FISHES OF THE IRANIAN GULF
BY H. BLEGVAD
ASSISTED BY B. L 0 P P E N T H IN
EINAR MUNKSGAARD Contents Ptge PREFACE ...... 5 THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OF THE IRANIAN GULF . . . ii LIST OF S T A T IO N S ...... i6 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS OF THE M A T E R IA L ...... 27
DESCRIPTION OF THE M A TER IA L...... 34 LIST OF NAMES USED BY IRANIAN FISHERMEN .... 222 L I T E R . \ T U R E ...... 228 INDEX TO THE SCIENTIFIC N A M E S ...... 235 PLATES H. Bleg^ad phot.
Fig. I . M S "Rashgoo.” Iranian Gulf, 22.3.1937.
Preface
In 1936 I received through the Danish Foreign Ministry an honour able invitation from the Imperial Government of Iran to carr\ out fishery investigations in the Iranian Gulf. The intended aim of the investigations was to work up proposals for a modernization and an im provement of tne fishery in the Gulf. .\s early as November, 1936 I left by train for Iran in order to commcncc my work. A Danish North-Sca motor fishing boat of 34 tons was bought by the Iranian Government and went to the Gulf in the same autumn onboard a large steamer together with 3 Danish fishermen. After her arrival at the harbour of Bender Shahpur in the north western part of the Gulf the boat, which was named “Rashgoo,” was launched, and the fishery investigations were started. In the summer months of 1937 the boat was laid up in Khorram Shahr in Shatt-el-Arab, under the supervision of one of the crow, while the rest of the crew and I my.scif returned to Denmark. In the winter se;ison of 1937/38 the fishery investigations were resumed and carried on till the end of April, A report on the results of the investigations was delivered to the Iranian Government before my departure from Iran in May, 1938. I proposed the erection of a canning factory and a fish-flour factory in Bender Abbas and the bu>ing of a second fishing boat of the same type as the “Rashgoo.” I have had the great pleasure to see that the Government acted on my proposals in letting the Danish firm “Atias” build the factories, which
H. Blrgvad phot. Fig. 9. MyS “Raibgoo” being unloaded. were taken over by the Government in January, 1941. Furthermore, 4 young Danish specialists in the canning industry were engaged to manage the factory, and 6 Danish fishermen were engaged to supervise the fisheries. .Another North Sea fishing boat was bought by the Govern ment in 1940, and the fishermen themselves sailed her from Eebjerg to the Gulf. She was named “Sangsar.” Very little is known about the fish fauna of the Iranian Gulf. .Apart from minor reports on some few species, mostly collected by private people, there fa no special literature on the fishes of the Gulf. The fishes of both India and the Red Sea have been described in large works, but this is not the case with the fishes of the Iranian Gulf. In the Red Sea fishes were collected by P. Fo r s s k & 1 in 1762 during the expedition made by the f^ous Danish traveller Carsten Niebuhr to Arabia. Forsska 1 Wmself died during the expedition, but Niebuhr later on published his well-known records ( “Descriptiones Animalium, etc.”—Haunix, 1775). The Zoological Museum of Copenhagen still posseaBCS F o r s s k & I’s unique collection of dried and pressed fishes from this travel. The fishes of this curious “Herbarium” are still in a remarkable good state of preserva tion though they are now nearly 200 years old. Their scales can be counted, md it is possible to observe several other important characters in them; therefore diligent use has been made of the “Fish Herbarium” during the work at the present book. How ingenious to treat the fish in this way when \ ou travel on camel-back and glasses and spirits cannot be carried along! The individual fish was split, dried and afterwards pre.ssed in a “her barium” like plants. When prepared in this way they did not weigh much and required only little room;—and it is even questionable whether speci mens preserv'ed in spirits would have been as fine by now asForsskal’s fishes. It very soon became clear to me that a total survey of the forms met ^^ith during the investigations would iluabJe indeed. During the investigations 164 hauls w'erc made with the irawl or the Danish seine at 136 stations. Besides the stationary' gears were used, and also the catches ,.f •!'<■ nntiv,- fUlicrmin were examined. Most of the species met with were of D a y’s “Fishes of India,” i 88g^, but furthermore one or several man iduals of each species were gen^ ” ^served in formalin for later examination and determina tion. Thi li in a rather large collection, which, by the courtesy of the Iranian Government, I managed to send to Copenhagen, and which constitutes the basis of the present descriptions. T' "rrtion has turned o\rr ? ■ .1 \tTTvi nin of Com
I have purposely avoided the setting up ol new species. I have seen the confusion tli ‘ ' ' when an author sets up a new species on the basis of a single 1 and of charac^ters which later on turn out to be inconstant. I have experienced what a huge work it is for later authors to correct the error. Furthermore, it is often extremely difficult to decide which cJiaracters rightly may be used for a distinction of specics; throughout the many years of my work as a fishery biologist I have seen what enorm ous variations may occur as to form, colour and other characters between individuals of the same species. I have therefore confined ms’self to put down c\...... ries under the name lo which it was determined by means of the I in hand. In th if divergences their nature are minutely described, and I have endeavoured to give as complete a material ■ration as pos.sibIe. ...lough Prof. R. Sparck I received some excellent photographs of fishes from the Iranian Gulf, sent for determination by Dr. H e n Field of the Field Museum of Natural Histon,, Chicago. Being inable to correspond ' " ’ - ’ ' tjip prc\ . in nnisi.mcos I have taken the liberty to reproduce somi of these photographs here. Further more, I have endavoued to give pictures of all the characteristic genera of fishes mentioned in this book. I think that in many cases a good illustra tion, far better than many a detailed description, will give an idea of the fish in question. It is my hope that, beyond the professioner zoologists, all persons interested in the fish fauna of the Iranian Gulf, thus m iv derive benefit and pleasure from the present book. to the measurements given in the book the following must be said: The length is the total length including the caudal fin when nothing else is remarked. The height means the greatest height of the fish. T h e length of the head is measured from the tip of the snout to the upper edge of operculum, its height is the greatest height. L. 1 a t. denotes the number of scales along the lateral line, L. r. the number of scales along the longitudinal axis of the fish. L. tr. stands for the number of scales on the transversal axis from back to belly in 7 the greatest height of the fish. L. tr. ' means that there arc t sr '3 above the lateral line, i in the lateral line and 13 bclu^^ li. u, aciioics the dorsal fin, D, the first dorsal, D 2 the second dorsal. A. means the anal, C. the caudal, P. the pectoral, and V. the ventral fins. The number of fin rays is given in the way shown by the f ” <•: D. 5 j 1/24-25 + I means that the first dorsal has ", sr '---- ' • ' 24-25 soft rays, and i free ray. It is my pl< ■ ’iity in thi.s plate to bring my thanks, first and fore most to the In., . Liovemment of Iran for the interest displayed in my work during ray stay in Iran. HLs Imperial Majesty Reza Shah P a h 1 a V i. His Im{>erial Highness Shah] >hammedReza, and all the Government ...... .cbted to Mr. N. D j eh a n g u i r, Director of the Revenue Department, for his most valuable collaboration. I further wish to bring my thanks to the Consortium “Kamp^ax,” parti cularly Mr 1 r. r.~ ~ ■ - ■ pjp good advi. My thanks are further due to the Dirertion tion” for economic support ndon in the summer of •939 for the purpose of ‘ the li.sh t ollettion of the British Museum (Natural History). At i time T m\ ' ‘ to Dr. Norman, Director of tl, n nf thi ...... for hospitality at the Museum and for help letermining my Iranian material of fishes, especially the li da. My tha; also due to Mr. F r a s e r-B runner for . . . . determination of fishes of the order Plectognathi. I thank Dr. K d u m a n s, Leyden, for his determination of my Gobiids and his kindly permitting me to publish his descriptions in the present work.
H. Bleg%-ad p h o t Fig. 3 . On board thr “Rashgoo" under Iranian flag. 1938.
I am further indebted to many people in this country for their assistance in the planning of my investigations and the procuring of ma terial, etc. I specially wish to mention Messrs Trolle Thomsen, Fisher)’ Director, Aage Larsen, Engineer in Chief, and Claus Sorensen, Director, Esbjerg. I also wish to thank Dr. phil. A. B r u u n for determining the Fiying-fishes and Mr. P o u 1 H. W i n t h e r, Artist, for the excellent way in which he has managed to reproduce a number of fishes, partly in black, partly in colour, in the latter case on the basis of coloured drawings made by the author immediately after the capture of the fish or of photographs in colours, taken by the author. Last, but not least, I wish to thank my faithful companions during the work of investigation in the Iranian Gulf, the late Mr. Marquard- s e n, Fishing Skipper of Skagen (who perished at a mine explosion in 1 9 4 0 ), Messrs M. Sorensen, Fishing Skipper of Esbjerg, J. Thiim and Ritz .Andersen, Fishermen of Esbjerg. I finally return my special thanks to Mr. B. Loppenthin, Mag.sc., who assisted me during the cruise in the Gulf in the winter season of 1937/38, and who has done a great work in the determination of the fish material and the working up of this book.
CopfnhagfTi^ in September, 1942 H. Blegvad The Physical Condifions of the Iranian Gulf
f Of the physical conditions of the Iranian Gulf the following statements may be given here. In spite of the large quantities of fresh water that are carried into the Gulf through Shatt-el-Arab by the rivers Euphrat, Tigris and Karun the salinity is ver\' high, averaging about 40-41 ®/oo- This is undoubtedly due to the very rapid evaporation from the surface of the sea, particularly in summer, for during the hot season t h e temperature of both air and water is very' high. At the Bahrein Islands, for imtancc, the sea water has been found to have a temperature of 36.5 C. fA. Mohr;. In winter, however, the temperature is much lower, the average mostly being 15- 18^0 . in the open sea. The following temperatures and salinities were measured during the cruise (the salinities being determined by means of the areometer) :
Dice Stiiion No. Depth Temperiturt in "C. S^Jiiiirr in 4I3 '937 4 Surface 18.6 40.8 5/3 .. 6 n •7-5 41.0 11/3 .. 9 18.1 40.6 n /3 .. 12 „ 19.I 40.6 13/3 „ '5 17-9 40.8 'V 3 M >7 V i 18.9 41.0 26/3 „ 37 12.7 40.2 20 ni '9 4 41.0 4* » 1 8 5 41.1 27/3 a8 Surface 21-5 40.0 10 ra 20.8 40.1 90 „ 19.8 40.4 3<5 18.8 40.6 50 » I 8.2 40.8 71 » 18.2 40.9 37/3 .. »9 Surfacc 2 I-S 4 0 3 22 m 20.5 4 0 9 30/3 31 Surfacc 22.1 40.4 10 m 21.4 40 a 30 » ao.j 40.4 32 » '9-7 40.5 31/3 „ 34 Surfacc 22.2 39-9 5/4 36 22.8 39-3 •2/4 ,, 47 “3-7 37-3 17/4 « 51 23.0 37-3 •>i
Date Station No. Depth Temperature in ®C. Salinity in ®/« 58 Surface 247 37-2 9/2 1938 75 23.0 40.0 14/2 78 18.6 41.2 16/2 „ 79 14-9 41.2 ao/3 „ Bahrein 18.8 42.6 9/4 N.E. of Qais 2r>°38' N., 54 >2' E. 23.2 37-9 10 m 23.0 38 ' s8 „ 22.8 38.3
• In other words the highest' salinity, 42.6 7oo, was measured at the Bahrein Islands, the lowest one, 3 7 .2-37.3 (Stations 4 7 , 51 and 5 8 ), in the Strait of Hormuz. Generally speaking the salinity of the Gulf seems to decrease in an easterly direction; between the Strjiit of Hormuz and Bushire it was about 38 7oo, at Bushire about 40 7oo, and at the island of Kharg about 41 7oo- Even in the estuary at Bender Shahpur (St. 7 9 ) it was found to be 41.2 7 oo- The lowest temperature of the sea water, 14.9 'C ., was observed in the locality last mentioned during a windy and rainy period in the month of February’. In March the temperature of the surface rises to 18-22°, in April to 23-24"C. T h e conditions of bottom were examined partly by soundings, partly from bottom samples taken with the Petersen Grab. Items of the character of bottom are found in the subjoined list against the individual stations. As will be seen the bottom is soft and clayey nearly ever) where in the deeper localities; this is particularly true of the north western area of the Gulf where the rivers Euphrat and Tigris have de posited quantities of mud during the centuries. Along the coast we gener ally find hard bottom with coral-rccfs and sand. Off the Iranian coa.st there are extensive, rather shallow areas with sandy bottom (Stations 29-31 and 86-8 7 ). On the banks we also found hard bottom with gravel, corals and shells (St. 3 9 ). T h e depths of the Iranian Gulf are not very great, the average depth being about 50 m ; only in some few places the depth Ls more than 100 m. There are rather distinct tidal waters; along the Iranian side of the Gulf the difference between ebb-tide and flood-tide sometimes amounting to about 2 m. Near the shore, therefore, there are now and then comparatively rapid currents. The genus of fish of which th e largest numbers were taken during our fishery investigations was undoubtedly Leiognathus sp. The species showing the most uniform distribution was Carcharias menisorrah, of which a few specimens occurred in nearly every haul. Foremost among the food fishes stand the percomorphous fishes, particularly those belonging to the genera Epinephelus, Lutjanus, Poma- dasys, Otolithes, Pseudosciaena, Lethrinus, Sparus, Cybium, Stromateus, and Eleutheronema. Further the Clupeidae of the Sardinella genus, Hilsa ilisha, llisha indica, Dorosomus nasus and Chirocentrus dorab. According to the literature in hand about 90 of the 215 species met with in the Gulf and described in the following also occur throughout the Indian Ocean, both towards the east and the south. About 90 of the species princijpally occur towards the east*^ the Indian Ocean and the Malay Archipelago to the Philippines aM beyond. On the other hand 5 species mostly occur in a southerly direction, from the western part of the Indian Ocean to South Africa, and about 25 species seem to be rather local, occurring only in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean with the Iranian Gulf and the Red Sea. 5 species are tropical cosmopolitans, which have been met with both in the Atlantic, the Pacific and in the Indian Oceans.
GOc t •C O £ Lisf of Sfations ABBREVIATIONS Position: Ground: N. North bl. black gy. g re y sm. small S. South c. coarse hd. hard so. soft E. East cl. clay 1. light St stones W. West crl. coral m. mud w. with m. miles dk. dark rax- mixed yel. yellow Lat latitude f. fine s. sand Long, longitude gvl. gravel sh. shelb The S ta k e -n e t was situated between the Stations No. 19 and No. 67 off Bushire. It was placed here on January aard, 1938 and taken up on March 19th, 1938. 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X - X. i: L'“. vr ■A ’X. U4 c/: U4 c/; ui - ui « c/: 75 ^ "c be - X 2 V; c 5 V •4- V' If “ ri S ^ “■ “ ** "* “* . r< c “ c cr C 0 . r< 0 r: "■ c 0 X C> c. 1—' ■“ •M ?« —I c*. C<“. ?< 'X « tn er — c« as o Systematic Synopsis of the Material Class: Selachii Sub-Class: Eu^clnchii Order: Plenrotremala Sub-order : Gal(oui*a . Kain. : Oreclolobidae Rhincodon typus S in i t h Chiloscylliutn grisfum M ii 11. & 11 <■ n 1 i Faiii. : C.archarinidaf C.arrhajias mmisorrah M ii 1 1. & H e n 11- darcharias acutus R ii p p. Carcharias sp.? balfuuii D ;i \ ^ygafna blorhii C u Muslehts mana-o B 1 k r. Ojrii r: Uypotremata Sub-order ; Sat( obahndt a K.itti. : 'Tinpcd'tn'tdaf I OTpfdo parJhf'Ta () 1 f c r s Siib-ojder : Batmdrn F an i.: PiUtidm- iti^pidtilui Lath. ZysTon B 1 k r. Fatii. : Rhinohiilidae Rbirjobatui Qranulatui CWi v. Khyuchohaluf dnddcmii (I'orssk.) Rhyncht^hatus atu yloslotnu ^ (Bl. Srhii.') Fani. : 7 r\ iit>uulaf' I rygon uarnak ( F Engraulis vitrirostris Gilchrist & Tho^P®°" Stolephorus zollingeri (Blkr.) StoUphorus indicus (v. Hass.) Hilsa kanagurta (Blkr.) Hilsa ilisha (Ham. Buch.) Sardinella perforata (Cantor) Sardinella jimbriata (C u v. & Val.) Sardinella sindensis (Day) Sardinella melanuta (Cuv.) Sardinella nrm (F o r s s k.) Ilisha indica (Sw.) Opisthopterus indicus (S w.) Order: Iniomi Sub-order; Myctophoidea Fam.: Myctophoidae Saurida tumbil (Bl.) Order; Ostariophysi Sub-order; Siluroidea Fam.; Plotosidae Plotosus anguillaris (Bl.) Fam .; Ariidae Arius thalassinus (Riipp.) Order: Apodes Fam.; Congridae Muraenesox cinereus (Forssk.) Fam .; Echelidae Muraenichthys schultiei Blkr. Fam. ; Ophichthyidae Pisoodonophii hoevenii (Blkr.) Order : Synentognathi Sub-order: Scombresocoidea Fam.: Belonidae ■ Tylosurus strongylurus (v. Hass.) Tylosurus leiurus (B lk r.) Sub-order: Exocoetoidea Fam.; Hemirhamphidae Hemirhamphus georgii Cuv. & Val. Hemirhamphus gaimardi Cuv. & Val. Hemirhamphus marginatus (Forssk.) Fam.; Exocoetidae Parexocoetui menlo (Cuv. & Val.) Order: Microcyprini Fam.; Cyprinodontidae Cyprinodon dispar (Riip^p.) O rder: Solenichthyes Fara.: Aulostomatidae Fistularia villosa K I u n z. Fam .: Centriscidae Centriscus scutatus L. O rder: Percomorphi Sub-order: Percoidea Fara.: Serranidae Epinephelus areolatus (Forssk.). Epinephelus chlorostigma (Cuv. & Val.) Epinephelus tauvina (Forssk.) Therapon puta Cuv. & Val. Therapon theraps Cuv. & Val. Therapon jarbua (Forssk.) Pelates quadrilineatus (Bl.) Fam.; Priacanthidae Priacanthus tayenus Rich, Fam.: Chilodipteridae Apogon lineolatus Cuv. & V' a 1. Apogon jraenatus Val. Apogon thuntoni Day Fam.: Sillaginidae Sillago sihama (Forssk.) Fam.; Lactariidae Lactarius lactarius (Bl. Schn.) Fam.; Carangidae Me galas pis cordyla (L.) Decapterus russrllii (Riipp.) Atropus atropos (Bl. Schn.) Caranx crumenophthalmus (Bl.) Caran.x djedaba (Forssk.) Caranx kalla Cuv. & V a 1. Caranx auroguttatus Guy. & V a 1. Caranx armatus (Forssk.) Caranx malabaricus (Bl. Schn.) Caranx chrysophrys Cuv. & Val. Caranx Uptolepis Cuv. & Val. Caranx speciosus (Forssk.) Alectis indica (Riipp.) Chorinemus lysan (Forssk.) Chorinemus sancti-petri Cuv. & Val, Trachinotus baillonii (Lacip.) Naucrates ducior (L.) Fam.: Menidae Mene maculata (Bl. Schn.) Fam. : Lutjanidae Lutjanus ehrenbergi (Peters) Lutjanus johnii (Bl.) Lutjanus lineolatus (Riipp.) Lutjanus gibbus (Forssk.) Lutjanus coccineus (C u v. & Val.) Lutjanus sanguineus (C u v. & Val.) Lutjanus janthinuropterus (Blkr.) Lutjanus fulvijlamma (F o r s s k.) Lutjanus russellii (Blkr.) Aprion microlepis (Blkr.) Fam .: j\emipteridae Nemipterus tolu (C u v. & V'al.) Nemipterus japonicus (Bl.) Scolopsis personatus (Cuv. & V'al.) Fam .: Leiognathidae Geires uyena (Forssk.) Gerres punctatus C u v. & V il; Pentaprion longimanus (Cantor) Leiognathui insidiator (Bl.) Leiognathus equulus (Forssk.) Leiognathus daurus (Cuv.) Leiognathus bindus (Cuv. & Val.) Leiognathus lineolatus (Cuv. & Val.) Fam .: Pomadasidae Plectorhynchus cinctus (Ternm. & Schl.) Plectorhynchus schotaj (Forssk.) Plectorhynchus pictus (T h u n b.) Pomadasys stridens (Forssk.) Pomadasys maculatus (Bl.) Pomadasys argentea (Forssk.) Fam. : Sciaenidae Otolithes ruber (B 1. Schn.) Pseudosciaena aneus (Bl.) Pseudosctaena axillaris (Cuv. & Val.) Pseudoiciaena diacanthus (Lac.) Pseudosciaena bleekeri (Day) Johnius maculatus B 1. Schn. Johnius carutta B 1. Sciaena dussumieri (Cuv. & Val.) Fam.: MulHdae Afulloitiichthys aurijlamma (Forssk.) Upeneus vittatus (Forssk.) Upeneus tragula Rich. Fam. ; Lethrinidae Lethrinut miniatus (Bl. Schn.) Lethrinus nebulosut (Forssk.) Fam. : Spatidae Sparu^ spinijer Forssk. Sparu; datnia (Ham. Buch.) Sparus bijasciatus (Forssk.) Sparus cuvieri (Day) Sargus noct Cuv. & V a 1. Crenidens crenidens (Forjik.) Fam .: Ephippidae Ephippus orbis (Bl.) Fam.: Drepane punctata (L.) Fam .: Chaetodontidae Scatophagus argus (BI.) Chaetodon obscurus B o u 1. Heniochus acuminatus (L.) Pomacanthus maculosus (Forssk.) Fam .: Cepolidae Acanlhocepola abbreviata (C u v. & Val.) Fam .: Pomacanthidae Daya fjkdoni (Day) Fam .: Labridae Callyodon dussumieri (C u v. & Val.) Choerodon robustus (Gunth.) Fam.: Teulhidae Tfuthis nebuloius (Quoy & Gaim.) Fam.; Pinguipedidae Parapercis smithii (R e g.) Fam.: Trichonotidae Trichonotus setigerus B 1. S c h n. Fam .; Uranoscopidae Vranoscopus guttatus C u v. & Val. Sub-order; Trichiuroidea Fam.: Trichiuridae Jrichiurus muticus Gray Sub-order: Scombroidea Fam .: Scombridae Scomber mtcrolepidotus R ii p p. (^ybium guttatum (B 1, Srhn.) Rhachycentrum canadus (L.J Siib-ordir : Oobioidea ’ Fain.: Cobiidae Hathygobius juscus iRijpp.) Oxyurichthys tentacularii (C) u v. & \'al.) Oxyutuhlhyi papufinis (C u v. &. \'al.) Actntrogobtus ornatus (Riipp.) .li eiitrogvbiui dayi K. o u in a n s Oligoli'pis acutiptnnis (C u v. & \'al.) /{arbatogobius aiana: K o u iii a n s Lobutogobius omanensis K. o u m a n s Scartelaos tenuis (Uay) Periophthalmus koeUeuteri (Fall.) Periophthatmw ualtoni K o u ni a n s Trypauchen uagina (B 1. Ar/iii.j Sub-ordrr: (lallioiiymoidea Fam .: Callionymidae Callionymus longicaudatus Tcmm. & Schl. Callionymus sagitta Pall. Callionymus persicus Reg. Sub-order: Blennoidea Fam .; Blennidae BUnnius persicus Reg, Salarias lineatus C u v. & V a 1. Petroscirtes punctatus (C u v. & Val.) Petroscirtes variabilis Cantor Sub-order: Stromaleoidea Fam .: Stromateidae SlTomateus cinereus B 1. Stromateus niger B 1. Psenes indicus (Day) Sub-order: Mugiloidea Fam .: Sphyraenidae Sphyraena jello C u v. & Val. Sphyraena obtusata C u v. & Val. Fam .: Mugilidae Mugil dussumieri C u v. & Val, Fam. : Atherinidae Atherina forskdlii R ii p p. Sub-order: Polynemoidea Fam .: Polynemidae Eleulheronema tetradactylum (Shaw) Polynemus sextarius B 1. S c h n. Order: ScUroparei Sub-order: Scorpaenoidea Fam. : Scorpaenidae Pterois tussellii B e n n. Pterois miles (Benn.) Pterois cincla R ii p p. Apistus carinalus (B 1. Schn.) Minotis monodactylus (Bl. Schn.) Choridactylus multibarbis Rich. Leptosynanceia melanostigma (Day) Fam. : Triglidae Lepidotrigla bispinosa S t e i n d. Fam .: Cottidae Platycepkalus macuUpinna Reg. Platycephalus tuberculatus C u v. & Val. Order: Heterosomata Fam .: Psettodidae Psettodes erumei (Bl. Schn.) Fam.: Bothidae Pseudorhombus triocellatus (Bl. Schn.) Pseudorhombus malayanus B 1 k r Pseudorhombus arsius (Ham. Buch.) Pseudorhombus elevatus Ogilby Pseudorhombus javanicus (Blkr.) A rnoglossus aspilos (Blkr.) Engyprosopon grandisquama (Teram. & Schl.) Laeops guentheri A 1 c o c k : SeJeidae Solea elongata Day Brachirus orientalis (Bl. Schn.) Pardachirus marmoratus (Lac.) ^am .: Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus bilineatus (Lac.) Cynoglossus macrolepidotus (BIkr.) Cynoglossus puncticeps (Rich.) Ordef . Discocephali ^am .; Echeneidae Echeneis neucrates L. Ordec. pUctognathi ^^*i-order: Balistoidea ^am. : Triacanthidae Triacanthus indicus Reg. Triacanthus strigilifer Cantor ^ara.: Balistidae Abalistes stellaris (BI. Schn.) : Monccantkidat Paramonacanthus oblongus (T c m m. & Schl.) Paramonacanthus choirocephalus B 1 k r. StephanoUpis diaspros Fra.'ser-Brunncr Ostracion gibbosus L. ®'*^^ordcr : Tetraodontoidea : Tetraodontidae Spheroides inermis (Temin. & Schl.) Spheroides lunaris (Bl. Schn.) Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gm.) Tetraodon stellatus (Bl. Schn.'' Chilonodon patoca (Ham. Buch.) ; Diodontidae > Chilonycterus orbicularis (Bl.) Order. Haplodoci ; Batrachoididae Batrachus grunnifns (L.) Description of the Material Class: Selachii SuUCIais! Euselachii Order: PLEUROTREMATA Sub-order: GALEOIDEA Fam .: Orcctolobidae Rhincodon typus Smith Rhincodon typus Andrew Smith, 1 8 2 9 , p. 4 4 3 (Table Bay). Rhinodon typicui Smith. Day, 1 8 8 8 , p. 8 1 1 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 2 9 . Rhincodon typus Smith. Carman, 1 9 1 3 , p. 4 a. Rhincodon typus Alexand'er Smith. Jordan, 1 9 1 9 , p. 1 7 4 . Native name; Kerr-mlhee (partim). (Means a large, "sleepy” fish, refer ring to it* indolence, because it allows boats to get quite near to it). Principal characteristics: Very large, indolent form with broad and flat snout. 2 dorsals. Notes: The species was observed (Mice, one specimen being noticed on 6 th April, 19 3 8 , S. of Quishm, E. of Hen jam. Its length was estimated at 10 m, its weight at about 2 tons. The fish was swimming slowly, quite near to the surface, the points of the first dorsal and the caudal projecting above the surface. It was very indolent and suffered the boat to get quite near to it. The head of the animal was blunt a.s viewed from above. The colour was dark brown with numerous irregular, light spots. When we Fig. 6 . Rhincodon typus Smith. (After Norman & Fraser, 1 9 3 7 ). \L sailed towards it, it slowly went deeper below the surface, but rose once more about a hundred yards away. It once more suffered the boat to approach to a distance of 2 or 3 yards; but when we tried to harpoon it, it disappeared—though still at a low rate—deeper into the water, so that we lost sight of it. The Iranian fishermen, who use the oil of the liver of the fish, say that it can be caught from a rowing boat, one of the fishermen jumping on to its back and putting a big iron hook into its mouth, after which it is towed to he shore. In 1937 we saw the remains of a large specimen on the island of Quishm. Hab.: Tropical oceans. Chiloscyllium griseum M ii 11. & H e n 1 e. PI. I, Figure i. Chiloscyllium griseum Muller & Henle, 1 8 4 1 , p. 1 9 . (India, Japan). Chiloscyllium indicum (Gm.) Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 7 2 6 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 3 4 . Chiloscyllium griseum Miill. & Henle. Regan, 1 9 0 8 , p. 3 6 0 . CkiioscylUum grittum MulL & Henle. Garmaa, 1913. P- 64- Native name: Bainbak-gorbeh. (Bambak Shark. Gorbeh = Cat). Principal characteristics: Moderate size. Blunt snout, spiracle below eye and well developed; aiial (sub-caudal) very far back wards, immediately in front of caudal; colour uniform (see further below). Material broght ho: No. I : Male. St. 7 5 . S. of Daiyir, 9 .2 . 1 9 3 8 . ( 5 6 cm). No. 2 : Female S t 3 6 . W. of Ayanat, 5 .4 . 1 9 3 7 . ( 4 0 cm). 2 eggs. St. 1 1 5 . Clarence Strait 4 .4 . 1 9 3 8 . Caught at stations (numbers in brackets) : 6 (3 ), 7 a (4 ). 7 b (3 ), 1 7 a ('), >7 b (>)| - !. 6 4 (2 )’ 6 7 (2 ), 6 8 (a), 7 4 (a), 7 5 (6 4 ), 7 8 b (i), 7 9 (i),,8 a (1 ). [ 1 1 5 ( 2 eggs)]. Dates of captut ^ra^ch-5 . April, 1 9 3 7 : *3- Januar>-4 . March, 1 9 3 8 (eggi: 4 . April). Notes: Apart from the two eggs this species was caught only in the inner part of the Gulf (Figure 7 ), where it was rather numerous, being the most common shark of the area after Carcharias menisorrah. In the southern part of the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman no Chiloscyllium were taken. The said 2 eggs from the Clarence Strait no doubt originate from this form because no other member of Orectoiobidae was captured. Several of the females examined contained numerous big eggs. Specimens of the British Museum compared. Probably the Iranian Chiloscyllium is a new species, or subspecies of C. griseum; future in vestigations may settle this. The C. griseum of the British Museum (which tl,,. tMi,- >in/ rinirn nf C. hasseltH) shows the same colour as our Iranian animal, but the origin of the first dorsal is situated above the end of the base of the ventral; in our specimens the origin is found above the middle of the base of the ventral. Regan (I.e., p. 3 5 8 ) considers this a characteristic of C. griseum, punctatum and indicum, but the other Fig. 7 . Localities where Chiloscyllium griseum Miill. & Henie was caught. Smaller circles indicate that less than lo specimens were uken in a haul of /a h. The larger circle indicates a catch of 6 4 specimens per Ya h. The easternmost find, North of Quishm on 5 6 ° Long. E., refers to 2 eggs; the fish itself was not uken east of 5 3 ° Long. E. characteristics of the two last-mentioned species do not agree with those of our animals. Unlike the specimen of the British Museum, which has a straight labial fold, and Regan’s description (p. 3 6 1 ), our speci mens show a fringy labial fold. Regan further says that the mouth of the said 3 species is nearer to the vertical through the eyes than to the snout. In our specimens'it sits nearly in the middle. All specimens captured showed a greyish-yellow or reddish colour on the back and were lighter on the abdomen, none of them showing the cross bars of the young fish; however, all the streaky specimens mentioned by Regan (I.e., p. 3 6 1 ) were smaller than those observed by us, of which the two specimens brought home were selected from among the smallest. However, the largest animals have hardly been much longer than 80 cm in total or reached a weight of 2 kg. By far the greater'part of them weighed about i kg; the 64 individuals from St. 75 weighed 76 kg. The stomach contents were examined only once (St. 6 ) ; they coasisted of crustaceans and young fish. H a ^ ''f ^ ...... T„ i;..„ — \t upeiago, Japan. Ble^vad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 37 Fig, 8. Careharias menisorTch Miill. & Henle. (After Day, 1878). Fam .: Carcharinidae Carcharias menisorrah M ii 11. & H c n 1 e Carcharias Menisorrah M'iiller & Henle, 1 8 4 1 , p. 46. (Java, New Holland, Red Sea). ' i Carcharias (Prionodon) menisorrah M uller & Henle. Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 7 1 6 ; 1889, I, p. 16. Carcharias menisorrah MiilL &. Henle. Carman, 1913, p. 135. Native name: Bambalc. Principal characteristic: Moderate size. Pointed snout. 2 dorsals. Colour: slate grey to brown ^rey. Dj with a dark spot. No spiracle. * Material brought home: , No. I : Foctiu. St. 7 6 . O ff Kangun, 9 .3 . 1 9 3 8 . ( 3 0 cm). Female (javvi). St. 109. Honnuz Strait, 9.4.193&. Fig. 9. Localities where Carcharias menisorrah Mull. & Henle was caught. Black circles indicate number of specimens taken per J4 h. haul, smaller circles denote i-io specimens, larger circles it- 30. Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): I (»), » ( 0 . 3 b (a), 4 ( 1 9 ), 5 (19), 6 (1 1 ), 8 (i), 9 (8 ), 1 0 (7 ), 11 (7 ), (3 ). >3 (7). 