742 



Memoirs of the Indian Museum. 



[Vol. V, 



Glossogobius mas, sp. nov. 

 D. VI(l/7. A. 7. 



To this species I assign six specimens, 4 females and 2 males. There are some differ- 

 ences between the two sexes and I, therefore, propose to describe them separately. The 

 species does not grow more than an inch and a half long. 



Male. — The male is thin and slender, with a greatly flattened head. The profiles are 

 slightly arched and the body tapers towards both ends. The head is flat and broad 

 posteriorly, while anteriorly it is constricted and rounded. The snout is bluntly pointed and 

 is slightly longer than the horizontal diameter of the eye. The head is contained 2-7 times 



Text-fig. 23. — Glossogobius mas, sp. nov. 



a. Lateral view of head of a male specimen: x6. 



b. Tongue of same : x 8. 



in the length of the fish without the caudal fin ; its depth at the occiput is contained 1-8 

 times and its breadth 1-6 times in its length. The eyes are small and are situated on the 

 dorsal surface ; they are invisible from below ; their diameter is contained 5-2 times in the 

 length of the head, 1*1 times in length of the snout and 0-9 times in the inter-orbital dis- 

 tance. The depth of the body near the anterior origin of the first dorsal fin is almost half 

 the length of the head. 



The mouth is oblique and very wide ; the maxilla reaches as far back as the lower 

 margin of the operculum. The tongue is deeply notched. 



The scales are deciduous and as a rule only their basal membranes are present in speci- 

 mens. There are 24 to 26 scales in a longitudinal series between the angle of the operculum 

 and the base of the caudal fin. The scale is rectangular in outline and is markedly ctenoid. 

 There are a large number of radii proceeding from an eccentric nucleus to the apex. The 

 circular striae are not well-developed and are greatly interrupted in their course. 



The second dorsal and the anal fins are small and contain about seven rays each. The 

 pectorals are almost as long as the ventrals and are shorter than the length of the head. 

 The caudal fin is pointed in the middle. 



Female. — All the 4 female specimens are full of eggs and consequently the body is 

 deeper and stouter. The chief point of difference from the male is that the mouth is not 

 so wide and the maxillae extend to just behind the posterior margin of the orbit. In all 

 other respects the female agrees with the male. 



The colour is rather characteristic. It is reddish brown all over ; the centre of the 

 scales is whitish, while their edges are dotted with black. The under surface of head and 

 body is whitish. The fins have no markings. 



