Cl'PlilNODONTID.E. 415 



in its last half ; another narrow black band between it and the root 

 of the caudal which is also dark. Female : silvery, with from seven 



Fig. 134. Cyprinodon dispar, male. 



to nine narrow vertical bands. Ova very large, almost equalling 

 the diameter of the eye. 



Hab. Abyssinia, Palestine, shores of the Eed Sea, and Arabian 

 Gulf. Common in Cutch. 



2. Genus HAPLOCHILUS, McClelland. 



Syn. Aplocheilus, McClelland ; Panchax, Cuv. & Val. ; Zygonectes, 

 Micristius, Gill. 



Body somewhat elongate and compressed. Upper surface of 

 head and nape broad and depressed. Mandibular bones united at 

 the symphysis. Teeth villiform in the jaws, present or absent on 

 the palate. Dorsal fin short, commencing behind the origin of the 

 anal, which latter has an elongate base. Scales cycloid and of 

 medium size. Lateral line absent. Intestinal canal of moderate 

 length. 



Geographical Distribution. India to the Malay Archipelago arid 

 beyond, Tropical Africa, Madagascar and Islands in the Indian 

 Ocean, also temperate and tropical America. In India these fishes 

 are mostly found in the neighbourhood of the sea or tidal rivers, 

 more rarely very far inland*. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. 20-24. No prolonged ventral ray 1. H. melastigma, p. 415. 



A prolonged ventral ray. Spotted with red. . 2. H. rubrostigma, p. 416. 

 A prolonged ventral ray. Vertical black bands 3. H. lineatus, p. 416. 



A. 15-17. No prolonged ventral ray 4. H. panchax, p. 417. 



;/ *** ,, f /WJ 

 528. (1.) Haplochilns melanostigma. 



Aplocheilus melastigmus, McClelland, As. Res. xix, Ind. Cyp. 



pp. 301, 427, pi. 42, tig. 3 (from H. . MSS.}. 

 Haplochilus melastigma, Day, Fish. India, p. 522, pi. cxxi, fig. 4 



(see synon.). 



* These fishes are termed Kud-di-an in Canarese ; a white occipital spot is 

 almost invariably present. 