14 ('4)> 1 5 b (4). >6a (i), i6b (2 ), 1 7 a (3 ), 1 7 b (a), 1 7 c (3 ), i7 d (4 ), aoa (4 ), aob (la), 21 (a6 ), aa (1 2 ), a3 (5 ), a4 (8 ), 2 5 (1 5 ), a6 (1 1 ), a8 (1 1 ), ag (5 ), 3 0 (4 ), 3 1 a (a), 3 a (3 ), 3 3 (3 6 ), 3 4 (8 ), 3 5 (1 8 ), 3 6 (8 ), 3 8 (4 ), 43 (4). 44 (I), 45 («0 , 46 (a), 48 (i), 5* ( 0 . 53 ( 0 , 54 (s). 55 (»3). 56 (14). 5 7 (2 9 ). 5 8 (3 8 ), 5 9 («3 ). 6 6 a (4 ), 6 6 b {5 ), 6 7 (i), 6 9 b (3 ), 7 0 a (a), 7 1 a (3 ), 7 'b (a), 7 3 (1 5 ), 7 4 (i), 7 5 (i), 7 6 (ao). 7 7 (3 ), 7 8 {5 ), 7 8 a ( 7 ), 8 4 (5 ), 8 9 (a), 9 a (i), 9 7 (i), 9 8 (3 ), 9 9 (5 ). too (i), 1 0 8 (6 ), 1 0 9 (a), no (3 ), 1 1 3 (i), 1 1 6 (3 ), 1 1 7 (t), laoa (3 ). laob {3 ), ia7 (9 ), ia8 (i), 1 3 0 (i), 1 3 4 (i), 1 3 6 (1 ).—Stake-net Jan. 2 6 (i). Dates of capture; a8 . February-aa. April, 1 9 3 7 ; a6 . January-a7 . April, *938. Notes: Specimens of the British Museum compared.—The ap pearance corresponds fairly to the figure given by Day. The teeth of the upper jaw are serrated with 2-5 cusps on the distal, basal lobe. Teeth in the lower jaw more slander. Figure of the teeth by M ii 11 c r & H e n 1 e resembles those of the Iranian specimens exactly, but re garding the figure of the shark itself it must be emphasized that D? has been given one colour only. Our specimens always had a distinct dark spot on Dj, a fact which is also mentioned by Day. The species was by far the most common shark of the Gulf, and altogether no other fish was caught so frequently as Carcharias menisorrah, which was taken at 78 out of 137 stations (Fig. 9 ). In spite of this fact the fish is not used at all by Iranian fishermen. Many females of this species had in their tubae foeti that were able to swim when thrown into the water. I specimen (from St. 5 5 ) contained 4 foeti. D a y says (I.e.) that the species “attains twelve feet or more in length,” but among the specimens examined by us hardly anyone was more than i m long. G a r m a n %• H. Blegvad phot. Fig. 1 0 . Carcharias menisoTrah Mall. & Henle. Iranian Gulf, spring 1 9 3 8 . (p. 1 6 ) gives the figure 3 0 ", which agrees better with our estimate. The weight of 131 animals amounted to 292 kg, i.e. an average of 2.23 kg; the weight of the individual animals ranged between and 3 kg. The food mainly consists of fish, but also Cuttlefish and Prawns were observed in the stomachs of animals captured. The species breeds in the Gulf. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Malay Archipelago. Carcharias acutus R ii p p. Pala sorra Russel, 1 8 0 3 , p. 9 , pi. 1 4 . Carcharias acutus R ii p p e 1, 1 8 3 5 , p. 6 5 . (Red Sea). Carcharias acutus R ii p p. Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 7 1 2 ; 1 8 8 9 , 1, p. 1 0 . Scoliodon pala. sorrah (Cuv.). G a r m a n, igrs, p. iii. Native name: Bambak. Principal characteristics: More slender than C. meni- sorrah and with a purer grey colour on its back than the latter. Dorsals and cauda] with disdnct black edges. No spiracle. Material brought home: No. I : Male. St. 7 4 . Off Ras-el-MuUf, 9 .3 .1 9 3 8 . (5 1 cm). No. 2 ; Female St. 1 3 3 . Off Jabrin, 1 3 .4 ,1 9 3 8 . {5 0 .5 cm). No. 3 : Female (juv.) St. i n . Near Hormuz, 3 .4 .1 9 3 8 . ( 2 8 cm). Male ad. (jaws). St — v.-i,. < 1 9 3 8 . Female „ „ tations (numbers in brackets): 33 3 + {«). 3 6 (2 5 ). 37 (4 ). 3 8 (a). 4« («). 43 («a), 45 (0, 5« («o). 5 8 ( 6 ), 7 4 (i), 75 ("). 77 (5)t «»* (i). **7 (4). i*« (0, I33 (s). ‘34 (O- Dates of capturr: 3 1 . March-2 2 . April, 1 9 3 7 ; 9 . February-2 6 . April, 1 9 3 8 . N .Specimens of the British Museum compared.—Our speci mens agree with the figure by D a y (pi. 18 4 ). The teeth of the upper and lower jaws more uniform than in C. menisorrah. The teeth of the upper jaw show a very fine serration on the inner side and a somewhat c oarscr serration on the outer side of the base. In the lower jaw the middle teeth are slender and without cusps, the lateral teeth showing minute cusps on both .sides of the base. The teeth are like those found in the specimens of the British Museum. The colour is grey on the upper, more whitish on the lower side. The black edges of C. and D' make the animal easily recognizable. According to D a y the species is "said to attain a considerable size.” Our specimens, however, were always rather small, hardly more than % m. ai individuals weighed 26.5 kg, the largest of them reaching about 2 kg. It cannot be said whether it breeds in the Gulf, but it is rather frequent in the outer part of this water and in the Strait nf H nm ni' hv far not so numerous as the preceeding spedes. North of Lat. 2 8 °N. it was not taken, also not in the Gulf of Oman. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Carcharias sp.? Native names: Bambak, Kussae.t’v- Big sharks entering the Gulf during the summer time probably be longed to thb genus. We observed several specimens in the month of April but did not catch any. Most of them might have a length of 3— 4 m. They enter the Shatt-el-Arab streams, at least up to Baghdad (Tigris) and Ahvaz (K arun), and every year several people, especially children, fall victims to these shaiks. I think the big sharks do not find the same abundance of food in the rivers as in the sea; this may explain that they are more voracious in the fresh water than in the sea where the pearl divers do not fear the sharks. At least, this explanation is more probable than the tales of the Iranian fishermen: in Baghdad the sharks arc believed to come up to eat melons; in Khorramshahr they are said to stand under the date-palms in order to eat the dates falling from the trees! Hemigaleus balfouri D a y HemigaUus Balfouri Day, 1878, p. 717, pL 185. (Coromandel Coast). Hemigaleus balfouri Day. Day, 1889, I, p. 18. HemigaUus balfouri Day. Garman, 1913, p. 15a. Native name: Bambak. Principal characteristics: Slender shark. Easily distin guishable from Carcharias by the small spiracle behind the eye. The teeth of the upper jaw broader and serrated on the outer side of the base, in the lower jaw more slender and not serrated. The front rows of teeth in the lower jaw more projecting than in Carcharias. Colour greyish. Material brought h«me: No. I: Male. St. 38. N.W. of Sheikb-Shuaib, 6.4.1937. ( 5* cm)- No. a: Female. St. a6. N. of Kharg, 34.3.1937. (5a cm). Feroate ad. (jaws). St 11 a. Near Hormuz, 3.4.1938. Fig. II. HemigaUus balfouri (After Day, 1878). » ! Blegvad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 41 Caught at stations (numbers in bracketi) f ^ i (?). 3 8 (3 ), 51 (a), 56 ( 1 1 ), 1 0 5 (i), 112 1161 .(j). Dates of capture: 2 4 . March-2 1 . April, 1 9 3 7 ; 1.-4 . April, 1 9 3 8 . Notes: Rather few in number and of sparse occurrence. The 7 captures are distributed all over the area frorn Kharg to the outer part of the Oman Gulf. No specimens in the British Museum, but our specimens agree with those described by Day. H a b.: Northern parts of the Indian Ocean. blochii C u V. Zyg H. Blegvad pho' Fig. I a. Zyg^tftti blochii C uv Young specimen. Jadt, 30.4.1937. :* ...I Principal characteristics: Elongations on the sides of the head, 2-3 times as long as broad. Notes: 1 specimen of this species was taken in the Oman Gulf 42 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran on 20th April, 1937 (St. 5 5 ). It measured 108 cm in length and weighed 6.5 kg. The stomach contained fish. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. f Mustelus ma^^o B 1 k r. Mustelus manazo Bleeker, 1854, P- (Japan), Mustelus manazo Blkr. Dumiril, I, 1865, p. 403. Mustelus mana;o Bleeket. Day, 1878, p. 7«o; 1889, I, p. 24. Galeorhinus manazo (Bleeker). Garman, 1913, p. 171- Native name: Bambak. Principal characteristics: Small spiracle behind the eyes. Mouth crescentic, with long labial folds. Numerous small, obtuse teeth, similar in both jaws, pavement-like and with indistinct cusps. ^ Material brought home: No. i: Sex? 55 -f- x cm. S t 37. 3 miles S.W. of Bustanu, 6.4.1937. Caught at stations (numbecs in brackets): 37 (a), 48 (i), 71a (a), 78 (i). Dates of capture: 6.-14. April, 1937; 31. January-141 February, 1938. Notes: The species is rather sparse in the Gulf, but it breeds here, which appears distinctly, i.a. from the catches of 1 9 3 8 : they were three females with their tubae fuU of youngs, several in each, all of them distinctly attached to the uterine wall by a yolk sac placenta (cp. Fi gure 1 4 ). • , * Fig. 13. M usUIms m anato Blkr. (After Day, 1878).. The two ^perimens from St. 71a weighed 4 kg and had Crabs in their stomachs. Hab.: Northern Indian Ocean, Japan. Blegv ad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 43 1 i ¥ig. 1 4 . Muslth] mantzo Blkr. Tuba with nrarly full-grown focti and yolk tac placcnta. Origin. 44 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran Order: HYPOTREMATA Sub-order: NARCOBATOIDEA Fam .: Torpedinidae Torpedo panther a O 1 f e r s PI. Ill, Figure i. Torpedo marmorata var. y panthera O 1 f e r s, 1 8 3 1 , p. 1 5 , 1 6 . (Not available). Torpedo panthera Ehrenberg, v. Olfers. RUppell, 1 8 3 5 , p. 6 8 . (Red Sea). Torpedo sinus persici (?) K a m p f., T. panthera (Ehrb.), T. fuscomaculata Pet. K 1 u n z i n g e r, 18 7 0 , p. 6 7 6 -7 8 . Torpedo zugmayeri Engelhard t, 1 9 1 2 , p. 6 4 7 . (Mekran coast). Narcacion panthera (Olfers.). G a r m a n, 1 9 1 3 , p. 3 0 7 . Native names: Niameh, Anenoo. Principal characteristics: Spiracles fringed, base of first dorsal above last half of basis of ventrals. Upper side brown with numerous darker, brown spots. Material brought home: No. i: Female. St. i 8 b. Near Kharg, 1 5 .3 . 1 9 3 7 . ( 2 9 cm). No. a ; Male. St. 6 7 . 1 4 km N.W. of Bushire, 2 6 .1 .1 9 3 8 . (3 i cm). No. 3 -4 ; Males. Outside Bushire (stake-net), 2 6 .1. 1 9 3 8 . (3 2 , 3 8 cm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets) ; i 8 b (i), 2 1 (i), 6 4 a (i), 6 7 (i), 6 9 b (i) ; in stake-net at Bushire: Jan. 2 5 (i), 2 6 ( 2 ), 2 9 ( 2 ), Feb. 4 (a). Dates of capture: 1 5 .-2 3 . March, 1 9 3 7 ; 2 3 . January-4 . February, 1 9 3 8 . Notes: The colour does not fully correspond to the description given by Ruppell (l.c.). The ground colour is brown with darker brown, irregular spots. Both paired and unpaired fins are speckled. The animal named by Engelhardt (l.c.) as Torpedo zugmayeri corres ponds to those taken by us in the Iranian Gulf. It may seem somewhat doubtfnl, whether the fishes concerned belong to two different species. H a b .: This species was found only within a limited area in the innermost part of the Gulf. It does not seem t\|foccur at the Indian coasts, being only recorded from the Red Sea, the Iranian Gulf and [Torpedo zugmayeri Engelhardt) from Gwadar iti British Balutchistan. Sub-order: BATOIDEA Fam .: P r i s t i d a e Pristis cuspidatus Lath. ?nslis cuspidatu.------am , 1794, p. 879, (No Jocality). Pristis cuspidatus Latham. Muller & H e n 1 e, 1 8 4 1 . p. (.Sui]i.ni.i (part.)). Pristis cuspidatus Latham. D 11 m c r i I, 1 8 6 5 , p. 4 7 ^, 'Indian Seas). Pristis cuspidatus Latham. Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 7 2 8 ; i8 fl Blegvad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 45 Pristis cuspidatus Latham. Annandale, 1909, p. 5. | Priitis cu3pidatus Latham. Garman, 1 9 1 3 , pi 3 6 1 . Native names: Mahee-arre-dar, Teegh-mihee-arreh. Principal characteristics: Saw toothless on basal third. The teeth broad, with small variations of distance. Material brought home: No. I: Female. Saw 23 cm, as teeth 1. side, 97 r. side. St. aa. Near Kuh-i-Bang, a3-3-i937. (87 cm ). Saw 32 cm, 22 teeth on either side. St. -66a. 10 miles N.W. of Bushire, a5-*-i938. Saw 24 cm, 27 teeth 1. side, 26 r, side. Bushire (washed ashore), 2.2.1938. Saw 46 + X cm, 25 teeth on either side. Jask, 29.3.1938. Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 14 (i), 22 (i), 66a (2). Dates of capture: 12.-23. M arch, 1937; 25. January, 1938. Notes: The two spedmcns from St. 6 6 a measured 125 and 9 5 cm, respectively and had a total weight of 5.5 kg. i specimen (St. 1 4 ) measured 132 cm, the sword 36 cm; the stomach was empty. Hah.: Northern Indian Ocean and Malay Archipelago. • Pris/ts zysTon Blkr. Pristis Zyf^on Bleeker, 1852, p. 55. (Esut Indies). Pristis Z vo n Blkr. Dum^ril, 1865, I, p. 479. H. Bleg\’ad phot. Fig. 15. Swords of the two Saw-fishes mentioned, To the left: Pristis eysron Blkr. To the right: Pristis cuspidatus Lath. Specimens from the British Museiun. Pnstis tjrsTon Bleeker. Day, 1878, p. 799; i88g, I, p. 38. Pristis zysron Bleeker. Garman, 1913, p. a6». Principal characteristics; Sword broader than in P. ctispidatus but teeth much more slender, reaching the base of the saw; in the apical part of the saw, however, the teeth are much denser than in the basal one (cp. Fig. 15). Material brought home: Saw 106 cm, 34 teeth 1. side, 35 r. side. Henjam, 6.4.1938. Saw 36 cm, 33 teeth 1. side, 31 r. side. Qais. Saw 35 cm, 30 teeth 1. side, 31 r. side. Qais. Notes: No specimens seen alive. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Fam .: Rhinobatidae Rhinobatus granulatus C u v. Rhinobatus granulatus Cuvier, i8ag, p. 396. (No locality). Rhinobatus granulatus Cuv. Mull. & Henle, 1841, p. 117. (Tranquebar k Pondicherry). • Rhinobatus granulatus Cuv. Day, 1878, p. 73a; 1889, I, p. 4a. Rhinobatus granulatus Guv. Garman, 1913, p. 17a. Rhinobatus granulatus Cuv. Norman, 1936, p. 949. Fig. 16. Rhinobatus granulatui Cuv. (^fter Day, »878). Principal characteristics: 2 dorsals, of which the hind most is far behind the vcntrais. Snout elongate. A row of spines along the middle of the back. Material brought home: No. 1-2: Females. St. 67. 14 Vm N.W. of fiushire, 26.1.1938. {53, 53 cm). Notes: This species was taken at .station 67 only. 7 spedmcns cap tured weighed 14, kg. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay .Archipelago. \ Rhynchobatus djiddensis (Forssk.) * Raja djiddensis Forssk&l, 1775, p. 18. (Red Sea). Rhynchobatus djeddensis (R u p pell). Day, 1878, p. 739; 1889, I, p. 40. Rhynchobatus djiddensis (F o rsk El) [!]. Garman, 1913, p. 268. Native name (Jask) : Soos. Principal characteristics: 2 dorsals, the foremost one above the ventrals; long snout; a black spot on the shoulder and numerous smaller, whitish specks on the upper side; a. few tubercles or spines on head or body. Fig:. 17. Rhynchobatus djiddensis (Forssk.). (After Day, 1878). Material brought home: Male and female, jaws. St laoa. E. of Lingeh, 8.4.1938. Caught at stations (numbrn in brackets); 17a (3), aa («), 55 (O, *07 {»), noa (a)', 134 (1). Dates of capture: 14. March-20. April, 1937; i.-a6. April, 1938. Notes: Most of the specimens caught were rather big. i specimen from St. 17a measured 120 cm, that from St. 55 130 cm ; the 2 specimens from St. laoa weighed 2 9 kg. The spccimcns^from St.s 107 and 134 were smaller, the one from St. 107 weighing 3 kg. H a b.: Western and 'northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Rhynchobattis ancylostomus (BI. Schn.) Rhynchobatus ancylostomus Schneider. Bloch, 1801, p. )5a. (Coromandel Coast). Rhynchobatus ancylostomut B l. Schn. Day, 1878, p. 730; 1889, I, p. 41. Rhamphobatis ancylostomus (Schneider). G a rib an, 1913, p. 267. Principal characteristics: Dorsals as in iZ. djiddensis. Snout short. Rows of big tubercles and spines on head and trunk. Without black spots on the shoulder. Notes: t specimen, too big to be brought home, 2 ra in length, with eggs, was caught at St. 19a, outside Bushire on 18.3 .1 9 3 7 (Fig. 1 8 ). 4 8 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran H. Blegvad phot. Fig. 18. Rhynchobatus ancylostomtts (Bl. Schn.). Off Bushire, 18.3.193B. Two Suckers, Echeneis neuerates L., attached to the back of the animal. Hab.: Western and northern Indian Ocean, Malay ArchipcIago, China. Fam .: Trygonidae Trygon uamak (Forssk.) PL II, Figure i. Raja Uarnak Forsikil, 1775, p. 18. (Rea Sea). Pasiinacktu Uarnak Riippell, 1835, p. 69, pi. 19. Trygon uarnak (Forsk&l). Annandale, 1909, p. 33. Dasybalus uamak (FortkSl). G arm an, 1913, p. 376. Native name; Loghmeh. Principal characteristics: No cutaneous folds on the tail. Disk somewhat broader than long. Upper side with rather few de pressed tubercles in the middle of the back. Tail with 2 .spines (males?) or 1 spine (females?) [further investigations requested]. Upper ade yel lowish brown with numerous darker brown spots of irregular shape and size. The spots arc present at the biggest specimens as well as at the foeti. Tail with alternating dark and light zones. Material brought home: No. I: Male, foetus. St 17c. Inner Iranian Gulf, 14.3.1937. (88 cm, tail 79 cm). Female ad. (tail spine -f jaws), St 133. Near Jabrin, 13.41938. (Tail 170 cm, (pine 39.5 cm, total w ei^t too kg), 9 females, foeti from the above-mentioned female, tails 97 cm, spines 67 cm (tails + jaws). Male ad. (Tail 4- jaws). S t 130. Near Tahiri, 11.4.1938. CsSiwes-r Blegvad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 49 Caught at stations (numbers ia brackets) : 7 a ( 3 ), 7b (3 ), >7c ( 1 ), i8b (0, 3 6 (i), 6 7 (0 , 6 8 (i), 7 1 a (i), 7 3 (i), 7 8 (2 ), 7 8 b (2 ), 8 7 (i), 9 2 (i), 1 0 5 (i), 1 1 2 (i), 1 2 2 (2 ), 1 3 0 (i), 1 3 3 (i). St. 61 (wheel): Dec. 2 4 . (i), 2 5 . (2 ), 2 9 . (2 ). Dates of capture: 6 . March-5 . April, 1 9 3 7 ; 2 4 . December, 1 9 3 7 - 1 3 . April, 1938. Notes: i o of the fish captured were very big. Several females had fully developed foeti in their tubae. In one case (St. 17c) the young was bom during the capture. The adult specimens weighed from 15 to 10 0 kg each, the average being 52.6 kg. One specimen (St. 1 0 5 ) with a weight of 87 kg measured 323 cm in total length; the length of the disk was 135 cm, the breadth 153 cm. The animal contained 2 foeti weighing 4.75 kg in total (included in the total weight of the female), one of them measuring 153 cm in total. The specimen from St. 87 had one big young in the tuba, those from St.s 9 2 and 133 each contained 2 foeti. We caught some few specimens weighing 1.5 kg; smaller specimens are hardly found; cp. the weight of the said unborn animals. Some animals, the stomach contents of which were examined, had eaten Prawns (Penaeus), Mantis T’ ^quilla) and small fish. There is no doubt that this spm i' ni the one described as “Raja Uarnak*’ by Forsskal. Day ( 187 8 , p. 7 3 7 , pi. 1 9 4 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 5 3 ) is undoubtedly wrong in giving this name to the following form. Forsskal’s (I.e.) description, however, is very definite: “similis de- scriptae [i?. sephen] sed tota maculata, spina una vel duplici in cauda, quae apterygia.” The facts that the animals arc spotted all over and that the tails lacks fins fully suffice as characteristics. The remark about the spines is also correct. Indeed, only one spine was obser\ed bv u« at the foeti. G a r m a n (I.e.) to a great extent bases his systematization of the 'Dasybatus” species on the length of the tails. This is undoubtedly quite wron ’ ’ • il is almost sure to break during the life of the animal. We 11 iictly in the old females, the tails of which were of nearly the same length as the disks (cp. the said specimen from St. 1 0 5 ) while the foeti contained in them—being necessarily of the same species !— had taiLs of about 3 limes the length of the disks. The mucus was poisonous, and we had to take care not to be hurt by the spines when the large specimens flounced on the deck. Now and then wc were hurt by the spines, which often resulted in lingering purulent inflammations. The spines break easily from the tail when hitting a body in which the barbs will stick; one of the Danish fishermen on one occasion was wounded in his lower leg when the spine of a ray broke in his rubber boot. The result was a small phlegmon with discoloration of the surroundinir vLin and purulent outflow from the wound made by the spine, probably combined with secondan' infection; there was no disturbance of the general health. H a b.; Red Sea and Iranian Gulf, adjacent parts of the Indian Sea and the east coast of Africa. Trygon gerrardi Gray PI. II, Figures 2 and 2 a. Trygon Gerrardi Gray, 1 8 5 1 , p. 1 1 6 . (India). Trygon uarnak (Forsk.). Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 7 3 7 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 53 Trygon gerrardi Gray. Annandale, 1 9 0 9 , p. % Dasybatus gerrardi r ay). Garman, 1 9 1 3 , p. 3 7 7 . Native n a m eLoghmeh. Principal characteristi( Tubercles on the back rather flat. In young specimens rather few arc found in the middle of the back; in older specimens they increase in number and form a regular pavement over the whole back. Colour: Upper side uniformly greyish-brown. Tail long, mostly barred with dark brown and white. M a t e r i a 1 b r o u g h.t h o m e : No. i: Male juv. St. 6 9 b. Between Bushire and Kharg, 3 0 .i.i9 '^8 . ( 8 !. J ' 6 6 cm). Ho. 2 ; Female juv. St. 6 i. -Bushire, 6 .i.ioiR T18 rm, tail 5 0 cm). Male ad. (Dprsal ^ in + jaws '+ spii N'ear Shivuh, 1 0 .4 . 1 9 3 8 . Male ad. (Dorsal skin + jaws) „ „ „ „ Male (jaws + spirifet- St. 1 1 4 . Clarence'Strait, 4 .4 .1 9 3 8 . Female „ » » » » » » Sex ? (jaws and spine). St. 8 6 . Bahrein, 1 6 .3 . 1 9 3 8 ( 4 9 kg). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): I (4 ), 2 ( 2 ), 6 ( 7 ), 7 a ( t 6 ), 7 b (8 ), t 6 b ( 1 ), 1 7 a ( 2 8 ), 1 7 b ( 1 2 ;, i 8 b ( 4 ), 1 9 b (I), 21 (2), 25 (2), 4 4 (2), 4 8 (4 ), 55 (47), 5 8 (2 ), 59 (2 ), 6 3 b (i), 6 3 c (2), 6 4 a ( 2 4 ), 6 6 a ( 5 ), 6 6 b (2 5 ), 6 7 ( 2 4 2 ), 6 8 ( 1 0 ), 6 9 a ( 5 ), 6 9 b ( 5 ), 7 0 a (i), 7 1 b (1 ), 7 2 (J). 73 (i). 74 (3 ). 7 8 a (2 ), 8 3 (4 ), 8 3 (a), 9 6 (2 ), 9 7 (3 6 ). 9 8 (1 7 ), 9 9 (7 ), 1 0 0 (i), 1 0 2 (4 ), 1 1 0 (i), 1 1 2 (7 ), 1 1 4 (4 ), 1 1 5 (4 ), 1 1 6 (1 4 ), laa (2 6 9 ), ia6 (2 ), 1 3 6 (i)—6 1 : 4 .1 . 1 9 3 8 (l). Stake-net at Bushire: 2 9 . January fi) ; 2 3 . Febniary ( 2 ) ; 5 . March (7 ). Dates of capturq: 2 8 . Februan-2 1 . \fai 1 9 3 8 . Notes: 6 5 6 of these rays weighed 8 7 5 kg, which is an average of lYi kg. The largest specimens (2 males from St. 1 2 6 ) weighed 7 and "jYa kg, but the weight of most of them was about i ke. in many cases even lower. All the small specimens had almost smooth backs, with tubercles only along the median line; in the two larger males from St. 126 the backs were densely covered with cutaneous denticles, forming a well-dclimitcd field which, with some imagination, might perhaps be called wine-glass shaped ('cp. Annandale, 190 9 , p. 2 5 ). The back was practically always of a uniform grevish hmwn mlnnr- nnK i...... — VI. from St. 126 had its back studded with lighter, pea-azed spots. In the great majority of cases the tail had alternating light and dark half-zones on the upper side; in fewer cases—but both in small and large specimens— the upper side had a uniform dark colour. The lower side of the tail was light. H. Blfgvad phot. Fig. 1 9 . Large Trygon gerrardi Gray (?), 7 5 kg. S t 3 6 . Near Ayanat, 5-^-<937- 2 large specimens were determined on the spot as T. gerrardi (i.e. Trygon A, as we termed the animal during the expedition when we only- had D a y’s work ( 1 8 8 9 ) to found on). PosRibly they do not belong to this species. One of them, from St. 36 , weighed 75 kg (Fig. 1 9 ); length of the disk to the hind edge of the ventral fins 130 cm, breadth 17 0 cm, the tail 9 0 cm; small scattered tubercles all over the back, the abdomen smooth; 5 big Prawns (Penaeus) in the .stomach. The other specimen, from St. 8 6 , weighed 4 9 kg. These two large specimens were of the same colour as T. gerrardi but much bigger than A n n a n d a 1 e’s specimens, among which the largest animal measured 6 7 .5 cm across the disk (I.e., p. 2 4 ). H a b.: Indian Ocean. Hypolophm sephen (Forssk.) Raja sephtn Forisk&l, 1 7 7 5 , p . 1 7 . (Red Sea). Ttfgon sephtn (For»k.). Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 7 4 0 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 5 0 . mm m m 52 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran Hypolophus sephen (Forsk&l). A ana n dale, 1909, p. 35. Dasybatus sephen (F o r s k a 1} [!]. Garman, 1913, p. 384. Native name: Loghmeh. Principal characteristics: Lower dental laminae pointed, the upper angularly bent for their reception. Tail with cutaneous fold. Material brought home; a spines, Larak, 28.3.1938, from a big animal washed ashore. Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 3 (i), 7a (i), 7b (9), »8b (O. (0. 67 (30), 69 (i), 70 (a ), 73 (3 ), 78 (i), 78a (6), 84 (6). Dates of capture; 4.-15. March, 1937; u . January-4. March, 1938. Fig. 90. Hypolophus sephen (Forssk.). (Aftrr Day, 1878). Notes: The food in some specimens examined consisted of worms, snails and young fish. * 4 5 of the animals mentioned above weighed 136 kg, an average of 3.02 1^. The largest specimen weighed 9 kg, the smallest hardly below I kg. The specimen found on Larak was estimated at about 40 kg. The specira is not very frequent in the Iranian Gulf. All captures were made in the inner part of the Gulf. Hab.: From the Red Sea and the Iranian Gulf to the Malay Archipelago. Pteroplatea poecilura (Shaw) Raja micrura Schneider, Bloch, 1801, p. 360, (Surinam). Rajd Poecilura Shaw, 1804, p. agi. (Indian Seas). m Blegvad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 53 Pteroplatea micrura (B l. Schn.). Day, 1878,ip. 771; 1889, I, 'p. 56. Pttroplatea micrura (S c h n e i d"e r). Carman, 1^13, p. 414. Native name; Kaffer (Larak), otherwise mostly Loghmeh. Principal characteristics: Disk very broad, tail very short, barred with dark and white, armed with a small serrated spine. Material brought home: No. i: Male. St. 69a. Between Bushire and Kharg, 30.1.1938. (30 cm, tail n cm ). ^ , No. a; Male. Same station, 3 0 .T.1 9 3 8 . ( 3 8 cm, tail 1 6 cm ). Jaws and spine. St. 128. Asalu, 10.4.1938. Fig. a i. PUropUtea poecittira (^haw). (After Day, 1878). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets}: I (1 ), «6 (1), 19a (a). 19b {31), sob (a), aa (5), 37 (i), 55 (S ), 57 ( 0 , 64b (0,67 (3), 69a (4), 6gb (8), 7a (0 , 75 (i), 78 (3), 78b (i), 97 (s). 'oa (3«), (4 ). *15 ( 0 , «aa (6), 128 ( i ) . Dates of capture: a8. February-aa. March, 1937; a6. January-14. April, '938. Notes: 62 specimens weighed 8 9 / 2 kg, an average of 1.38 kg. The largest specimen weighed 6 kg, the smallest ones somewhat below i kg. The specics was rather frequent all over the Gulf. This species is often termed P. micrura, but this is described from the West Indies (Surinam), I therefore prefer to use S'haw ’s name for the Indian animal, being unable to state whether there is a difference between Indian and Atlantic specimens or not. H a b .: Indian and Malayan waters. Fam .: Myliobatidae Myliobatis nichojii (Bl. Schn.) Ra'}a yichofii Schneider, Bloch, 1 8 0 1 , p. 3 6 4 . On p. 5 7 9 spelled Siehofii —but the name"literally had to be: /fieuhofii\ (Indian Ocean). Myliobatis nieukofii (B 1. Schn.)- Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 7 4 a; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 5 8 . Aelomylatus nickofii (Schneider). Garman, 1 9 3 1 , p. 4 3 6 . Native names: Ramek, Loghmch. H. Bleg\ad phot. Fig. 23. Myliobatis nickofii (Bl. Schn.). Iranian Gulf, spring 1 9 3 8 . Principal characteristics: The disk nearly twice as broad as long. A short, fleshy elongation of the head. Teeth in several rows, the nniddle being the broadest Body smooth, the upper side yellowish- olivaceous with a reddish tinge towards the edge. 6 bluish, curved bars across the disk, .\ccording to D a y ( i 8 8 g) these bars arc lacking in the larger fish. No spine on the tail, which b about 3 times as long as the disk, at any rate in smaller specimens. Material brought home: No. I ! Female. St. 2 3 . N. of Kharg, 2 3 .3 . 1 9 3 7 . (6 2 . 5 rm, tail 4 4 cm) Caught at stations (numbers in brackets) ; 4 (O , II (a), 15 ( 1 ), 1 9 (a), aa ( 1 ), 2 3 ( 1 ), 3 3 ( 1 ), 3 4 ( 3 ), 3 3 (a). 3 6 ( 1 ), 44 (O , 7 0 c (i), 74 (0 , 7 5 (•), 8 4 (i), 9 6 (ly, too ( 1 ), 1 2 5 (i). L- R le /! ■ F i \ h p a o f t h e Iranian G u If if Dates of capture; 4 . March-io. April, 1 9 3 7 ; 3 1 . January-io. April, 1 9 3 8 . Notes: The largest specimen caught by us weighed 4 ^ 2 kg, but most of them weighed from a little below i to 2 kg. They were met with all over the area from the inmost part of the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. H a b.: Indian and Malayan waters to Japan. Myliobatis maculatus Gray & Hardw, Myliobatis maculatus Gray & H a r d w i c k e, 1 8 3 4 , 2 , pi. loi. (India). Myliobatis maculatus Gray & Hardw. M uller & Henle, 1 8 4 1 , p. 1 7 8 . Myliobatis maculata Gray & Hardw. Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 7 4 2 ; i8 8 g, I, p. 5 9 . Aetomylaeus maculatus (Gray & Hardwick c). Garraan, 1 9 3 1 , p. 4 3 5 . Principal characteristics: The shape of the body about the same as in the preceding species, but the tail more than 4 times as long as the disk, at any rate in small individuals. Teeth hexagonal, flat, the central broader than long; the external row narrow. Colour of the upper side olive-brown, darker along the edge, with lighter round and longish sp<^'“ r>vpr thf* rlisl: T;iil nf uniform colour without spine. No m.i C a u gh t a t 3 (a). 19 (a), 35 (1 ), 59 (0, 9 8 (2 ), 99. (O- Oates of capture: 4 . March-7 .' April, 1 9 3 7 ; 2 9 .-3 0 . March, 1 9 3 8 . Notes- o cnrrimf-ns examined had Bivalves and Gastropods in their stomach.-. ^ H a b.: Indian and Malayan watert. Afrliohatis sDcrimrns not determined to species were caught at sta tions 1)4 (6 ). Aitobatis nannan , L u p h r a s e n ) Haja .\annuii u p h r a s 6 n, 1 7 9 0 , p. 2 1 7 - 1 9 , P'- >*>• (West Indies). Aetobatis narinari (E u p h r a «e n). Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 7 4 3 ; 1 8 8 9 , 1, p. 5 9 . ' ‘‘atit Mn'iMn (Euphraten). Carman, 1 9 1 3 , p. 4 4 1 . i’lincipal characteristics: A soft prolongation on snout, internally supported by fin-rays. Teeth in a single row, broad and flat. Dental plate of lower jaw projects beyond that of upper. Tail 3-4 times the length of dusk. Dorsal fin pre.«;ent near the base of tail; 1-3 serrated ■spinr^ In till- fill (^dlonr: Grrvish above, whitish below; tail dark M a t 'lail : jaws ot '.pcrinK tis 01 1 k^. .''i. 1 1 -. C aught at ‘.t.itions (numbers in brackets) ; 47 («), 5:i [-1 Fig. 33. Aetobatu narinari (tuphras^n). (.\ftcr Day, 1878). ^ [ Dates of capturc: ia.