632 SBALB. 



Family GOBIID^E. 

 Genus BIAT Seale, new genus." 



This genus is related to Oxyuricthys Bleeker but differs in being 

 ^v'ithout nuchal crest or tentacle and in having the upper teeth in two or 

 more series. From Goiionellus Girard it differs in having the teeth 

 firm instead of movable. From Gobiichthys Klunzanger it differs in 

 having no tentacle over eye and in other respects. It is characterized 

 by the sniooth head, without scales, tentacles, or crest, the extremely 

 elongate fully united ventrals, the fine ctenoid scales which are larger 

 posteriorly and the many rayed (16-17) dorsal and anal 



Type is Biat luzonica Seale, No. 2040 in collection of Bureau of Science, 

 Manila, from east coast of Luzon Island. Length, 190 millimeterfi. 



Biat luzonica Seale, sp. nov. 



Head 4.10; depth 5.10; dorsal VI^ 16; anal 17, scales about 110 in 

 a median line; about 25 in lateral series; head entirely naked; eye 4.75 

 in head; snout 4; eyes close together, the interorbital space less than 

 width of pupil; maxillary 3.45 in head; mandible 2.10. 



Body elongate, cylindrical, its greatest width 1.50 in its depth. Depth 

 of caudal peduncle 2.30. Head rather blunt, tlie anterior profile of head 

 from eye to tip of snout has an angle of about 45 degrees. The mouth 

 is slightly oblique, the lower jaw a little the longer. Gill openings rather 

 wide, being carried forward to a line with angle of preopercle. Gill 

 rakers short and blunt, 10 on lower limb. Margins of opercle and pre- 

 opercle smooth. The teeth of each jaw are in several series with the 

 addition of an irregular row of shoi't curved canines, the anterior ones 

 being enlarged. Tongue is rounded and adnate to floor of mouth for 

 its entire length. No teeth on vomer or palatine. No barbules or 

 tentacles. Lips witli fold of skin, no lines of cirri, or prominent mucous 

 pores, except one with a bifurcated opening on back part of interorbital 

 space. 



The entire body is covered with fine ctenoid scales which become larger 

 posteriorly. About 25 series of scales in front of dorsal which, however, 

 do not encroach ujjon the head. 



Spinous dorsal of 6 thin flexible spines which tend to become fila- 

 mentous, the longest about 1.50 in head, the origin of spinous dorsal is 

 midway between tip of snout and base of third soft i-ay. Longest ray 

 of soft dorsal 1.45 in head. Origin of anal midway between end of 

 caudal vertebra and angle of preopercle, its base 3.10 in length of fish 

 without caudal, its longest ray 1.50 in head. Caudal lanceolate in shape, 

 its length almost a fourth greater than head. Origin of ventrals midway 

 between anal and angle of mouth, the fin united its entire length, and 

 with a deep membranous cup which has a smooth margin, the fin very 



* Biat^Philippine name for goby. 



