NOTOPTERIDiE. 
121 
FAMILY NOTOPTERIDiE. (Giinth. Cat. vol. vii.) 
Tliis family includes only one genus, containing a 
few species only, of which two are found in India, 
and the others in the islands of the East Indian 
Archipelago and in West Africa. They have some 
affinity to the Clupeidee, hut are only found in fresh 
water. 
Char. Head and body scaly. Barbels none. 
Adipose fin none. Tail tapering. 
GENUS NOTOPTERUS. 
Body much compressed. Abdomen with a double 
serrature. Scales very small. Lateral line distinct. 
Both jaws with a narrow band or series of small 
teeth, unequal in size, bands of teeth on the vomer, 
palatine, and pterygoid bones, and on the sphenoid ; 
two series of teeth on the tongue. Some of the bones 
of the head serrated. Anal fin very long and united 
with the caudal. Dorsal fin very short. Yentrals 
united or wanting. 
1. Notopterus chitala. 
Hab. Throughout India, rivers and tanks. Attain- 
ing according to Dr. Day, several feet in length. 
Char. The upper profile of the the head concave. 
Dorsal rays 8 to 10. Anal 110 to 125. Scales 180. 
Sometimes marked with dark crossbands on the 
back, and with some round black occellated spots 
along the lower part of the tail. 
