8ILUBID.E. 129 



13. Genus CALLICHROUS, Hamilton Buchanan. 



Syn. Omwk, Lacep. ; Kryptopterus, Kryptopterichthys, Micronema, 

 Philacronotus, Hemmlurws, Silurodes, Pseudosilurus, and Stturichthys, 

 Bleeker ; Plerocryptis, Peters. 



Branchiostegals twelve to fifteen. G-ill-qpenings wide ; the 

 membranes not confluent with the skin of the isthmus, deeply 

 notched and overlapping. Head covered with skin. Cleft of mouth 

 oblique, not extending so far as the front of the eyes ; the lower 

 jaw the longer. Eyes subcutaneous, situated behind and opposite 

 the angle of the mouth, lateral or sometimes partially on the lower 

 surface of the head. Barbels four or two, one pair maxillary, and 

 some distance behind the symphysis a mandibular pair, the latter 

 sometimes being rudimentary or even absent. Nostrils remote 

 from one another. Teeth villiform in the jaws, in an uninterrupted 

 (Silurodes, Bleeker) or interrupted (Callichrous, Bleeker) band on 

 the vomer, none on the palatines. Dorsal fin spineless, short, 

 rudimentary, or absent, when present anterior to the ventrals ; no 

 adipose fin. Pectoral with a spine. Anal long, continuous with 

 (Pterocryptis, Peters) or terminating close to the caudal, the latter 

 being forked, emarginate or rounded. Ventral with eight to ten 

 rays. Air-bladder rather small, attached to the lower surfaces of 

 the second to the fourth vertebrae, and not enclosed in bone. No 

 axillary pore. 



Geographical Distribution. Sind, India, Ceylon, Burma, through 

 Siam, to the Malay Archipelago and China. 



Uses. Although rarely exceeding a foot in length, these fishes are 

 usually excellent as food, and from their quality have been termed 

 " Butter-fish " by Europeans in Bengal, and are generally known as 

 " Puffta," Hind. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Anal fin united to the caudal. 



Teeth on the palate in an uninterrupted 



band. D.2,A.75. Maxillary barbels 



not quite so long as the head 1. C. gangeticus, p. 130. 



Vomerine teeth in two separate patches. 



D. 4, A. 47. Maxillary barbels 



reach middle of pectoral tin 2. C. sindensis, p. 130. 



B. Anal fin distinct from the caudal. 



A. 60-75, V. 8. Maxillary barbels 



reach ventral tin. Pectoral not so long 



as head, spine smooth or serrated . . 3. C. bimaculattis, p. 131. 

 A. (50-71, V. 9-10. Maxillary barbels 



shorter than the head. Pectoral 



spine feebly serrated 4. <?. jxibo, p. 132. 



A. 09-73, V. 8. Eyes large. Maxil- 

 lary barbels reach middle of fish. 



Pectoral fin reaches fourth or fifth 



anal ray 5. C. macrophthalmus, p. 132. 



K 



