THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
2G5 
on either side, whilst opposite the anterior margin of the orbit it ends in a sharp mesial longitu¬ 
dinal crest which is continued half way along the snout. Opercle with a prominent horizontal 
raised ridge along its centre. 
Fins—The dorsal is situated on the first five rings of the caudal: the anal rays are minute 
and sometimes imperceptible. 
Rings—With smooth edges, the division between each being but little apparent. 
Colours—Generally light brownish, with a dark brown streak extending from the orbit to the 
angle of the mouth, and a second from the posterior angle of the eye over the opercle : a few black 
spots on the under surface of lower jaw; body inferiorly with fine brown bars. Dorsal fin barred 
with brown spots. Caudal blackish, with a light brown base. 
By no means rare in Malabar, and ascends rivers high above the influence of the tides. Grows 
to about five inches in length. 
Habitat—Red Sea, Seas, estuaries, and freshwaters of India, and Malaysia. 
Group NEROPHIPLE, Kaup. 
Genus MICROPHIS, Kaup. 
Body heptagonal, composed of rough rings, and continued of equal thickness up to the commence¬ 
ment of the tail. The eggs uncovered by membrane are distributed in rows along the breast and abdomen 
of the males. Fins five. 
Microphis Bleekeri. 
D. 41-45. P. 21. A, 2. C. 9. Body rings 21. Caudal rings 22. 
Length of head a little above of snout to anterior margin of the orbit rather above -J- of the 
total length. Length of body from base of pectoral to the 
anal ring more than half the length of the snout longer than 
the caudal portion. Height of body equal to its depth. 
Eyes—Slightly oval, diameter -j% r of the total length of the head, \ a diameter apart ante¬ 
riorly, rather more posteriorly. 
The lateral ridge of the back is continuous with the supero-lateral caudal ridge which it joins 
a little behind the posterior extremity of the dorsal fin : but the supero-lateral caudal ridge anterior 
to this junction bulges outwards and proceeds forwards in a curved line as far as the anterior 
margin of the anal ring midway between the lateral ridge of the back and the lateral line. The 
lateral line posteriorly arches downwards and reaches the infero-lateral caudal ridge at the base of 
the ring behind the anal one. The infero-lateral ridge of the body is expanded into a sharp 
flattened ridge which ceases at the posterior margin of the ring behind the anal one. 
Body moderately elongated, heptagonal, and longer than the tail, the back a little arched, 
the thickness as far as the commencement of the caudal about the same, the height the same as 
the width, the lower surface with expanded sides (in the males) to protect the ova: flattened in 
the female. 
Snout compressed, curving slightly upwards at its extremity with two moderately raised 
lateral ridges along either side above, and the same below. No spines. Upper surface of orbit 
2 M 
