289 



Scales smooth or with shallow crenulations at their hindborder, 

 moderate, 30 36 between head and caudal. Lateral line absent 

 or indicated by some of the scales having a shallow pit. Five 

 or six branchiostegals. Twelve to 16 short, dentated gillrakers 

 on the lower part of the anterior arch. 



Distribution: Freshwater of New Guinea, Aru Islands 

 and Australia south to Sydney. 



Key to the ind o-au str alian species of 

 Melanotaenia. 



I. Praedorsal scales 24 31. L.I. 37 40. 



I. Pectorals much longer than head without snout. 

 Caudal peduncle 1.5 as long as high. Mouth- 

 opening with a very slight downward curve, 

 when seen in front. Base of anal longer than 

 distance from origin of first to end of second 



dorsal. Jaws equal M. multisquamata p. 290. 



II. Praedorsal scales less than 24. L.I. less than 37. 

 Base of anal equal to distance from origin of 

 first to end of second dorsal (or in dumasi even- 

 tually slightly longer). 



A. Upper jaw slightly prominent. Pectorals longer 

 than head without snout. Mouthopening a 



horizontal straight line when seen in front. . M. dumasi p. 290. 



B. Jaws equal, or lower jaw slightly prominent. 

 Pectorals equal to head without snout. 



1. Mouthopening a horizontal straight line, 

 when seen in front. Jaws equal. One row 



of scales below eye M. patoti p. 291. 



2. Mouthopening with a gentle downward 

 curve, the upper jaw fitting into a sinuation 

 of the lower jaw. 



a. Lower jaw slightly prominent. Origin 

 of dorsal and anal opposite. One row 

 of scales below eye. L.I. 30 33. Caudal 



with black blotches M. maculata p. 292. 



b. Jaws equal. Origin of dorsal somewhat 

 before that of anal. Two rows of scales 



below eye. L.I. 34 36. Caudal uniform. M. ogylbyi p. 293. 



M. loriae p. 294. 

 Doubtful species 



M. (?) rubrostnata p. 295. 



INDOAUSTRALIAN FISHES IV. 19 



