Cfassijicadon of the Order Ostariophyai. \\\_ 



The principal genera may be arranged thus * : — 



I. Mesethmoid 6rmly united to frontals ; skull depressed ; anterior 



jiurt of air-bladder nearly divided into two, the lateral lialves of 

 the capsule connected tinly by a narrow bridjre ; no spine ; barbels 



b or 8. [yemachiliticc.) Nemac/tiiiis, Diplophym, 



Oreouictes, Lifua. 



II. Slesethmoid movably articulated with frontals ; skull compressed ; 



air-bladder undivided, the central portion of the capsule sub- 

 spherical. (Cubit idince.) 



A. No spine J 10 or 12 barbels ; parapophyses ankylosed with centra. 



^lisffunius. 



B. Lateral ethmoid a movable spine ; G or 8 barbels ; parapophyses 



distinct from centra Botia, Parabotia, Lepto- 



botia, Acanthopsis, Cubit i.-<, Lepidocephalichthys, 

 Jerdunia, Acanthophthulmus, Lepidocephalus, 

 Eucirrichthys, Apua. 



Family J:. Eomalopteridss. 



Piremaxillaries excluding maxillaries from gape; three 

 pairs of barbels or more. Pliaryngeal teeth uniserial, often 

 rather numerous ; lower pharyngeals falciform ; pharyngeal 

 processes of basioccipital very small or absent ; no horny 

 pharyngeal pad. Skull depressed ; mesethmoid broad, firmly 

 united to frontals ; subtemjjoral fossae deep ; hiteral occipital 

 foramina absent. 8ul)0rbitals ossified and pneorbital large, 

 extending forward to the end of the snout, supported by an 

 anterior process of the lateral ethmoid. Cleithra directly 

 attached to epiotics, expanded below to form horizontal 

 laminge. Air-bladder reduced, completely divided into two 

 lateral portions, each enclosed in a capsule formed by the os 

 suspensori'urn and the transverse processof the second vertebra; 

 each capsule with a lateral oritice beneath the skin a'nd with 

 an extended facet for articulation with the cleithrum. 



This well-marked family includes a number of species from 

 Southern Asia, which are readily distinguished by the nume- 

 rous barbels, the subterminal or inferior mouth, the flattish 

 lower surface, and the horizontal paired fins witli the anterior 

 rays simple, graduated. 



Genera : Ilomaloptera, Lcpturichthys f, Helgia, Balitora, 



* Cf. Vaillant, Notes Leyden Mus. xxiv. 1902, p. 133, for a synopsis 

 of the genera. 



t Lepturicltthys, gen. nov., type Homnloptera fimbriatian, Giinth., 

 differs from Hontaloptera in the long slender tail, with a dorsal and 

 ventral series of plates, which are pr(jbably expansions of the neural and 

 hajmal spines. 



