1188 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes, [Nov. 



Batrachus gmnniens, Cuv. and Val. XII. 466. 



Head above, back and sides light greenish or brownish olive, 

 abdomen greenish or brownish white ; head marbled and spotted with 

 black ; body with more or less distinct oblique and vertical broad 

 bands, darker than the ground-colour, edged and spotted with black ; 

 fleshy filaments buff ; fins of the ground-colour of the body, dorsals 

 and anal indistinctly clouded with black or with very oblique blackish 

 bands ; caudal, pectorals and ventrals with blackish spots or narrow 

 vertical bands. Iris narrow silvery olive, orbital part blackish. 



D 3—22, C 13f, A 18, V 1/2, P 23, Br. VI. 



Habit. — Sea of Pinang, Malayan Peninsula, Singapore, 

 Java, Bombay, Gangetic estuaries. 



Total length : 10 inch. 



The length of the head is about } of the total ; the transversal dia- 

 meter of the orbit is i of the length of the head. The eyes are placed 

 nearly horizontally, their distance from the muzzle is one diameter, from 

 each other it is somewhat less than two transversal diameters. The 

 intermaxillary teeth are minute, placed in a double series, which reaches 

 from the symphysis to opposite the eyes. A double series of stronger 

 conical teeth occupies the vomer and palatals, and extends farther back 

 than the intermaxillaries. The lower jaw has a double series of strong 

 conical teeth on the symphysis, but it becomes single in the branches 

 of the jaw. The tongue is bony, small, flattened, elongated and so 

 completely hid in the integuments that it cannot be perceived during 

 life. The opercle terminates in two strong spines of which the supe- 

 rior points obliquely upwards and backwards, the lower is horizontal. 

 The sub-opercle terminates in a single horizontal spine, in length 

 equalling the lower one of the opercle. A number of fleshy filaments 

 terminating in cilia are scattered over the head. One behind each eye, 

 and at the angle of the mouth is longer than the rest. The greatest 

 vertical diameter of the body equals the length of the head. The 

 ventral spine is very short and by a membrane closely joined to 

 the first ray which is the longer and undivided* The second ray 

 is shorter and divided in numerous branches. Single individuals 

 occur, but rarely, at Pinang. The natives attribute poisonous qualities 

 to these fishes, and reject them even as manure. The creaking sound 

 they emit has been noted by Buchanan. They are capable of living 

 a considerable time out of their element. 



