GOBIID^E. 245 



obtuse points. Caudal portion composed of eight rings, most of 

 the anterior five of which have a lateral spiny elevation. Lateral 

 edges of snout denticulated ; a serrated ridge runs along the upper 

 edge of orbit and is continued along the snout to its end. Fins 

 anterior pectoral rays the shortest. Vent midway between pos- 

 terior edge of orbit and root of caudal fin. Colour body with 

 brown reticulations, snout and last caudal ring black. Pectoral 

 grey, its rays spotted, with a white outer edge and sometimes a 

 white baud. 



Halt. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. 



Family XXVIII. GOBIID^E. 



Pseudobranchise present, sometimes rudimentary. Body gene- 

 rally elongate. The infraorbital ring of bones does not articulate 

 with the preopercle. A single rayed dorsal fin, sometimes divided 

 into two portions ; the spines are flexible, and the spiny part of the 

 fin has fewer rays than the remainder ; anal similar to the soft dorsal ; 

 ventrals sometimes united so as to form a disk, or arising close 

 together. Air-bladder generally absent. Pyloric appendages, if 

 present, few. 



Geographical Distribution. Shores' of tropical and temperate 

 regions, some inhabiting fresh water. 



Synopsis of Indian Genera. 



First group. GOBIINA. 



Ventrals forming a disk and united throughout or only 

 in their basal halves ; two dorsal fins. 



A. Eyes not remarkably prominent, base of 



pectoral not peculiarly developed. 

 rt. Teeth in more than one row in one or both 



jaws. 



'. Ventrals not adherent to abdomen 

 throughout. 



Body elongate, generally scaly 1. GOBIUS. 



Body compressed, scaleless 2. GOBIODON, 



b'. Ve*trals adherent to abdomen through- 

 out 3. SICYDIUM. 



b. Teeth in a single row in both jaws. 



A pair of posterior canines above mandibular 



symphysis 4. APOCRYPTES. 



No canines above mandibular symphysis . . 5. APOCHYPTICHTIIYS. 



B. Eyes remarkably prominent and close together ; 



base of pectoral largely developed, very mus- 

 cular. 



Teeth erect in both jaws & PERIOPHTHALMUS. 



Teeth in lower jaw horizontal 7. BOLEOPHTHALMUS. 



