330 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTERYGH. 



1154. (2.) Cepola abbreviata. (Fig. 109.) 



Cepola abbreviata, Cur. 4' Vol. H. N. Pom. x, p. 403; Day, fish. 

 India, p. 324, pi. Ixviii, fig. 4 (see synon.). 



Chaiva aku or Chava waJcv, Tamil. 



D. 67-74. P. 19. V. 1/5. A. 67-74. C. 13. Caec. pyl. 8. 



Length of head 6 to 7, height of body 10| in the total length. Eyes 

 -diameter 3 in length of head, | diam. from end of snout, and 2 

 apart. Vertical margin of preopercle rather rugose, a strong spine at 

 angle, four or five along lower edge. Teeth a, single row in each 

 iaw, those in middle of mandible rather the largest, Fins-- 

 dorsal commences above hind edge of opercle, its rays, except last 



Fig. 109. Cepola abbreviata. 



two or three, are unbranched. Anal commences beneath 8th dor- 

 sal ray, it and dorsal are continuous with caudal. Scales small 

 but distinct ; present on cheeks and opercles. Colour reddish, 

 with about 12 pairs of red or golden spots along sides. Caudal 

 rays said by Cantor to be black. 



'Hob. Coromandel coast of India, Malay Archipelago and China ; 

 attaining at least a foot in length. 



Family XXXIII. RHYNCHOBDELLID.E. 



Scomberoidei, pt., Cuv. & Val. ; Mastacembelidce, Giinther. 



Pseudobranchiae absent. Gill-opening, a slit on the side of the 

 head ; gills four. Body elongate, eel-shaped. Humeral arch not 

 suspended from the skull. Lower jaw long, but without much 

 power of motion. A single long dorsal fin, its" anterior portion 

 consisting of free spines ; anal with three spines anterior to it ; 

 soft dorsal and anal of similar extent ; ventral fins absent. Air- 

 bladder present. 



Geographical Distribution. Fresh and brackish waters of West 

 Africa, Syria, Sind, India, Ceylon, Burma, the Malay Archipelago. 

 They are found far inland, and often at great elevations. 

 Uses. Excellent as food. 



