206 



D'.VlIIjDU. 13 -14; A.II HI, II 12;P.2 3 . 12 + 5; V.I. 5; 



7 .,. t. 

 L.I. 7075; L.tr. i . 



12 13 



Elongate. Height 3.3, 4.6 in length with caudal. Head 3.6, 

 5 in length with caudal. Eyes covered by a gelatinous membrane, 

 3.6 in head, about equal to convex interorbital space and 

 about twice in postorbital part of head. Snout pointed, half 

 as long as eye. Mouth large, reaching far behind eye. Maxil- 

 laries scaly, twice in head. Head covered with scales to end 

 of snout. Anterior and posterior nostrils close together, about 

 midway between end of snout and eye. Praeoperculum coar- 

 sely serrated along its hindborder, its angle produced and 

 rounded. Upper lip absent, lower lip well developed but not 

 continuous at symphysis. Small teeth in narrow bands in the 

 jaws, not extending on outside of jaws. Broader bands of 

 teeth on palatines, constricted in the middle and narrower 

 posteriorly. A rounded patch of similar teeth on vomer. First 

 dorsal spine very small , second one stronger but shorter 

 than third one and equal to postorbital part of head. Second 

 dorsal conspicuously in advance of that of anal, its spine much 

 shorter than second one of first dorsal and about equal to 

 second anal spine, which is as long as snout and eye together. 

 First anal spine minute. Second dorsal and anal deeply con- 

 cave. Third ray of first dorsal sometimes prolonged into a 

 filament. Dorsals, anal and caudal scaly. Caudal deeply forked, 

 with long, pointed lobes, which may be prolonged into filaments. 

 Pectorals somewhat falciform, as long as distance between 

 middle of eye and hindborder of operculum. Only 2 or 3 rays 

 simple, the other ones divided. Second or third pectoral fila- 

 ment the longest, reaching beyond tip of ventrals or even to 

 anal. Ventrals not much shorter than pectorals. Distance be- 

 tween origin of ventrals and that of anal equal to or more 

 than length of head. Scales finely striated and finely crenu- 

 lated at their hindborder. Colour of formol specimen light 

 brown, darker above, a darkish blotch shining through on 

 operculum. Faint dark longitudinal lines on body and tail, 

 corresponding to the rows of scales. Fins yellowish, dusky at 

 tips. Length 1000 mm. 



Nom. in dig.: Kuru (Malay); Kuru-laut (Malay Batavia); 

 Kurau hitam (Bintang). 



Habitat: Singapore; Niasl; Banka; Bintang; Borneo (river 



