302 

 4- Rhombatractus kochi M. Web. [Fig. 70, p. 297]. 



Rhombatractus Kochii Max Weber, Nova Guinea V. Livr. 2, 1908, p. 237. 



Nova Guinea IX. Livr. 4, 1913, p. 562. 

 Rhombosoma novae-guinea Tate Regan, Trans. Zool. Soc. XX. Part 6, 1914, 



p. 283 (pro parte). 



DM.4 5; D a .I. ii 14(15); A. I. 21 25; P. 1.14; V.I. 5; 



L.I. 3739; L - tr - 1114- 



Dorsal profile in young and middle sized specimens nearly 

 a straight line, sloping from dorsal to snout, in large specimens 

 with a concavity at nape. Ventral profile convex or very convex. 

 Height 2.3 3.4, 2.7 4.3 in length with caudal. Head 3.4 4, 

 4.3 4.9 in length with caudal. Eye 3 4, shorter or much 

 shorter than snout, more or less than 1.5 in interorbital space, 

 which is equal to or shorter than postorbital part of head. 

 Upper jaw prominent. Mouthopening reaching to frontborder 

 of eye or not so far in large specimens. Curved conical teeth 

 in several rows in the jaws, extending on the outside of the 

 lips, especially in their anterior part, which is thickened. A 

 transverse patch of teeth on vomer. Teeth on palatines and 

 on base of tongue. Two or three rows of scales on the sub- 

 ocular part of the cheeks. Large scales on operculum, small 

 ones on its superior part. Dorsal separated by 17 19 scales 

 from occiput. Spine of first dorsal shorter or longer than post- 

 orbital part of head, longer than that of second dorsal and 

 much longer than that of anal, which is equal to or shorter 

 than eye. Length of base of anal longer than distance between 

 origin of first dorsal and end of second dorsal. Origin of anal 

 2 4 scales in front of that of first dorsal, less in small speci- 

 mens. Pectorals longer than or equal to head without snout. 

 Scales nearly smooth or somewhat crenulated at their hind- 

 border. Caudal peduncle longer than high, in very large speci- 

 mens as high as long or even somewhat higher than long. 

 Colour of alcohol specimens brownish above, yellowish below, 

 the two colours separated by a longitudinal dark band, which 

 has the breadth of about two scales and runs from behind 

 eye to caudal peduncle. It is often indistinct or interrupted 

 in the middle. Second dorsal and anal with a marginal and a 

 basal darker band. Other fins more or less dusky. Length 177 mm. 



Habitat: Dutch South New Guinea (Merauke river !, Lorentz 

 river!, Beaufort river!, brook at Etna Bay!). 



Freshwater. 



