CEPOLTDJE. 329 



Family XXXII. CEPOLID^E. 



Tcemaidei, pt., Cuv. 



Branchiostegals six ; pseudobrauchiae. Body elongate and com- 

 pressed. Eyes large and lateral. Gill-openings wide, the 

 membranes scarcely united under the throat. Teeth in jaws of 

 medium size. A long dorsal and anal fin more or less continu- 

 ous with the caudal. Ventrals thoracic, 1/5. No prominent papilla 

 near the vent. Scales cycloid, small. 



1. Genus CEPOLA, Linnaeus. 

 Syn. Acanthocepola, Bleeker. 



Head obtuse. Cleft of mouth oblique, gape wide. Preopercle 

 more or less armed. Palate edentulous. 



Geographical Distribution. Seas of Europe, India, China, and 

 Japan. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



D. more than 90. Black spot on dorsal behind 



8th ray 1. C. indica, p. 329. 



D. 67-74. Two rows of golden spots along; 



sides 2. C. abbreviata, p. 330. 



1153. (1.) Cepola indica. 



Cepola indica, Day, Fish. India, Suppl. 1888, p. 796. 



D. more than 90. P. 17. A. more than 90. 



Length of head 8, height of body 8 in the total length. Eyes 

 diameter 3| in length of head, ^ diam. from end of snout, and f 

 apart. A strong spine at angle of preopercle, one on vertical, and 

 four on horizontal margin. Teeth a single row in each jaw, a small 

 curved canine in an outer row in lower jaw, also one in upper but 

 not in a separate row. Fins dorsal commences slightly behind 

 orbit, its rays are unbranched, they increase in length to sixth, 

 which is | height of body, from this-they gradually decrease ; there 

 appear to be over 100 rays. Anal begins beneath ninth dorsal 

 spine, and has nearly as many rays as the dorsal ; both it and the 

 dorsal are joined to the caudal, which is pointed. Scales small 

 but distinct, cheeks scaled, none on opercles. Lateral line com- 

 mences from upper margin of opercle, then ascends to close to 

 dorsal fin and becomes obsolete after first third of body. Colour 

 brick-red, dorsal and anal fins with dark outer edges, an oval 

 black spot between eighth and eleventh dorsal rays. 



Nab. Madras. 