-i8. -\pril, 1937; 3. April, 1938, Notes: The three places of capture are all situated in the Strait of Hormuz^and the Gulf of Oman. spcdmen from St. 47 had Poly- chaetes in its stomach. The tail of the specimen brought home shows three spines. ^ "H a b .: Tr«pical parts of tho|pceans. Class: Pisces Sub-Class: Neopterygii Order; ISOSPONDYLI =is • Fam.: CI u p e i d a e ,.jV ■: ChirocerUrus dorab (F o r s s k.) ^Clupta dorab Forstk&l, 1775, p. 7a. (Red Sea). Chirt>€tHtT%t dorab (Forsk.). Day, 1878, p. 65a; 1889, I, p. 368. ChiroetntTus dorab (F orsk.). W eber & Beaufort, II, 1913, p. iB. Native names: Kharoo (Bushire), Doheer (Lingrh, Bender Abbas). During the expeditiori we called the fish **Bnidog'Fiik” (BulIdoK-flA). Principal characteristics: Very oblong and compressed form. BeUy sharp. Scales very sniall. Underhung jaw and strong canines. Silvery. Attains a length of more than % m. Material brought home: No. 1-7: Bushire Roads (ttake-nct), 36.1.1938. (495, 398, 383, 3B0, 370, 347, 325 m m ). ~ B l e g v a d : Fishes of the Iranian G 57 _ - - - - - Caught at stations (numbers in brackets) c k ‘ * g (2), :o (i), 14 (i), i7d (1), 19a (a), aoa (2),'2ob l(i), 24 (i), 33 (i),35 (®). 43 (3 ). 51 (20,5a (3). 53 (9), 59 (O.^Sa (i). 68 (2), 7a (1), 114 (i), taob (i). St. 61 ; Dec. 31. (i).-Stake-net: Jan. 23. (7), 24. {2), 26. (11), 27. (10), 29. (9), 31. (a) : Febr. a. (3), 4. (i), 5. (i), 6. (a)* 7. (1), 8. (i), 9. (1 ), 10. (2 ), 14. (i), 17- ( 0 . 19- (1 ), 23- (i). as- (3). 36. (i), 28. (2); M arch: i. (4 ), 4. (i), 6. (2). Dates of capture; 11. March-2a. April, 1937; 31. Dec., 1937-8. April, 1938. H. Field phot. Fig. 24. C/iiroce1m ¥ i dorab (Forssk.). Notes: 42 of the fish mentioned above weighc(%i6 j4 ig in all, i.e. an average of 0 .6 3 kg. The size npy be estimated t6 range between and 2 kg. ‘ This fish was very often seen to be offered for sale in the bazaars, but it cannot be called very good food. The meat is tasty but contains many bones. As will be seen only singfc or few fish were generally taken with the trawl, perhaps because they are rapid swimmers. They were taken very frequently in our stake-net. D ay (I.e.) states that “when captured this fish bites in cver>thing near it,” As a matter of fact we observed nothing remarkable in thb respect: when the animals came on to the deck, they were dull and VRed rather rapidly. H a b.; The whole Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago to the coasts of China and Japan. \ Dussumieria acuta C u v. & V a 1. Dttssumieria acuta Cuvier & V'alenciennes, XX, 1848, p. 467. (Malabar Coast). DuttumUria acuta Cuv. & VaL Day, 1878, p. 647; 1889, 1, p. 399. Dutiumitria acuta C. V. Weber ft Beaufort, 11, 1913, p. ai. Native name: Hashineh. Principal characteristics: Slender form. No abdominal scutes. Belly rounded, no canine teeth, L.lat. with a little over 40 scales (in our specimens 4 2 -4 4 ). Silvery; a golden lateral band from opercle to caudal. ’ r Fig. 3 5 . Dussumieria acuta C u v. & Va 1. (After Day, 1 8 7 8 ). Material brought home: No. 1-2 : St. 6 5 c!. Bushire Roads, 2 4 .1 .1 9 3 8 . ( 1 2 8 and 1 1 9 mm). No. 3 ; S t 1 3 3 . Off Jabrin, 1 3 .4 . 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 4 5 nun). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 6 3 d (2 ), 1 3 3 (3 ). [Other places of capture cannot be given because *the species in some few cases was erroneously considered a species of Sardinella and put down under this heading in the journal]. Notes: The spccies was not very common during our stay in the Gulf. ^ H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelt^o, Phillipines, China. Dorosoma nasus (B l.) Clupea Naim Bloch, X, 1 7 9 5 , p. 1 1 6 . (Malay Archipelago). Chatoessus nastis Bloch. D a y , 1 8 7 8 , p. 6 3 4 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 3 8 7 . Dorosoma nasus BlocI). Weber & Beaufort, II, 1 9 1 3 , p. 2 4 . Nematalosa nasus Bloch. Regan, 1 9 1 7 , p. 3 1 3 . Native names: Goaff, Pahlowa (Jask), Gooag (Bender Abbas), £nglith: “Hair-back” or “Gizzard-Shad.” Principal characteristics: High, comprcsscd trunk. Small, inferior mouth. No teeth. Eyes v\ith adipose eyelid. Silvery, v>ith yellowLA tinge, dorsal and caudal yellowish with black edges. Material brought home: No, «-2 : Bushire Roads (stake-net), 2 6 . 1. 1 9 3 8 . ( 2 0 0 and 1 3 4 mm). C aught at stations (numbers in bracket*): 1 9 a (2 ), 1 9 b ( 2 ), 6 3 b ( 1 ), 6 5 b ( 1 0 ), 6 sd ( 1 3 ), 7 7 (i), 9 6 (5 ), 113 ( 1 0 ). St. 61 : 3 1 . Dec. ( I ).—Stake-net Jan.: 2 3 . ( 1 7 1 ), 2 4 . ( 2 6 6 ), 9 5 . ( 7 6 ), 9 6 . ( 1 5 5 ), 2 7 , ( 4 3 ), 2 9 . ( 8 2 ), 3 0 . (3 0 ), 3 1 . ( 1 5 ); Feb.: i. (4 5 ), 2 . ( 7 6 ), 3 , (8 0 ), 4 . ( 5 0 ), 5 . (4 0 ), 6 . ( 7 0 ), 7- (>5)f 8- (5 ). 9- (3 0 ). «o- (<5), la- (3 0 ). »4- (5®), «5- (*5), «6- (4S)f «7- («a). t ao. ( 7 ) , 32. (15), 23- (50). 25- (5). (25), 28- ( « o ) i Mar.: i. ( 5 A ) , 5 . (lo), 6 . ( 1 5 ),' 9 - (5 ). 1 2 . (few). ' I Dates of capture: l8. March, 1937. 31. December, 1937-3. April, 1938. Notes: This fish was very common in shallow water near the coast. It was caught in large numbers by the natives in their shore seines and Fig. a6. Dorosoma ntuus (BL). (Aftrr Day, 1878). was generally seen in the bazaars. In a wheel put out in the Bu^ire Harbour we only caught one, but m our stake-net it was nearly always present in large numbers (see above). In the trawl the catches were comparatively light and sparse. 8 2 3 specimens caught in the stake-net during the days 2 3 .-3 0 . January, 1 938 weighed 55 kg, i.e. an average of 67 g per individual. Hab.; Northern Indian Ocean and Malay .Archipelago. Dorosoma chacunda (Hahi. Buch.) Clupanodon chacunda Hamilton Buchanan, 1832, p. 246. (Gangetic estuaries). Ck^to*sius chacunda (H aro. Buch.). Day, 1878, p. 639; 1889, I, p. 386. Derotoma charunda (H. B.). Weber & Beaufort, H, 1913, p. >5. Native name: Goaff. Principal characteristics: Much like the previous spe cies, but the tnmk is higher and last dorsal ray is not produced. L.lat. about 4 0 . Material brought home; No. i: S l 33. S. of Ras-el-Mutaf, 31.3.1937- ( i55 mm). No. 2: St. taoa. Between Lingrh and Quiihm, 8.4.1938. (17a mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 33 {4). 46 (27). 47 («5). 48 ('oo). 53 ( 0 , 64b (a), laoa (1). Dates of capturc: 31. March-18. April, 1937; 8.-14. April, 1938. Notes: This species was not by far so common in the Gulf as D. nasus. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines. Engraulis vitrirostris Gilchrist & Thompson. PI. Ill, Figure 2 . Engraulis vitrirostris Gilchrist & Thompson, 1 9 0 8 , p. aoi. (Coast of Natal). Thryssa vitrirostris (G. & T.). Barnard, 1 9 2 5 , p. 1 1 8 . Native names: Lacheh, Kowa (Bender Abbas). Principal characteristics: Body compressed. Maxilla reaching base of pectoral. Depth of body s’/i-sVa length, head 673-674 in length. Eye larger than snout, equal to interorbital width. Gill-rakers 18-2 3 . ^ I n - i 4 - 3 6 -4 2 , commencing below last dorsal ray. Ventral scutes 2 5 -2 8 , 15-18 in front of, 10 behind ventral. The fish silvery, with big, loose scale.s. The back olive-brown. Dorsal and caudal often yellowish. Attains a length of up to 25 cm. Material brought home; No. i: St. 1 0 . 3 0 km S. of Bushire, 1 1 .3 .1 9 3 7 . ( 1 5 5 + x mm. A: 3 6 . Abd.- scutar: 2 8 . Gill-rakers: 2 3 ). No. a: St. 1 2 , Off Bushire, 1 2 .3 . 1 9 3 7 . ( 1 5 1 mm. : 3 8 . Abd.-scutae : 2 8 . Gill- rakers; 2 0 ). No. 3 : St. 6 1 . Bushire Harbour, 1 . 1. 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 2 5 mm. A: 4 1 . Abd.-scuta: : 2 7 . Gill- rakers: 1 3 ). No. 4 : Bushire Roadi (stake-net), 3 4 .1.1 9 3 8 . ( 2 0 3 mm. A: 4 2 . .Abd.-scuti: 8 5 . Gill-rakers: 1 8 ). No. 3 ; Bushire Roads (stake-net), 3 4 .1. 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 6 5 mm. A: 3 7 . Abd.-scut*; 3 5 . Gill-rakers: 1 9 ). No. 6 - 1 0 : St. 8 2 . Outside Hor Musa, 4 .3 .1 9 3 8 . ( 1 3 5 , 1 1 3 , 9 1 , 9 1 , 8 3 ram. A: 3 9 - 4 0 mm. Abd.-scutae: 3 5 -2 6 . Gill-rakers: 20-31). No. 1 1 : St. 1 0 0 . Gulf of Oman, 3 0 .3 . 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 5 7 mm. A : 3 8 . Abd.-scuta: a8 . Gill-rakers: ao). No. 1 2 - 1 4 : S t iia. Near Hormuz, 3 .4 .1 9 3 8 . (135, 1 0 0 , 9 9 mm. 3 6 , 3 6 , 3 6 . Abd.-scutz: 37, a6 , 37. Gill-raken: 1 8 , 33, 31). - No. 1 5 : S t 1 3 3 . Off Jabrin, 1 3 .4 . 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 5 2 mm. A: 3 7 . Abd.-scut*: 2 8 . Gill- rakers: 30). Caught at stations (numbert in brackets): to ( 1 0 ), 12 (i). 4 8 (3 7 5 ), 5 5 (0 , 6 3 b (i), 6 4 b (1 5 ), 6 5 a (4 ), 6 5 b (4 0 ), 6 5 c (i), 6 5 d (2 0 ), 6 7 (i), 8 2 (6 ), 8 3 (1 ), 9 7 (2 5 ), 9 8 (1 0 ), ICO (3 ), 1 0 4 (6 ), iia (6 0 ). "3 (>), 1 1 7 ( 1 ), 1 3 3 (io ).—St. 6 1 ; Dec. 3 4 . ( 1 7 ), 9 5 . ( 1 8 ), a6 . (aa), 9 7 . (5 ), 2 8 . (la), 3 9 . (3 6 ), 3 0 , ( 1 2 ), 3 1 . (a8 ) ; Jan. i. ( 1 9 ), 9 . (aa), 3 . (3 1 ), 4 . ( 1 9 ), 5 . (3 7 ), 6 . ( 1 0 1 ), 7 . ( 1 0 9 ).—Suke-net: Jan. 33. (6 1 ), 34. (aa), aj. (rg), a6 . (3 0 ), *7 . (4 8 ), 3 0 . (la), 3 1 . (2 1 ) ; Feb. 2 . (3 a), 3 . ( 1 0 ). Dates of capture: ii. March-ao. April, I9S7; M* Dec., 1 9 3 7 -iJ. April, ' 938. Notes: All Engraulis found by us in the Gulf must undoubtedly be classed within this species. Judging from Barnard’s description ( 1925, p. 118- 1 9 ) our specimens nearly completely agree with the fonti described from the east coast of Africa. ‘ Only one specimen (Bushire 1. 1. 1 9 3 8 ) according to Weber & Beaufort (II, 1 913, PP- 33 and 3 7 ) might be determined as E. grayi Blkr.; others were determined as E. purava (Ham. Buch.) (I.e., pp. 33 and 3 9 ) from maxillaries and the place of the anal. External characters might accord with £. mystax (Bl. Schn.) (I.e., pp. 33 and 3 8 ), but the numbers of gill-rakers did not agree. E. mystax must have 13 gill-rakers; among our animals only one (the said grayi” ) had 13, the rest 18-23 giU-ral^ere- Barnard (I.e.) says that the length of the maxillaries is subject to great variations and that the same individual may show a great difference in this character on the right and left sides. Specimens in the British Museum of E. mystacoides [E. mystax (B 1. Schn.)] and E. purava were compared to our own. Externally they agree well, but the great difference in the numbers of gill-rakers and (in E. purava) of anal fin rays tdls us that the animals from the Iranian Gulf cannot be classed within these species. The E. grayi of the British Museum (which are termed E. hamillonii) are also habitually like ours, but arc somewhat higher. Even higher than these is E. malabaricus. The E. vitrirostris of the British Museum showed a habitual agreement with our specimens. I do not think that great importance may be given to the fact that the numbers of anal fin rays is a little higher in the African form than in ours or to the circumstance that the gill-rakers are counted to 21-24 while those of our specimens ranged between 18 and 23 (1 speci men had but 13). Abdominal scutae arc counted to 26-27 5 individuals had 2 5 -2 8 . Engraulis vitrirostris is die species which in characters shows the closest relation to our specimens from ‘he Iranian Gulf. The fish, which is easily distinguished by the greatly elongated upper jaw, was % er\’ common near the coast and was caught every day by us in vfheel and stake-net at Bushire. It contains many bones, and as a food fish among the native population it was hardly of so great importance as Dorosoma nasus. H ab.: Western part of the Indian Ocean. Stolephorus zollingeri (Blkr.)? ? Engrauli] heteroloba R u p p e 11. 1 8 3 5 , p. 7 9 . (Red Sea). Engraulis ZoUing/ri B I e c k c r, 1 8 4 9 , p. 7 3 . (Macassar, Celebes). Engraulis zollingeri B 1 e r k. G ii n t h r r, V’ll. iStiS, p. 3 8 7 . Stolephorui z^llingrri (Blkr.). Weber & Beaufort, II, 1 9 1 3 , p. 4 4 . Native name (Bender Abbas): Mottoo (“small herring"). Principal characteristics: Scutes only between pectorals and ventrals. Silvery hue limited to a lateral band. Origin of anal behind dorsal. Maxillarv' reaches mandibulary joint. Anal 7 times in length. Material brought home: No. 1-3 : Bender Abbas fish market, spring 1 9 3 7 . (5 0 - 6 0 mm). Notes: We did not take this tiny species in the trawl. In the bazaar of Bender Abbas small dried specimens were often offered for sale in con siderable numbers as food for the cattle. According to Weber & Beaufort (I.e., p. 4 5 ) the species up to now seems to be reported only from the Malay Archipelago. From the Red Sea is described (Riippell. 1835, p. 7 9 ) a ver>- closely related form, Stolephorus helerolobus. which Weber & Beaufort (I.e., p. 441 state to occur also in the Malay Archipelago and at Australia. .\ccording to the synopsis of the spccies of Stolephorus (Weber & Beaufort, I.e., p. 4 3 ) our animals must be S. zoUingeri, the maxil lary being truncated behind and reaching mandibulary joint. In S. helero lobus maxillar\ tapers posteriorly; its end is rounded and reachcs hind border of operculum. Without a more detailed examination of fresh material all the 3 specimens at hand arc small, dried animals) I am not able to decide on this or on the possible identity of the two spccies. The .S', zollingeri specimens of the British Museum, which arc a little larger than ours and originates from Dr. B \ e e k e r’s collection, in all cs.sentials agree with our specimens. H a b .: S. zollingeri: Malay .Archipelago (Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz? i. S. heterolobus: Sumatra, Java Sea, Lombok; further Australia and Red Sea. Stolephorus indicus (v. Hass.) Engraulis indicus v a n H a s s e 11, 1 8 2 3 , p. 3 2 9 . (Not available). Stolephorus indicus Blkr. Bleekcr, VI, 1 8 6 6 -7 2 , p. 1 2 7 . (Malay Archi pelago). Engraulis indicus v. H" a s s c 1 t. Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 6 2 9 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 3 9 4 . Stolephorus indicus (v. Hass,). Weber & Beaufort, II, 1 9 1 3 , p. 4 6 . Stolephorus indicus (van Hassclt). Jordan & Scale, 1 9 2 6 , p. 3 7 9 . Principal characteristics: Silver) hue limited to a lateral band. 5 scutes only t)ctween pectorals and ventrals. Origin of anal below dorsal. .\nal 5 / 2 in length. Dorsal in the middle between tip of Fig. 2 7 . Stolephorus indicus (v. Hass.). (After Day, 1 8 7 8 ). snout and base of caudal. L.lat. 3 9 , L.tr. 8 . Maxillary reaching to front border of preopercuium. I have compared our specimen with those of the British Museum, and they agree well. Material brought home: No. I : St. 1 1 7 . Near Henjam, 6 .4 . 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 2 5 mm). Notes: Only this specimen was observed. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Xrchipelago. Seas of Japan, Samoa, Tahiti. Hilsa kanagurta (B I k r.) Alausa kanagurta B 1 e e k e r, 1 8 5 2 , p. 3 4 . (Not available). Alosa kanagurta Blkr. Bleeker, VI, 1 8 7 2 , p. 1 1 4 . (Java, Sumatra). Clupea kanagurta (Bleeker). Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 6 4 0 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 3 7 7 . Clupea (Alosa) kanagurta (Blkr.). Wcbcr & Beaufort, II, 1 9 1 3 , p. 6 7 . (Partim). Hilsa kanagurta (Bleek.). R r g a n, 1 9 1 7 , p. 3 0 4 . Native name : Zoboor ( ?). Principal characteristics; .Anal fin moderate. Origin of dorsal before origin of ventral. No teeth on \omer. Belly compressed. Intermaxillaries meeting at an acute angle. Teeth deciduous. Parietal ridges expanded and striated. Silvery. Material brought home: No, I : St. 43. .\. of Karur, 19.4.1937. (200 mm). Notes: Only this specimen was caught. Gill-rakers 1 40, D. 17, A. about 2 2 , L.lat. about 4 2 , L.tr. 14. Parietal striation distinct. Material in the British Museum of //. kanagurta and H. ilisha compared. H a b .: Northern part of Indian Occan, Malay .Archipelago. Hilsa ilisha (Ham. Buch.) Clupanodon ilisha Hamilton Buchanan, 1 8 2 2 , p. 2 4 3 . (Bay of Bengal, Estuaries of the Ganges). Clupta ilisha (Ham. Buch.). Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 6 4 0 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 3 7 6 . Hilsa ilisha (Ham. Buch.). Regan, 1 9 1 7 , p. 3 0 6 . Native name: Zoboor, Soboor. English: “Shad.'’ Principal characteristics: More slender form than Hilsa kanagurta. The parietal striae are covered with skin. N o material brought home: Only caught in sUke-net at Bushiro, 1 9 3 8 : Jan. 2 3 . (3 ), 2 4 . ( 3 ), 3 1 . (6 ) ; Feb.: 6 . ( 6 ), 7 . (2 1 ), 9 . ( 1 5 ), 1 9 . ( 2 ), 2 0 . (5 ). 2 2 . (3 ), 2 5 . (8 ), 2 6 . (6 ) : Mar.: i. (5 ), 4- (2). Notes: The determination only rests on examinations on the spot. In the bazaar of Bushire the fish was common at the time when we, too, 6 4 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran H. Field phot. Fig. 28. Hilsa ilisha (Ham. Buch.]. caught it in the stake-net. It enters the rivers in order to spawn: in Khorrara-Shahr it was offered for sale on 2 8 .-2 9 . April, 1938. 6 of the fishes mentioned above, caught on January 2 3 ., weighed 5 kg. These fish were approximately of the average size of the fish caught by us. H a b.: Iranian Gulf, Seas of India. • Sardinella perforata (Cantor) Clupeonia perfoTota Cantor, 1849, p. 1376. (Strait of Malacca). Clupta perforata (CanL). Giinther, VII, j868, p. 484, Clupea (Harengula) perforata (Cant). Weber & Beaufort, II, 1913, P- 74- ,r Sardinella perforata (Cantor). Regan, 1917, p. 38a. r i' Native name: HaskJneb, Moomagh. Principal characteristics; Belly with arched outline, compressed cultrate. Ventral scutes sharply keeled. Depth 2 {/a-3 j/j in length. Border of upper jaw without incisure. Silvery. Gill-rakers 5 5 -6 5 ^. A dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin. Pelvic fin 8 -rayed. Perforated scales. • Material brought home; No. I: S t 97. 13 km N.W. of Jask, 39.3.1938. (ta; mm. V. 8. Gill-raken: 5t). No. 2-4: St. 121. 4 km S. of Duvman, 8.4.1938. (133, 147, 123 mm. Gill-rakerc 45, 4 8 )- Caught at ftations (numben in brackets): 97 ( i ) , 191 ( 11). Dates of capture; 23. Jaouary-8. April, 1938. H a b.; Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China. 1 Our specimens had only 45-51 gilUrakcrs, but they were young specimens, and the number seems to increase with age. \ . I, Sardinella fimbriata (Cuv. & Val.) * SpraUlla fimbriata Cuvier & Valenciennes, XX, 1 8 4 7 , p. 3 5 9 . (Mala bar Coast). Clupea fimbriattt (C u v. & V al.). Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 6 3 7 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 3 7 9 . Clupea (Harengula) fimbriata (C. & V.). Weber & Beaufort, II, 1 9 1 3 , P- 75- . % Sardinella fimbriata (Cuv. & V a l.). Regan, 1 9 1 7 , p. 3 8 3 . Native name: Hashineh, Moomagh. Fig. 2 9 . Sardinttta fimbriata (Cuv. & V al.). (After Day, 1 8 7 8 ). Principal characteristics: More slender than S. per forata. Silvery. Height 3 ^ to about 4 in length. V. 8 rays. Dark spot on front base of dorsal. About 7 0 gill-rakcrs; one of our specimens had 6 8 . No perforated scales. Material brought home: No. 1-3 : St. 8 4 . Off Fort Dilam, 4 .3 .1 9 3 8 . ( 1 4 6 , 1 4 7 mm). Notes: The species was caught now and then at various stations, but was only termed Sarditiella sp. during the expedition. H a b.; Indian Ocean, Malay Archipplago. I Sardinella sindensis (Day) Clupea Sindtnsis D a y , 1 8 7 8 , p. ‘6 3 8 , pi. 1 6 3 , fig. a. (Sea of Seychelles, Sind and Bombay). ‘ Ctupea sindtnsis D a y . Day, 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 3 7 4 . Sardinella sindensts (Day). Regan, 1 9 1 7 , p. 3 8 3 . Native name: Hashineh, Moomagh. Principal characteristics: Habitually quite like S. fim briata bub with fewer gill-rakcrs, according to Regan 58-6 2 ; our .specimen had 5 7 . Possibly this spccies is not to be distinguished from the previous. Material brought home: No. i : S t 1 0 0 . Gulf of Oman, 3 0 .3 .1 9 3 8 . ( 1 4 9 mm). H a b.; Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Sardinella melanura (C u v.) Clupea melanura Cuvier, 1 8 2 9 , p. 3 1 8 . (Mauritius). Alausa melanura (C u v.). Cuvier & V a 1 e n c i e n n e 1 8 4 7 , p. 4 4 1 . Clupea melanura C u v. Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 6 4 1 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, P- 378- Clupea (Harengula) melanura (C. & V.). Weber & Beaufort, II, 1 9 1 3 , p. 7 2 . Sardinella melanura (C u v.). Regan, 1 9 1 7 , p. 3 8 4 . Native name; Hashineh. Principal characteristics: Like previous species in shape. Height 3 .2-3.5 length. Dark spot in front of the dorsal, near the tip of the fin. Our specimens have some spots in the zone between back and sides. 33-35 gill-rakers. Points of caudal black. Material brought home: No. 1-3 : Bender Shahpur, 2 0 .2 . 1 9 3 8 . (8 3 , 8 5 , 8 5 mm). No. 4 : Bushire, 7 . 1. 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 0 2 mm. A; 1 6 -1 7 . Ventral scutsc ; 2 7 -2 9 ). H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines. Sardinella sirm (For^k.) Clupea Sirm Forsskal, 1 7 7 5 , p. XVII. (Red Sea). Clupea Sirm Forskal. Riippell, 1 8 3 5 , p. 7 7 , Clupea (Amblyogaster) sirm Riipp. Weber & Beaufort, II, 1 9 1 3 , p. 6 2 . Sardinella sirm Riipp. Regan, 1 9 1 7 , p. 3 8 4 . Principal characteristics: Belly obtuse. Ventral scutes feebly keeled. Maxillary reaching to below front margin of eye. Material brought home; No. 1-2 ; 5 2 and 5 5 mm, found half dried on the shore of Nabiyu Farur, washed ashore or lost by a Tern. Notes: Forsskal’s diagnosis runs as follows: ... charact. harengi, sed minor ... Maxilla inferiore longiore; corporc tripollicari; macula aurea pone oculos. Rad. B. 8 . D. 19. P. 16. V. 8 . A. 17. C. 18.” Our specimens were in a poor state of preservation, with dried or defective fins. We never caught the species in our gears. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay .Archipelago. Notes to the species of the genera Sardinella and Dussumieria: During our work at the place the above-mentioned Sar dinella species together with Dussumieria were termed “Sardines, Clupea sp”. Dussumieria, which was easily distinguished by its yellow lateral streak, was caught only a few times. As to the frequency of the different species nothing definitely can be said on the basis of the information in hand. Places of capture, besides those mentioned above, are (numbers in brackets) '. 4 (21), 5 ( 10), ( 2 ), 4 6 (i), 77 ( 0 , 99 (a). (0 , 1 1 4 (0 , H 7 (lo), 1 3 3 (3 ). 1 3 5 ( 0 - — St. 6 1 : Dec. 2 5 . (i), ag. (0, 3 0 . (0. Jan. i. (a), 6 . (i).— Stake-net: Jan. 2 7 . (i). Dates of capture: 4 . M arch-u. April, 1 9 3 7 ; 2 5 . December, 1 9 3 7 -2 7 . April, >938- Notes: Thc.se small fish were caught by the native fishermen, near the coast often in large numbers, i.a. in shore seines. They were dried in the sun and exported, i.a. to Bahrein. According to information received I from the Revenue Department of Teheran 234.5 Hashineh were exported during one year from Lingeh and 11 tons from Jask to Bahrein, and 161.4 tons from Lingeh to Oman. The centre of the Sardinella fishery thus seems to be situated at the Strait of Hormuz. Ilisha indica (Sw .) Ditchoee, Russell, 1 8 0 3 , p. 7 4 , fig. 1 9 2 . Platygaster indicus Swain son, 1 8 3 9 , p. 2 9 4 , (Coromandel coast). Pellona indica (Sw .). Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 6 4 4 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 3 8 1 . Pellona ditckoa C. W. Weber & Beaufort, II, 1 9 1 3 , p. 8 8 . Ilisha indica (Swainsoi^ Norman, 1 9 2 3 , p. 4 . Native name: Pikoo. Principal characteristics: Large-eyed, sharp-bellied her ring-fish. L.lat. less than 4 6 or 4 5 scales or less than that. 17-20 abdominal scutes before ventrals, about 31 in all. Height a litde above 3 times in length. Anal fin very long, 4 1 -4 6 rays. Dorsal fin present. Ventrals small. Origin of anal below last rays of dorsal or immediately behind these. Silvery. Dorsal and caudal yellowish. Mouth very dilatable. Attains a length of up to 4 0 cm. m^vi i T.rj H. Field phot. Fig. 3 0 . lUtka indica (Sw .). 68 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran Material brought home: No. i: St. 1 2 . Off Bushire, ia.3 .1 9 3 7 . (aaS mm). No. 2: St i6a. W. of Kharg, 13.3.1937. (247 nim). No. 3 -7 : St. 6 3 d. Bushire Roads, 2 4 .1.1 9 3 8 . (9 5 , 8 8 , 8 7 , fcim). No. 8 : Bushire Roads (stake-net), 2 6 .1.1 9 3 8 . ( 2 1 7 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 9 (i), 1 0 ( 1 8 ), II (3 ), 12 ( 3 ), 1 4 {4 ), i 6 a (a), 21 (i), aa (i), 3 5 (i), 3 8 (a), 4 6 (i), 4 7 (4 .0 0 0 ), 4 8 {2 0 0 ), 5 5 (i), 6 3 a (a), 6 3 b (a), 6 4 b ( 1 5 ), 6 5 b (8 ), 6 5 c (i), 6 3 d ( 1 4 ), 8 2 (5 ), 8 3 ( 1 0 ), 9 7 ( 7 5 ), 9 8 (5 0 ), 1 1 3 (a), t i 4 ( 1 5 ), 1 1 5 (i), 1 2 0 ( 1 ), 1 3 3 ( 1 0 0 ).— Stake-net: Jan. as. ( 1 6 ), 2 4 . (4 ), 2 5 . ( 1 0 ), 2 6 . ( 1 8 ), 2 7 . (9 ), 2 9 . ( 6 ), 3 0 . (3 ) ; Feb. I. ( 5 ), 2 . ( 1 5 ). 3- (a), 4- (s). 5- (s). 6 . (6 ), 7 . (3 ), 8 . (4 ), 9 . ( 4 ), 1 0 . (5 ), 1 4 . (6 ), 1 7 . (a), 1 9 . (5 ), ao. {9 ), 2 2 . (ai), 2 3 . (3 0 ), 2 6 . {1 2 ), a8 . (5 ); Mar. I. ( 1 2 ), 4 . (8 ), 5 . ( 2 ), 1 2 . (some few). Dates of capture: 1 1 . March-ao. April, 1 9 3 7 ; 1 1 . January-1 3 . April, 1 9 3 8 . Notes: 5 7 4 specimens caught in the stake-net weighed 9 4 kg, an average of about 160 g. Habitually there is a pronouncecf difference between the smaller and the larger specimens, the latter looking much more slender than the young ones. The fish was seen very frequendy in the bazaars, also big and very large-eyed animals. However, it cannot be considered a good food fish because it is very bony. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Opisthopterus indicus (Sw.) TaHoore, Russell, 1 8 0 3 , p. 7 4 , fig. 1 9 3 . Pristogaster indicus Swainson, II, 1 8 3 9 , p. 2 9 4 . (Coromandel coast). Pristogaster tardoore Valenciennes. Cuvier, 1 8 4 2 , p. 2 7 7 . PristigasteT tarioor Cuvier & Valenciennes, XX, 1 8 4 7 , p. 3 2 8 . Opisthopterus tartoor (Cuv. & Val.). Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 6 4 6 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 3 8 4 . Opisthopterus tartoor (C. V .). Weber & Beaufort, II, 1 9 1 3 , p. 9 5 . Opisthopterus indicus (Sw .). Norman, 1 9 1 7 , p. 1 2 . Fig. 3 1 . Opisthopterus indicus (Sw.). (After Day, 1 8 7 8 ). Principal characteristics: Silvery. Height about 4 times in length. Habitually the genus is like Ilisha, but ventrals are lacking. Dorsal present. Pectorals shorter than head. 2 4 gill-rakers. Material brought home: No. i: St. 5 5 . Off Jask, 2 0 .4 .1 9 3 7 . ( 1 8 0 ram + x). Notes: Only this specimen was caught. The species wa^ not noticed in the bazaars. H a b.: Pfor^cm Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Order: INIOMI Sub-Order: MYCTOPHOIDEA I L ' ' Fam .: Myctophoidae (Scopelidae) Saurida tumbil (Bl.) Salmo tumbil Bloch, 1 7 9 5 , IX, p. 11 a. (Coromandel coast). Saurida tumbil (Bloch). Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 5 0 4 j 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 4 1 0 , Saurida tumbil (Bl.). Weber & Beaufort, II, 1 9 1 3 , p. 1 4 2 . Saunda tumbil (Bloch). Norman, 1 9 3 5 , p. 1 2 9 . Native names; Kareidtoon (Bushire), Keemar. Fig. 3 2 . Saurida tumbil (B 1.). (After Day, 1 8 7 8 ). Principal characteristics: Round fish. The head about 4 times in length, with large mouth and small teeth. Lower jaw shorter than upper. Greatest width of mandibles^ 2 in head. Snout obtusely pointed. About 14' branchiostegals. L.lat. 5 3 -5 6 . L.tr. Axillan- scale long. Caudal peduncle a little depressed, with lateral keels. Pectorals about 2 in head, with 15 rays. Longest ray of dorsal more than 3 times as long as last ray. Ventral with 9 rays, the inmost only a little longer than the utmost ones. Caudal forked. The colour brown on the back, lighter on the belly, with yellow reflections all over. Attains a length of at least 4 0 cm. Material brought home: No. 1 ; St. 7 6 . Off Kaogun, g.a.1 9 3 8 . ( 3 0 5 mm). No. 9 -3 : St. 8 3 . Outside Hor Musa, 4 .3 . 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 4 5 , 1 3 8 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 4 («). 5 («*), 6 (»4)> »6 b (2 i), i7d (i), 1 9 b (i), 2 4 (4). »5 (7). *7 (6 ), a8 (2 7 ), 3 2 (2 6 ), 3 8 ( 7 ), 4 4 ( 1 0 ), 5 6 ( 1 5 ), 5 7 (3 ), 5 8 (6 ), 6 3 d (i), 73 ( i) . 76 ( 2 ), 77 (as), 8 3 ( 2 ), 8 4 ( 5 0 ), 8 9 . ( 7 ), 97 («•). 9» (7). 99 («t>3). >oo (5°), i<» (70). Fig. 3 3 . Localities where Saurida tumbil (Bl.) was caught. Black circles indicate number of specimens taken per / j h. haul, smallest circles denote i-io specimens, the others 1 1 -2 0 , 2 1 - 1 0 0 and more than 1 0 0 , resp. 1 0 3 ( 1 0 ), 1 0 4 ( 1 0 ), 1 0 6 ( 2 ), 1 0 7 (4 ), 1 0 8 ( 1 3 5 ), 1 0 9 ( 1 5 3 ), M O ( 1 6 5 ), 1 1 7 ( 7 0 ), 131 (350). '34 (3). 136 (loi). Dates of capture: 4 . March-3 3 . April, 1 9 3 7 ; 3 4 . January-3 7 . .April, 1 9 3 8 . Notes; The fish was common all over the area of investigation (Fig. 3 3 ) and was sold now and then in the bazaars. We found it good to eat although the meat was somewhat dry. Hab.: Indian Ocean to Madagascar and coast nf \n>itr;.i; ■ \i i Archipelago, Seas of Philippines, China and Japan. Order: OSTARIOPHYSI Sub-Order: SILUROIDEA ' Fam .; Plotosidae Plotosus anguillaris (Bl.) Platystachus anguillaris Bloch, V III, 1 7 9 4 , p. 6 1 . (Locality ?). Plotosus anguillaris. Lac6p4de, V, 1 8 0 3 , p. i^n. fIndia). Plotosus lineatus Cuvier & Valenciei ’.4 0 , p. 4 1 a. Plotosus Arab Forsk. Day, p. 4 8 3 . Plotosus arab Forsk. Day, p. ..3 . Plotosus anguillarit (Bl.). Weber & Beaufort, II, 1 9 1 3 , p. 3 2 9 . Native names: Gorzak (Bender Abbas), Gclloo (Bus^lirc^ also Cn/ln, 11,,. shire), Looroo. Principal characteristics: Gill-membranes free isthmus. Origin of second dors.il brhind docs noi reach farther than hind border of eye. Mandibulary teeth ih 2-3 rows. D. 80- 100. A. 70-8 0 . Colour brown with lighter, yellowish longitudinal streaks from the head along the sides, sometimes with a more indistinct streak along the sides of the belly. Unpaired fins with dark edges. Rarely more than 20 cm in total length. Fig. 3 4 . Plotosus anguillaris (B l.). (After Sleeker, II, i 8 6 i) . Material brought home: No. I ; S l 3 7 . Off the coast between Bushire and Ras-el-Mutaf, 3 6 .3 .1 9 3 7 . ( 1 6 7 nun). No. a-8 : St. 6 1 . Bushire Harbour, 3 1 . 1 2 . 1 9 3 7 . ( 1 9 6 , 1 7 0 , ija , I150, 1 4 8 , 1 4 6 , 1 4 4 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets); J 7 ( 0 , 6 5 a ( 5 ), 6 3 d ( i) — St. 6 i (w heel): Dcc. 3 1 . (a 8 ) ; Jan. 2 . (ao), 5 . (a).