104 



and forms many varieties and monstrosities with the dorsal 

 fin reduced to a serrated ray with some soft rays, or the dor- 

 sal fin absent. The other fins may be perfect or the anal spine 

 is double, the caudal tri- or four-lobed. Also the eyes may 

 be very large and protruding ; the vertebral column can be 

 deflected or otherwise be deformed. 



5. Amblyrhynchichthys Bleeker. 



(BLEEKER, Ichth. Arch. Ind. Prodr. II. Cyprini 1860, p. 302). 



Oblong, compressed, the exceedingly blunt snout obliquely 

 truncate and very high, prominent before the mouth, which 

 is at its lower side. Lower lip very narrow, increasing in size 

 to the corner of the mouth, where it is continuous with 

 the broad hindpart of the upper lip, the anterior part of which 

 is covered by a broad triangular fold, in the middle of the 

 snout, behind which the small maxillaries are situated, which 

 are visible. No barbels. Praeorbital somewhat shoe-shaped, the 



Fig. 46. Amblyrhynchichthys truncatus (Blkr.) 

 and view of lower surface of anterior part of head. 



point directed backwards. Nostrils close together, near end 

 of snout, opposite to middle of large eye, which is covered 

 for a large part by an adipose eyelid. Dorsal short, with an 

 exceedingly strong fourth spine, which is denticulated behind, 

 slightly behind origin of ventrals; its base in a scaly sheath. 

 Anal very short, with not more than 6 ] ) branched rays, its 

 spines weak. Scales large, covering only base of caudal ; lateral 



i) According to VAILLANT, there are 8 soft rays in A. altus; according 

 to his drawing this fin is rather long. 



