THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
159 
dorsal. Ventral thoracic, with one spine and five rays. Caudal forked. Scales large, and deciduous. The 
lower pharyngeal bones are firmly united by a suture. Teeth in jaws velvety. Air bladder simple. Pyloric 
appendages in small numbers. Vertebras ] R. 
Gerres FILAMENTOSUS. 
Woodawahah, Russell , pi. 68. 
Gerres filamentosus, Guv. & Val. vi. p. 482 ; Gunther , Catal. i. p. 345, iv. p. 261. 
Catocihenum filamentosum, Cantor , Catal. p. 56. 
B. vi. D. T V P.15. V. \ A. f. C. 17. L. 1.42-45. L. tr. f- T %. 
Length of head of pectoral f, of caudal §, of base of dorsal |, of base of anal of total length. 
Height of head of body §, of hard dorsal of soft dorsal 1, of ventral ,j, of anal of total 
length. 
Eyes—Large and near the profile ; diameter ^ length of head, I of a diameter from end of 
snout, and the same distance apart. 
Body compressed and elevated. 
Maxilla extends to beneath the first fourth of the orbit. Snout elevated. Preopercle entire, 
its horizontal margin about half as long as its vertical; angle rounded. Opercle with two blunt 
points, separated by a crescentic margin. Subopercle narrow. Interopercles rather wide. 
Teeth—Velvety in the jaws ; none on vomer or palate. 
Fins—Dorsal commences slightly behind the pectoral, but opposite the origin of the ventral; 
and the anal opposite the fourth ray of the dorsal. Dorsal spines strong, and flattened laterally; 
the first short, the second prolonged, its size varying, that of the third equals the distance from 
the snout to the posterior margin of the eye; the membrane is slightly notched : the base of the 
spinous portion equals that of the soft; a scaly sheath extends along its base : the hard portion 
concave above, and the soft short and straight. Pectoral pointed, and extends to above the first 
anal ray. Ventral spine weak, first ray prolonged. First spine of anal weak, and slightly longer 
than the third; the rays gradually decrease in length : this fin has a sheath the same as the dorsal. 
Caudal deeply lobed. 
Scales—Cover the body and opercles. 
Lateral line—In single tubes on each scale, and following the curve of the back. 
Colours—Summit of head and back pale greenish grey, the rest of the body silvery with 
reddish reflections. Above and following the lateral line, there are two parallel series of large 
oval blackish spots, and below the line one or two straight series of similar but smaller spots. 
Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins pale yellow : the spines, rays, and membranes of the dorsal and caudal 
minutely dotted with brown •, the superior margin of the dorsal black; the posterior margin of 
the caudal pale blackish ; ventrals and pectorals white. Iris pale golden. 
Grows to eight inches in length. Is eaten by the Natives. 
Habitat—Seas of India and Malaysia. 
Gerres punctatus. 
Woodan, Russell , pi. 68. 
Gerres punctatus, Cuv. & Val. vi. p. 480 ; Gunther , Catal. i. p. 346, iv. p. 260. 
B. vi. D. t V P. 15. V. 1 A. f ' C. 17. L. 1. 42. L. tr. §. 
Length of head of pectoral of caudal of base of dorsal §, of base of anal -j- of 
