THE FISHES OF MALABAE. 
43 
Minous monodactylus. 
ScORPASNA MONODACTYLA, Bl. ScJlU. p. 194. 
Wore ah minoo, Bussell , pi. 159. 
Minous woora, Cuv. & Val. iv. p. 421. 
Minous monodactylus, Guv. & Val. iv. p. 424, pi. 59, f. 2 ; Gunther , Catal. ii. p. 148. 
Corytfiobatus woora, Cantor, Catal. p. 45. 
B. vii. D. P. 11. Y. 1 A. 9-11. C. 10. 
Length of head 1, of pectoral f, of caudal of base of dorsal J of total length. Height of 
head G of body G of hard dorsal G of soft dorsal 1 , of ventral G of anal ^ of total length. 
Eyes—Diameter -§ of length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, 1 diameter apart. 
The maxilla extends to beneath the anterior margin of orbit. Intermaxillary rather deeply 
notched. Lower jaw with tubercle at symphysis. Spinous elevations over nostrils. Smooth ridges 
radiating from a common centre on the suborbital ring of bones. A strong spine on preorbital 
equal to the diameter of the eye. Preopercle with a strong spine, at angle three others shorter 
and blunter, and one more on its lower limb. Temporal and occipital ridges spinous; three 
moderate sized spines at anterior superior margin of orbit, superciliary ridge rough, nodulated, 
or spinous. 
Teeth—Yilliform on jaws and vomer : none on palatines. 
Fins—Dorsal spines moderately stryng, first spine situated over vertical limb of preopercle, 
interspinous membrane deeply cleft. Pectoral rather large, extending to the commencement of 
soft dorsal. One pectoral appendage, nearly the length of the fin, which in dried specimens often 
separates into two. Caudal rays undivided, membrane notched. 
Scales—Hone. 
Colours—Head greyish brown above, sides and abdomen rather lighter. Dorsal fin light 
brown, with the external margins of spines and outer half of rays deep black. Anal buff, external 
half black. Pectoral black, appendage white. Caudal buff coloured, with three vertical dark 
brown bars. Iris grey, minutely dotted with brown. 
Common in Malabar, grows to four or five inches in length. Is not esteemed as food. 
Habitat—Seas of India, Malaysia, and China. 
Genus PLATYCEPHALUS, Bl. Schn. 
Branc-hiostegals, seven: pseudobranchise. Head broad, depressed, more or less armed with spines, 
body sub cylindrical posteriorly. Eyes superior or lateral. Cleft of mouth wide. Two dorsals, with a 
small isolated spine in front of first. Anal equally developed to soft dorsal. Ventrals thoracic. No 
pectoral appendage. Yilliform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palatines, sometimes with larger ones intermingled. 
Body scaled. Lateral line present, spined in some species. No air bladder. Pyloric appendages in 
moderate number. 
PLATYCEPHALUS INSIDIATOR. 
Cottus insidiatoe, For skal, p. 25. 
G 2 