— Stakc-nct: Jan. 3 3 . ( 7 1 ), 2 4 . ( 1 0 ), 9 5 . ( 1 7 5 ). »7- (sO, 30. U ) ; Feb- 85- ( 2 4 )- Dates of capture; 2 6 , March, 1 9 3 7 . 3 1 . December, 1 9 3 7 -2 5 . February, 1 9 3 8 . Notes: The fish was caught by us only in the coastal water round Bushire, but this fact does not allow us to draw any concludons as to its local distribution. It is seen from the figures given above that it was but rarely taken in the trawl, but often, and in considerable numbers, in wheel and stake-net. The fishermen of Bushire did not use the fish because their religion forbids them to use a fish without scales; but apart from this the species is too small to be of practical importance as a food fish. The spines of the dorsal and pectoral fins seem to be poisonous: the Danish captain of the “Rashgoo” was once wounded in his hand, which caused local pains for a couple of days, but there was no serious infection or disturbance of general health. D a y ( IB78 , p. 4 8 3 ) calls the speaei^otosus Arab F o r s k., but this name cannot be adopted. The passage quoted from Forsskil (p. XVI, No. 3 6 ) runs: “5 t/«ruj ... b) anguillaris. Arab. Harmuih ... d) Arab. Boa vel Bu]a ... P. Dorsi prima radiorum 5 ; posteriori cum pinna C. & A. in unam connexa. Cirrhi 8 . Vitta: 3 . Laterales albidx, longitudinales. Cor pus fuscum, Rad. B. 8 . D. t /s- P. i/i i . V. 12 .” ... The description applies to 72 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran “SUurus d,” and it goes well with the present species, but F o r s s k 41 does not give it any scientific name. “Arab” only means that “Boa” and ‘‘Buja” are names given to the animal by the Arabs. Forsskal’s Silurus anguillaris is nomen nudum and cannot therefore be used. Bleeker (II, 1 862 , p. 9 8 ) uses the designation Arab followed by a description, but B 1 o c h’s Platystachus anguillaris is older ’( 17 9 4 ). Conse- quentiy, the fish must be termed: Plotosus anguillaris (Bloch), and Plotosus arab B 1 k r. b a synonym. In F o r s s k a I’s “fish-herbarium” is found a specimen of 180 mm length, to which no name has been given. H a b.: Coastal waters and rivers at the Indian Ocean and the Malay Archipelago, and at the coasts of China and Japan. Fam .: A r i i d a e Anus tMlassinus (Riipp.) Bagrus thalassinus Riipp el I, 1835, p. 75. (Red Sea). Ariuj thalassintu (RupV-)- Day, 187s, p. 463; 1889, 1, p. 181. Arius thalassinus (Rupp.). Weber & Beaufort, II, 1913, p. aS6 . Native name: Gelloo. Principal characteristics: Greyish, a little silvery with greenish back. Dorsal with a pungent spine. Caudal forked. Anal short. Adipose fin well developed. Nostrils close together, separated by a valve without nasal barbel. Teeth on palate in 3 groups on either side, forming a triangular patch with base anteriorly (cp. Weber & Beaufort, I.C., p. 2 8 7 , fig. 1 1 4 ). F'*- 35- ^'ius thaUuiinus (Rupp.), (After Weber & Beaufort, 1913). I ' Materialbroughthonur: ■ ^ ' No. i: S t 3 a. Off Tahiri, 3i-3 >937- ('95 nini)| No. 2 : St. 7 4 . Off Ras-el-Mutaf, g.3 . 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 9 7 ram). No. 3 : St. 7 6 . Off Kang\in, 9 .2 . 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 4 6 mm). No. 4 r S t 1 3 3 . Off Jez. Jabrin, 1 3 .4 . 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 3 2 mm). C aught at stations (numbers in brackets): * 4 (a). 7 b (0. 9 ("), 1 0 ( 4 ), II (5 ), 12 ( n o ) , 13 ( 1 ), 14 {2 4 ), 1 5 b (i), 1 7 c ( 1 2 ), i 7d ( 7 ), 1 9 a (*“). *9 b (>8 8 ), 2 0 a ( 2 1 0 ), aob (aoo), 2 2 (4 6 ), 2 4 ( 5 ), 2 6 ( 5 ), 2 7 (>0 . * 8 (i), 3 1 b (i), 3 2 (2 0 ), 3 3 (9 0 ), 3 4 (1 5 0 ), 3 5 (3 5 ), 3 6 (9 0 ), 37 (5 0 0 ). 3 8 (6 3 ), 4 3 (i), 44 (0, 45 (7 ). 4 8 («’8 o), 5 3 (2 ), 5 5 (3 4 ), 5 6 (1 0 ), 5 7 (5 ). 5 9 (7 ), 6 2 (1 6 ), 6 3 a (2 ), 6 3 b (1 6 ), 6 3 c (3 ), 6 4 a (1 6 0 ), 6 4 b (i), 6 7 (8 7 ), 6 9 a (2 ), 6 9 b (2 3 ), 7 0 (i), 7 1 a (3 ), 7 1 b (i), 7 2 (3 ), 7 3 (8 ), 7 4 (3 1 ), 7 5 (i), 7 6 (7 ), 7 7 (7 0 ). 7 8 (1 ), 8 7 (1 ), 8 9 (2 0 ), 9 1 (i), 9 6 {4 ), 9 7 (9 ), 9 8 (3 3 ), too (1 0 5 ), 1 0 6 (i), 1 0 8 (6 ), no (3 ), III (2 ), M2 (3 0 0 ), 113 (t), 1 1 4 (i), i2 oa (3 ), 1 2 3 (i), H5 (4 ). 1*7 (3 ), «!»8 (2 ). 1 2 9 (i), 1 3 3 ( 2 4 ), 1 3 4 (4 ).—Stake-net; Jan. 2 9 . (i). Dates of capture: 4 . M arch-32. .April, 1 9 3 7 ; 9 . January-2 6 . April, 1 9 3 8 . Notes: 305 of the fish mentioned afcve weighed 145.25 kg, which is an average of 0 .4 8 kg. The largest specimens weighed 1.5 kg. The species was extremely frequent all over ihe area, both near the coast and in the open sea. The Mohammedan population of Jask used the fish (they were Sunnites), but in Bushire, where the inhabitants wfre Shiites, fish without scales were not eaten. H a b.: Indian Ocean and Malay Archipelago. Order; APQDES Fam .: Congridac Muraenesox cinereus (Forssk.) Muraena tota cinerta Forisk&l, 177}, p. 3 3 . (Red Sea). Murttnttox dntreus (Forsk.). Day, 187^, p. 66a; 1889, I, p. gt. Muraentsox cinereut (Forsk.). Weber & ,Beaufort, III, 1916, p. 2 5 3 . Native n a m e: Mar-m^hi (3 : snake-fish). Principal characteristics: Body scaleless, nostrils lateral, pectorals present. Dorsal, anal, and caudal well developed. Anus in anterior half of length. Branchial openings in pharynx wide slits. Canine teath in front part of jaws and vomer. Outer row of mandibular teeth not directed outwards. Medium canines of vomer with distinct anterior and Fig. 3 6 . Mura*ntsox eintttui (For»»k.). (After Day, 1 8 7 8 ). w ■Ui: post/^or basal lobes. (?!^)lour greyish silvery, becoming white on abdomen. Verital fins with black edges. Material brought home: '■ No.^j,; St. 6 0 . Stiffe Bank, 2 3 .4 . 1 9 3 7 . ( 8 0 cm). • No. g AJBu|j^e Roads (stake-net), 3 9 .1. 1 9 3 8 . ( 6 6 cm). ^ N s: t3nly the two specimens mentioned were obtained; the fish - t from Bushire weighed about 4 0 0 g. In Forsskar$ “fish-herbarium” in the Zoological Museum of 'P Copenh^n is found one specimen of '^Murcena tota cinerea” of a little morq^ tBSrn 50 cm, which is very like the description given above. H a b .: Indian Ocean, MaUy, Archipelago, PhiKppines, China, Japan. In sea, brackish and fresh wWer. Fam-: E ch el i d a e Muraenichthys schultzei B ll^r. Muhenichthys Schultzei Bleeker, 1 B5 7 , p. 3 6 6 . (Java). ' ^urmniehlhys Schultzei Bleeker. Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 6 6 3 . , ^ Mufanichthys schultzei Bleeker. Day, 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 9 3 . ' Mumenichthys schultzei Blkr. Weber & Beaufort, III, 1916, p^jJ77. ■ . Fig. 3 7 . MuTaenichthyi,ttXuUzei Blkr. (.Aflhr'Day, 1 8 7 8 ). ' . Pjr incipal characteristi 6^ Body scalefes. Nostril* tl^ margin of the upper lip; the anterior one in a tube, the posteric^^ o ri^ t the base of a pendulous flap. Pectorals absent. Ar^us before* middIP’ of law^.jOrigin of dorsal sIightlt*4)cftiTe venf. Head and \ . of tan. Cleft of mouth reach^far bAind,cj^c. Height about 3 0 , hjaa ' ' about 8 times in length. c’V Material brought home: ' •-.i No. i: S t 9 8 . N.W. of Jajk, 2 9 .3 . 1 9 3 8 . (r 8 o mm). No, f: St no. Strait of Hormuz, 3 .4 .1 9 3 8 . ( 2 2 0 mm). ?lo. 3 :* S t 1 2 1 . S. of Duwwan, 8 .4 . 1 9 3 8 ( 2 1 5 mm). Notes: All specimen^ were found in stomachs of the Sea-si^e Micrpcephalophis gracilis ^^aw) (Volsoc; 193a .P- 2 7 *^ \Vc di(^ npt ca^^^ this fish in ripe frSI&r^ gears. • * Habi: From the Sunda I.slands to the Red Sea. A' Fam.: Ophichthyidac ^ Pisoodonophis hoevenii (Bll^r.^v • • * Ophisurus *Hoevenii Bleeker, 1 8 5 3 , p. 1 7 a. (Mfe.swryi' ^ ■ . *' Pitoo4onophis hoevenii (Blkr.), W f b c r" & Bcifijlort, III. ig i 6 , p. 2 9 9 . Bl e gv ad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 75 ^ ^ _ _ Principal characteristics: Body sOTeless. Head and itunk equal to length of tail. Nostrils lateral. Posterior nostrils in the uppdh'^ip, - licking downwards. Lips without barbels. Teeth granular. Teeth on voiifer. Pectorals well develc>ped. Origin of dorsal above middle of pect(y^. ^ . Fig. 38. Pisoodonophis hoevenii (Blkr.). (.After Bleeder, Material brought home: • t , No. I : St. t02. Gulf of Oman, 31.3.1938. x mm). No. a : St. 133. O ff Jabrin, 13.4.1938. " Notes; The specimen No. i was found in the stomach of a snake Ilydrophis spiralis (Shaw) (Volsoe, 1939, p. 15 ). The heac '’.’and the fpont of tHe trunk were comparatively intact, but the caudal jjart was in an advanced state of digestion. Of the specimen No. 2 only . ! the tail was left; it was found in the stomach of a Sea-snake, Hydro * phii^ i^ p io id e s (G r a y) ..(V o 1 s 0 e, 1939, p. 2 0 ). The species was' ■, no otlyi way.» ■ , Hab.Beaufort -(I.e.) only mention Cel<:bes as a fincijpg place o f'tfte‘^fccies. Most likel^' tiiis is but a reiteration of the statetnints given jjy Kaup (185 6 , p. 2 0 ) and Giinther (V III, '87qT'p- 79)-'/-" ^ . " ^ ’ ■ O rdct: SYNEN3’pGNATHI ^ , ’ ' Sub-Order: SOON^Br As QCOIDEA ’ ‘ - ' * P |in .: B,e 1 o n I d a e * Tylosurus strongybiTus (v. Hass.) Kuddera A. Russell, 1803, fig. 176. (Ck>roman « half of the trunk and the tail. Below this a broad silvery streak. The caudal fin yellowish-green with a round, bluish-black spot at the base. Material brought home: No. i: Bushire Roads (stake-net), 2 9 . 1 .1 9 3 8 . ( 4 1 7 -f~ x mm). Fig. 3 9 ! Tylosurus slrongylurus (v. H a s s .). (After Day, 1 8 7 8 ). Notes: The species was never caught in the trawl. H a b .: In seas and esAiaries of Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Ar chipelago, North .Australia, Philippines, Formosa. Tylosurus leiurus (Blkr.) Belone UiuTus Bleeker, 1 8 5 0 , p. 9 4 . (Seas of Java). * Btlone liura Bleeker. Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 5 1 1 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 4 *0 . Tflostrus Uiurus (Blkr.). Weber & Beaufort, IV, 1 9 8 2 , p. 1 2 4 . Native name; Chingoo. Principal characteristics: To be distinguished from T. strongylurus by the following characters: .Anal 2 3 , dorsal 19. Origin of ventrals midway between eye and base of caudal. Origin of dorsal 4bove 7th divided ray of anal. Colour: upper side greenish, lighter on sides and abdomen. A ^very streak along the sides. Pectoral fins with a black, subterminal blotch, the caudal with a black edge. ^ VTaterial brought home; ' No. i; Anchorage, Bushire, 1 1 .3 . 1 9 3 7 . Taken in the hand-catcher. ( 4 7 6 mm). Notes: The species was never caught in the trawl. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Formosa. - * ’• Sub^cr; EXOCOETOIDEA Fam .: H cVii irhamphidae Hemirhampkus georgii C u v. & V a 1. Hemii^amphut Georgii Cuvier & Valenciennes, XIX, 1 8 4 6 , p. 3 7 . (Bombay j. ^ ' Hemirhamphui Canton Bleeker. Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 5 1 4 , Hemirhamphus canton Bleeker. Day, 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 4 *3 . •Httnirhamphut gtoTgii C. V. Weber & Beaufort, IV, ig ai, p. 1 4 7 . Native name: Chingoo. * Principal characteristics: Lower jaw produced. Inter- ■ B le g v a d : Fishes of the Iranian G u I 77 ' ' ------1—— ------—------. , ' maxillarics forming a flat, horizontal, triangular expansion, which is longer than broad. No teeth on part of lower jaw beyond extremity of upper jaw. Dorsal beginning above origin of anal, longer than that fin. Pectorals not as long as head from tip of upper jaw to branchial opening. Dorsal 2/13- 15, anal 2/ 13- 16. Caudal forked. Colour: greenish-blue on upper side. A silvery streak along the side. Fig. 4 0 . Hemirhamphus georgit C u v. & V«l. (After Day, 1 8 7 8 ). Material brought home: No. 1-3 : Buahire, spring of 1 9 3 7 . ( 2 6 8 -f- *, 2 4 8 + %, 1 6 4 mm). N o t« s : The species is a surface fish; it was only taken in the hand- catcher, never in the big fishing gears. Like the other Hemirhamphus species it is apparently drawn by the light, for in holding a lantAn above the surface of the water at night you could take them with the hand- catchers in the jjone of light. The 2 last^mentioned specimens were taken together with 2 0 H. gcamardi. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Formosa, China; Hemirhamphus gaimardi Cuv. & V a I. Hemirhamphus Gaimardi Cuvier & Valenctennet, XIX, 1 8 4 6 , p. 3 6 . (Moluccas). Hemirhamphus limbatus Cuv. & Val. Da.y, 1 8 7 8 , p. 5 1 6 ; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 4 2 6 . Htmirhamphus gatmardi C. V. Weber & Reaufort, IV, 1 9 3 2 , p. 1 5 0 . Native name: Chingoo. Principal characteristics: Triangular part of upper jaw broader than long. Pectorals not as long as head from tip of upper jaw to branchial opening. Base of ventrals midwAy between eye anrf b a ^ of caudal. Caudal forked and with a black border. Dorsal a/13, anal 2/ 14. Colour: bluish-dark, a rather narrow' silvery band along the side. Material brought home: No. 1-2 0 ; Busbire Outer Roadt. Caught in the hand^catcher, spring of 1 9 3 7 . ( 1 8 9 + X, 1 8 0 , 1 4 5 , i4«f 1 3 7 -t- X, *37. «33. «33. «3a, i3«. «S«>. 1 2 8 4- X, 1 2 4 , 1 2 3 - f X, 1 2 3 + *. ^ *9*. »*«. 99 + * mm)- No. 2 1 : Bushire, 1 0 .3 .1 9 3 7 . ( i 2 i 4- x mm). Notes: We did not catch this species in the trawl. H a b.: In sea and estuaries of Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archi pelago, Philippines. Hemirhamphus marginatus (F o r s s k.) Esox marginatus Forsskal, 1 8 7 5 , p. 6 7 . (Red Sea). Hemirhamphus marginatus (Forsk.)- Weber & Beaufort, IV, 1 9 2 2 , P- '57- Native name: Chingoo. Principal characteristics; Lower jaw produced. No teeth on part of lower bey^d extremity of upper jaw. Triangular part of upper jaw broader than long. Preorbital shorter than eye. Pectorals shorter than head from tip of upper jaw to branchial opening. Dorsal beginning before origin of anal, longer than that fin. Length of base of anal 1J/2 in that of dorsal. Anal with 10 divided rays. Base of ventrals about midway be tween he||| and base of caudal. Caudal forked. Body compressed. Colour; greenish-Dlue on back. Along the side a narrow, dark band and below this a broader, silver^’ band. Dorsal and caudal with somewhat blurred, black edges, the other fins clear. The description applies to a specimen in Forsskal’s “fish-herbarium,” only that the ventrals are hcrt found a litde behind midway between head and base of caudal. M a t e r i a 1 1^ r o u g h t home; No. I : Boshire Roads (sUke-r»et), aS.i.igsS. ( 2 7 4 mm). C aught at stations (numbers in brackets): Stake-net: Jan. 2 3 . ( 2 ), 2 4 . ( 5 ), 2 5 . (i). ' 2 7 . (8 ), 3 0 , (4 ) ; Feb, 2 . ( 2 ). ^ o r e seine on Larak 5 .4 . 1 9 3 8 ( 3 ). N o t e s : The fish was never caught in the trawl, nor was it to be expected that this lightning surface fish should be taken otherwise than quite exceptionally in this way. We often saw shoals of Hemirhamphus fly before the boat. They darted obliquely out of the water continuing for several yards along the surface, which they lashed with the tail. The meat was q^ellent. The largest specimens caught by us weighed towards 200 g. . H a b.; In sea and estuaries from Red Sea and Iranian Gulf to China ai^ New Caledonia. * Fam .; Exocoetidae ^ Parexocoetus m/tnto ^ C u v. & Val.) Exocoetus mgnto Cu% . r s, XIX, 1 8 4 6 , p. 1 2 4 . (Pon dicherry ):S> ^ Exocoetus ^mento C u v. & Val. Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. sac; 1 8 8 9 , I, p. 4 1 1 . Parexocoetus brachypterus Richardfon. Weber & Beauf< <9 2 2 , P- 174- Native nameV-(Jask) : “Mahee-baiee” (MJhee = fish (Iranian), bilee = bird (Arabic)). *' • Principal characteristics: Teeth on vomer and tongue, t.lat. 3 8 -4 0 . Colour; bluish above, silvery on the sides and below. Dorsal Fig, 41. Parexoc«etus mento (Cuv. & Val.). (After Day, 1878). black. Upper part of pectorals blackish with light edges. The rest of the fins hyaline. . Material brought home: ' No, t; Gulf of Oman, 29.3,1938. " Notes: This specifnen'was found on the deck of the “Rashgoo” at dawn. No flying fishes were caught in other ways by us. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Ai cliipelago, Sandwich Islands, China, Western Atlantic. \ . . > CypsiluTus oligolepis (B 1 k r.) Exocottus oligolepis Bleeker, i866^ p. 109. (N ot available). Exocoetus oUgoUpis Blkr. Bleeker, VI, 1866-72, p. 69. (Malay Archipelago^ Cyptilurus oligolepis (Blkr.). Weber & Beaufort, IV , ig aa, p. 189. Native name (Jask): M&hce-b&lcr, Principal characteristics: Pectorals without spots; second pectoral ray divided, first undivided. Dorsal 12- 13, without black patch. Anal 8 -9 , origin far behind that of dorsal. Origin of ventrals nearer to branchial opening than^to caudal. L.lat,j4 2 *4 5 . Teeth tricuspid. Teeth on palatines; vomer and tongue toothless. Colour: Bluish on the back, silvery on sides and abdomen. The fins hyaline except the upper halves of the pectorals, which are black. • Material brought home; No, 1-3; Bought at the Bahrein fish market, 18.3,1938, (*39, a*o, aio mm). Note: We never caught the species ourselves. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay and beyoAd. ‘ I Order: MICROC\TRINI * » Fam.: Cyprinodontidac ^ Cyprinodon dispar (Riipp.) ^ Lebias dispar RQppell, i8a8, p, 66, pi, 18, (Surroundings of the Red Sea). Cyprinodon dispar (Rupp.). Day, 1878, p, 5*1; 1889, I, p. 414. Principal characteristics: Origin of dorsal in front of that of anal.*Caudal cut square (Day (I.e.) says: caudal lunate, but in Riippell’s figures they are practically cut square as in our fish), v ita ls of the males pointed, those of the females rounded. Colour: The male greenish-yellow with a distinct reticular, dark marking. Small dark shoulder spot. Dorsal fin spotted. The caudal with 3 dark transversal bands and light hind border. The female light with 7-9 narrow, vertical bands. Fig. 4 a. Cyprinodon dispar («Rupp.). To the left male, to the right female. (After Day, 1 8 7 8 ). Material brought home: No. Bahrein Harbour (salt water), 2 8 .3 .1 9 3 7 . ( 5 9 mm). No. a: Female, „ „ » » „ ( 5 6 mm). • No. 3 - 1 3 ; Virgin Well, Bahrein, 1 8 .3 .1 9 3 8 . ( i 8 -a8 mm ). No. 1 4 -8 7 : » » » I9-3 «938. (2 5 - 5 9 “»“ )• m No. 2 8 -6 8 : „ „ „ 1 9 .3 . 1 9 3 8 . ( 1 7 -4 9 No. 6 9 -7 3 : Ditch in an orchard, Bahrein, 1 9 .3 .1 9 3 8 . (3 3 - 3 8 mm). Notes: It should be noticed that the two largest specimens were taken in the Bahrein Harbour (in salt water), the rest in a hot well and ditches witlf very clear water. H a b .: North-East Africa, Palestine, Arabia and coasts of Arabian Sea, Cutch. ^ .Order: SOLENICHTHYES Fam .: Aulostomatidae Fistularia viUosa K 1 u n z. Pislularia Klunzinger, 1 8 7 1 , p. 5 1 6 . (Red Sea). Fistularia serrata Cuv. Day, 1 8 7K p. 3 6 0 ; 1 8 8 9 , II, p. 3 5 7 . Fistularia viUosa K 1 u n z. Wcbe * 8St Beaufort, IV, 1922, p. «a. Native namei: A-lach, Chingoo. Principaltrharacteristics: Body very elongate, depressed, a median row of a ^ o w keeled scutes before and behind the dorsal and anal. Scull produce^ forming a long tube v«th a small mouth at its anterior extremity. Intermaxillaries with teeth. Interorbital space deeply concave. 2 middle ridges on upper surface of snout. A soft dorsal which is short and j.-r Fig. 4 3 . Pistularia villosa Klunz. (After Day, 1 8 7 8 ). posterior. Ventrals abdominal. Caudal forked, median rays very prolonged and filiform. Back greyish-brown. Lower side whitish. • Materia] brought home: No. i-a: St. 1 7 a. S.W. of Kharg, 1 4 .3 .1 9 3 7 . {6 4 0 , 5 1 5 mm). No. 3 -5 : St. 7 1 b. E. of Kharg, 3 1 . 1. 1 9 3 8 . (5 3 0 , 4 7 1 , 4 2 8 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets)^; 1 7 a (a), 9 4 (3 ), 7 1 b (3 ), 7 8 (2 ), no (t). Dates of capture; 1 4 .-2 3 . March, 1 9 3 7 ; 3 1 . January-a. April, 1 9 3 8 . Notes: No use was made of the fish. H a b .: From east coa.st of Africa to Japan, Hawjuan and ot^gr Pacific Islands. Fam .: Centriscidae Cenlriscus scutatus L. Centnscut scutatus Linn£, 1 7 5 8 , p. 3 3 6 . (East Indies). Amphisile scutata (Linn.). Day, 1 8 7 8 , p. 3 6 1 ; 1 8 8 9 , II, P 358. Centriseus scutatus L. Weber & Beaufort, IV, I9 aa, p. aa. Principal characteristids: Scull pro duced, forming a long tube with a small todthless mouth at its anterior extremity. Interorbital space with a groove continued to the crown of the head. Body elongate, translucent, extremely compressed with sharp ventral edge. Body encased in dermal bony plates. No scales. No lateral line. Trunk ending posteriorly in a long immovable , spine; this together with the two dorsals forms the end of the body, which is turned upwards during the swim ming. D, with 3 spines, Dj with 10-12 soft ra>^. Ventrals rudimentary. The caudal fin turned down on the lower side, closely behind the anal. Against the light is ^ n Fig. 4 4 . Cfntriscus guttatus L. in its natural swimming position. (After Day, 1 8 7 8 ). a dark, longitudinal line from the eye to the dorsal spine. Abdomen sil\ery. Material brought home: No. 1 : St. 63d. Bushire Roads, 24.1.1938. (86 mm). No. 2-5; E. of Hindarabi, 9^.1938. (138, 130, 128, 112 mm). Caught at stations: 65a (i), 123 (4). N o t e s ; Only these fish were caught. They were found together with large numbers of Gorgoniae. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Order: PERCOMORPHI Sub-Order: PERCOIDEA « Faftt: Serranidae Epinephelus areolatus (Forssk.) Perea areolata F o r s s k 4 1, 1775, p. 42. (Red Sea). Epinephelus angularis Blkr. Bleekcr, VII, 1873-76, p. 48. Epinephelus celebicus Blkr. Ibd., pi. ri, fig. 3. 5erranu5 {Hyposerranus) areolatus Forsk. Klunzinger, 1884, p. 3. Serranus angularis C u v. & V'a 1. Day, 1878, p. 22; 1889, I, p. 454. Epinephelus areolatus (Forsk.). Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 37. Native names: Sommaan. English: Rock-cod. Principal characteristics: Big-headed perch-fish with numerous spots. L.lat. about iio , L.tr. D. 11/17, A. 3/8, V. 1/5. Opercular spines nearly equidistant, the upper one ven,' small. Preoper culum evenly serrated behind, its angle produced and provided with a couple of enlarged spines. Teeth in narrow band.^^, the inner series of depressible teeth in the mandible and those near symphysis of the upper jaw rather longer than the others. The caudal emarginate, with a light hind border. Colour: grey with a brown tinge and .sown with dark-brown spots; some small, yellow spots found on the living fish disappear during the preservation. Material brought ftome: No. I : St. 39. Stiffe Bank, 7.4.1937. (460 mm). Caught at stations: 39a (80), 39b (3), 118 (i). Dates of capture; 7, April, 1937; 7. April, 1938. a\ o t e s : The species was caught nowhere else, but was noticed now and then, partly swimming in the Gulf, partly offered for sale in the bazaars. The 83 specimens from St. 39 weighed 325 kg in all, an average of nearly 4 kg. In all probability F o r s s Ic a I’s Perea areolata is identical with this form. In his “fish-herbarium” in the Zoological Museum of Copen hagen is found a specimen under this designation. In a structural respect . u it is quite like our animals. L.lat. 110, L.tr. i , D. 11/17, A. 3/8, V. 1/5. As to the colour, however, the shape and look of the spots are more like those of the fish described here as E. chlorostigma, though the two forms otherwise are rather different. F o r s s k -a l’s description of colour is applicable, but he gives the number of 29 soft rays in the dorsal: this figure is so high, that it must be supposed to be a slip of the pen. Forsskal further writes: “Cauda expansa truncata, plicata, leviter exfecta.’’ The caudal is emarginate in the specimen brought home, except when greatly distended. The pictures in B 1 e e k e r. D a y , K 1 u n- z i n g e r and Weber & Beaufort ^ habitually like the animals caught in the Gulf, but our fishes had hardly so big spots as those depicted in D a y and Weber & Beaufort. The animal brought home agrees with the E. areoiatus of the British Museum. E.xcellcnt food fish, but it hardly attains the size of E. tauvina (F o r s s k.). H a b .: From east coast of Africa, Red Sea and Iranian Gulf to the Philippines, China and Japan. Epinephelus chlorostigma (C u v . & V a 1.) Serranut chlorostigma. Cuvier & V a 1 e n c i o n n o s, 11, 1828, p. 352. (Sea of the Scychclli s). Epinephelui H'aandenii Blkr. Bleckcr, V II, 1873-76, p. 47. Sfrranuj areotatus F o r 5 k. Day, 1878, p. la ; 1889. 1, p. 445. Epinephelus chlorostigma (C. V.). Weber & Beaufort, \'I, 1931. p. 39. •N a t i V I- n a in e : Sominan. Principal characteristics: Much like previous species, but the spots are nniih denser, so that the fish as a whole becomes dark with a meshwork of lighter colour. L.lat. about 130, L.tr. Preoperculum serrated behind, somewhat produced at angle, where the serrae are some what enlarged. I'he ctudal truncate (though in larger specimens from the Gulf it seems to be emarginate). D. 11/17, A. 3/^> ^ • i/5 - The colour agrees well with the pictures in Bleckcr and Day (l.c.i. Our specimen is like the £. chlorostigma of the British Museum. Material Ijrought home: No. I : St. 39a. Stiffe Bank, 7.4.1937. (343 nim^. Notes: With certaint\ the species was noted only this once, but it is most likely that more have been present; on board we did not distinguish between this and the previous species. It weighed '/. kg. «• Like the previous one this species is an excellent food fish, which attains a size of more than 50 cm. It seems to be as common in the Gulf as E. areaolatus and was observed in the catches of the fishermen, i.a. in Bushire and in Lingeh. H a b .: East coast of Africa, Iranian Gulf, Seas of India, Philippines, China, Formosa, Japan. Epinephelus tauvina (F o r s s k .) Perea tauvina Forsskal, 1775, p. 39. (Red Sea). Serranuj lanceolatus (B l.). D a y , 1878, p. i8 ; 1889, I, p. 450. Serranus Afalabaruus (Bl. Schn.). Day, 1B78, p. 19. Serranus pantherinus (L a cep). Day, 1889, I, p. 451. Epinephelus tauvina (Forsk.). Weber & B e a u f o VI, 1931, p. 60. Native names: Hamoor (large specimens), Balool (small specimens). On Bahrein only the name of Hamoor,was known. English: Rock-cod. Principal characteristics: Habitus somewhat cod-like. Head entirely scaly. Interorbital width less than eye. Canine teeth present; no curved canines on the sides of the mandible. Palatines toothed. Maxil lary reaching beyond posterior border of eye. Lower border of preoper culum without antrorse or downward directed spines. Opercular spines equidistant. Pectoral shorter than head without snout. D. 11/14-15; last dorsal spine not shorter than third spine. Anal and ventral spines strong. Caudal rounded. L.tr. 12-13 above lateral line. Ground colour greyish- brown. Numerous larger or smaller dark-brown to reddish-brown, some times also lighter spots and blotches on head, back, sides of trunk, dorsal and caudal. Larger specimens grow nearly uniformly brown (Weber & Beaufort, I.e., p. ^ ) . The fish attains a length of up to 2 m. Material brought '■ No. I : Bushire-Tish nM^CL spring 1937. (260 mm). No. 2 : Bushire Roads (stake-net), 36.1.1938. (aaa mm). \o . 1, Bahrein fish market, 19.3.1938. (275 mm). St. 123. E. of Hindarabi, 9.4.1938. (83 mm). Caught at stations* (nutnbers in brackets) 7a (3), 7b '■?), 17a O), 17b (3), 23 (•). 26 (I , , , - , (i), 71 (0,87 (- (wheel) : Jan. I. (i),6. (i).—Stoke-net: Jan. aj. (1), 26. (i). Datesofcaptuf' January-9 1938. Notes: The specimen from St. 17a was a male with mature milts. 16 of the fish mentioned above weighed barely 69 kg, an average of 4.3 kg. The largest specimen weighed 13 kg, 2 others 12.5 kg each, the re.st ranging between 250 g and 6 kg. The food consists of small fish. D a y (I.e.) and particularly Bleeke 1873-76) apparently mentic») this species under several n a m rs , jjrotj.i dy prompted by the changing distribu tion o({ colours in youni,'rr i n. Tn F,>r^ci ’ r, ‘-n.i. •— harium” 9 k „ • . . • , H. PieJd phoL Fig. 45. Epinephelus tauvina (Foirask.)- at the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen are found 2 fish, termed Perea Tauvina. One of them, 205 mm in length, is quite like our animals, both in a habitual and in a structural respect 1[D. 11/15, *2 scales above the lateral line). The specimen must be considered type of the species. En closed is found a small slip of paper, carrying the inscription Tauvina in F o r s s k a I’s hand. ' It is an excellent food fish. ' H a b .: From east coast of .\frica. Red Sea and Iranian Gulf to .Australia, Hawaii, China and Japan. Therapon puta C u v . &. V a l. Thtrapon puta Cuvier & V a 1 e n c i e n n c s, 1829, p. 131. (Coasts of India). 'rv Therapon puta C uv. & V a l. D ay, ifflfE, p. eSj-i’feg. I, 505. Therapon puta C. V. Weber & B e a u f o r t, 1931, p. 143. Native name: Totuan (Bushirc). Principal characteristics: Rather slender trvmk and pointed head. Teeth in jaws in a villiform band. Gape and mouth mo derate, oblique. Jaw’S equal. \ ’^omer and palatines edentulous. Nostrils distant. Preoperculum denticulated with enlarged, strong, angular spines. Lower opcrcular spine strong, enlarged, produced beyond opercular lobe. Gill-membranes separate. D. 12/10. Spinous dorsal deeply notched and with a large, dark spot. The penultimate spin? much shorter than the ultimate one. Second and third anal .spines equal. Lobes of caudal with 2 oblique, dark bars. Supralateral scalcs below spinous dorsal 10-13. L-lat. 90-96. Colour greyish with 3 narrow, dark-browji -longitudinal bands; sometimes a fourth, mdistinct band b dimly seen ,^ ^ ^ n in g at the base of the pectoral. ‘ ' » Material brought home: No. 1-3: Bushire Roads (stake-net), 23.1.1938. (138, 125, 105 mm). Notes: Taken rather frequently in the stake-net, Ifut during the cruise no distinction was made between the different Therapon species. A statement of the total catches is found below, after the mention of T. jarbua. ^ H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, to the Philippines, Torres Strait and Queensland. f Therapon theraps C u v. & V a 1. Therapon theraps Cuvier & Valenciennes, III, 1829, p. 129. (East Indies). Therapon theraps C u v. & V a 1. D a y , 1878, p. 70; 1889, 1, p. 506. Therapon theraps C. V. Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 145. N a t i V m e: Jellee (Kangun). Principal characteristics: More arch-backed and big headed than previous form. The longitudinal bars broader; the two top most ones merge together, thus making the whole back of the fish brown. A single streak along the middle of the side. Along the sides of abdomen Fig. 46. Therapon theraps (C u v. & V a l- ) . (.After Day, 1878). no longitudinal bands are found in our animals. Preoperculum serrate; serrati Specimens of the genus Therapon were caught in the following localities; 9 (a), 10 (20), II (24), 22 (4). 