Apodal Fishes of Bengal. 221 



/-Head short and thick, rounded at 



I the crown ; the outer band of 

 Ophisternon hepaticus, Nob. teeth on the upper jaw terminates 



xi. 2. | laterally in a single row, and forms 



I an inverted crescent at the apex. 



I Hab. — Arracan. 



V. Gen. — Alabes, Cuv. 



A single branchial aperture under the throat ; pectoral fins 

 well marked, 3 branchial rays, the intestines as in Synbranchus. 



A single small species only is known, and this inhabits the 

 Indian Ocean. 



( A smal 

 I pecto 

 ( Hab.—] 



small concave disk between the 

 Alabes cuveri/e. Nob. ^ pectoral fins, teeth pointed. 



■Indian Ocean. 



II. Fam.— PTYOBRANCHIDiE, Nob. 

 Two distinct branchial apertures situated in front of small 

 pectorals, leading to gills consisting of 4 pectinated combs 

 supported by bony arches. Fins supported by rays. 



VI. Gen. — Ptyobranchus, Nob. 

 Head small, with a narrow conical round muzzle, and a long 

 perfectly cylindrical body like a reed, terminating abruptly in a 

 thick tail. Dorsal and anal narrow, rounded, and connected 

 with the caudal by means of a narrow raphe. 



Distance from the muzzle to the pec- 

 torals equel to 1-1 2th of the entire 

 length, diameter of the body equal 

 to about l-50th of the length. The 

 anus is situated at the latter 3d of 

 the length, the tail is of equal depth 

 with the body to the very end, with- 

 in two or three diameters of which 

 Ptyobranchus arundinaceus, ^ i t becomes compressed, and termi- 

 Nob. nates in a thick wedge. The anal 



fin commences at a distance behind 

 the anus equal to its own length, 

 the dorsal commences at the middle 

 of the tail. The jaws are of equal 

 size. Colour dark olive-green 

 above, greenish-white below. The 

 fin rays are P. 10 : D. 10 : A. 40. 

 Hab. — Bengal. 



