1923.] Fauna of the CJiilka Lake : Fish. 757 



Sub-family GOBIOIDINAE. 



Genus TAENIOIDES Lacépède. 



Taenioides chilkensis, sp. no v. 



This new species is represented by a large number of individuals from various localities 

 in the Chilka Lake. It does not grow to a very large size, hardly exceeding 2\ inches in 

 length without the caudal fin. 



The body is compressed from side to side and both the dorsal and the ventral profiles 

 slope gradually down to the base of the caudal fin. In m°st cases the head is deeper than 

 the body. The eyes are minute but distinguishable and are situated in the anterior third 

 of the length of the head. The mouth is small and is turned upwards. The lower jaw is 

 longer than the upper. 



Text-etg. 34. — Taenioides chilkensis, sp. nov. : x 1J. 



The length of the head is contained 5-4 times in the total length of the fish without 

 the caudal and the height of body from 6-6 to 7*5 times. The head is 1-2 times as long as 

 broad and 1-3 times as long as high. The snout is a little over one fourth of the length of 

 the head. 



The vertical fins are continuous ; the dorsal fin commences immediately behind the 

 pectoral and contains 6 spines and 31 or 32 rays. The anal fin is also very long and contains 

 27 to 29 rays. The pectoral fins are short and are provided with strong muscular bases. 

 The pelvic fins are much longer than the pectorals. The caudal fin is longer than the head 

 and contains about 15 rays ; it is greatly produced in the middle. 



There are several rows of sharp minute teeth both in the upper and the lower jaws. 

 No scales are seen on the body even with the help of a lens. 



The colour in spirit is dull olivaceous gray all over with the exception of the fins, which 

 are whitish. There are no special markings on the body. 



The following statement gives the localities whence the specimens were obtained and 

 their number : — 



5 specimens ... 

 1 specimen ... 

 4 specimens ... 



... Satpara 



. . . Channel ofi Barhampur Island 

 ... Main channel between Sat- 

 para and Barnikuda 



September 1913. 

 2 September 1914 



17 March 1914. 



5 ,, 



... Main Channel west of Satpara. 



16 „ 1914. 



11 



14 



... Channel between Satpara and 

 Barhampur Islands 



... Serua Nadi 



22 „ 1914. 

 4 September 1914. 