24 (1), 25 ( 0 , 35 (i), 36 (20), 45 (x), 48 (5), 76 (5). 77 ('70)1 'oo (•»)- Larak 5. April (i), 122 (i), 133 (100).— Stake-net: Jan. 83. (lo ), 26. (4). Dates of capture: 11. March-14. April, 1937; 23. January-13. April, 1938. i Pelates quadrilineatus (B l.) Hotocentrus quadritineatui Bloch, IV, 1790, p. 82 ; pi. 338, fig. 3. (The Orient). Pristipoma sexlintatum, Quoy et Gaimard, 1824, p. 320. (Sydney). Therapon xanthurus, Cuvier & Valenciennes, III, 1829, p. 135. (Java). Therapon quadrilineatus Bloch. Day, 1878, p. 70; 1889, I, p. 507. Pelates quadrilineatus (B 1.). Weber 4c Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 161. Principal characteristics: Habitually like Therapon. Head large, gape of mouth oblique. Maxillary extending to front border of eye. Teeth in upper jaw in three, in lower in two more or less regular Fig. 47. Pelates quadrilineatus (Bl.). (After Day, 1878). series, the outer series much enlarged, brown, conical. GiU-membranes united, nearly free from isthmus. D. 12/10. Second and third anal spines subequal. Four dark longitudinal bands on body. Caudal without streaks. A dark spot on the side of front of back. M aterial brought home: No. i: St. 87. S.E. of Bahrein L.V., 20.3.1938 (112 m m ). H a b .; In sea and brackish water of Indian Ocean, Malay Archi pelago, seas of China and Japan. Fam .: Priacanthidae Priacanthus tayenus Rich. Priacanthus tayenus Richardson, 1846, p. 237. (Chinese seas (Canton)). Priacanthus holocentrum Sleeker. Day, 1878, p. 74ft; 1888, p. 784; 1889, I, p. 482. Priacanthus tayenus Rich. Weber & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. 387. Fig. 48.'Priaeanthas tayenus Rich. ( After D.iv 1889). Principal characteristics; Large-eyed, red on back, sih crv on sides and abdomen. Scales small, very rough, with a sclerous, ridge and entire nnargin. Spine at angle of operculum strong. Dorsal 10/12, dorsal spines increasing in height posteriorly. Dorsal and ventral spines feebly spinulose. Ventrals 1/5 equal to head without lower jaw. Anal 3/13-14. L.lat. about 65. M A t f r i a 1 brought home; .No. 1-2: S t 16. W. of Kh.i Caught at station^;' 15a (6), 15b (i), i6a 34 (i). 37 (>o), 38 (21). Dates of capturc. .j...... Notes: Strange to say the fish was not r;ini.; cmise of 1938. The depth of water at the places of capture; mentioned above ranged between 20 and 71 m. The nature of the bottom varied between sand and clay, hard bottom and soft, light mud. H a lx : Indian Seas, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China, Formosa. Fam.: Chilodipteridae Apogon lineoiatus C u v. & V a 1. I I ■' Apogon lineoiatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, II, 1838, p. 160. (Red Sea). Apogon macTopterus Day, 1878, p. 64. Apogon lineoiatus (Ehr.) C u v. & Val. Day, 1889, I, p. 499. Apogon lineoiatus C. V. Weber & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. 347. Principal characteristics: Small, large-headed perch-fish with 2 dorsals, maxiUary extending to vertical through centre of eye. Teeth on vomer, jaws and palatines minute, no true canines. Head as long as high. Preoperculum serrated at lower edge and angulus. Scales on body ctenoid. Lateral line complete and continuous, scale between L.lat. and first dorsal. D. 6 1| 1/9, A. 2/17. Colour uniform, yellowish. Numerous .-imall, dark spots on the head and the sides of the back. A round, dark spot on either side of the base of caudal. Our animals had no transversal bands and agree very well with D a y ’s picture j(i878, pi. ij, fig. 4 ) ; . by a misprint in the text (Lc.) the references to the figures of A. ma- cropterus and A. sangiensis have been changed. A figure in R u p pell ( 1828, pi. 12, fig. I ) is possibly the same species, but the colour is quite different, with violet fias ajid back and numerous small, transversal bands. The round spot at the base of the caudal is present. In our animals the fins have no .spots. ^ Materialbroughthome: . No. 1-5; S t 103. Chahbar, Gulf of Omati, 31.3.1938. (73, 71, 70, 68, 67 mm). Notes; 11 specimens were taken at St. 103. The species was caught nowhere else. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond. V Apogon fraenalus Val. i4^o;oa Franatus Valenciennes, 183a, p. 57. (New Guinea, Marianes). Apogon frrnatus V 'al. D a y , 1878, p. 58 ; i88g, I, p. 493. Apogon frenatus Val. Weber & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. *95. Native name: Ganimak (Bender Abbas). Principal characteristics: Large-headed. 2 dorsals. Height of body about equal to length of head; operculum with a flat spine. Free margin of preoperculum serrated. Scales on body ctenoid. Lateral line complete and continuous. L.lat. about 25. 1 Yq .scale between 4 9P Danish Scientific Int^stigations i?! Iran ^teral line and first dorsal. D, 7 | 1/9, A. 2/8. Colour reddish or yellowish. A dark band from eye to middl#-of caudal; another one from upper edge of orbit to upper part of tail. Anal and 2. dorsal with blurred, dark bands at the bases. D a y ’s figure (iS yS^ cl. 16, fig. 4) agrees well with our animals. Material brought h A m e : N 0 4 I : St 6 6 . Between^ushire and Kharg, 35.1.1938. (57fmm ). No. 2: St. ICO. Gulf of Oman^30.3.i938. (72 mm). No. 3-4; St. n o . Strait of Hormuz, 2.4.1938. (87* 85. mm). No. 5: St. 121. Near Ouww-an, 8.4.1938. No. 6-7: St. 123. E. of Hindarabi, 9 . 4 .I 9 3 ^ ^ ^ 5 ^ 2 ' mm). Note: OrJ*these specimens were cai: H a b .: In sea and brackish water, sometimes entering fresh water. From east coast of Africa, Red Sea and Iranian Gijll to Philippines and Hawaiian Islands. f Apogon thurstoni D a y PI. Ill, Figure 3. Apogon thurstoni. Day, 1888, p. 784. (Madras). Apogon thurstoni. Day, 1889, 94- Principal characteristics; Large-hea^d, 2 dorsals. D. 7 t%9, A. 2/8, P. 13. U i t . 25. Colour: Greyish, darker on back. A round, Ijlack spot, as big as the eye and surrounded by a narrow, yellow ring under D^Dorsal, anal and ventral fins dark, caudal ydlowish. M a t e r r o u g h t home: * No. 1: St. 73. S. of Bushire, 3.2.1938. : No. a: Sl 104. Near Chahbar, 31.3.1938. (79 mm). Notes: Only these specimens were caught. H a b .: Seas oPlndia, Iranian Gulf. * FSm. :Sillaginidae ^ Sillago sihama (F o r s s k.) Atherin/^hama F o r s s 1^ 1, p. 70. (Red Sea). Sillago stnama (Forssk.* Day, 1878, p 263: i88q, II, p. 224. Sillagamhama (Forsk.). W c r & B ■, i, p. 171. Native n ^ m e : Shoort. Pr*incipal charak....sties; Small, slender fish with long snout. Snout much ^nger than eye. 3 scries of scalcs on cheeks. Ventral spine slender, normaJ. D. lo-i i | 1^19-21. A. 2/22. L.lat. 68-70, 4/2-5 series of scalcs between lateral line and anterior doi%l spines. (Weber & Beaufort, I.e., p. 170, say 5-6 ^ e s ) . Preopercular and oprrrulnr B le g v a d : Fishes otf the Iranian G ul f Qb . - _ _ _ ■. A - (■ (t-iL r‘S HMIIn i- H. Field phot. ' iFig. 49. Sillago siAama (Forssk.)- -V scales cycloid. Colour: Olive ^cen^on back, lipjhter on abdomen, silvery alon^ThUcs. Was selpi-traSnsparent. ^ ■ ■ ' J t- • Material brou*~ght home: *«, • No. 1-3: Bushire |ft|ught on hook), .^pri}, 1937. ( 29- (*)• , D a t e s o f c a p t u r e : 14. April, 1937; 39. January-4. April, 1938. Notes: The species *vas not very common in the Gulf though it was caught now and then. It was also seAi in the baAars, finding some use as a food ^sh. , * Habs-i^to)m the Red Sea and the east coast of Africa to the East Indian Ar^fi^lago, Australia and Japan. ^ Fam.; Lactarii Scomber Lactarius Schneider. Bloch, p. 31^ (Trah^ebar). Lactarius delicatulus C u v. & Val. 18^, p. 445; i889,*ll, p. 1^6. Lactarius lactarius (Bl.1. Schn.).Schn.) W e b ^ & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 307. ■gji; Principal characteristics: Small fonn. oblong, com pressed. Jaws anteriorly Milh permanci^ canines. Anal longer than soft dorsal. D. 7 | 1/22. A. *25-28. Colour: Back greyish. A dark spot on upper, hind part of opercle. Sides j^d abdomen silvery. Material brought home; No. i-a: St. 55. Jask, *0.4.19375^(155, 207 miu). No. 3-4: Sy^7. Jask, *9:3.1938. (15a, 307 mm). Caught at s t a t i o n s*^numbers in >bracket^); (64). 57 (i). 97 (16), 98 (5). J04 (3). '«* ( 0 . >20 (1). Dates of capture: ao.-aa. March, 1937; ag. March-8. April, 1938. Fig. 50. Lactafius lactarius (BJ. Schn.). (After Day, 1878). Notes: The species was taken.f^y in the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormiiig^nd (one specimen, St. j;,2fe) in the utmost part of the Iranian Gulf. ' H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay .\rchipelago, Queensland, Philippines, China. . * Fam .: Carangidae Megalasffis cordyla^{L.) ScondttT cordfla Linn^, 1758, p. 3 98.'(H abitat in America). Scomber Rottleri Bloch, V II, 1793, p. 88. (Malayan area). Caranx Rottleri Bloch. Day, 1878, p. a 13. . Caranx rottleri Bloch. D a y , 1889, II, p. 150. Megalaspis cordyU (L.). Weber 4 Beaufort, V I, 1931, p. 193. * Principafl characteristics: Comparatively slender fcMrn. Lateral line anteriorly arched, its straight posterior portion with about 56 armed scutes in its entire length, forming a lateral caudal keel. Soft Fig. 51. MegaUtpit cotdyla (L,). XAfter Weber & Beaufort, 1931). Blegvad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 93 ------j ^ dorsal and anal of equal length, none of them scaly; several finlets behind both of these fins. Dorsal and anal spines'present Pectofals long, falcate. Preoperculum entire. Teeth in jaws minute, in'M single mw. D. 6-8 | 1/9-11 + 8-10 finlets. A. 2 ] 1/8-9 =4" 8-10 finlets. Colour: greenisk>on back, silvery with a yellow tint bn abdomen and sides. A black spot on upper, hind part of operculum. Fins yellow', Di with a black edge. Upper halves of pectorals darker than lower. Materialbroughthome; ^ No. I : St. J33. Off Jabrin, I 3-4-1938- ('79 m m ) . * Notes: Only this specimen w ^ observed. H a b .: From east coast of Africa, Red Sea and tranian Gulf to Formosa, Hawaii and Queensland. ‘ Decapterus russellii (Riipp.) Kuna Wodagahwah Russell, 1803, ^g. 139. Caranx Rusiellii Riippell, 1828, p . 99. (Coromandel coast). Caranx kurra G unther, II, i860, p.-427. (Sea of Bauvia). , Caranx kurra C u v. & Val. Day, 1878,'p. 214; 1889, II, p. 151. Decapterus russellii (Riipp.), Webe'r & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 196. Decapterus russellii (Ruppell). Normkn, 1935, p. 358. \ Fig. 53. Decapterus russellii (R iipp.). (Afte^ Weber & Beaufort, 1931). Principal characteristics: Elongate, not much com pressed, dorsal and ventral profile equal. About 34 afmed scutes. One finlet behind soft dorsal and anal. D. 8 J 1/28-30 + fmlet. A. 2 1 1/25-27 + finlet. Teeth on vomer in two anterior'j)atches; those on tongue reduced. Colour greeny-bluc above, silvery on sides, A dark spot on operculum. Material brought home: , No. I : S t 8. S. of Bushire, 11.3.1937 (169 mm), f Nc. a-4: St. 84. W.S.W. of Fort Dilan, 4.3.1938. (145, >45, *54 nun). ’ No. 5: St. 110. Strait of Honnux, s.4.1938. (140 mm). No. 6 : St. 117. E.N.E. of Henjam, 6.4.1938. (lai mm). No. 7: St. 134. Near Hatkus, 36.4.1938. (61 + x mm). Caught at station* (numbers in brackets): 4 (25), 5 (so). 8 («7). 93 ( 0 , 28 ( 0 . 38 (i), 84 (3), 117 (10), 134 ( 5)- 1I B"»4 U':* Dates of capture; 4. March-6. April, 1937; 4. March-a6. April, 1938. H a b .: From the east coast of Africa, the Red Sea and the Iranian Gulf to Japan, the Philippines and Australia. it ♦ • >A>ii Atropus atropos (B l. Schn.) Brama atropos Schneidej. Bloch, 1801, p. 98. (Tranquebar). Caranx atropus B 1. Schn. D a y , 1878, p. S2i ; i88g, II, p. 162. Atropus atropus (Bl. Schn.). Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. ao2. Native n a m e s: |Barak, Taleh (Lingeh). Fig. 53. Atropus atropos (Bl. n.). (.After Weber & Beaufort, 1931). Principal characteristics: Ovate, high and very com pressed, silver)' fish with deep-black vcntrals. 2. d o i^ and caudal faintly yellowish. In some specimens from the Iranian Gulf about 10 of the middle rays of D, greatly prolonged. Back bluish-green. Abdomen with a deep median groove, containing vent and detached anal spines and receiving ventrals. The naked area of the breast extending to base of pcctorals and beyond base of ventrals. Lateral line .strongly arched. D. 8 | 1/21-23. A. 2 I 1/18-19. . Material brought home: No. I . St. ai. N. of Kharg, 33.3.1937. (*04 mm). No. 2 : St. 99. E. of Jask, 30.3.1938. (182 mm). Caught at tta^iont (numben in brackets); 9> («), 36 (O/37 (a), 38 (10), 43 (4), 44 (3). 59 (7). 99 («), toB (1). tog (6), ■ 20b (1). Datei of capture: 23. M arch-ai. .\pril, 1937; 30, Marcb-8. April, 1938. Notes; The species was caught all over the area, but it was not very common. ■- B l e g v a d : Fishes of the Iranian G u lf* * 95 H a b .: Northern Indian Ocfean, Malay Archipelago and beyond to Samoa, China and Formosa. Caranx crumenophlhalmus*{B\.) , Scomber crumenopkthalmus Bloch, V II, 1793, p. 77, pi. 343. (Acara, coast of Africa). . . Caranx crumenophthalmus Bloch. Day, 1878, p. 217; 1889, II, p. 156. Caranx (Selar) crumenophthalmus «. B » a u f o r t, V'l, 1931, p. 210. Principal characteristics: Elongate form. Eye less than thrice in head, with a broad posteri^ and a narrow anterior eyelid. Upper border of operculum with a rounded incision. Anterior portion of lateral line nearly straight. 33 keeled scutes. The dorsals just reach anus. D. 8 I 1/24-26. A. 2 I 1/21-22. Colour: Silvery with a golden tinge beneath. Mostly with a spot on operculum. Material brought home; No. I : St. 36. Near Ayanat, 5.4.1937. (167 mm). Notes: Only this specimen was observed. Hab.: Indian Ocean, Malay .\rchipelaj ■ ■ l)c\ond to China, Japan, Solomon Islands and New Hebrides. Caranx djedaba ^tt)rssk.) fr Scomber djedaba ForsskJl, 1775, p. 56. (Red Sea). Caranx Djeddaba (Forsk.). Day, 1878, p. 218. Caranx djedaba (Forsk.). Day, 1889, II, p. 158. Caranx (Selar) djedaba (Forsk.). W 4ft e r & Beaufort, \ I. 1931, p. 214. N a t Barak. Principal characteristics: Silvery fish with bluish back. Caudal of an intense yellow. The othdr fins hyaline; only the hind part of Dj has a yellow tint. Eye 3.5 in head. Opercular border entire. Black spot on operculum, maxillary terminating below first third of eye. About 50 scutcs (our specimens had fewer), the broadest about 6 times in height. Front part of lateral line to first-third soft dorsal ray greatly arched; the straight part a little more than twice as long as arched one. D. 8 | 1/22-25, A. j I 19-JO. Matel^'ial brought hom< No. i-a: St 10. S. of Bushin, ...j. i • • ! I I Total Height of ' Length of ! Height o f^ Ditmeter Stutes length body head head i * of ere No. j I 72 niin I iiiin 47 mm .35 Tnm 32 mm 10 mm 46 No, 2 >35 27 » 8 „ 45 [Forssk. 975 ■ 52 .. 12 abt. 50] Fig. 54. Caranx dMaba (Forsslc.). (After Day, 1878). Notts: Specimens r^erred witb certainty to this species were taken only at St. 10, where 7 specimens were noted down, but in all probability more were caught. During the cruise no distinction was made between this and the following form, which are closely related. A specimen of 275 mm in length in the “fish-herbarium” at the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen, termed Scomber djedaba has D. ? ) 1/23. The rays of the anal could not be counted. The available aapasurements are given above under the desigi^ V. Caranx kalla C u v. V a 1. Caranx kalla Cuvier ^ Valencienncs, IX, 1833, p. 49. (Pondichtrry). Caranx kalla C u v. & ^ a I. Day, 1878, p. S19; 1889, II, p. 160. Caranx (Selar) kalla C. V. Weber & Beaufort, V I, 1931, p. 216. Native name: Barak. Principal characteristics: Much like previous species. Anterior part of lateral line less curved than in C. djedaba; the curved part terminates below 4.-6. dorsal ray. About 40 scutes, the broadest of w 6-7 times in height of trunk. Ventral profile more convex than dorsal. Colour like that of previous species. The black spot on opcrculum streches behind the Head to about the foremost end of the curved part of the lateral line. Material brought home: No. i-a: St. 114. Clarence Strait, 4.4.1938. No. 3-5: St. 133. O ff Jabrin, 13.4.1938. Length o f 1 T ocil H eig h t o f Length o f H e ig h t o f D iim e ie t body wi«h- Scutei le n stb om c to d d ! b o d r head b««d o f eye N o . I . 134 r a f c 109 m m 43 r a m 30 m m 33 m m 10 m m 40 « 2. »33 « 110 „ 43 « »9 M 34 « 10 „ 39 » 3-»3« 108 „ 42 « 28 „ 33 >. 10 „ 37 » 4- «25 » 98 „ 4> » 25 » 31 » 9 . 36 » 5- IS O „ 97 « 40 » 25 25 » 9 » 33 Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): I I (14), 19a (13), 19b (19), 44 (i), 46 (3), 47 (abt. 90), 48 (5), 55 ( 0 , 59 (8), 114 (3). 133 (30)- Dates of capture: ii. March-ia. April, 1937; 4.-13. April, 1938. Notes: Some of the catches mentioned above must be classed as Caranx djedaba. Howevc|^ it is questionable whether the 2 forms are different in species; ju(^|pg measurements given above the numbers of scutes and the ratio bed|iMb>'e diameter and length of head seem to increase with the total len gth y H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipo^o and beyond to China, Philippines, Queensland, Solomon and Sandwfch Islands. Caranx aurogultalus C u v. V a 1. Caranx auroguttatus, Ehrenb. Cuvier & Valenciennes, IX, 1833, p. 71. (Red Sea). Caranx (Carangoides) auroguttntu ~ C V. Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, P- 225. Native names; Barak, 1^a»h. ^ 9 *- Principal characteristics; Oblong form. Breast laterally scaled; scales conspicuous. Anterior part of lateral line flatly arched, 15-20 feeble scutes. Anterior rays of soft dorsal and anal not elevat^ into a lobe. D. 7-8 1 1/25, A. 2 1 1/22. Colour: greeny-blue above, siltery on sides, which are sown with small, yellow spots; ndpopercular spot. Spinous dorsal dusky, other fins greyish or yellowish. Material brought home; No. I ; St 7ta. Near Kharg, 31.1.1938. (253 mm, 19 scutes). Notes: The fish was taken only this once. Hab.: Red Sea, Iranian Gulf, M^lay Archipelago. Caranx armatus (Forssk.) Sciana armatus Forisk&l, 1775, p. 53. (Red Sea). Caranx armatus (Forik.). Day, 1878, p. 223; 1889, II, p. 165. Caranx (Carangoides) armatus (Forsk.). Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, P 233. Native name: Kash (Jask). Principal characteristics: Rather high and compressed form. Anterior rays of soft dorsal and anal elevated into a falciform lobe. D. 7 I 1/20, A. 2 I 1/17. Naked area of breast surpassing base of pectoral and ventral. Cleft of mouth commences opposite lower bArder of eye. Arched part of lateral line ^ longer than posterior part. Caranx malabaricus (B l. Schn.) Scomber malabaricus Schneider. Bloch, 1801, p. 31. (Tranquebar). Caranx malabaricus (Bl. Schn.). Day, 1878, p. 221; i888, p. 789; 1889, II, p. 163. . Caranx (Carangoides) malabaricus (Bl. Sch). Weber & Beaufort, VI, 193'. P- 237. Native names; Barak, Djash (Lingeh), Karteh (Bender .Abbas), Saoul (Hormuz). Principal characteristics: Compressed, silvery' fish. An terior dorsal and anal rays forming only a moderate, falciform lobe. D. 8 I 1/22, A. 2 I 1/18. Naked area of breast surpas.sing ba5e of pectoral and ventral. Cleft of mouth commences below level of eye. Eye about 4 in head, its distance from end of snout much less than twice its diameter. Colour; bluish above, silvers below. Posterior half and upper edge of opercle usually stained with dark. Dorsal usually with a dark margin, fins otherwise light or pale yellow. Material brought home: No. i: St. 25. .\. of Kharg, 24.3.1937. (190 mm). Xo. 2-3: St. 74. S. of Ras-el-Mutaf, 9.2.1938. (149. 139 mm). No. 4: St. 95. Jask,-29.3.1938. {175 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 2 (2), 4 (3), 6 (2), 10 (30), II (30), 12 (30), 14 (25), 17a (i), 19 (23), 21 (0, 22 {4), 24 (7). 25 (50), 26 (i), 27 (149), 31a {14), 31b (1), 33 (30), 34 (22), 35 (120), 36 fabt. 500), 37 ('25), 38 (8), 45 (100), 50 (2), .52 (6), 53 (4). 54 (16), 56 {250!, 57 U 9). 58 (50). 7'a (14). 74 (9), 75 (2), {4), 77 (>'5), 85 {3), 89 (8), 92 (3J, 93 (3), 95 (2), 98 (i), 99 (20), 100 (|6K 108 (15), 109 (no), '■0 (135), >2oc fi2). 121 (40), 122 (3), 125 (1), 127 (2), 130 (3), 133 (55). Dates of capture; I . March-22, .\pril, 1937; 31. Januar>-I3. .April, 1938. Notes; The species was vcr\ common in the whole area, but was not u.'ied very much, probably on account of its small size and many bones. In the Gulf it hardly attains a length of more than 30 cm. The specimen from St. 17a contained small fish. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond to China, Japan and Australia. Caranx chrysophrys C u v. & V a 1. Caranx chrysophrys Cuvier & Valcnciennes, IX, 1833, p. 77 (Sey chelles). Caranx nigrescent Day. Day, 1878, p. 223; 1889, II, p. 164. Caranx (Carangoides) chrysophrys C. V. W»ber & Beaufort, V'l, 1931, P- 239- Native names: Kash, Salosol, Djalah. ^ Principal charactcri.sties; Oblong form. Cleft of mouth commences con.spicuously below le\el of eye. Eye 5 in head, its distance from end of snout about twicc its diameter. Naked area of breast sur passing base of pectoral and of ventral. D. 8 | 1/19, A. 2 t i/i6. Colour; bluish-grey abo\e, silvery on sides. Fins dark. Material brought home; No. i : S t S7- S.W. of B iu U a u , 6.4.1937. (365 m m ). Caught at stations: 37 (I ), 45 (4)> 96 (1 ). n Dates of capture: 6.-10. .\pril, 1937; 29. March, 1938. Notes; The specics was not taken frequently by us. Undoubtedly, it attains a rather considerable size in the Gulf. It is used as a food fish. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay .Archipelago, China, Formosa, Queens land. Caranx leptolepis C u v. V' a I. Caranx leptolepis Cuvier & N'alencienncs, IX, 1833, p. 63. (Java). Caranx leptolepis C. u v. & a 1. Day. 187B, p. 225; 1889, II. p. 167. Caranx (Selaroides) leptolepis C. V. Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931. p. 262. P r i n < i p a 1 c li a r a ( t e r i s t i c s ; Oblong fish with a distinct yellow, longitudinal hand along the side. .Anterior part of lateral line slightly arched, becoming straight below tenth dorsal ra\. L'ppcr jaw not toothed. .\ single series of minute teeth on lower jaw. Colour; greyish- blue abo\ e, sih ery on side.s as mentioned with a brosd. golden streak from the eye region to the base of the caudal. .\n intcn.se black spot on the operculum. Fins faintly yellow. M aterial 1) r o u « h t home: No. i: St. 22. S.S.W. of Kuh-i-Bang, 23.3.1937. (121 mm). No. 2: St 73. S. of Daiyir, Q.i 1938. (143 mm'i. Cau.ght at stations (niinihers in brackets'): 22 ( n , 3, 77 (>too), 117 (30), 127 (i). Dates of capture; 23. Marrh-5. .April, 1937; 9. Februar;-io. .\pril, 1938. V # H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, China, Philip pines, Queensland. Caranx spec 1 u r s s k.) Scomber rim, speciosui Forsskal, 1775, p. 54, (Red Sea). Caranx speciosus (Forsk.). Day, 1878, p. 226; 1B89, II, p. 168. Caranx (Gnathanodon) speciosus (For = ^' 'V«ber & Beaufort, V’l, 1931, p. 264. Native n a m e ijeKash, Zardeh (Bushire). Principal Tn aracteristics: Rather large-headed from with comparatively short fins. No teeth. Tongue rough by minute denticulation. Lower jaw slightly shorter than upper. Anterior part of lateral line moderately curved, slightly longer than straight part. D. 8 | 1/18, A. 2 I i/i6. Caudal forked. Colour: dark on back; sides silvery with a^olden tinge and with some dark vertical bands. Fins yellowish, caudal with dark tips. • No material brought home. Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 33 ('), 54 (0 , 56 (4), 71a (0 . Dates of capture: 31. March-ai. April, 1937; 31 January, 1938. Notes: Said to become nearly i m long; the specimens caught were all comparatively big fish. The specimen from St. 71a weighed 4J/2 kg; that from St. 33 was 70 cm lone and had i Aemipterus and I Penaeus in its stomach. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond to Formosa, Philippines, Hawaiian and Fiji Island' — ' Scyond to Panama. Alectis indica '^Riipp.; .-V, ...... KupT>ell, 1828, p. 128. (Red Sea). Caranx gallus (Linn.). Day, 1878, p. 334; 1889, II Alectis indica (Rupp.). Weber & Beaufort, V i, 19J1, p. ayi. Native name: Shrink (the name propcrtv .ipcli's to Drepane and Ephippu P r i n c i p a 1 c h and greatly com pressed, nearly rhombic. Anterior dorsal and anal rays greatly produced equalling length of body. Dorsal spines rudimentary. Scales not apparent embedded in the skin. Depth of preorbital nearly twice with the dinrnrtc of the eye. Colour: silvery, the elongated soft rays dark. Material brought homo: No. i: St. 9. S. of Busnire, 11.3.1937. (99 mm). No. a ; Bushire Roads fsuke-net), 24.1.1938. (13, ■' 14.1938. (145 mm). Blegvad: F i s h ei oi^the Irdnicfti Gulf lO I Fig. 55. Alectif tndUa (R u p p .). (After Day, 1878). • I * Caught at stations (numbers in brackets) : v 9 (I), «> ('). 34«(»). 57 (O . loo (J). 108 ( 0 . i*«>a (4), laa (1), 1^3 (i).^ Suke-net: Jan. 34. (j). Dates 9f capture: il. March-aa. April, 1937; a4. January-13. April, 1938. Notes: Captured sparsely and in small numbers all over the area. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond to China, Foianosa, Sandwich, Society and Hawaiian Islands. Chorinemus lysan ( F o r s s k.) Scomb*T lysan ForsikSI, 1775, pp. X II, 54. (Red Sea). Chorinemus lysan (Forsk.). Day, 1878, p. *31; 1889, II, p. 175. Chorinemus lysan (Forsk.). Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. ayy. Native names: Zardeh (Bushire), Sarm (Bender Abbas), Bozar (Lingeh). Pri^^ipal characteris1»irs: Slender, elliptical fish with > • rather smBi fins. D , 7 free spines. Lateral line without scutes. The last 8-10 rays of soft dorsal and anal semi-detached, fmlet-like. Scales small, Pou! H, Winther del. Fig. 56. Cfcon'fiffnui lysan (Forssk.). No. 3, 259 mm. (Origin). lanceolate. Snout blunt, nearly equal tp eye. Maxillary surpassing hind border of eye. Colour: back dark, sides.^|!rery'. A row of 6-8 dark blotches along and above the lateral line. In the'^vhjg fish these blotches are often indistinct. M aterial brought home: No. i: St. 12. Off Bushire, 12.3.1937. (147 ram). No. a: Bushire Roads (stake-net), 23.1.1938. (240 mm). ^ No. 3* Bushire Roads (stake-net), 24.1.1938. (259 mm). No. 4: St. 112. Near Hormuz, 3.4.1938. (loi mm). Caught at sta;jions (numbers in brackets'): ■a (i), 65 (i), 13 (i), 77 (70), 98 (i), 99 (i), 112 (25), 113 (2), 114 (2), laoa (i)-—Stake-net: Jan. 23. (1), 24. (1), ag. (5); Feb. 2. (i), 14. (i)- ates of capture: la. March, 1937; 23. January-8. April, 1938. ^ Notes: Caught all over the area. Was also observed in the bazaars, though in no large numbers.— In F o r s s k a I’s collection is found a 270 mm long individual of this species corresponding in appearance to our animals. Hab.; Indian Ocean; Malay Archipelago to I’hilippincs ami Queensland. Chorinemus sancti-petri C y v . V a l. Chorinemus Sancii Petri Cuvier & V a I e n c i e n n e I, V llI, 1831, p. 379. (Malabar coast). Chorinemus sancti petrx ( b a r & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 280. Native name; Sec Principal characteristics: Habitus much like previous species, but snout pointed and a little longer than eye. Scales lanceolate, pointed in their exjDosed part. Colour: Bluish on back, silvery beneath. Some small, black blotches on the sides. Soft dorsal with a black blotch anteriorly. „Materi;il hr ought home; No. Near Hormuz, 3.4.193?! Notes: Nothing definitely can be said about the frequency of the species in the Gulf, W'e did not distinguish between the species of the genus. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond to Japan, Hawaiian, Saitioa and Fiji Islands. Trachinntw: haillonii , Casimorus Baillonii L » r So lorality' Trachinotus BaillonU ^ ' ;i. (Madagascar). ’ Some of the ipecnnens mentioned probably beloni.' During th'- " —------' '' ' ' ' ' Trachinotus Baillonii (L a c 6 p.)-,D a y. 1878, p. 433. Trachinotus baillonii (L a c 4 p.). a y, 1889, II, p. 178. f Trachinotus baillonii (L ac.). r & Bekufort, V I, 1931, p. 288. Principal c h a r a i c s: Comjil’essed form. Height more than twicc in length. Scales small and rounded. Snout blunt. Soft dorsal and anal falcate. No finlets. Ventrals comparatively short.Colour: Upper m Fig, sjrT rachinotus baillonii (Lac6p.). (After Day, 1878). side yellowish-green, lighter on sides, silvery beneath. 3-6 distinct black .spots along the lateral line. Produced part of the dorsal and the caudal dark; fins otherwise hyaline. . Material brought home; No. i; Larak, 5.4.1938. (203 mm). Notes; The species was caught only at this place in 4 specimens. VVe used a Prawn 'trawl fitted up in a similar way as the shore seine of the native fishermen. H a b .; Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond to Japan, Samoa Islands, Society Islands and Marquesas Islands. 1% Maucrates ductor (L.) - Gasttrosteus ductor Linnaeus, 1758, p. 895. ( “Habitat in Pelago, Satelles Squali"). Maucratts ductor ( L in n . ) . D a y , 1878, p. 229; 1889, II, p. 172. Naucratts ductor (L.). Weber i Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 300. Fig. 58. yaucratei ductor (L.). (After Day, 1878). IV Principal characteristics: Torpedo-shaped fish with % . large, blunt head. Distinct keels on the sides of caudal peduncle. Fins •1 , rather smaD. Anal much shorter than soft dorsal, 3 (4-5) free dorsal fi' I ■ spines. Colour: Bluish-grey, 5-6 dark vertical bands on trunk. Caudal dark with light points. ' ' Material brought home; No. r: St. a8. Nearly midway between Bahrein and Ras-el-Mutaf, 27.3.1937. (335 n>m7- Caught at stations: 28 ( i) , 51 (i). * > Oatesof capture: 37. March-17. April, 1937. Notes: The species was caught nowhere else by us. • H a b .: Tropical and sub-tropical parts of the oceans. Fam.: M e n i d a e Mene maculata (Bl. Schn.) Z*us maculatus Schneider, Bloch, 1801, p. 95. (Tranquebar). Men* maculata (Bl. Schn.). Day, 1878, p. 95; 1889, II, p. 30i. Mene maculata (Bl. Schn.). Weber & Beaufort, V I, 1931, p. 309. Principal characteristics: Trunk triangular-disciform“ very compressed. Mouth small, vertical. Anal much longer than dorsal, spines absent. First ventral ray compressed and much produced. Colour: Bluish on back, silvery on sides and abdomen. 2-3 rows of black spots along the lateral line. Fig. 59. Mene maculata (Bl. Schn.). (After Day, 1878). i I Material brought home: No. i: St. 12. Off Bushirc, 12.3.1937. (127 mm). ' No. 2: St. 56. W. of Jask, 21.4.1937. (132 ram). No. 3: St. 74. S. of Ras-el-Mutaf. (i2o mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 12 ( 0 , 37 (27), 56 (0 , 74 (l)- Dates of capture; la. March-ai. April, 1937; 9. February, 1938. