207 



CHAPTER VI. 



FRESH-WATER FISHES OF THE ORDER, PHYSOSTOMI (continued]. 



GROUP RHODEINA GENUS RHODEUS: The Bitterling GROUP ABRAMIDINA GENUS 

 AHUAMIS : The Bream A. vimba A. elongatus A. ballerus A. sapa A. leuckartii A. 

 bjorkna Hybrids A. bipunctatus A. fasciatus GENUS ASPIUS : A. rapax GENT'S ALBUR- 

 NUS : A. lucidus A. alburnellus A. mento A. chalcoides GENUS LEUCASPIUS : L. deli- 

 neatus GENUS PELECUS : P. cultratus GROUP COBITIDINA GENUS MISGURNUS : 

 M. fossilis GENUS NEMACHILUS : The Loach -GENUS COBITIS : The Spinous Loach. 



GROUP : RHODEINA. 

 GENUS : Rhodeus (AGASSIZ). 



RHODEUS is the type of the Rhodeina, Dr. Giinther's ninth group of the Cy- 

 prinidse. This is a small assemblage of three genera, limited to Japan and China, 

 with one species, the Rhodeus amarus the Bitterling of Germany, and la 

 Bonviere of France characteristic of Central Europe. The lateral line is de- 

 veloped only in the anterior part of the trunk. The dorsal h'n has nine to twelve 

 branched rays, and extends between the ventral and anal fins. The anal fin has 

 about twelve rays. The mouth is small without barbels; the pharyngeal teeth, 

 in a single row of five on each side, are compressed, with a simple furrow on the 

 bevelled surface. During the spawning season the male develops tubercles on 

 the snout, and the female grows a long external urogenital tube, or oviduct. 

 The genus contains three species, which are all of small size ; two of them are 

 limited to China. 



Rhodeus amarus (BLOCK). 



D. 3/910, A. 3/9, V. 2/6, P. 1/10, C. 19. 

 Scales : lat. line 34 38, transverse 10 12. 



The Bitter Carp is a very small fish, intermediate in aspect between the 

 Common Carp and the Crucian Carp (Fig. 114). Its body is about three 

 times as long as high, nearly five times as long as the head, and about three 

 times as deep as thick. The head is nearly as high as long, but is short, with 

 an obtuse snout. The eye is about one-third of the length of the head, and 

 is placed towards the middle of its side. The angles of the small mouth, 

 which is rather oblique, reach back under the nares. The nares are double, 

 with the anterior opening round, and the hinder opening oval. 



The contour rises from the back of the head to the dorsal fin in a sharp 



