233 



Branchiostegals 7. Light brownish, fins with a black margin. 

 Length of single specimen known 240 mm. [Type in the 

 British Museum examined]. 

 Habitat: Arafura sea. 



4. Oloplotosus M. Weber. 



(MAX WEBER. Nova-Guinea IX. Livr. IV. 1913, p. 521). 



Elongate, tail tapering, head depressed, covered by thick 

 skin. Mouth transverse, rounded in front, upperlip very pro- 

 minent, anteriorly perforated by the anterior nostrils, which 

 form short, rounded tubes. Lips thick, with lamellated folds, 

 posterior nostril, in front of which a nasal barbel forms a slit, 

 situated much nearer to lip than to eye. Maxillary barbels near 

 the end of the upperlip, the mandibulary barbels below the 

 corner of the mouth, two mental ones between the intermaxil- 

 lary ones. Eye covered by skin. First dorsal short, a little behind 

 origin of pectorals, with few rays and a strong spine, denti- 

 culated at both edges. Second dorsal beginning before origin 

 of ventrals, it is many-rayed, similar to anal and both are 

 confluent with the caudal. Ventrals with 12 13 rays. Pectorals 

 with a denticulated spine. Conical teeth in about two rows in 

 a narrow crescentic band on mandibels and vomer. No maxil- 

 lary teeth. Lateral line indistinct. 17 gillrakers on the total 

 first branchial arch. Similar ones on the 2 nd arch, none on the 

 following arches. Gillmembranes mesially united with isthmus 

 in their whole length; 10 branchiostegals. A conspicuous den- 

 dretic organ between anus and anal. 



Fig. 93. Oloplotosus mariae M. Web. 



i. Oloplotosus mariae M. Web. 



Oloplotosus mariae Max Weber, Nova Guinea IX. Livr. IV. 1913, p. 5 22 - 



B. 12; I. D. I. 4; 2. D. circa 8090; A. circa 60 70; 

 P. i. 12; V. 1213; C. circa 12. 



Height 7 1 / 3 7 1 /i> nead about 5% eye in first half of head 