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Japan, Chinii, Philip pines, Queensland. Fam .: Lutjanidae Lutjanus ehrenbergi (Peters) PI. IV, Figure i. Mesoprion Ehrenbergi Peters, 1869, p. 704. (Red Sea). Diacope Ehrenbergi Pet. Klunzinger, 1870, p. 701. Lutjanus oligolepis B 1 k r. Bleeker, V III, 1876-77, p. 48. lMtjanu4 ehrenbergi (Peters). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 242. Principal characteristics; Oblong shape. L.lat. 6 l.ii. 1. Height 3.5 in Irntrth. Head 3.2 in length. Fins of moderate size. '4 Series of scales parallel to lateral line. D. 10/14, A- 3 /9 (2- and 3. spine of equal size). P. 15, V. 1/5. Caudal cut almost square. Eye 5 in length of head, i .6 in snout. Maxillary reaching to below front border of pupil. Scales beginning behind eye, temporal region naked. 5-6 transverse rows of scales on preoperculum. Colour: All scales on the upper half of the back with a stain, so that the fish seems to be longitudinally striped. On the back the stains are of a dark reddish-brown, growing lighter below the lateral line and showing a light 'reddish-yellow colour towards the abdomen. A larger, faintly visible dark spot about the lateral line undei^ the .soft dorsal (it is easily overlooked in the living specimens). The head I .1 light reddish-yellow colour, the unpaired fins reddish-yellow, paired fins light ycilow. Material brought home: No. I : St. 100. Gulf of Oman, 30.3.1938. (410 mm). Caught *t nations (numbers in brackets) ; 57 (9). •<» (a)- Dates of c a p 111 \pril, 1937 ; 30. March, 1938. \ . li'hed 52 kg. As mentioned abo\ e the black spot on the side was not very distinct, particularly not when compared with B 1 e e k e r’s figure (I.e.). The reference of the individuals to this ^^(unrwhat doubtful because the figures of fin rays and scales given by Weber «& Beaufort (I.e.) are somewhat different: 6 D. 10/13, 3/^> P- V. 1/5; L.lat. 48, L.tr. 1 . However, K 1 u n- 16 z i n g e r’s figure of his Mesoprion Ehrenbergi (1884, pi. 2, fig. 6) is more like the present species though it is stated to have 4-5 golden, longitudinal streaks, which are rath^ broad in the figure; possibly, how ever, Klunzinger describes \oung fish while those caught by us in the Gulf were adult specimens. H a b .: East coast of .\frica, Red Sea and eastwards to the Malay Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. Lutjanus johnii (B l.) Anthias johnii Bloch, V'l, 1792, p. 117. (Surat, Arabian Sea). Lutjanus Johnii (Bloch). Day, 1878, p. 42. , , . Lutjanus johnii (Bloch). Day, 1889, I, p. 476. Lutjanus johnii (Bl,)- Weber & Beaufort, V'll, 1936, p. 244. Native name; .^gal (Kangun). Principal characteristics: Pectorals shorter than head. D. 10/14, A- 3/8, 2nd anal spine rather strong. P. 15, V. 1/5. Longitudinal 6 rows of scales above lateral line parallel to it. L.lat. about 50, L.tr. 1 ij Temporal region scaly. 7 rows of scales on preoperculum. Colour: brown ish-yellow, lighter on the abdomen, in the middle of the trunk 7 narrow, yellow, longitudinal streaks. A large, dark spot between about 21. and 3 1. scale of the lateral line. A dark line is present along each row of scales. Fins yellowish. Material brought home: No. I : St. 112. Near Hormuz, 3.4.1938. (137 mm). Notes: Only this specimen was obscr\ed. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, China, Philippines, Pacific Islands to Tahiti. In sea and brackish water. Lutjanus tineolatus (R iip p .) Diacope lineolata R u p p c 1 1, 1828, p. 76. (Red Sea). Lutjanus lineolatus (Rupp). Day, 1878, p. 35; 1889, I, p. 469. Lutjanus lineolatus (Riipp). Weber & Beaufort, V'l I, 1936, p. 253. Principal characteristics; Rather slender form. Height 4.1 in length. 11 dorsal spines. 5 rows of scales between lateral line and median dorsal spine.*!. Longitudinal rows of scales above lateral line obli quely ascending to dorsal profile. Lower preopercular limb scaly. Pre- opercular notch slightly developed. Vomerine teeth in a triangular patch with a backward elongation. Colour; Reddish-\e!low on back, of a purer yellow on sides. Upper third of trunk with yeilow, oblique streaks. Lower % with alternating pink and yellow longitudinal streaks. Fins yellow. Material brought home: No. 1-3: St. 117. S. of Quishm, 6.4.1938. (149, 135, 117 mm). Notes; 150 specimens showing no great variations in size were caught at Station 117, but the .species was not taken at other stations. H a b .; Indian Ocean, Malay .\rchipelago, Philippines, Formosa. Lutjanus gibbus (F o r s s k.) PI. IV’, Figure 2. Scitena gibba F o r s s k a 1, 1775, p. 46. (Red Sea). Lutjanus gibbus (Forsk.). Day, 1878, p. 43; 1889, I, p. 477. Lutjanus gibbus (Forsk.). Weber & Beaufort, V ll, 1936, p. 263. Principal racteristics: High-backed, rather plump form. L.lat. > 50. L.tr. Anterior part of head and temporal region naked. Scales b^inning behind eye. 6 transverse rows of scales on oper culum. Preoperciilar notch \ery deep and narrow, receiving the large interopercular knob. Maxillar%- reaching to below front border of eye. Rather thick lips. D. 10/15-16, .A. 3 9 s ist anal spine Ics-s than half the length of .sccond). \ ’. 1/5, P. 16. Colour of trunk and head reddish- grey. .Ml scales with a light blue stain. Spiny dorsal orange. The other fins more greyish. M a t <• r i a 1 brought home: .\o. I : St, 95. Jask. 29.3.1938. (550 nim, 2 kgl. Notes; Only this specimen was caught; it is seen in Plate IV^ The structure of the fish corresponds to the description in Weber & Beaufort I.e.:. .M.^o the description of colour is acceptable. The fish pictured in D a v 1878, pi. 13. fig. 2) has rather thick lips like our specimen ; al.'^o the not( h in the hind border of preopcrculum for the intcroperiular knob is distinct. Forsskal (I.e.) states that the scales of his ScicEua gibba have a white stain at the point, a character not ob.ser\ed in our animal. H a b .; Indian Ocean, Malay .Archipelago, Philippines, Queen.>;land. Lutjanus coci'incus (Cuv. \'al.) PI. V. Diacope cocrinea E h r e n b Cuvier & V a 1 e n c i e n n e II, 1828. p. 437. (Arabian Sea). Diacope corcinca R il p p e 11, 1828. p. 75, (Red Seal. Id. 1835, p. 91 : pi. 23, fig. 2. Native name: Sorkhov. Principal characteristics: Big, deep-red perch-fish. Profile of head straight or slightly concave. Vomerine teeth in a A. Seales on the head begin in front of eye. Longitudinal rows of scales above lateral line obliquely ascending to dorsal profile, those in front of spinous dorsal parallel to lateral line; 7 scales between lateral line and median dorsal spines; below lateral line about 22 scales. L.tr. about 65, L.lat. about 55. D. 10-11/13-14, A. 3/9, C. 17, P. 16, V. 1/5. Colour: Brilliant red, un stained, a little lighter beneath. Material brought home; No. 1 : St. 26, N. of Kharg, 24.3.1937. (342 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 3b ( 0 , 7a ( 0 , 17a (i), 17b (3 ), 17c (2), 21 (8), 23 (i), 24 (i), 96 (la), 31a (i), 69a (2), 71a (6), 72 (2), 95 (i), 134 (i), 136 (i). Dates of capture: 4.-30. March, 1937; 30. January-27. April, 1938. Notes: Hardl) any of the specimens m en^ned above weighed less han %-i kg; most of them were larger; the largest fish tried separately weighed 7*/. kg. 21 specimens from various stations weighed 80 kg, an average of barely 4 kg. The conspicuous appearance of the animal is sure to attract attention, but is was not ver\ common, except in the area round the island of Kharg. S. of Lat. 29'N. and Long. 5 0 'E. the species was caught only in 2 localities, i medium-sized specimen (2/2 kg) in each (St.s 31a and 95;. The specimcas from St.s 17a and 21 contained fish, Prawns and Crabs. It is a very tasty fish. Beyond doubt, the fish mentioned and depictured by R ii p p e 1 I.e.) is the Sorkhov of the Iranian Gulf. Weber & Beaufort mention ‘"Diacope coccinea C u v. Val.” as a synonym of "Scicena gibba F o r s s k.” In view of the unquestionable likeness between the present species and R ii p p e 11 ’s figure, howe\ er, the former name has been chosen. The description given by Cuvier & Valenciennes (I.e.) is also comparatively exact. This .spccies is hardly identical with the previous one. . H a b .: Red Sea, .\rabian Sea, Iranian Gulf. Lutjanus sanguineus (Cuv. & Val.) PI. IV, Figure 3. Diacope sanguined Ehrenb. Cuvier & Valenciennes, II, 18a8, p. 437. (Arabian Sea). Lutjanus erythropterus B 1. Day, 1878, p. 3a. Lutjanui annularis C u & Val. Day, 1889, I, p. 466. Lutjanus sanguineus (C. V,). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 265. Principal characteristics: Small, rather high-backcd form. Longitudinal row of scales above lateral line obliquely ascending to dorsal profile, those in front of and below anterior part of spinous dorsal sometimes parallel to lateral line. Longitudinal rows of scales be low lateral line ascending. L.lat. 50-55. L.tr.^Y;^,- Scales on head begin ning above hind border of eye. D. 11/14., A. 3/9, C. 17, P. 16, V. 1/5. Colour: Crimson. A broad, blackish band from eye to first dorsal; a black transverse band above the free portion of the tail. Pectorals pink. Ventrals and anal dark, dorsal and caudal reddish, the former with a black edge. Material brought home; No. i: St. 98. Jask, 29.3.1938. (143 mnti). No. 2: St. 99. O ff Ras Jagin, 30.3.1938. (148 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 98 ('), 99 (5), ( 0 , 121 (i). Dates of capture: 29. March-8, .\pril, 1938. Notes: The fish was caught only now and then, and the specnnens taken were always comparatively small. Perhaps it is just possible that they are young stages of L. coccineus. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China and Japan. ? Lutjanus janthinuropterus (Blkr.) Mesopiion janlhin:tToptfTus B I c e k e r, 1852, p. 731. (Celebes). Lutjanus lineatus B 1 e e k e r, V III, 1876-77, p. 69. (East Indian .\rchipelago). Lutjanus janthinuropterus (Blkr.). Weber & Beaufort, VII, 1936, p. 281. Native name: Engez. Principal characteristics: Cp. below- under notes. No material brought home. Caught at stations (numbers in brackets); 7b (i), 17a (0, 17c (i), 18b (2), 71a (5), 71b (i), 78b (2). Dates of capture; 6.-15. March, 1937; 31. January-5. March, 1938. Poul H. Winther del. Fig. 60. Engex (Lutjanus janthinuropttrus (Blkr.) ?). From a drawing by H. Blegvad. Notes: It cannot be said with certainty whether the fish belongs to this species because no material was brought home. However, it is easily recognized with its unforni pink colour, its slanting forehead and its forked tail. D. in two different specimens 12/10 and 10/10. All .speci mens caught were big animals, 8 of them weighing 24 kg, the largest one reaching 4 kg. The species was only caught in the inner part of the Gulf and, with one exception (from St. 17a), all in the immediate \icintity of the island of Kharg. The individual from St. 17a was a with mature milts. The specimens from St. i8b contained 3/4 of fish, 1/4 of crustaceans. Is very tasty and was sold at the bazaars of Bushire. H a b. (of Liiljanus janthinuropterus according to Weber & Beaufort): East coa.st of Africa, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Solomon and Samoa Islands, Queensland. Lutjanus fuli'iflamma (Forssk.) Scicrna julvijlamma Forsskal, 1775, p. 45. (Red Sea). Lutjanus julvijlamma (Forsk.). Day, 1878, p. 41; 1889, I, p. 475. Lutjanus juli'ijlamma (Forsk). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 270. Native name: (Kangun) ,\gal. Principal characteristics: Height 3.6, head 3.3 in length. Eye 3.7 in head. Scalcs on head beginning above hindmost part of eye. Longitudinal rows of scalcs below lateral line parallel to a.xis of body. h L.lat. about 50. L.tr. 1 Vomerine teeth in a triangular patch. D. 10/13, A. 3(8 9 , P. 14, V. 1/5. Colour: Yellowi.'ih, darker on back. A dark spot on the lateral line, mostly below it, opposite the commencement of the soft dorsal. The description agrees with a specimen of 210 mm length in F o r s s k a I's “fish-herbarium.” Material brought home: No. 1: Kangun, 10.2.1938. (136 min). Notes: VVe did not cat( h this fish ourselves. The specimen men tioned above was taken together with some other individuals (10-15 longy in a shore seine by native fishermen and left by them on the shore. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay .Archipelago, China, Formosa, Pacific i.slands to Tahiti, Queensland, New .South Wales. In sea, entering fresh water. Lutjanus russelli (Blkr.) Antika doondiaiiah Russell, 1803, fig. 98, Mesoprion Rusfelli B 1 e e k e r, 1849, p. 41. (Coromandel coast). Mesoprion rusxelli B 1 e e k e r. Day, 1867, p. 701, Lutianus fulviflamma, var. Russellii (Bleeker). Day, 1878, p. 42; 1888, P- 738- Lutjanus russelli (B lk r.). Weber & Beaufort, V'll, 1936, p. 272. Principal characteristics; Height 3.5, head 3.i times in length. Eye 3.3 in length of head. Scales on head beginning behind eye. All rows of scales below lateral line parallel to axis of body. L.lat. 48-50, 6 L.tr. I . Vomerine teeth in a triangular patch. D. 10/14, 3/^? P- abt.15 ■ V. 1/5. Colour; Greenish-brown with 7 more or less distinct, lighter longitudinal streaks. .\ dark spot about the lateral line, mostly above it, below anterior part of soft dorsal. Material brought home; No. 1-2; Rakat-as-Safli, Bushire, 13.2.1938. (94, 81 mm). Notes; Only these two specimens were taken; they were found on a sand bank left dr\- at low tide. A specimen of 95 mm in length, marked Sciaena fulviflamma [Reinhardt ?] is found in Forsskal’s “fish- herbarium” and may perhaps be this species. H a b .: Indian Occan, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Japan, East .Australia. Aprion microlepis (Blkr.) Chaetopterus murolepis Bleeker, 1869. p. 80. (.Aniboina). Aprion microlepis Blkr. Bleeker, VIII, 1876-77, p. 78. Aprion (Pristipomoides) microlepis (Blkr,), Weber & Beaufort, VII, 1936, p. 312. Principal characteristics; Height 3.7, head 3.8 in length without caudal. Eye 3.8 in head. Teeth on vomer and palatines. Pectorals long and pointed, nearly equal to leng:h of head, the posterior rays of D. and A. somewhat produced. D. 12/11, A. 3/10 in the specimen in Fig. 61. Aprion microlepis (Blkr.). (After Bleeker, 1876-77). question. Weber & Beaufort together with earlier investigators state D. lo/i I, A. 3/8. This may seem a great difference, but as all other characters agree with A. microlepis, particularly the habitus, collated with the somewhat produced posterior fin rays of D. and A., the fish has been classed under this designation. Material brought home; No. i: St. 31. Between Bahrein L.V. and Bustanu, 30.3.1937. (170 mm). Notes: The species was taken at this station only; 2 specimens were caught. H a b .: Rather sparse occurrence: Bourbon, Iranian Gulf, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Hawaiian Islands. Fam .: Nemipteridae Nemipterus tolu (Guv. & V a l.) DenUx tolu Cuvier & Valenciennes, VI, 1830, p. 349. (Pondicheiry). Synagris tolu (C u v. & Val.). Day, 1878, p. 91 ; 1889, I, p. 528. Nemipterus tolu (C. V.). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 367. Native names: Goazim, Reeshoo. Principal characteristics; Small, slender form. L.lat. 3‘ '2 about 50, L.tr. i . Three transverse rows of scales on preoperculum. 12 Ganines in upper jaw only. D. 10/9, first and second dorsal spines shorter than the following, membrane between dorsal spines deeply emarginate. A. 3/7, P. 2/14, V. 1/5. Colour: Rosy with four or five yellowish longi tudinal bands along the side. Caudal pinkish. The hyaline dorsal is edged with a reddish-yellow pigment; in the anterior part is seen a double series of blue spots. Anal colourless. Material brought home; No. I ; Female. St. 24. N. of Kharg, 23.3.1937. (157 mm). No. 2-3: Females. St. 84. W.S.W. of Fort Dilam, 4.3.1938. (151, 155 mm). Caught at stations (Numben in brackets'); 24 (?), 45 (»). 84 (?), 89 (l), 91 (i), 103 (i), 106 (?), 117 (15), 134 (i). Dates of capture: 23. March-io. April, 1937; 4. March-a6. April, 1938. Notes: The species was taken scatteringly all over the area, but it was by far not so numerous as the following species. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipclago, Philippines, China, New Caledonia. ' At the stations marked with ? the species was taken together with japonicus, and the latter being by far the most common of the two forms, the total numben of individuals are given below under this species. Nemipterus japonicus (Bl.) Sparus japonicus Bloch, V, 1791, p. n o . (Japan). Synagris japonicus (Bloch). Day, 1878, p. 92; 1888, p. 786; 1889, I, p. 527. Nemipterus japonicus (Bl.). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 369. Native names; Goazim, Rishoo, Kabazaindoo. Fig. 62. Nemipterus japonicus (B l.). (.\fter Day, 1878). Principal characteristics: Slender. Much like previous species, but a little more high-backed. Height of head more than its length without operculum. Height 3.5 in length with caudal. L.lat. about 50, 3 L.tr. I . D. 10/9, membrane between dorsal spines not emarginate. A. 3/7. 11 P. 2/15, V. 1/5. Caudal deeply forked, having a filamentous prolongation of the upper ray; this character is found in both sexes. Colour: Pink, lighter below on sides, yellow on abdomen. Dorsal fin red with a yellow streak along the centrc, more greyish base and pink edge. Caudal pink, prolongation yellow. Material brought ho me; No I : Female. St. 38. Between Bustanu and Sheikh-Shuaib, 6.4.1937. (255, with prolongation of tail 310 mm). No. 2; Female. St. 84. W.S.W. of Fort Dilatn, 4.3.1938. (130, with prolongation of tail 165 mm). No, 3; St. 96. Jask, 29.3.1938. (75 mm). Caught at stations (Numbers in brackets'): 2 (2), 3a (9), 3b (91, 4 (250), 5 (71). 6 (510), II (3), 12 (1), 13 (1), 15a (4). 15b (25), i6a (12), i6b (214), 17b (i), I7d (2), 19a (7), iqb (210), 20a (100), aob (150), 21 (20), 22 (140), 23 (20), 24 (24*), 25 (18), 26 (5), 27 (223), 28 (12), 32 (16), 33 (4), 35 (23), 37 (20), 38 (80), 44 (2), 54 (3), 56 (50), 57 (6), 58 (10), 66 (2), 69a (2), 69b (i), 72 (6), 73 (11), 84 (ioo*K 89 (10), 92 (5), 93 ('), 96 (lo), 97 (5), 98 (10), 100 (5), 104 (6), 105 (17), 106 (8»), 108 (75), 109 (190), no (nj), 120c (3), tai (too), 130 (i), 133 (50), 135 (i), 136 (40). Dates of capture: i. March-22. .April, 1937; 26. January-27. April, 1938. Notes; The catches originate from the whole area of investigation, ' In the catches marked * a number of N. tolu are included in the total figures. where this species was one of the most common fishes. 255 fish from 4 of the stations mentioned weighed about 30 kg, an average of about 120 g. The specimen from St. 12 contained crustaceans. H a b .; Zanzibar, Mauritius, Red Sea, Iranian Gulf, Indian Seas, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China, Japan. Scolopsis personatus (Cuv. & Val.) Scolopsides personatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, V, 1830, p. 344. (Batavia) Scolopsis personatus (C. V.). Sleeker, V III, 1876-77, p. 9. Scolopsis personatus (Cuvier). Fowler, 1931, p. 281. Scolopsis personatus (C. V.). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 333. Native name: Sebeisjoo (Larak). Fig. 63. Scolopfis personatus (Cuv. & V’a l.). (.\ftcr Blecker, 1876-77). Principal characteristics; Rather oblong form, L.lat. 50, L.tr. I . Head pointed. Profile of head straight from nape to snout. Sub- 13 orbital with a distinct .>spinc, directed backvvard.s bciow eye. Scales on head beginning between anterior part of eye.s, at some distance behind nostrils. D. 10/9, P. 17, V. 1/5. dolour ; Brownish-green on back, greenish on sides, lighter on belly. A blue band from the angle of the mouth to the eye and blue markings on the operclcs. A dark brown band runs a lw c the lateral line from eye to the b.ise of caudal; in some .speci mens this band is shorter and confined to the -median part. The dorsal orange-coloured anteriorly, reddish posteriorly and with a vivid red edge; the rest of the fins yellowish or reddi.sh. Material brought home; No. I : St, 30. Near the Bahrein L.V., 27.3.1937. (232 mm). No. 2; Bought at the Bahrein fish market, 19.3.1938. (146 mm). No. 3; St. 87. S.E. of Bahrein L.V., 20.3.1938. (235 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 7a (3), 7b (2). 30 (7), 39 (2)> 87 (i). Dates of capture; 6. March-7. April, 1937; 20. March, 1938. Notes: Of comparatively rare occurrence. In the Iranian fish bazaars it was rarely observed. H a b .; Mauritius, Iranian Gulf, Malay Archipelago, North Australia. Fam.: Leiognathidae Gerres dyena (F o r s s k.) Labrus oytna F o r s s k a 1, 1775, p. 35. (Red Sea), Cerrcs oyena (Forsk). Day, 1878, p. 99: 1889, ], p. 538. Gerres oyena (Forsk.). VVcbcr & Beaufort, \'I, 1931. p. 345. ? Gerres poeli C. \'. (ibd., p. 347). .N'a t i V e names: Bath, Chasherrh (Bushirc), Chaghoo (Bender .Abbas). Principal characteristics: Small, high-backed, rather large-scaled fish. L.lat. about 36. L.tr. i . Mouth very protractile. Distance 10 of dorsal from end of snout longer than height, shorter than dorsal. Pectorals not reaching anal. D. 9/10, A. 37. Colour: SiKcr>. Dorsal fin black-edgcci and a dark spot at each spine and ray at about half their length. Anal and caudal yellowish. 2 specimens of 170 and 190 mm length in Forsskal's collection arc like our animals, but the figure of L.lat. is little higher, about 40-41. Material brought home: No. I : Bushirc-, 5.1.1937. (130 mm). Notes: .Most likely the species was taken at several other places, but as we made no tiistindion between the % arious Grrrcs specics during the cruise, the total luuuber of latdies arc found imder the mention of Gerres punctatus, which was far more common than G. oyena. The 2 species G. oyena (Forssk.' and G. pocti C’. u v. & a 1. are ver\ nuich like each other and aie perhaps identical. .According to Weber & Beaufort (l.c.i the pre.'^ent fisii must, if anything, be cla.s.sed as G. pocti. but D a y il.c.' does not give the same figures for the scales. For G. oyrna and G. pocti. respectively. D a y states L.tr. and Weber & Beaufort i and i . The name oyena is I I lo used here becausc it is older (1775) than pocti (1830I. H a b.: Indian Occan, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Japan. ii6 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran Gerres punctatus C u v. & V a 1. Gtrres punctatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, V I, 1830, p. 480. (Pondi cherry). G em s filamentosus Cuv. & Val. D a y , 1878, p. 98 ; 1889, I, p. 537. Cerres punctatus C. V. Weber & Beaufort, V I, 1931, p. 349. Native names: Bath, Chashereh (Buabire), Chaghoo (Bender Abbas, Jaslc). Fig. 64. Gerres punctatus Cuv. & VaL (.\fter Day, 1878). Principal characteristics: Much like the previous species, but second dorsal spine produced into a filament. Distance of dorsal from end of snout equal to height of body. Pectorals reaching anal. L.lat. about 45, not less. Colour: Silvery, snout black. Blurred, bluish spots on upper half of trunk. Fins greyish-yellow. Material brought home; No. i: St. 3$. Outside Ras-el-Mutaf, 31.3.1937. (iii m m). No. 2; St. 37. S.W. of Bustanu, 6.4.1937. (176 mm). No. 3 : St. 76. O ff Kangun, 9.2.1938. (160 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 33 (a), 37 ( 0 ,4 5 ( 0 , 56 (i),5 8 («»). 75 (s), 7® (s), 77 (1 0 0 ), 78 (5 ), 95 (3 ), 96 (11). 99 (too), 100 (ao), 104 (i), 108 (6), 109 (5 ), 117 (150 ), laoc (ao), lai (3 0 ), m ( 0 , 134 (>oo), 135 (5)- St. 61 (w heel): Dec. aj. (1 ), 3 1 . (1). Jan. i. (a), 2. («). 5- (a).—Stake-net: Jan. 2 3 . (i), 94. (a), a6. (3 ). Dates of capture: 31. March-aa. April, 1937; a j. December, 1937-96. April, 1938. Notes; The catchcs are evenly distributed all over the area. The fish is tasty, but on account of its small size it is of inferior importance as a food fish. Hab.: Indian Ocean, Malay .\rchipelago, Philippines, China, Japan, Queensland. Pentaprion longimanus (Cantor) Equula longimana Cantor, 1849, P ><34 (separate, 1850, p. 15*). (Malay Peninsula and Islands). Pentaprion longimanus (Cantor). Day, 1879. p. lo i ; 1889, I, p. 540. Pentaprion longimanus (Cantor). Weber Si Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 360. Principal characteristics: Small, very compressed, large eyed fish of an oblong-rhomboid shape. Top of head smooth. No nuchal spine. Comparatively large scales. D. 10/15, A. 5/13. Pectorals longer than head, reaching anal. Ventrals not longer than diameter of eye. Colour: Colourless, but with light, thin, silvery scalcs. A silvery streak from the upper edge of operculum to the base of the. caudal fin. Fig. 65. Pentaprion longimanus (Cantor). (After Day, 1878). Material brought h'ome: ^ No. l-a : St. 17. S.W. of Kharg, 14.3.1937. (91, 91 mnj). No. 3: Sl 28. Midway between Bahrein and Ras-el-Mutaf, 27.3.1937. (115 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): ^i7b (a), 17c (5), i7d ( n ) , 27 ( i) , 28 (i), 45 (26). Dates of capture; 14. March-io. April, 1937. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Formosa. In sea and brackish water. ♦ Leiognathus insididtor (Bl.) Zfus insidiator Bloch, 111, 1787, p. 41. (Surat, Arabian Sea). Equula insidiatrix (Bloch). Day, 1878, p. 242; 1889, II, p. 191. Leiognathus insidiator (B l.). Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 316. Principal characteristics; Small, high and compressed form. Ventral profile much more convex than dorsal Height twice in length without caudal. Small-shaped. L.lat. more than 50. Mouth very small, oblique; when fully protracted forming an upwards directed tube, when closed, the mandible ascending nearly venicalUy. No markings c«i head. D. 8/10, A. 3/14. Colour; Silver^-, more bluish on back, whitish on abdomen. 3-4 horizontal rows of dark spots on upper half of trunk. Spinous dorsal tipped with black. Fins otherwise hyaline or slightly yellow. | Material brought home; No. i; St, 75. Off Raj-cI-Mutaf, 9.2.1938. (95 mm). Notes: With certainty the species was taken only in this place, where 4 specimens were caught; it is possibly more frequent. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, China, Philippines, Tahiti. Leiognathus equulus (Forssk.) Scomber equula F o r s s k a 1, 1775, p. 58. (Red Sea). Equula edenlula B 1. Day, 1878, p. 238; 1889, II, p. 186. Leiognathus equulus (Forsk.). Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 322. Native name: Shangoo. Principal characteristics: Rather big, compressed form. Dorsal and ventral profile subequal. Head totally without scales. Scales on breast very thin, diaphanous, giving the breast a naked appearance. Mouth small, horizontal. Mandible strongly concave. Commencement of gape of mouth below lower border of eye. Rostro-occipital profile curved from the truncate snout to the concave interorbital space, followed by a steep, con cave nape. Nuchal spine longer than eye. Second dorsal spine more than twice in height of body. D. 8/16. Colour: Silvery, anal yellow. Some fine, vertical lines from the back down across the upper part of the sides. 2 small individuals of this species are found in F o r s s k a I’s “fish- herbarium.” M aterial brought home: No. I : St. 36. Near .Ayanat, 5.4.1937. (240 mm). No. 2: St. 97. Jask, 29.3.1938. (170 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets) : 36 (0 , 55 (657). 95 (9), 97 (335), 98 (260), 100 (150), 108 (4). Dates of capture: 5.-20. April, 1937; 29. March-2. .April, 1938. Notes: In the very Gulf only one specimen was taken (St. 36). All the heavy catches were made in the Gulf of Oman. About 1,400 fish from Stations 55, 97, 98 and 100 weighed kp. an averae<- <'f Leiognathus daurus (Cuv. Dacer Karah, Russell, 1803, fig. 65. Equuta daura Cuvier, 1829, p. 212. (Coromandel coast). Equuta daura Cuv. Day, 1878, p. 240; 1889, II, p. 188. Leiognathus dauta Cuv. Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 332. Native names: Forrukoo 'Bu’^hirr), K.nl.ir (Bender Abbas), Khash. Principal charai mall, high and very com pressed form. Breast and head without scales. Rostro-dorsal profile ascend ing in n ...... - ' 'f,light line with a slight interorbital concavity and continued with abrupt nuchal elevation in dorsal profile. Snout not truncate. Commencement of gape of mouth opposite lower third of eye. Dorsal profile slightly more convex than ventral. Lateral line ending below or somewhat behind end of dorsal, the last sensory tubes getting obsolete. Second dorsal spine less than half the height of body. D. 8/6, A. 3/15. Colour: Silvery. A darkish, triangular spot between occiput and dorsal fin. Upper half of spinous dorsal (in our animals) with orange spots. Fig. 66. Leiognathus daurus (C u v.). (After Day, 1878). Material brought home; ( No. i-a : Bushire Roads (ttalce-net), 36.1.1938. (97, 66 mm). No. 3-6: St. 133. O ff Jabrin, 13.4.1938. (88, 87, 79, 75 mm). Notes: During the cruise we made no distinction between Leio- gnathus daurus and L. bindus. The total numbers of catches are therefore given under the following species. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Queensland. Leiognathus bindus (Guv. & Val.) Bindoo Katah Ruisell, 1803, fig. 64. Equula C u v i e r & Valenciennes, X, 1835, p. 78. (Coromandel coast). Equula bindus C a v . & Val. Day, 1878, p. 240; 1889, II, p. 189. i Leiognathus bindus (C. V.). Weber & Beaufort, VI, 153'. P- 534- Native names: Forrukoo, Khash. Principal characteristics: Small, high and very com pressed form. Height 2, head 4 in length. Eye nearly 3 in head. Dorsal profile a little less convex than ventral. Rqstro-dorsal profile ascending in ;m almost straight line and continued without strong or abrupt nuchal elevation in dorsal profile. Mouth small, horizontally directed; when folly protracted forming a slightly downward directed tube. Snout not truncate. Commencement of gape of mouth opposite lower third of eye. Head totally without scales, brca.st scaly. Lateral line ending below or somewhat behind Fig. 67. Localities where the species Leiognathus daurus (Cuv.), L. bindus (C u v. & Val.) and L. lineolatus (Cuv. & Val.) were caught. BlacV circles indicate number of specimens taken per '/i h. haul. The smallest circles denote i-io specimens per Yt h. haul, larger circles i i-ao, 21-100, loi-iooo and more than 1000 resp. end of dorsal, the last sensory tubes getting obsolete. Second dorsal spine less than half the height of body. D. 8/t6, A. 3/14. Colour; Silvery, olivaceous with darker spots and mottlings on back. Spinous dorsal with orange spots. No. 1: St. 9. S. of Bushire, 11.3.1937. (116 mm). No. 2-3: St. 17. S.W. of Kharg, 14.3.1937. (89 - f x, 103 m m). No. 4 ; St. 74. Outside Ras-el-Mutaf, 9.2.1938. (101 mm). No. 5-7; St. 104, Chahbar, 31.3.1938. (69, 72, 87 mm). No. 8 - n : St. 133. Off Jabrin, 13.4.1938. (90, 95, 98, loa, 105 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets’): 4 (7O, 5 (55).9 (65), 10 (87), II (116), n U°). 