the Genera Gljptosterniim awe? Exostorna. ()09 



liead, wliich is broad and flat ; eyes small and directed 

 upwards; spines, when present, are concealed within the 

 membranes of the fins; the pectoral and pelvic fins are 

 broad, falcate, and situated in a plane with the lower surface 

 of the liead and body, which is more or less covered with 

 mammillated an 1 striated cuppers, for tlje purpose of adhering 

 to stones. Without osseous plates on the body." 



In 1860 Blyth (Journ. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, xxix. p. 153) 

 divided McClelland's genus into four, restricting the name 

 Glyptoste7'non to the first species — O. reticulatus. 



Unfortunately nothing is known of G. reticulatus beyond 

 McClelland^s short description, which is as follows : — 

 " GliJ2?tosternon reticulatus, nob. — Without spines, the first 

 ray of the pectoral and ventral fins soft and pinnate, giving 

 oli' soft pointed cartilaginous ra3^s along the anterior margin^ 

 which are enveloped in the membrane of the fin. The under 

 surface of the head and of the anterior part of the hody form a 

 -fiat corrugated surfaceP 



Giinther (Cat. Fish. v. p. 185) regarded Glyptothorax, Blyth, 

 as a synonym of Glyptosternon, writing (p. 188) '^McClelland, 

 in describing his Glyptosternon reticulatus from Afghanistan, 

 appears to have had a species very similar to Gl. striatum." 

 With this opinion I agree, and I do not think the matter can 

 be carried farther until Gl. reticulatus has been rediscovered 

 and redescribed. 



I have given these details because Mr, S. L. Hora, in a 

 recent paper (Rec. Ind. Mus. xxv. 1923), proposes to transfer 

 the name Glyptosternon (or Glyjotosternuin) to a number of 

 species which have usually been placed in the genus Exo- 

 stoma. His reason is that McClelland's description of tiie 

 fins of G. reticulatus applies to these species. 



Fortunately he gives some good figures, which will allow 

 those who have not specially studied this group to judge for 

 themselves. Those of species of the so-called Glyptostemuni 

 (Hora, nee auct.) show that the striation of the lower surface 

 of the outermost rays of the paired fins extends over their 

 whole surface, and that the chest is not "corrugated," but 

 is covered with smooth skin. On the other hand, the figure 

 of Glyptothorax pectinopterus (pi. iv. fig. 3) shows a structure 

 of the paired fins and of the head and chest w^hich might 

 well be described in the words used by McClelland for 

 G. reticulatnSy the striation of the outermost rays of the 

 pectoral and pelvic fins being restricted to their outer halves, 

 and the '^ corruo-ated ''^ structure of the adhesive disc beintr 

 apparent. 



In my opinion, there is no justification for Mr. liora's use 



