93 



1. Genus MYRIPRISTIS, Cuv. 



Branchiostegals usually 8, more rarely 7 ; pseudobranchiao well 

 developed. Muzzle short, lower jaw prominent. Cleft of mouth 

 oblique, in one species horizontal. Opercular pieces serrated ; 

 opercle generally with one spine, none on the preopercle. Teeth 

 villiforrn on jaws, vomer, and palatines ; there may be an outer 

 widely separated row of small, obtusely conical ones in the jaws. 

 Two dorsal fins, scarcely united; ventral with one spine and 7 

 rays ; anal with four spines ; caudal forked. Scales large, ctenoid. 

 Air-bladder transversely contracted near its middle. Pyloric appen- 

 dages in moderate numbers. 



Geographical Distribution. Tropical seas. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



Scarlet, vertical fins with black tips ; eyes diam. 



apart 1. M. botche, p. 93. 



Roseate, vertical fins with white edges ; eyes f 



diam. apart 2. M. murdjan, p. 94. 



841. (1.) Myripristis botche. (Fig. 43.) 



Botche, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 4, pi. cv. 



Myripristis botche, Cuv. Sf Val. H. N. Poiss. iii, p. 181 j Day, Fish. 



India, p. 169, pi. xli, fig. 1, Suppl. p. 788 (see synon.). 

 Moonda kun kakasi, Tarn. 

 B. viii. D. 10 | 1/14-16. A. 4/12-13. L. 1. 28-30. L. tr. 3/7|. 



Length of head 3|, height of body more than 3 in the total length. 

 Eyes diameter 2| to 2| in length of head, | diam. from end of 

 snout, and | apart. Under surface of lower jaw roughly and 



Fig. 4o. Myripristis botche. 



irregularly furrowed; pre- and suborbitals serrated, also both 

 limbs of preopercle ; a moderately strong opercular spine with two 

 or three others above and below it ; the lower half of the opercle, 