19a (3O, la (10), 33 (400), 34 («3). 35 (500), 36 (1,000), 43 (35), 44 (la), 45 (23), 46 (jo), 47 (243), 48 (lao), 55 (50), 56 (*9o) 57 (100), 58 (300), 59 (90), 62 (a), 64b (30), 65a (4), 65b (100), 65c (5), 63d (5), 66a (a), 73 (i), 74 (23), 85 (103), 96 (100), 97 (75). 98 (6o>, 99 200), too (40), 102 (150), 103 (80), 106 (6oo>, 107 (3>, J08 (300), 109 (50), n o (100), III (I2), 112 (100), 113 (135), 114 (2,000), 117 (4,500), I20C (150), 121 (250), 182 (5), 133 (500), 134 (100), 135 (5), 136 (40).— Stake- net: Jan. 23. (300), 24. (240), 25. (150), s6. (10), 97. (48). 29- («50), 3°- (300) ; Feb. 2. (150), 3. (20). Dates of capture: 4. March-32. April, 1937; 9. January-97. April, 1938. Notes: About 700 specimens from 3 catches (St. 47, stake-net I. Januar>’ and 2. February, 1938) weighed about 17 kg, an average of ' This species is certainly the most common Ltiotnatkui ot the Gulf, but as already mentioned we made no distinction between L. daurui and L. bindut; potiibly there are also some L. Uneolalus among them. about 25 g. This fish was one of the most abundant forms of the Gulf and is no doubt a very important food fish of larger and more valuable species. Undoubtedly, the food of this species consists exclusively or nearly exclusively of the luminous plankton organisms. On one occasion, when a catch was made shortly before sunset, we noticed a greenish, phos phorescent light, which the fish emitted from the sides of their trunks. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China, Formosa. Leiognathus lineolatus (C u v. & V a 1.) Equula lineolata Cuvier & Valencicnncs, X, 1835, p. 86. (Java). Equula lineolata C u v. & V a 1. Day, 1878, p. 241; 1889, II, p. 190. Leiognathiis lineolatus (C. V.). Weber & B;aufort, VI, 1931, p. 337. Principal characteristics: More oblong shape of body than the previous species. Height abt. 3, head abt. 4 in length. Dorsal and ventral profile equally con\ex. Rostro-dorsal profile ascending in a stra^ht line. Mouth small; when fully protracted forming a do^^^lward directed tube. Head without scalcs. breast scaly. Lateral line ending below end of dorsal. Second dorsal spine less than half the height of body. D. 7-8/16, A. 3/14. Colour silver}.', back greyish with dark irregular spots. M aterial brought home; No. I : St. 73. S. of Bushitc, 3.2.1938. (95 mm). No. 2-5; St. 104. Chahbar. 31.3.1938. (63, 64, 67, 72 mm). No. 6; St. 133. Off Jabrir., 13.4.1938. (99 mmV Notes; No doubt the species is rather common in the area. Other possible catches are included in the figures given under L. bindus. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Japan, Queensland. Fam .: Pomadasidae Plectorhynchiis rinctus (Tcmm. & Schl.) PI. VI, Figure i. Diagramma cinctum Temminck & Schlegel, 1850, p. 61, pi. a6, fig. i. (Coast of Japan). DiagTamma cinctum Tcmm. & S c h 1 e g. Gunther, I, 1859, p. 325. Diagramma cinctum T e m m. & S c h 1 e g. Day, 1878, p. 81; 1889, I, p. 517. Native names; Khoboor (Bushire), Khahr. Principal characteristics: Large, spotted perch-fish. Ver tical part of preopercle and shouldcr-bone serrafrd, L.r. 51 + x, L.tr. 12-14 . D. 12/16-17, A. 3/7-8, P. 16, V. 1/5. Colour greyish-brown; upper '9 ■ half of anterior and whole posterior part of body together with upper ' • vertical fins covered with black blotches. In larger specimens the distribu tion of the blotches on the body is somewhat reduced, in animals of more than 50-60 cm, for instance, to the region above and round the lateral line together with the dorsal and the caudal. Ventrals nearly black, pectorals brownish. Material brought home: No. 1: St. 63c. Bushire Roads, 11.1.1938. (178 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): rSb (2), 20a (10), 20b (3), 63c ([), 100 (2), iio (i), 117 (r).— St. 61; Dec. 25. (i ), 31. (i). Dates of capture: 14.-19. March, 1937; 25. Dec., 1937-6. .\pril, 1938. Notes; The catches were evenly distributed o\ er the Iranian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. \Ve often saw the fish swimming quite near to the quay of Bushire Harbour. The specimens from St. i8b contained crustaceans. It i.s a good food fish and was frequently offered for sale in the bazaars. The fish obser\ed were mostly large specimens of a couple of kg or the like. H a b .; Northern Indian Ocean, Seas of China and Japan. Plectorhynchus schotaf F o r s s k. Sciana Schotaj Forsskal, 1775, p. 51. (Red Sea). Diagramma griseum Cuvier & V’a 1 e n c i e n n e s, V, 1830, p. 306. (Malabar coast), Diagramma griseum C u v. & V’ a 1. Day, 1878, p. 81 ; 1889, I, p. 517. Native name: Yennam, Jennam. Principal characteristics: Smaller, dark perch-fish. Length of head 4, height of body 3 in total length. Diameter of eye 3 /2 — 4 in the length of head. Vertical border of preopercle rather .strongly and evenly serrated. D. 12-13/19-20, A. 3/7, P. 16-17, V. 1/5. Caudal slightly emarginate.- L.r. 80-85. L.lat. 62-64, L.tr. ' 1■’ (Day states L.tr. I ■ I'j " Colour: Uniform grey or olive-grey ^nearly like Tench). Fins very dark, iris brown, gullet red. Material brought home: No. i: Bahrein fish market, 19.3.1938. (190 mm). No. 2: Bushire fish market, 15,4.1938. (229 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): ■St. 61 (Wheel): Dec. 24. (i); Jan. 6. (2).—.Stake-net: Feb. 12. (i). Notes: Evidently, the spccies is di.stinctly a coastal fish. It was taken at no station at all that was worked with drag-nets. In the bazaars it was often .seen to be sold, mostly specimens of only 20-35 D a y states that the .species may attain a length of 18 inches. In F o r s s k a I’s “fish-herbarium” in the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen are found 2 specimens of 215 and 305 mm in length. They '3 show; L.r. 80-85, L.tr. 1 , D. 12/20-21, A. 3/7, P. 16. The larger of the 19 fish was determined by Reinhardt as S. schotaf, the smaller one he referred to S. nebulosa. L ii t k e n, however, who examined the speci mens later on, has corrected the error, referring both of the animals to 5'. schotaf. On a slip of paper the designation Schetaf is found in F o r s s k a I's hand, and the form Schotaj is apparently a misprint; how ever, the printed name must be used. F o r s s k a I’s description goes well with our animals. H a b .; Western and northwestern parts of Indian Ocean. Plectorhynchus pictus (Thunb.) PI. VI, Figure 2-3. P*Tca picta T h u n b e rg , 1792, p. 143. (Japan). Diagramma pictum Thunb. Day, 1878, p. 8 1 ; 1889, I, p. 518. Diagramrna punctalum (Ehrcnberg^ C u v. & a 1. Day, 1878, p. 8 3 ; 1889, 1, p. 518. PlettOThynchus pictus (Thunb). Webri & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 427. Native names; Bente Nakhoda (daughter of the captain), Aroose Nakhoda (Lingeh), Khreinoo (Larak), Jennani. Principal characteristics: Large, oblong form with a rather high front part. Height 3 in length with caudal, head 334— 4 in length with caudal. Maxillar\ reaching to below front border of eye. Preopercuhim rectangular, rounded at angle, denticulate behind. L.r. about 110, L.tr.' . D. 9-10/20-23, A. 3/7, P. 16, \ ’. 1/5. Colour: Large specimens arc slaty grey above, on head, as on sides and abdomen, with a bronze-coloured tint. The sides may also show a \iolct touch. Large specimens (see pi. V’l, fig. 31 are nearly without spots, only with some blurred stains—as of thin tar on head and back; besides, some yellowish spot's are seen on the head. In young specimens 1 about 20 cm the body is light greyish-bluc with several vellowish-grecn bands and spots on the sides, situated in 8-9 more or less di.stinct longitudinal bands. There are numerous dark spots on dorsal and caudal, both of which also ha\e a dark edge. The lateral streaks disappear with age. but in specimens 01 25-30 cm dorsal and caudal are still stained. With increasing age the.^e markings, too, disappear. .\nal and ventral fins always dark. Material brought home: No. I : St, i7d. S.W . of K harg, 14.3.1937. (207 m m ). No. 3: St. 26. N. of K harg, 24.3.1937. (292 m m ). No. 3. St. 69a. S.E. of Kharg, 30.1.[938. (266 mm). No. 4: St. 86. Near the Bahrein L.V., 16.3.1938. (30a mm). No. 5; Iranian Gulf, spring 1938. Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): i7d (a), 24 (8), 25 (i), a6 (9), 31a (7), 31b (6), 40 (a), 69a (i), 70a (i). 71a (38), 7ib (13), 78 (9), 78b (2), 86 (6), 87 (i), 118 (1), ia6 (2), 127 (i). Dates of capture: 14. March-8. April, 1937; 30. January-10, .\pril, 1938. Notes: The specimens captured were mostly large animals, the largest (St. 87) weighing 6 kg. 72 of the fish mentioned above weighed 272 kg, an average of about 3 ^ kg. The specimens from St. 31a had big roes. Those from St.s 25 and 31a contained crabs and bivalves. It is an excellent food fish. Hab.: Indian Ocean, Malay .Archipelago, East Australia, Philip pines, China, Japan. Pomadasys stridens (F o r s s k.) Sciana stridens Forssk^l, 1775, p. 50. (Red Sea). Pristipoma stridens (Forsk.). Day, 1878, p. 72; 1889. I, p. 508. Pristipoma nageb. Day, 1878, pi. 18, figure 8. Native names: Gara-gam, Kurkureh (B. Abbas). Principal chararteristirs: Smaller, striped perch-fish. D. 12/15, A. 3/9, P. 17, V. 15. L.r. 90 X, L.tr. Second anal spine not so long as third. Vertical margin of preopercle serrated in its whole extent. Colour: Greyish-green above with a bronze-coloured tint, whitish below. 3 tawny bands on the upper part of each side, the lowest from eye to middle of caudal fin. A dark .spot on upper third " ‘ opercle. Material brought home: No. 1 : St. 31. Between Bahrein and Bustanu, 30.3.1937 No. 2: St. 67. Off Bushire, 26.1.1938.(228 mm). No. 3; St. 33. O ff Hor Musa, 4.3.1938. (109 mm). Caught at station* (numbers in brackets) : > (3), 2 ( 0 , 6 (i), 19b (I), 31b (1), 34 (i), 63c (i), 65b {lb), 05c u), 63d (i), 66a (I), 74 ( 0 , 83 (1), 84 (ao), 104 (395), 136 (1).—Stake-net: Jan. 23. (24), 25. (3), 30. (9), 31. (5) ; Febr. i. (4), a. (3a), 3. (20), 4. (11), 3. (16), 6. (3), 8. (60), 9. (9), 10. (7), 17. (4), 19. (a), ao. (8), 2a. (8), aj. (12) ; Mar 4 (10). Datesofcap' !)ril, 1938, N o his species was rather common in the ...... , will appear from the figures above, the catches were mostly light. The only heavy catch (St. 104) was made at Chahbar. When the fish came out of the water, they often gave a growling sound. A big, parasitic luopod was found rather frequently on the lower .side of the head of the fish captured. At present Pristipoma stridens is hardly of great importance as '■ — ...... ■ ’ ^ ' ■ the greatest majority of the fish captured were small: 369 specimens weighed 20.3 kg in all, an average of about 55 g. I H a b .: Northwestern Indian Ocean. Pomadasys maculatus {B I.) Anthias maculatus Bloch, V II, 1797, p. 9. (East Indies). Pristipoma maculatum (Bloch). D a y , 1878, p. 74; 1889, I, 510. Pomadasys maculatus (B l.). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 400. Fig. 6d. Pomadas)/s macuUitus (BI.). (After Day, 1878). Principal charactcristics: Rather large, spotted perch- fish. D. 12/13-14, A. 3/7, P. 16, V. 1/5, L.lat. 58-60, L.tr. Second anal spine conspicuously longer than third. Colour: Greenish-grey above, whitish below. A blackish band over the nape, terminating a little below lateral line. Behind this 6-8 dark spots, 4-5 near the dorsal fins, 3 below or on the lateral line. Spinous dorsal with a black blotch. Both dorsals and caudal stained black. Material brought hornet St. 56. N.W. of Jask, »1.4.1937. (177 mm). St 100. Gulf of Oman, 30.3.1938. (119 mm). Caught at stations (numbcn in brackets): 56 ( j ) , 100 (43), 104 (abt. loo). Dates of capture: ai. .April, 1937; 30.-31. M arch, 1938. Notes: The 43 fish from St. 100 weighed 36 kg. The species was not caught at all in the Iranian Gulf itself, but only in the Gulf of Oman and the outer part of the Strait of Hormuz. Hab.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China, Formosa. Pomadasys argentea (Forssk.) Scitina argtntta Forssk &1, 1775, p- ) i. (Red Sea). Pristipoma kasia Bloch. Day, 1B78, p. 73; 1889, 1, p. 510. Pristipoma guoraca C u v. & V a 1. Day, 1878, p. 75; 1889, I, p. 512. Pomadasys hasta (B l.). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 402. Pomadasys argyreus (C. V.). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 406. N a tiv e name: Sangsar (“Stonehead”). Principal characteristics: Large, bronze-coloured perch- fish. D. 12/14, 3/7> I’- •?> */5 - LJat. 50 + x, L.tr. Second anal spine conspicuously longer than third. Colour: Younger individuals: light greyish-green. Scales on back and sides each with a brown spot forming longitudinal rows; sometimes the spots are indistinct and replaced by transverse rows of larger spots. Some spots along the dorsal. Dorsal spotted. Older specimens: Back of golden b i^ ze colour with greenish tint, sides and abdomen silvery. Indistinct spots behind eye and at the upper edge of operculum. Fins unstained; dorsal with dark edge. Fig. 69. Localities where Pomadasys argentea (Forssk.) was caught. Black circles indicate number of specimens per '/t h. haul. The smallest circles denote i-io specimens per 'A h, haul. h.ra,-r rirrl.t ii-jo, 21-100 and more than lOO resp. Material brought home: St. 19a. Bushire Roads, 18.3.1937. St. 69a. Between Bushire and Kharg, 30.1.1938. (199 mm), St. 07. T.-islt 29.3.1938. (192 mm). Caug! ations (numbers in brackets): 17c (4/. ‘ 7d (i), 19a (40), 19b { ') , aoa (3), aob (5), 24 (i), 9) (1), a8 (1), 33 (4 ), 34 ('a), 35 (2), 38 (i), 44 (»), 45 (6), 47 ( O , 50 ( 13), 54 (7), 55 (37). 56 (9), 57 (J 2), 59 (4 ), 62 (I), 63b (3), 66b (i), 69a (6), 92 (2), 93 (3), 97 (lo), 98 (60), 99 (42), 104 (abt. too), 106 (i), 108 (2), 109 (8), 116 (5), 12' ' ' 120C (7).— Suke-net: March la, 1938 (2). Datesofcap' ' rch-22. April, 1937; 9. January-8 138. Notes: 128 of the fish mentioned above weighed aboUt 50 kg, an average of about 400 g, the largest specimens weighing i kg or a little more. The individual from St. 25 had a big roe; its stomach contained fish. It is an excellent food fish, which is often seen in the bazaars. Among the fish caught by us the larger specimens were mostly of a more uniform colour than the small ones. The Pomadasys forms hasta and argyreus in Weber & Beaufort presumably belong to the same species. • In F o r s s k a I’s “fish-herbarium” in the Zoological Museum of Co penhagen is found a specimen that undoubtedly belongs to the same species niir .Tniinals. It is 170 mm lo n e without caudal, which is lacking; L.Iat. 47, L.ir. 1 , iJ. i -', i4, A. 3;u wi ). In its dried condition it shows several nearly invisible small spots, grouped in longitudinal rows. On the dorsals are seen numerous small dark stains, 2-3 stains in each membrane between ? (Ir)rsal spines or rays. Anal and ventral fins are unstained; pectorals king. The animal must be considered as the t^'pe of Pomadasys argentea. H a b .; Indian Occan. i Archipelago to New Britain, Philip pines. China, Formosa. T i iaenidae inoiiincs riiin'r (Bl. Schn.) PI. XI, Figure r. Johnius ruber Schneidcr. Bloch, 1801, p. 75. (Tranquebar). Otolithus ruber (Bl. Schn.). Day, 1^78, p. 196; 1889, II, p. 128. Otolithes ruber (Blorh, Srhnridrr). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 490. Native n a m l ...... ' , Moosh-dandoon (Bender .\bbas) (moosh = mouse, dandoon = tooth), Kyrr-ae (Larak). Principal characteristics: Rather large, oblong, Whiting like form. L.lat. about 55, L.tr. j^. Origin of anal behind that of soft dorsal. D. 10 J 1/26-29, A. 2/6. Snout pointed. Big and distinct canines anteriwly in jaws; on either side of the upper jaw a pair of large canines, in lower jaw a central canine is present; sometimes— but more rarely— there are a. In upper jaw an inner, uniserial, villiform series of teeth, in mandibulary a close-sct conical series. Colour: Bro\vnish v\ith a golden gloss, more whitish below. Material brought home; No. 1-2: Bushire Roads (staki >938. (350, 370 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets); I (7). 2 (i). 19a (2), 37 ( 0 , 55 (2). 62 (a), 63 (9), 65b (i), 73 (i), 82 (i), 97 (5), 98 (5). 99 (9). 102 (25). >04 (i-)—St. 61 (wheel): Jan. i. (1).-Stake-net; Jan. S3 (33), S4. (la), 35. (a), s6. (28), 27. (29), 119. (14), 30. (7), 31. (11); Feb.: i. (9), 2. (n), 3. (10), 4. (4), 5. (9), 6. (12), 7. (12), 8. (20), 9. (6), 10. (3), 14- (4). <5- ( 0 . 17- (7), 19- (2), 20. (5), 22. (3), 26. (4), 28. (I); M ar.: i. (i). Dates of capture: 28. February-20. April, 1937; 9. January-37. March, 1938. ^ Notes: Excellent food fish, which was nearly always found for sale in the bazaars. The native fishermen caught it in large numbers in their shore seine and on hooks. As will be seen from the figures the great majority of these fish were caught by us in stationary gears: the rapid animals are undoubtedly often able to evade the trawl. 147 specimens caught by us weighed 95 kg or about 650 g on an average; the largest individuals weighed rather more than i kg. H a b .: Western and Northern Indian Ocean, Strait of Malacca. Pseudosciaena aneus ,B1.^ Johnius Aneus Bloch, V II, 1793, p. 135. (Tranquebar). Sciana aneus (Bloch). Day, 1B78, p. 189; 1889, II, p. 119. Pseudosciaena aneus (Bloch). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 508. Native names: Biahoo, Biou. Principal characteristics; Smaller, whiting-like form. L.lat. about 52, L.tr. T. Head with convex snout. Apical, oblique mouth. 78 Teeth in villiform series in both jaws. Canine-like teetli in interma.xillarics. Lower margin of eye below horizontal through commencement of gape of mouth. Second cinal spine equals i-ij/a diameter of eye. D. 10 j 1/22, A. 2/8. Colour: Silvery on sides, dead-white on abdomen. First dorsal stained with dark grey. Caudal tipped with imv F!n^ ,<.11,... jqh. M aterial broug.ht homi ; No. i; St. 9. S. of Bushire, 11.3.1937. (154 mm). No. 2: St. 35. S. of Bushire, 1.4.1937. No. 3; St. 55. Jask, 20.4.1937. (175 mm). No. 4: St, 69b. S.E. of Kharg, 30.1.1938. (166 m m ). No. 5-7: St. 82. Off Hor Musa, 4.3.1938. (65, 73, 85 mm). No. 8-9; St. 114. Clarence Strait, 4.4.1938. (100, 100 mm). Notes: As to places of capture see later on p. 132. 1 i.t i> rather frequent in the whole area. On account of its small .size it is less valuable as a food fish. Hab,: Northern Indian (/ i[i, .Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China. Pseudosciaena axillaris ( C u v. & V a 1.) » CoTvina axillaris Cuvier & Valenciennes, V, 1830, p. 113. (Malabar coast). S d lm a axMaris (C u v. & Val.). D a y , 1878, p. 188; 1889, II, p. 116. Pseudosciaena axillaris (C. V.)- Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 511. Native names; Biahoo, Biou. Principal ch aracteristics: Much like the previous species, from which it differs in the following characters. Lower margin of eye above or on horizontal through commencement of gape of mouth. Free border of snout entire. L.lat. 52, L.tr. Spinous dorsal deeply incised. D. 10 I 1/29, A. 2/7. Second anal spine equals one diameter of eye. Colour; Silvery, whitish below. Fins greyish; upper two thirds of first dorsal black; a dark tinge along the top of second dorsal. Fig. 70. Pseudosciaena axillaris (C u v . & Val). (After Day, 1878). Material brought home: No. I : St. 81. Bender Shahpur, 17.3.1938. No. 3: St. 83. Off Hor Musa, 4.3.1938. (,136 nun). No. 3-4; St. 104, Chahbar, 31.3.1938. (iso , 163 mm). Notes: The captures were made all over the area. During the cruise we did not distinguish between the small Sciaenidae, which were of uni form colour and much like each other in habitus, and so all places of capture of these species are given collectively on p. 132. As a food fish this species is of the same value as the previous one. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China, East Australia. I Pseudosciaena diacanthus (Lac.) Luljanus diacanthus Lacipide, IV, i8oa, p. 195, 340. (Coromandel coast). Sciatna diacanthus (Lac6p.). Day, 1878, p. 189; 1889, II, p. 118. Pseudosciaena diacanthus (L a c .). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 515. Principal characteristics: Somewhat oblong, high-backed. 8 L.r. about 65, L.tr. i . Scales ciliate, cycloid only on snout and cheeks. ^5 D. lo I 1/22-23, A- 2/7. Second anal spine strong, twice as long as eye. Colour J BrowTiish grey, shot with silver along the back, below the lateral line, gp-adually fading to a dull silvery grey. Fins yellowish with black dots. Eyes golden. The individual mentioned below, being a young specimen, has numerous dark spots on the upper part of the sides of the trunk, the caudal and the dorsal. Anal, pectoral and ventral fins are dark. Material brought home: No. I ; St. 57. Near Hormuz, 22.4.1937. (300 mm). Notes: Only this specimen was observed. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China. ? Pseudosciaena bleekeri (Day) Sciana Bleekeri Day, 1878, p. 185, pi. 45, fig. 4. (Bombay). Sciana bleekeri Day. Day, 1889, II, p. 112. Native name; Baylanee (Bushire). Principal characteristics; Large from (the fish captured were all more than 50 cm long). D. 10 | 1/22, A. 2/7. L.tr. Length of head about 4J4 in total length, eyes 6-7 in length of head. Dorsal profile more convex than that of abdomen. Snout not overhanging jaws. Cleft of mouth somewhat oblique, the jaws of about the same length anteriorly. Colour: Silvery, greyish with a yellow tinge on the bark, whitish on the abdomen. N» material was brought home. Caught at stations (numbers in brackets); St. 61 (wheel); Jan. 7., 1938 (2); 100 (5). Notes: The countings were made in one of the animals at St. loo. The measurements given afterwards are taken from a photograph of the 2 fish from Bushire Harbour. The 5 fish from St, 100 weighed 2 5 kg, the 2 fish from St. 6i 3 ^ and 3 ^ kg, respectively. This makes an average of 4I/3 kg apiece. According to D a y (l,c.) large specimens of P. bleekeri upwards of 75 cm in length were not infrequent at Gwadar (Baluchistan), “where the fish was extensively salted,” The determination of species cannot be considered absolutely certain, but there is much in favour of classing the fish caught by us as P. bleekeri. We found it excellent to eat. H a b .: Northwestern Indian Ocean. f,- Johnius maculatus Bl. Schn. . ( Johnius maculatus Schneider. Bloch, i8oi, p. 75. (Tranquebar). Sciana maculata B 1. Schn. Day, 1878, p. 190; 1889, II, p. 119. Jdhnius maculatus Bloch, Schneider. Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, P‘ 53^- Principal characteristics; Small, spotted Sciaenid. Up- 8 per jaw longer than lower. L.r. 65, L.lat. about 50, L.tr.-— D. 10 | 1/24, ik. 2/7. Second anal spine */s length of ray^. Third to seventh dorsal spines H. Field phot Fig. 71. Johnius maculatus B 1. Schn. longest. Colour: Silvery grey, abdomen whitish. Five interrupted broad, dark bands extend over the back and a sixth over the free portion of the tail. Upper part of both dorsals stained black, caudal tinged black, other fins yellowish. Materialbroughthonie: ^ . No. I : St. 104. Chahbar, 31.3.1938. (ao8'nm»). Notes; The species was taken only at this station, where about 150 specimens were caught. H a b .: Seas of India, Iranian Gulf. Johnius carutta B1. ^ Johnius carutta Bloch, 1793, p. 133. (Coromandel coast). Scimna carutta (Bloch). D a y , 1878, p. 192; 1889, II, p. taa. Johnius carutta Bloch. Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 539. Native name: Biahoo. Principal characteristics: Mouth inferior, snout bluntly rounded, no barbel. Teeth in \'illiform bands in both jaws. Scales on head cycloid, otherwise ciliatc. L.r, about 65, L.tr. _i_. D. 10 | 1/28, A. 2/7. 18 ' 132 Danish Scientific Investigations ^in Iran Second anal spine weak and short. Colour: Light brownish with numerous quite small dots, shiny beneath, ist dorsal dark, the other fins light. Material brought home: No. 1: St. 37. O ff Bustanu, 6.4.1937. (185 mm). No. 2: St. 55. Jask, 20.4.1937. (185 mm). - No. 3 : St. 61. Bushire Harbour, 1.1.1938. (20a m m ). No. 4 : St. 61. „ „ 4.1.1938. (187 m m). No. 5-10; St. 8a. Off Hor Musa, 4.3.1938. (76, 108, 115, 144, 147, 166 mm). No. 11: St. 115. Clarence Strait, 4.4.1938. (117 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets'): I (3 0 ). 4 (2 ), 9 (5). (4). «9a (10), 19b (42), 33 (i), 34 ( i) . 35 (a), 37 (1), 47 (26), 48 (880), 55 (7), 59 (34). 64a (2a), 65a (11), 65b (16), 66b (3), 69a (a), 69b (5), 73 (3), 79 (i). 80 (5), 81 (i), 82 (40), 83 (33). 84 (30), 97 (9), 98 (110), 104 (50), I I I (30), iia (1200), 113 (i), H 4 (25), 115 (3). laoa ( i ) . — St. 61 (w heel): Dec. 28. (t), 30. (1) ; Jan. i. (1), 4. (3).— Stoke-net: Jan. 24. (4), 25. (6), 26. (1). 27. (6); Feb. 3. (4). 4- (8), 5- (7). 6. (4), 7. (4), 9- (?). 10. (5), 16. (5), «7- (3 ). ' 9- (' 2 ). 2 0 - (3 ). aa- (5 ). 23- i^S), »5 - (9). «6. (9), 28. (30) ; Mar. 1. {10), 4- ( '5 ) . 6. (6). Dates of capture: 28. February-22. April, 1937; 28. December, 1937-8. April, 1938. Notes; The species was common in the area, but it was too small to be of any value as a food fish. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Southern China. Sciaena dussunderi (Cuv. & Val.) Umbrina dussumien Cuvier & Valenciennes, IX, 1833, p. 481. (Coro i mandel coast). Umbrina Dussumuri Cuv. & V a l D a y , 1878, p. 183. Umbrina dusiumieri Cuv. & Val. Day, 1889, II, p. n o . Sciaena dusstimieri (C. V.). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 542. Principal characteristics: Very much like JoAm’iufaruWa. Mouth inferior.. Snout obtuse prominent before mouth. A robust barbel. Fig. 72. Sciaena dussumieri (Cuv. & Val.). (After Day, 1878). ‘ As mentioned previously we made no constant distinction between the different species of “small, uniformly coloured Scimnidae." Besides Johnius canitta the places of capture given here also include Pjeudosciaena aneus and P. axillaris. I t I B l e g V a d : Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 133 half as long as diameter of eye, at mandibular symphysis. Teeth in viUi- _ 7 form bands in both jaws. L.lat. about 55, L.tr. i . D. 10 | 1/24, A. 2/7. 17 2., 3. and 4. dorsal spines prolonged. Base of anal 4 times in soft dorsal. Cojour; Brown, often very dark, lighter on lower side. Fins brownish or yellowish with grey edges. First dorsal stained black. Material brought home; No. t-a: St. 104. Chahbar, 31.3.1938. (174, 197 mm). Notes: only know for certain to have taken this species a few times: at St. ^ where r specimen, and at St. 104 where 150 specimens were taken. Possibly, however, the species was overlooked among the quantities of "Johnius carutta." H a b .: Western and Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China, Formosa. Fain.: .\I u 1 1 i d a c Sfnlloidichthys auriflamma (Forssk.) PI. VII, Figure i. Mullus auriflamma Foriskal, 1775, p. 30. (Red Sea). Mulloides jlavolineatui L a c ^ p. Day, 1878, p. 122; 1889, II, p. 28. Mulloides auriflamma (Forsk.). Herre 4 M o n t a I b a n, 1928, p. 130. Mulloidichthys auriflammma (Forsk.). .^eber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, P- 376. Native name; Kavazard. Principal characteristics; Small, oblong, moderately compressed form. L.lat. 37, L.tr. 1 . ]^louth subterminal. Two long, un- 6~ branched barbels behind symphysis of lower jaw. No teeth on palatines; teeth in both jaws in narrow, villiform bands. D. 7 | 1/8, A. 1/6-7. Colour: Reddish above, more whitish on sides, yellow on belly. A red spot on the opercle. A brilliant yellow lateral band from the opercle to the basis of the caudal, touching lateral line. A less pronounced longitudinal band be tween lateral line and abdomen. Dorsals colourless, but with 2 or 3 rows of yellow pigment. Caudal reddish above, yellovvish below. Pectoral, ventral and anal fins colourless.— A specimen of 140 mm length in F o r s s k a I’s “fish-herbarium” is precisely like our animals. M.it.iial brought home; No. 1-2: Bushire Roads (stake-net), 24.1,1938. (136, 148 ram). No. 3: St. 76. O ff Kangun, 9.2.1938. (165 mm), banian Gulf, spring 1938. (133 mm). Fig. 73, Localities where Mullets (Mulloidichthys aurijlamrna (Forsslc.), Upeneus vittatus (Forssk.) and V. tragula Rich.) were caught. Black cirde* indicate number of specimens per '/i h. haul. The smallest circles denote i-io specimens per Y2 h. haul, larger circles 11-20, 21-100, loi-iooo and more than 1000 resp. Caught at stations (numbers in brackets'); 4 f 150). 5 (50), 6 (10), I 7a (I ), I 7d (I), 19a (15), 19b (16), 20b (10), 21 (4), 22 (9). 24 (7), 28 (i), 35 (2), 37 (20), 39 (i), 45 (24), 48 (5), 56 (ao), 57 (4), 58 (10), 65c (3), 6jd (5), 66a (70), 66b (i), 69b (i), 73 (26), 75 (i), 76 (6), 77 (3,400), 78 (15). 84 (1,500), 89 (5), 96 (35), 97 (12), 98 (40), 99 (50), 100 (162), loi (2), 103 (i), 104 (11), to8 (700), 109 (225), iio (70), lit (i), 114 (3), >17 (1,300), 120C (100), lai (la), 133 (76), 134 (30), 136 (125).—Stake-net: Jan. 23. (3), 24. (5), 25. (5 ), 29. (23) ; Feb. 2. (10). Dates of capture: 4. March-22. April, 1937; 23. January-27. April, 1938. Notes: This species was by far the most common mullet of the area, and .so all catches of Mullidae are given here. The fish is small, but the meat is excellent and undoubtedly well suited for canning. Fully 900 animals from 4 of "the said stations weighed 27.25 kg or about 30 g per I fish. H a b .; Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Japan, tropical Pacific. Upeneus vittatus (Forssk.) PL VIJ, Figure 2. Mullus vittatus Forsskal, 1775, p. 31. (Red Sea). Vpenoides vittatus (Forsk.). Day, 1878, p. 120; 1889, 11, p. 25. Upenoides vittatus (Forskal). Herrc & M o n t a 1 b a n, 1928, p. 105. Upeneus vittatus (Forsk.). Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 365. ' Some of the figures also contain a small number of Upeneus tragula. Native name; Kavazard. Principal characteristics: Preorbital without scales. Eye 2V, almost in middle of head. L.Iat. 35, L.tr. 1 . D. 8 | 1/8, A. 1/6. Colour: 5 Brown on upper side, bluish tinge on sides, yellow on belly. Four broad longitudinal bands on sides of body, yellowish brown above, yellow beneath. Eye with brownish-red iris. First dorsal fin with black tip and 2 yellow-blackish bands. Pectoral pinkish. Lobes of caudal with four or five oblique, yellow-black bands. Ventral and anal fins yellow. . Material brought home: No. I : St. 104. Chahbar, 31.3.1938. (148 m m ). Notes: ^S'ith rcrtainty the species was observed only this once, when it was taken together with the following form. