FAMILY, IV— NANDIDCE. 127 



Family, IV— NANDIDCE, Gimther. 



Pseudochr amides, pt., et Mcenoidei, pt. Mull. & Trosch. 



Branchiostegals from five to six : pseudobranchiae present in marine genera, but sometimes concealed 



or absent in those of the fresh-water. Body oblong and compressed. Teeth feeble, but dentition more or 



less complete. Dorsal fin single : the length of the base of the spinous portion of greater or equal extent to 



that of the soft : anal with three spines, its rays similar to those of the dorsal : ventrals thoracic, with 



one spine and four or five rays. Scales ctenoid, covering the body. Lateral line interrupted or absent. No 



super-branchial organ. Air-vessel present. Pyloric appendages few or absent. 



\ 



Dr. Giinther's family Nandidas is composed of three groups, his Nandina being similar to Nandoides, 

 Bleeker, containing the Genera Nandus, C.V., Badis, Bleeker, and Pristolepis, JeTdon—Catopra, Bleeker, which 

 Bleeker observes belong to the great Family Percidce* Thus restricted, this small group would find a natural 

 place between the Centrarchini (Grystina, pt.) and the Osphromenoides (Labyrinthibranehii) and the Polycentroides. 

 It also approaches the Pseudochromidoides and the Cichhides. The dentition inside its mouth distinguishes it 

 from the groups enumerated. 



Geographical distribution. — Of the Asiatic Genera of Family Nandidce, Giinther, some are marine, others 

 fresh- water fishes, extending their range from the Red Sea and East coast of Africa, through those of India, the 

 Malay Archipelago and beyond. 



The colours in some are liable to considerable variations, due to age, probably season, and the locality 

 they inhabit. The number of spines, rays, and even scales, as in the indigenous fresh- water Acanthopterygian 

 genera, Ambassis, Anabas, Poly acanthus and Trichog aster are by no means fixed, a few more or less being of no 

 infrequent occurrence. The same remark applies to the serrations of the bones of the head as they often vary in 

 specimens from different parts, which however can merely allow their being classed as local varieties and not 

 distinct species. 



SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. 



First group— Plesiopina. 

 Pseudobranchia? present : ventral with four rays. 



1. Plesiops. PseudobranchiEe. None of the bones of head serrated. Villiform teeth in jaws and palate, 

 none on tongue. The first one or two of the ventral rays elongated and bifid. Red Sea, through those of 

 India to the Malay Archipelago. 



Second group — Nandina. 



Pseudobranchiae absent : ventral with five rays. 



2. Badis. None of the bones of head serrated. Villiform teeth in jaws, palate, root of tongue and roof 

 of cavity of mouth. Fresh waters of India and Burma. 



3. Nandus. Opercles may be serrated or armed. Villiform teeth in jaws, palate, root of tongue and cavity 

 of mouth. Fresh waters of India and Burma. 



4. Pristolepis. Opercles serrated or armed. Villiform teeth in jaws and palate, with globular crowns at 

 the root of tongue and roof of cavity of mouth. Fresh waters of India, Burma, Siam to the Malay Archipelago. 



First group — Plesiopina. 

 Pseudobranchiae present : ventral with four rays. 



Genus, 1 — Plesiops, Cuv. 

 Pharopteryx, Riipp. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobranchice. Body oblong and compressed. Mouth moderately protractile. Nont 

 of the bones of the head serrated. Villiform teeth on the jaws, vomer, and palatines, none on the tongue. Eleven fo 

 twelve spiines in the dorsal fin, three in the anal : ventral with one spine and four rays, the outer ones being elongated 

 and bifid. Scales cycloid, of moderate size. Lateral-line interrupted. Air-vessel present. Pyloric appendages 

 absent. 



Geographical distribution. — Red Sea, through those of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIES. 

 1. Plesiops nigricans, D. f_|-, A. §, L. 1. 23-28. Each scale on the body with a blue central spot : a large' 



* Dr. Giinther's classification is adhered to for reasons stated in note at p. 2. 



