THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
195 
spine, the second long and confluent with the caudal and anal, which last also consists of many rays ; 
Pectoral spine moderately strong and denticulated. Branchial aperture large, and divided as far forwards 
as the eyes: membranes not attached to the isthmus. The branchial arches are without any posterior 
processes or membrane. 
Plotosus Arab. 
Silurus Arab, Forskcd , p. xvi. No. 36. 
Ingelee, Bussell , pi. 166. 
Plotosus anguillaris, Cantor , Catal. p. 264; Gunther , Catal. v. p. 24. 
Plotosus Arab, Bleeker , Atl. Icli. ii. p. 98, t. 95, f. 2. 
Plotosus lineatus, Cuv. & Val. xv. p. 412. 
? Plotosus castaneus, Cuv. & Val. xv. p. 421. 
Moorghee, Mai. 
B. xi.-xii. D. | 93. V. 12. A. 66. C. 13. Vert. if. 
Length of head f, of pectoral i, of caudal T U, of base of first dorsal y 8 , of base of second 
dorsal above of base of anal ^ of total length. Height of head of body f, of first dorsal 
of second dorsal yC, of anal of ventral 8 - of total length. 
Eyes—Oval, situated near the upper profile. Horizontal diameter f, vertical diameter f of 
length of head, 2 diameters from end of snout, and the same distance apart. 
Body elongated and compressed : head depressed, obtuse, and widest opposite the opercles, 
the width forming almost a semicircle. 
Mouth directed forward with fleshy lips : its gape equal to half the length of the head. 
Numerous papillae on both lips. Upper jaw slightly the longest. The posterior limb of the 
preopercle slopes a little downwards and forwards : angle rounded. Opercle ending in rather an 
obtuse point. Summit of head rough, with a lanceolate central longitudinal groove from opposite 
the orbits to the snout. Nodulated lines exist above the orbits. Occipital process long and very 
narrow. Four pairs of cirri, the maxillary and external mandibular pairs equal to about half the 
length of the head : nasal and internal mandibidar pairs also equal in length but shorter than the 
others. Nostrils close to the lips, and near the central line of the head. 
Teeth—Irregularly disposed in three rows, in the intermaxillaries and lower jaw they are 
large, sharp, pointed, and directed a little backwards: the anterior ones the strongest. Two 
outer teeth in the upper jaw, large, curved, and directed slightly inwards. There are more teeth 
in the lower than in the upper jaw. Vomerine teeth rounded, with one or two sharp ones exter¬ 
nally. Tongue fleshy, without teeth. 
Fins—First dorsal and pectoral arise on a line : ventral commences opposite the end of the 
pectoral, and the second dorsal above it: anal begins opposite the end of the ventral. First dorsal 
pointed, and its rays prolonged; its spine rather strongly toothed on the anterior and posterior 
margins. The distance between the first dorsal and the second equals two-tliirds of the height of 
the body : it is rather lower in front than towards its centre ; it, the caudal, and the anal are 
united, but as each ends in a point, of which that of the caudal is the shortest, it appears as if 
two V-shaped notches had been nipped out of the extremity of the caudal fin, which however 
occasionally is rounded. The pectoral spine is moderately strong, half the length of the fin, 
denticulated on either edge. 
Lateral line—Commences at the upper margin of the opercles, first curves slightly upwards, 
2 c 2 
