340 



higher than spinous part, scaly at the base, with branched rays. 

 Anal not or only slightly emarginate. Pectorals obtusely rounded; 

 ventrals inserted below their base, with a strong spine and 

 five rays, the first of which is bifid and somewhat prolonged. 

 Operculum and praeoperculum entire. Branchial arches without 

 toothed tubercles. 



Distribution: That of the single species known. 



I. Helostoma temmincki C.V. (Fig. 88, pag. 339). 



Helosioma Teinminckii Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VII. i83i,p. 342. 

 Helostoma tambakhan Bleaker, Nat. & Geneesk. Arch. Ned. Indie 11. 1845, p. 520 



(nom. tant.). 

 Helostoma oligacantlnim Bleeker, ibid, (spec, abnorm.). 

 Helostoma Teinminckii Bleeker, Verb. Bat. Gen. XXIII. 1850, Vissch. doolhofv. 



Kieuw. p. 9. 

 Helostoma temminckii Giinther, Cat. Brit, Mus. III. 1859 — 1861, p. 377. 

 Helostoma Temmincki Bleeker, Verb. Akad. Amsterdam XIX. 1879, Mem. Poiss. 



pharyng. labyrinth, p. 15. 

 Helostoma temmincki Regan, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1909, p. 773. 



D. XVI— XVIII, 13—16; A, XIII— XV, 17—19; P. 2. II; 

 V,I,5; L,l, 44-48; L.tr,^^, 



Height about 2, about 2,5 in length with caudal. Head, with 

 the fronto-rostral line more or less concave, 2 — 3 in length, 

 3 — 3,5 in length with caudal. Eye on the same level with the 

 angle of the mouth, 3.5 to about 4 times in head and nearly 

 equal to snout. Olivaceous or greyish on the back, much 

 lighter below, dark longitudinal stripes along the series of 

 scales. Length 300 mm. 



Nom. indig.: Tambakan (Malay), Tabakang (Djambi), Sapil 

 (Palembang), Biawan (Kapuas). 



Habitat: Sumatra (Palembang I, Bagan Api Api !, River 

 Batang Hari !, Djambi!, Danau Gading, Danau Sialong Lotong, 

 Indragiri, Gunung Sahilan !, Deli!, Sungi Glugur !, Lower & 

 Upper Langkat!, Padang, Pangabuan, Benkulen, Telokbetong); 

 Java (Batavia!); Borneo (river Kapuas: Lake Danau Sriang, 

 Pontianak, Sintang, Smitau, Sebruang, Djongkong!; river Kaha- 

 jan, Banjermassin), — Siam, Malay Peninsula '). 



Living in fresh water and ponds; a valued foodfish. 



i) KaRoli (Termeszetrajzi Fiizetek V, 1882, p. 26) records also Ceylon as 

 habitat, l)Ut this must be erroneous as the species has nes'er been found in Ceylon. 



