438 TELEOSTEI. ANACANTIIINI. 



Suborder B. 

 ANACANTHINI PLEURONECTOIDEI. 



Head and body uusymmetrical. 



A single family, containing the " Flat-fishes." 



Family III. PLEURONECTIME. 



Heterosomata, Bonaparte. 



Pseudobranchiae well developed. Gills four. Body strongly 

 compressed, flattened, with one of its sides coloured, the other 

 destitute of colour, or having merely a few spots. Both eyes 

 (except in the very young) placed on the superior or coloured 

 surface, sometimes rudimentary. The jaws and dentition may be 

 nearly equally developed on both sides, or more so on the blind 

 than the coloured. A single long dorsal and anal fin. Scales 

 present or absent. Lateral line on the coloured side single, double, 

 or triple, curved or straight. Air-bladder absent. 



Geographical Distribution. These fishes are found in most regions, 

 residing at the bottom of the sea, some ascend rivers. 



Synopsis of Indian Genera. 



A. Jaws and dentition nearly equally developed 



on both sides. 



a. Dorsal tin commences on neck ; eyes on 



right * or left side .................. 1. PSETTODES. 



b. Dorsal tin commences before eyes ; eyes 



always on left side. 

 a'. Lateral line nearly straight .......... 2. CITHAUICIITHYS. 



b'. Lateral line with a well-marked anterior 

 curve. 



Eyes close together, no iuterorbital 



8 P ace .......................... 3. PSEUDORHOMBUS. 



A concave interorbital space ........ 4. PLATOPHRYS. 



B. Cleft of mouth narrow ; dentition most 



developed on blind or uucoloured side. 

 a. Eyes on right side. 

 '. Caudal tin distinct from dorsal and 



anal. 

 Pectorals more or less developed ...... 5. SOLEA. 



Pectorals wanting .................. 6 . ACHIRUS. 



b . Caudal fin united to dorsal and anal . . 7. SYNAPTURA. 



.liS? VT B Pi , ght <f f ra/ ) and le (lateral) in these fishes refer to the 

 ml tl th * COl Ure ' 1 S " 1e - To asce '- toi this the fish i8 placed with its toil 

 the observer, the dorsal fiu upwards, the anal downwards. 



