FISH (PART V). 



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By Sunder Lal Hora. 



This part contains a systematic treatment of the divisions Gobiiformes, Zeorhombi, 

 Scombrif ormes, Jugulares and Scleroparei of the suborder Acanthopterygii and of the sub- 

 order Opisthomi. I have also added a summary of the whole report on the fish of the 

 Chilka Lake. 



To the division Gobiiformes are referred 22 species, of which 16 belong to the sub-family 

 Gobiinae, 4 to Eleotrinae, and one each to Periophthalminae and Gobioidinae. I have erected 

 a new genus, closely allied to Apocryptes, to accommodate the minute transparent Gobies 

 of the lake and in other genera have found as many as six species hitherto undescribed. 

 I have refrained from naming a species of the genus Eleotris, represented by a single, prob- 

 ably immature, specimen. Most of the new species belong to the genus Ctenogobius ; others 

 are distributed among the genera Glossogobius, Micrapocryptes (gen. nov.), and Taenioides. 

 The only general feature of the Chilka fish of this family is their small size. Most of the 

 new species hardly exceed a couple of inches in length, while forms like Ctenogobius minima 

 and Micrapocryptes fragilis are among the smallest known vertebrates. 



Belonging to the division Zeorhombi, there are three species representing three families 

 — Bothidae, Cynoglossidae and Soleidae. Of the three species Cynoglossus brems Günther is 

 widely distributed in the lake area and is represented by a large number of specimens. Of 

 the other two, Pseudorhombus arsius (Ham. Buch.) and Synaptura orientalis (Bl. and Sehn.), 

 a few specimens were found in the outer channel or in its immediate neighbourhood, and 

 the species thus appear to be occasional visitors to the lake. 



The Scombriformes are represented by two species, Caranx carangus (Bloch) and Equula 

 edentata (Bloch). The former was found all over the lake, the latter in the main area only. 

 Both are probably permanent residents in the lake. 



A single species of Blenny (Jugulares) was found abundantly in different parts of the 

 lake, in which it apparently is endemic. It has already been described by Dr. Chaudhuri 1 

 under the name Petroscirtes bhattacharyae, while Mr. D. R. Bhattacharya 2 has described 

 post-larval stages in its development. 



The Scleroparei are represented only by Platycephalus insidiator, a common species m 

 Indian seas. A few specimens were taken in the outer channel, to which this species is 

 evidently an occasional visitor. 



Mastacembelus armatus was the only species of Opisthomi. It is an occasional immi- 

 grant from fresh water in the rainy season. 



In preparing my report on these fishes I am greatly indebted to Dr. B. L. Chaudhuri, 

 who had made a preliminary investigation of the specimens before I examined them and had 



1 Chaudhuri, Bee. Ind. Mus. XII, p. 107 (1916). 



2 Bhattacharya, Mem. Ind. Mus. V, p. 385 (1916). 



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