298 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTERTOIT. 



Third group. AMBLYOPINA. 

 10. Genus GOBIOIDES, Lacepede. 



Syn. ? Tcentoides, Lace"p. ; Ambit/opus, Cuv. & Val. ; Ognichodes and 

 Psilosomus, Swaius. ; Oduntamblyopus, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals five ; gills four ; pseudobranchiae absent. Body 

 elongate ; head oblong ; no cavity above the opercles. Lower jaw 

 prominent, causing the cleft of the mouth to be directed upwards. 

 Eyes lateral, minute or indistinct. Teeth in a band, with a single 

 anterior row in each jaw large, curved, conical, and distantly placed ; 

 a pair of posterior canines above the symphysis of the lower jaw 

 may be present or absent. All vertical tins more or less confluent. 

 The first portion of the dorsal fin, consisting of five undivided 

 rays, is separated from the soft portion by an interval, in the 

 middle of which is a single, sixth undivided ray. Second portion 

 of dorsal and anal with many rays ; ventrals united. Scales rudi- 

 mentary or absent. Air-bladder, when present, small or large. 



Geographical Distribution. Coasts, estuaries, and tidal rivers 

 throughout India, the Malay Archipelago, China, and Japan. 

 These fishes mostly delight in muddy localities and use their teeth 

 very freely as organs of attack or defence. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. No posterior canines above mandibular 



symphysis ; vertical fins densely en- 

 veloped in skin. 



Height of body 18| to 20 times in total 

 length 1. G. (/racilis, p. 298. 



Height 13^ to ] 5 in total 3. G. cceculus, p. 299. 



Height 8 to 12 in total 4. G. cirratus, p. 300. 



B. A pair of posterior canines above mandi- 



bular symphysis. 



a. Vertical fins densely enveloped in skin 2. G. anguiUaris, p. 299. 



b. Vertical fins not enveloped in skin. 

 Height of tody 12 to 14 in total. Tail 



bluntly pointed 5. G. buchanani, p. 300. 



Height 12 in total. Tail lanceolate, 



acutely pointed 6. G. rubicundus, p. 301. 



Height 20 in total. Tail lanceolate . . 7. G. tenuis, p. 301. 



1101. (1.) Gobioides gracilis. 



Amblyopus gracilis, Cuo. $ Val. H. N. Pom. xii, p. 166. 

 Gobioides gracilis, Day, Fish. India, p. 317 (see synon.). 



D. 6 | 47-49. P. 17. V. 1/5. A. 47-49. C. 11. 

 Length of head 10 J to 11, of caudal fin 10*, height of body 18* 

 to 20 times in the total length. Eyes minute. Greatest width of 

 head equals one third of its length and its height rather above 

 halt of its length. Lower jaw with several barbels on its anterior 

 surface. Teeth about ten almost vertical and large pointed teeth 



