49 



4- Doryichthys (Kaup) Duncker. 



(DUNCKER, Spolia Zeylanica Vol. VII. prt. XXV. 1910, 

 p. 27. Mitt. a. d. naturh. Mus. Hamburg XXIX. 

 1912, p. 229). 



Doryichthys Kaup, Cat. Lophobr. Fish, 1856, p. 56 

 [p. p. et plur. auctores]. 



Microphis Kaup, 1. c. p. 63. 



Superior cristae of trunk and tail dis- 

 continuous; inferior cristae of trunk and 

 tail continuous or discontinuous; median 

 cristae of trunk and inferior cristae of 

 tail continuous (fig. 17 n. 5, 6, 9, 10). Keels 

 of the shields of the rings conspicuous, 

 smooth in the adults, generally serrated 

 in young specimens. Intermedial shields 

 (scutella) present as also a praenuchal 

 and 2 nuchal shields. Operculum with 

 complete longitudinal keel and often with 

 radiating ridges below it. Snout shorter 

 or only slightly longer than remaining 

 part of head. Dorsal medium or long with 

 24 66 rays, opposite to vent, situated 

 above at least 6 rings, belonging as a rule 

 for their largest part to the tail. Anal 

 generally before middle of length; pec- 

 torals present; caudal with or without 

 prolonged rays. Eggs rather large, isolated 

 in open cells, produced by the skin of 

 the abdomen in the male ; they are entirely 

 covered by broad, converging, not coales- 

 cent, lateral protective plates, which some- 

 times have a narrow cutaneous fold along 

 their free margin. 



Distribution: in fresh and brackish 

 water of rivers and their estuaries in the 

 indo-pacific region from British India to 

 Samoa and Philippines. 



INDO-AUSTRALIAN FISHES IV. 



Fig. 22. Doryichthys 



retzii (Blkr.) $ 



X iVi- 



