite disappear in old specimens. Dorsal fin dusky 

 or with irregular longitudinal bands in older specimens. Caudal 

 dusky, with exception of the two dark bands and the red 

 interspace in younger specimens. Pectorals, ventrals and anal 

 whitish, the lastnamed fin with a black longitudinal band in 

 old specimens. Length 640 mm. 



N o m. i n d i g. : Gabus Tobang (Malay), Ikan toman (lake Toba). 



Habitat: Sumatra (Palembang!, Lahat, Muara Kompeh, 

 Gunung Sahilan !, Djambi!, Laut Tador, Danau kota, Danau 

 baru, Lake Toba!); Banka ; Biliton ; Java (Batavia, Tjibiliong, 

 Lelles, Semarang); Madura; Borneo (Prabukarto, Banjermassin, 



