366 



b. Gillopening extending dorsally above the base 



of the pectoral. Caudal deeply emarginate. . . Akysis p. 370. 

 II. No adipose fin. Gillopening extending only to the 



base of the pectoral Breitensteinia p. 373. 



I. Acrochordonichthys Bleeker. 



(BLEEKER, Ichth. Arch. Ind. Prodr. I. Siluri, 1858. p. 221). 



Elongate; head depressed, covered with soft, granular skin. 

 Belly flat. Body with longitudinal rows of tubercles. Eyes small, 

 looking upward, covered by the skin. Anterior nostrils tubular, 

 at some distance behind them the posterior nostrils, which have a 

 circular rim, the frontborder of which carries a nasal barbel. A 

 pair of maxillary barbels, originating with a broad base, on the 

 upper lip. The slender mandibulary barbels far behind angle 

 of mouth, the mental ones behind lower lip. Gape of mouth 

 rather wide and slightly curved. Snout prominent, rounded. 

 A median longitudinal fontanel on the top of the head, visible 

 when the skin is removed. Short dorsal fin midway between 

 pectorals and ventrals, with 5 soft rays and a pungent spine, 

 which is covered by thick skin, and the hindborder of which 

 is slightly denticulated in its middle. Adipose fin low, opposite 

 to short anal. Ventrals with 6 rays, horizontal, as also the 

 pectorals, which have a strong pungent spine, covered by 

 thick skin and strongly denticulated behind. Caudal truncate 

 or slightly emarginate. Villiform teeth in the jaws, none on 

 the palate. Gillopening extending dorsally only to the base 

 of the pectoral. Gillmembranes united with each other and 

 with the isthmus, there may be a small ridge-like free fold 

 across the isthmus. Branchiostegals 6. 



Key to the species. 



1. Occipital process elongate, oval A. ischnosoma p. 367. 



2. Occipital process triangular. 



a. occipital process more than twice as long as broad 



at its base, rather narrow and pointed A. rugosus p. 368. 



b. occipital process i 1 ^ times longer than broad at 



its base, bluntly pointed A. pleurostigma p. 368. 



3. Occipital process quadratic A. mdanogaster p. 369. 