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Japan, Tahiti, Marquesas, Fiji, Samoa Islands, New Caledonia. Upeneus trngula Rich. PI. VII, Figure 3. Upeneus tragula Richardson, 1846, p. 220. (Canton). Upenoides tragula (Richardson). Day, t878, p. 121; 1889, II, p. 26. Vpenoides tragula (Richardson). Herre & Montalban, 1928, p. 99. Upeneus tragula Richards. Weber & Beaufort, VI, 1931, p. 368. Native name: Kavazard. Principal characteristics: Habitus as previous species. L.lat. (in our animal) 30 (Day and ^S'ebe^ & Beaufort, I.e., -'-'a say 30-32). L.tr. 1 . Preorbital scaly. Eye in middle of head. First dorsal f. a little higher than second. D. 8 ] 1/8, A. 1/6. Colour; Silvery on abdomen with reddish tinge. Upper side of head and back stained brown. A narrow, orangc-coloured longitudinal band along the middle of the side from eye to base of caudal. Below this the side of the body shows a bluish-green cast, .\bdomen, operclc.s and sides of head with vivid vermilion spots, which disappear ver\- rapidly after the death of the fish. Vi%id %ermilion cross bars on both dorsals and on caudal; similar, but fewer, red spots on anal and ventral fins. The very different descriptions of colour in D a y (I.e.) and ^V e b e r & B e a u f o r t (I.e.) apparently base on material preserved in alcohol. Material brought home: No, I : St. 104. Chahbar, 31.3.1938. (137 m m ). Notes: The .species was caught quite a few times, but other certain >*'• '4 places of occurrence cannot be stated from the journal. At St. 104 were taken 11 specimens of this species and U. vittatus. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Southern China and Japan, East Australia. Fam.: Lethrinidae Letkrinus miniatus (BI. Schn.) ' ^ Sparus miniatus Schneider. Bloch, 1801, p. 281. (Pacific Ocean). Lethrinus rostratus (K u h 1. and v. Hass.) C u v. & V a 1. Day, 1878, p. 134. Letkrinus miniatus ((Forster), B1. Schn.). Day, 1888, p. 787; 1889, II, P- 37- Letkrinus miniatus ((Forster), B1. Schn.). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 445. Native names: Shahree, Gedeer (Laralt). Principal characteristics: Snout long and pointed. Maxillary reaching to below nostrils. Lateral teeth in jaws conical, pointed. Base of soft anal longer than longest anal rays. D. 10/9, A. 3/8, P. 1/12, 5- 5V» , _ V. 1/5. L.lat. 49, L.tr. 1 . Colour: Olivaceous above, lighter on lower side. Indistinct cross-bars on upper part of body. All fins reddish, parti cularly the dorsal. Material brought home; No. 1 : St. 86. Near Bahrein L.V., 16.3.1938. (368 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets); 39a (abt. 20), 39b (3), 86 (i), 118 (3). Dates of capture: 7. April, 1937; 16. March-7. April, 1938. Notes: This species was not caught in the inner Gulf. In comparison with the following form it was rare. The 7 fish from St.s 39b, 86 and 118 weighed 6 kg. Hab.: Indian • Ocean, Malav Arfhinrl;icrr> Philippines and Japan. Lethrinus nebulosus (F 0 r s s k.) Sciana nebulosa Forsskil, 1775, p. 52, (Red Sea). Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsk.). Day, 1878, p. 136; 1889, II, p. 39. Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsk.). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 453. Native n a m e s Shahree, Karduz (small specimens, Kangun). Principal characteristics: Rather high-backed fish with somewhat protruding snout. Head as long as high. Eye twice in pointed snout. 3rd anal spine as long as eye. Preoperculum without scalcs. Palate toothless. Molar teeth in sides of jaws. Maxillary reaching to below nostrils. Base of soft anal longer than longest anal rays. D. 10/9, A. 3/8, P. 1/12, 5 1 ' V. 1/5. L.Iat. 48, L.tr. 1 . Colour; Upper side of head and body olive- 16 brown. Sides and abdomen lighter with a bluish tinge. One (or two) blue bands from eye to mouth, another below the eye. Preopercle spotted blue. Inside of mouth orange. Scales with blue and orange stains. Dorsal, caudal and anal fins reddish brown, dorsal with 2 rows of blue stains. Ventrals reddish, upper pectoral ray blue in its basal half. Fig. 74. Letkrinus nebuUsui (Forssk.). (After Day, 1878). Materia) brought home; No. I : St. 26. N. of Kharg, *4.3.1937. {275 ram). No. a-3; St. 86. Near Bahrein L.V., 16.3.1938. (*65, 280 mm). No. 4 : Bahrein fish market, 19.3.1938. (140 mm). No. 5 : St. 87. S.E. of Bahrein L.V., 20.3.1938. (153 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets) : 7a (2), 7b ( i) , 17a (i), 18b (3), 24 (18), 26 (17), 30 (s8), 31a (81), 31b (8a). 39a (abt. 333), 39b (24), 39c (i), 69a (12),'71a (13), 71b (3), 78 (7), 78b (a), 86 (21), 87 (i), 88 (15), 95 (4), H7 (28), n6 (i). 134 (i). Dates of capture: 6. March-7. April, 1937; 30. January-26. April, 1938. Notes: The fish shows a fairly uniform occurrence in the area examined. It is a good food fish, which attains a rather conaderable size. 435 of the specimens mentioned above weighed about 917 kg, an average of fully 2 kg. The largest specimens caught are supposed to have weighed about 8 kg; i catch of 15 fish (St. 88) weighed 91 kg. The specimen from St. 17a had a mature milt, ondtfrom St. 31a had a big roe. The fish from Sts i8b and 31a contained Bivalves, Crustaceans and Polychaetes. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Cluna, Seas of Australia. Farm.: S p a r i d a e Spartis spinifer F o r s s k. Sparus spinifer Forsskal, 1775, p. 3a. (Red Sea). Pagrus spinifer (Forsk.). D a y , 1878, p. 138; 1888, p. 787; 1889, II, p. 43. Pagrus ruber Boulenger, 1887, p. 658. (Muscat) Sparus spinifer Forsk. Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 466. Native names: Coopah, Goofar, Oofar, etc., Modres. I Fig. 75. Sparus spinifer Forssk. (After Day, 1878). Principal characteristics: High-backed, rather com pressed shape of body. Dorsal profile much arched; in older individuals a veritable hump is found at the anterior part of the back (fig. 76). Profile of head very steep, particularly in older animals. Dorsal spines flexible, flattened; in young individuals of 10-20 cm the 5-6 first rays are produced , 6 into long filaments. D. lo /io -ii, A. 3/8-9, P. 15, V. 1/5. L.lat. 56, L.tr. j_. «7 Colour: Pink, lighter on abdomen. As long as the prolongations of the dorsal exist, 5 distinct, reddish cross bands are seen across the back and the upper part of the sides of the body; these bands disappear with increasing £^e. Dorsal and caudal pink, the other fins hyaline. Material brought home: No. i: St. 16. W. of Kharg, 13.3.1937. (170 mm). No. 2 : St. 43. Between Farur and Duwwan, 9.4.1937. (21 mm). No. 3 : Sl 58. Near Hormuz, 22.4.1937. (77 mm). No. 4-5: St. 69a. S. of Kharg, 30.1.1938. ( 148, 176 mm). No. 6-8; St. 78. Near Kharg, 14.2.1938. (30, 32, 36 mm). No. 9 : S t 84. O ff Fort Dilam, 4.3.1938. I I No. 10-13: S t 96. Jask, 89.3.1938. (6s, 64, 67, 69 nun). No. 14. St. 96. Jask, 29.3.1938 (from stomach of a sea snake, Lapemis curtus). (43 mm). No. 15-16; Larak, 5.4.1938- (S®. 39 tnm). Caught at itattons (numbers in brackets); I ( 0 , 3a (i), 3b (7). 6 (2), 7b (i), 8 (i), 12 (i), 15a (4), 15b (3), i6a ( i) , 16b (18), 17a (10), 17b (aa), 17c (5), ijd (7), 19a (10), 19b (a), 20b (10), 21 (3), 22 (3), 23 (5). 24 (82), 25 (6), 26 (44), 27 (25), 28 (4), 30 (j), 31a (2), 31b ( 0 , 32 ( 0 . 33 (4). 34 (»2), 35 (i), 37 (2), 38 (i), 39a (5), 39b (1), 44, (7). 45 (2), 54 (5), 56 {20), 58 (i), 6sd (i), 69a (14). 70a (a), 71a (63), ■ s H. Blegvad phot. Fig. 76. Sparus spinifer Forssk. Old spocimcn, 45 cm. St. 22. 23.3.1937. 71b (16), 72 (4). 74 («). 78 (10), 78b (5), 85 (i), 89 (5), 92 (2), 95 (2), 96 (30), 100 (2), 103 (50), 104 (5), 105 (2), «o8 (2), 109 ( i) , 110 (2), Larak 5.4.38 (2), II) (3), i2oa (i), 120C (x), 121 (3), ia6 (a ), lag ( i) , 133 (5), 134 (3), 136 (2). Dates of capture: 28. Fcbruary-2a. April, 1937; 24. January-27. April, 1938. J Notes: As will be seen the fbh wks common in the whole of the area. It was a good food fish. 117 individuals weighed 36.5 kg or fully 300 g on an average; the largest specimen (St. 38) weighed 3.5 kg. The .cpecimens from St.s 31a and 37 contained Bivahes. D a y (i888) criticizes Boulenger’s description of Pagrus ruber, which, according to Day, is based on alterations with age in Sparus spinifer. D a y’s view must be accepted. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Philippines, Australia. Sparus datnia (Ham. Buch.) PI. VIII, Figure 1. Coius datnia Hamilton Buchanan, 1822, pp. 88 & 369, pi. 9, fig. 29. (Mouths of Gangci). Chrywphryj datnia (H a ro . Buch.)- Day, J878, p. 140; 1889, II. p. 44. ? Chrysophrys berda (Forsk.). Day, 1878, p. 140; 1888, p. 788; 1889, II, P- 44- Sparus berda Forsk. Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 470. Native name: Shaghoom, Sha-6m. Poul H. Winther del. Fig. 77. Sparus datnia (Ham. Buch.). Dcnticulation. Of the three, habitually rather similar species: S. datnia, S. cuvieri and Crenidens crenidens this one showed by far the strongest denticulation. Cp. figs. 78 and 80. Principal characteristics; Dorsal profile rather curved, more curved than ventral. Head 4’/.-4’/2, height 2"/-,-3'/2 in total length. 5 L.lat. 51-55. L.tr. 1 . About 6 canine teeth in front part of each jaw, the 11 rest of the teeth with rounded crowns, four to five rows in upper jaw, three to four in lower. D. 11/11 or 12/10; dorsal spines rigid, none of them produced. A. 3/8, P. 16, V. 1/5. 1st ray of ventrals produced into a small filament. Colour; Silvery- grey, darker on back. Scales darker at base than at margin. 4-5, often indistinct, dark cross bands on back and sides. Abdomen light. A dark spot behind opercle. Dorsal grey with black margin. Anal and ventral fins yellow. Caudal grey above, yellow below. Material brought home: No. I : St, 61. Bushire Harbour, 1,1.1938. (258 mm). No. 2; „ ,, „ „ 3.1.1938, (120 m m ). No. 3; „ „ „ „ 7.1.1938, (133 m m ). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): I (11), 4 ('), 20a (30), 63c (18), 64a (5), 63d (i), 67 (7), 69a (4), 97 (2), 98 ; 0 , 99 (33). ‘00 (25), 109 (34), n o (3), 115 (i), 128 (i). Wheel: Dec. a6. (4), 27. (2), 29. (3), 30, (1) ; Jan, 1. (1), 2. (1), 3. (6), 7. (a).—Stake-net: Jan. 30. (4), 31. (2) ; Febr, i, (3), 6. (i), 9. (6), 15. (8), 19. (i), ao. (2), 25. (2) ; Mar. i. (3), 5- (6). Dates of capture: 28. Fcbruary-9. March, 1937; a6. December, 1937-10. April, 1938. Notes; Weber & Beaufort (I.e.) consider 5’. datnia (Ham. Buch.) a synonym of S. berda F o r s s k. In this place, however, datnia has been chosen, because Hamilton’s description (I.e.) agrees excel- . • lently with our animals. D a y ’s figures of C. dalnia and C. berda (1878, pi. 34, fig.s 1-2) seem to point to the latter, particularly on account of the rather big 2nd anal spine, which in the figure of C. dalnia is very much bigger than 3rd; from D a y’s description, however, datnia must be considered the right name for our fish. 2 fish in Forsskal’s “fish-herbarium,” called C. Sarba by L ii t k e n, are habitually like our animals that were determined as Sparus datnia, but the spines of their anal fin are small and feeble, and on the whole the numbers of fin rays are different. 114 of the fish mentioned above weighed 51.5 kg, an average of barely 450 g. The largest of them weighed 1.5 kg, but most of them were smaller. It is an excellent food fish and is often seen in the bazaars. The species generally seems to prefer the coastal waters. For the rest the catches are evenly distributed all over the area. H a b .: Indian Ocean. Malay .\rchipelago, Philippines, China, Japan, New Britain, Solomon Islands. Sparus bijasciatus ( F o r s s k.) Chatodon bijasciatus ForsskSl, 1775, p. 64. (Red Sea), Chrysophrys bifasciatus (Forsk ). Day, 1878, p. 141 ; 1889, II, p. 46. Sparus bifasciatus (Forsk.). Weber & Beaufort, V’ll, 1936, p. 473. Native name: Fascar (Bahrein). Principal characteristics: Rather high-backed form. Height of body 2'/. in total length. L.lat. 50. L.tr. 1 . Front teeth in I 3 each jaw canines, directed obliquely forward. Dorsal spines rigid. D, 11/12 13, A. 3/10-11, P. 15, V. 1/5. Colour: greyi.'^h silvery, with dark lines along each row of scales on the body, -2 \cry pronounced, black vertical bands, one through the eye, the other from the vertex across operculum. Snout black. Dorsal, caudal and pectorals yellow ; ventrals and anal black. Material brought home: No. i: St. 71a. .Near Kharij, 31.1.1938. (320 mm). Notes: Apart from St. 71a, where i specimen was taken, we only caught the species at the island of Arabi on 25.4.1938. In the bazaar of Bahrein, however, the animal was numeroiisb represented both in 1937 and 1938. In Iranian fish bazaars we did not see it. According to Crossland (1920, p. 121) this species does some damage to ti'.e pearl oyster banks, i specimen of 145 mm is found in Forsskal’s “fish-herbarium.” H a b .: Western and northern Indian Ocean. Sparus cuvieri (Day) PI. VIII, Figure 2. Chrysophrys Cuvieri Day, 1878, p. 141. (Seas of India). Sparus Cuvieri (Day). B 1 e e k e r, 1878, p. 43. Chrysophrys cuvieri Day. Day, 1888, p. 788; 1889, II, p. 45. Native names: Sebeitee, Sveitee. Principal characteristics; More oblong shape of body 5 than Sparus datnia. Height of body 3' 4 in total length. L.lat. 49, L.tr. 1 , I i 4 pointed incisors in front of each jaw. D. ii/ii, P. 15, A. 3/9. Second anal spine not lonffcr than dorsal spines. Colour: Silver\-. All scales darker Poul H. Winther del. Fig. 78. Sparus cuvieri (Day). Denticulation. Cp. figj. 77 and 80. in the middle, so that the fish seems to be striped longitudinally, dorsal v%ith greyish-black spots and dark at margins, caudal greyish-black. Anal grey, pectoral and ventral fin' ’------' Material brought home; No. I : fiushire Roads (stake-net), 23.1.193! Caught at stations (numben in brackets;: 67 (i), 68 (79).—Wheel: Dec. 29. (i).—.Stal 29. (12); Feb. 1. (i), 4. (2 . 14. (6), Mar. 5. ( 0 , 6. (a^, 9. (i). Dates of capti. l.inuary-9. M arch, 1938. Notes: The species was taken by us nowhere else than in tl^^hn- mediate vicinity of Bushire. 15 of the fish mentioned above weighed 20.5 kg or about iVs kg on an average. The largest specimen weighed 7 kg; a sucker was sticking to it It wa» a good food fish, which was often seen in the fish bazaar of Bn ' ’ Hab.: Seas of Tn.i:,-, T. 'f Sargus noct C u v. & V a 1. Sargu^ . . . • ,,,, , ; , (Red Sea; Sargui noct rnrcni il. Native name; Gol-dom. , ^ Principal characteristics: Rather pointed snout. 8 broad compressed, rather forward directed incisors in each jaw; also three rows 7_ of rounded molars. L.lat. about 62, L.tr. D. 12/14, A. 3/14. Lower 16 pectoral rays simple. Colour: Greyish silvery, fine dots on the scales, forming lines along the middle of each row. A dark spot on the base of pectoral. A black blotch on lateral line on cranial part of caudal peduncle. Fig. 79. Sargus noct Cuv. & VaL (After Day, 1878). Material brought home: No i: Bushire Roads (stake-net), 4.1.193B. (150 mm). No. 2: Bahrein fish market, I9-3-I938. (125 mm). Notes: Apart from the said specimens the species was caught only once, I individual being taken at St. 62. Furthermore, it was frequently noticed S. of Bushire, where the fish flitted about among the coral blocks. The fact that w'e did not catch them is undoubtedly due to their living exclusively among corals and big stones, where our fishing gears could not be used. Good food fish; often found m the bazaars. H a b .: Northwestern Indian Ocean. Crenidens crenidens (Forssk.) PI. VIII, Figure 3. Spams cTtnidtns Forssk&l, 1775, p. XV. (Red Sea). Crenidens indicus. Day, 1878, p. 13a. Crenidens Forskalii Cuv. & VaL Day, 1878, p. 133. Crenidens indicus D a y . Day, 1889, II, p. 34. Crenidens forskatlii Cuv. & V a 1. D a y , 1889, II, p. 35. Native names: Balaam, Korr (Bender Abbas). Principal characteristics: Rather high shape of boay, dorsal and ventral profile nearly uniformly curved. L.lat. 57, L.tr. • It Fig. 80. Crenidens crenidens (Forssk.), Denticulation. Cp. figs. 77 and 78. D. 11/ 11, A. 3/9 , V. 1/5 . One row of 8 compressed, broad teeth with crenulated cutting edges in front of upper jaw ; behind this row is one more of the same character, but with smaller and more numerous teeth. Posteriorly 2-3 rows of granular ones. In the mandible there are 10 in the front row smaller than those in the upper jaw. The other rows of teeth in the lower jaw show nearly the same placing and succession as in the upper jaw. Colour: Greyish silvery. Dorsal fin with black margin. Pectorals, ventrals and anal yellow. Material brought home: No. 1-2; St. 19a. Bushire Roads, 18.3.1937. (180, 202 mm). No. 3: St. 61. Bushire Harbour, 1.1.1938. (169 mm). No. 4: Bushire Roads (stake-net), 24.1.1938. (158 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): fga (6), 63d (2), 68 (i), 84 (3).—St. 61 (wheel): Dec. 24. (15), 25. (12) a6. (6), 27. (i), 28. (6), 29. (14), 30. (i), 31. (4); Jan. i. (3), 2. (3), 3. (4), 4- (*). 5- (3). 6. (2), 7. (5).—Stake-net: Jan. 24. (i), 26. (i), 27. (6), 29. (72). Dates of capture: 18. March, 1937; 24. December, 1937-4. March, 1938. N otes; The species was caught only in the inmost part of the Gulf. Apart from the 3 specimens from St. 84 (off Fort Dilam, 4 .3 . 1938^' all catches were made in the immediate vicinity of Bushire. The f’lsh was often seen at the fish market of Bushire. The 72 specimens from the stake- net on 2 9 . 1.1938 weighed 5.5 kg, an average of about 75 g. In Forsskal’s diagnosis of Spams crenidens (I.e.) he says among other things; “... Dentes lati, una serie, trifidi. In utraque maxilla tuber- culi hemi.sph2erici ...” The fish that he had before him was decidedly a Balaam. It is questionable whether the two forms mentioned by D ay (I.e.), C. indicus and forskdlii, are of different species. D a y states for C. indicus: D. 10- 12/ 11- 10, A. 3/ 10- 11, L.lat. 5 3-5 5, L.tr. and for C. jorskalii: D. ii/ii, A. 3/9 - 1 1, L.lat. 5 2. L.tr. p. The corresponding figures of our fish are mentioned above. The differences are not too great. A specimen in F o r s s k a I’s “fish-herbarium” in the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen corresponds in detail to our -'.amals. L iitken gives the name Sparus crenidens ForssV^l, referring to the place mentioned above (Forsskal, 1775, p. X V ), but renames the fish Crenidens Forskalii without statement of author. However, F o r s s k a I’s designation is good enough and is therefore used here. H a b.: Northwestern part of Indian Ocean. F am .: Ephippidae Ephippus orbis (Bl.) Chcetodon orbis Bloch, III, 1787, p. 81. (East Indies). Ephippus orbis (Bloch). Day, 1878, p. 115; 1889, II, p. 20. Ephippus orbis (Bl.). Weber & Beaufort, VII, 1936, p. 177. Native names: Sheink, Shangoo. Principal characteristics; Smaller form. Discoid body. Height 1.5 in length. Lateral line angularly arched. L.lat. about 38, L.tr. i)-8 ' I . Mouth compressed. Dorsal with the first, second and third spines 14 small; the fourth, fifth and sixth are elongate and filiform at their extremities, gradually decreasing in size. Colour: Greyish on back, silvery on sides. Fins greyish. Material brought home: No. 1; St. 17. S.W. of Kharg, 14.3.1937. {172 ram). No. 2: St. 69a. Between Kharg and Bushirc, 30.1.1938. (96 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): i?d (i), 27 (i), 34 (34), 37 (6), 38 (3), 43 (i), 46 (3), 52 (53), 53 (140), 56 (20), 57 (3), 58 (6). 69a (i), 92 (i), 99 (i), 104 (i), 108 (3), 109 (i), lu (20), 113 (1) 115 (i), 116 (i), i2oa (41), i2ob (4), I20C (2i), 121 (i), ««5 (S). *30 (!)• Dates of capture: 25. March-22. April. 1937; 24. .March-ii. April, 1938. Notes: Only the two specimens brought home were caught in the inner part of the Gulf; the northernmost of the other places of capture (St. 2 7 ) was situated about 80 km S. of Bushirc. In the outer part of the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz the spccies \va.s common. The 4.1 specimens from St. i 2oa weighed 3.5 kg, an average of 135 g. As a food fish the species is of inferior importance. H a b.: Indian Occan, Malay .\rchipelago, Philippines, China, Formosa. ^ { ft i't •tl I (-0 » • r ■ i - . - i » c . j i r - B. Loppenthin phot. i- Fig. 81. To the left: Drepane punctata (L.). To the right: Ephippus orbis (L.) St. lao. Between Tunb and Lingeh, 8.4.1938. F am .: Drepanidae « * Drepane punctata (L .) Chatodon punctatus Linnaeus, 1758, p. 273. (“Habitat in Asia” ). Drepant punctata (Gmel.). Day, 1878; p. 116; 1889, II, p. s i. Drepane punctata (L.), Weber & Beaufort, V II, igs®. P- «8o. Native names: Shcink, Shangoo, Zarab (Bushire). Principal characteristics: Compressed, rhombic, much elevated. Larg§ fomi. Rostro-dorsa! profile gendy convex with a slight concavity before dorsal fin. Dorsal profile descending very steep from origin of dorsal to caudal peduncle. L.lat. about 3 0 , D. 8/2 0 , A. 3/ 17. Caudal rounded. Pectorals long, falciform, reaching base of caudal. Colour; Greenish above, .sides and belly silverv- with a tinge of gold or purple. The smaM specimens caught by us were of uniform colour, the larger had some dark spots on the sides, grouped in 5-7 vertical rows. Fins greyish, posterior paih of dorsal with a dark band. Material brought home: No. I: S t 67: Bushire Roads, 36.1.1938. (lao nun). No. 2: St. 82. Off Hor-Musa, 4.3.1938. (61 tnm). Caught at station* (numbers in brackets): I (ii)» (6). »9*> (7). «> (9). aa (2), 50 (2), 53 (50), 54 (4), 55 (4), 6a (6), 63a (7), 63b (i), 63c (5), 64 (30), 65c (1), 6sd (5), 67 (i), 68 (ii), 74 (»). 8* (0. 83 (0, 84 (5), ga (i), 95 (i), 96 (6), 97 (15), 98 (la), 99 (55)f Joo (aas), 101 (6), loa (14), 106 (6), 108 (5a), 109 (4), tio (25), III (a), 113 (60), 113 (8), laoa (69), laob (13), laoc (la), 133 (30). Date* of capture: 28. February-ao. April, 1937; 9. January-ij. April, 1938. Notes: The catches are distributed all over the area, but the species seenris to be more numerous in the Strai^ of Hormuz and the Gulf of Pman than in the Iranian Gulf. Larger specimens were excellent food, but the fish was rarely seen at the fish markets during the time when we visited them. 384 specimens captured weighed 144 kg or about 375 g on an average. . H a b .; Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China, Samoa, New Ireland. / F am .: Chaetodontidae Scatophagus argus (B l.) Chatodon argus Bloch, III, 1788, p. 86, pi. 904, fig. I. (Freih waters in East Indies). Scatophagus argus Bloch. Day, 1878, p. 124; 1889, II, p. 18. Scatophagus argus (B l.)» Weber & Beaufort, VII, 1936, p. 6. Native name: Zarook. I Principal characteristics: Compressed, quadrangular. Rostro-dorsal profile steeply ascending. Mouth ver\' small, horizontal. Teeth small, pluriseriate. Lateral line arched. Scales very small. D. 11/ 16 17, A. 4/ 14- 15, V. 1/5 , with a strong spine. Colour: Our specimens were H. Field phot. Fig. 89. Scatophagus argus (Bl.). greenish on back, whitish on abdomen. Numerous larger, round, blackish spots on sides; only the abdomen unstained. Dorsal and anal stained black. Material brought home; No. 1-5: St. 61. Bushire Harbour, 39.12.1937. (81, 83, 84, 95, 115 mm). No. 6-7: St. 61. Bushire Harbour, 30.12.1937. (86, 87 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): St. 61; Dec. 24. (2), 25. (i), 26. (6), 29. (8), 30. (2), 31. (4); Jan. 2. (i). Notes: As will be seen we only found the species (in salt water) in the Bushire Harbour. All of them were small specimens. Near Bushire, 2 2 .4 . 1938, was found the skeleton of a large specimen of 4-500 g, which had fallen a prey to an Osprey. It was not observed in the bazaars. Bennett { 1 8 3 0 ) compares the meat with that of a trout. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond to New Cale donia, New Britain and Tahiti (met with both in fresh and salt water). Chaetodon obscurus B o u 1. Chatodon obscurus Boulenger, 1887, p. 657. (Muscat). Principal characteristics: Compressed. Snout produced. i ^ Poul H, Winther del. Fig. 83. Chaetodon obscurus B o u I. No. 1, 134 mm. (Origin). Lateral line extending nearly to caudal peduncle. L.r. aboqt 35, L.tr. —. D. 13/22 , A. 3/ 18- 19. Soft dorsal and anal angulated, not produced. Caudal truncate. Colour; Dark brown. Snout, forehead, nape, chin and chest yellowish. Dorsal and anal spines, edge of soft dorsal and anal, and ventrals black. Caudal black with a broad yellow edge. Material brought home; No. 1; St. 7. Near Kharg, 6.3.1937. (134 mm). * Notes: 5 specimens in all were caught at St. 7 (a and b). Dark Chaetodon, most probably belonging to this species, were further observed at the island of Arabi on 2 5 .4 .1938. H a b.: Iranian Gulf. Heniochus acuminatus (L.) Chatodon acuminatus Linnaeus, 1758, p. 272. (India). Heniochus maerolepidotus Linn. Day, 1878, p. n o ; 1B89, II, p. 12. Heniochus maerolepidotus Linn£. A h 1, 1923, p. 33. Heniochus acuminatus (L-). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 37. Fig. 84. Heniochus acuminatus (L.). (After Day, 1878). Principal characteristics: Compressed and elevated. Snout rather short, conical. L.r. about 4 5 . D. 11/2 4 , A. 3/ 17. Fourth dorsal spine exceedingly elongate, filiform, with a rather broad floating mem brane. Colour: Pearly white, uith two broad, black bands across the side, the former from the three first dorsal spines down round the bases of the pectorals and further to the bases of the ventrals and a little behind these; the latter reaching from the hindmost part of spinous dorsal to the posterior part of anal. 2 dark bands on the head, one on the snout, the other above the eyes. Pectorals, soft part of dorsal and caudal yellow; ventrals and anterior part of anal are black, and so are the regions of dorsal and anal fins that are situated off the black bands. Material brought home: No. 1-2: St. 39. Stiffe Bank, 7.4.1937. (170, 200 ram). No. 3: S t 70c. Near Kharg, 31.1.1938. (182 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 39 (8), 70c (8). Notes: This richly coloured fish is without economic value. Hah.; Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji Islands, East Australia. Pomacanthus maculosus (Forssk.) PI. I, Figure 2 . Chaetodon maculosus Forsskil, 1775, p. 62. (Red Sea). Holocantkus caerutescens R ii p p e 11, 1828, p. 133. Holocanthus maculosus Forsk. Kluniinger, 1884, P- 6'- Pomacanthus maculosus (Forskal). Fraser-Brunner, 1933, p. 561. Native name; Hamad. Principal characteristics: Rather large form, compressed, rhombic. L.r. about 8 0 . Mouth rather small, protractile. Preoperculum with a strong, backward directed spine. Soft dorsal with a long prolonga tion. Anal, too, pointedly elongated. D. 12/21-22, A. 3/ 19-2 0 . Colour: Dark ultramarine, lighter on head and anterior part of the body. On the body a large, well-delimited, oblong, yellow spot. Paired fins of a light, greyish-violet colour. Anal and dorsal deeply ultramarine, caudal yellow with blue longitudinal streaks and blue edge, the yellow colour reaching into the posterior half of caudal peduncle. Several black, lunate spots along the edges of the scales on front part of back and sides of Material brought horni-: St. 7. Near Kharg, 6.3.1937. (223 mm). St. 86. Near Bahrein L.V., 16.3.1938. (264 mm). Caught at stations (niimbrrs in brackets': 7a (i), 7b (a), 30 (2), 40 (3), 70c ( l) , 86 (I), 87 (1). Dates of capture: 6. March-8. April, 1937: 31. Janu..i )--u. .w.irni, 1938. Notes: The fish caught weighed up to kg apiece. As will be seen small numbers of the species were taken dispersedly in the Gulf. It is of no economic importance. In a specimen of P. maculosus figured by Riippell ( 1828, pi. 3 4 ) the yellow colour reaches the hindmost part of spiny dorsal, and the whole caudal peduncle is yellow; otherwise, the fish is habitually quite like our animals. A fish mentioned and pictured by he the same author ( 1835, p. 3 2 , pi. 10, fig. i) as Holocanthus lineatus is undoubtedlv a vouni' intrn itlti il of ...... ------: - A specimen in Forsskal’s “fish-herbarium” in the Zoological Mu seum of Copenhagen is termed Chastodon maculosus. It measures 265 mm. H a b.: Northwestern Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Iranian Gulf. Fam .; C e p o 1 i d a e Acanlhocepola abbreviata (Cuv. & Val.) Cepola abbreviata Cuvier & Valenciennes, X, 1855, p. 403. (Moluccas). Cepola abbreviata Cuv. & Val. Day, 1878, p. 324; 1889, II, p. 330. Acanlhocepola abbreviata (C. V.). Weber & Beaufort, V II, 1936, p. 553. Principal characteristics: Small form, ribbon-like, com pressed, elongate, tapering towards pointed tail. Mouth oblique, chin prominent. Opercle and preopercle scaly, the latter with a prominent. ' " .UtinthoLefjola abbreviata (C u v . & Val.). (.\fter Day, 1878). triangular spine at its rounded angle. Dorsal originating above middle of opercle, united with caudal as also with anal. D. abt. 70, A. abt. 70 . Caudal ending in a filamentous tip. Colour: Reddish, with red or golden spots along side. Material brought home: No. I : St. 92. Near Larak, 24.3.1938. (t22 mm). Notes: Only this one specimen was observed. It was taken from the stomach of a large female of Trygon uarnak (Forssk.) weighing 75 kg. ' Hab.: .MMUH in Indian 0 < <’ >n \T;ila\ Archipelago, Philippines, Southern China. Fam .: Pomacentridae Daya jerdoni (Day) Pomacantrus Jerdoni Day, 1 8 7 3 , p. 2 3 7 . (Madras). Pomacentrus Jerdoni D a y . D a y , 1 8 7 8 , p. 3 8 3 . Pomacentrus jerdoni D a y . D a y , 1889, II, p. 3 8 5 . Daya jerdoni ( D a y ) . W i-b c 1 S; I? r .t \i f o r t, V III, 1940, p. 3 4 9 . Principal rha 'inall fish with egg-shaped 3^,-4 ' bo(l\ tr. I . Opercle and preopercle 152 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran scaly. Opercle with two flat spines and with the lower part of its hind border very finely denticulated. Lower border of opercle and interopercle with similar denticulations. Dorsal spines suboqual. Soft dorsal pointed. First anal spine almost as long as second. Soft anal similar to soft dorsal. Caudal forked, the lobes pointed. Colour: greyish purple with olivaceous tinge, darker above, lighter below. A dark spot at base of pectoral. Pectorals hyaline, dorsal, caudal and anal fins olivaceous i||th darker streaks of pigment between the rays. * I : I _ 1 fig. 86. Daya jerdoni (Day). (After Day, 1878). ■i: r Material brought home: No. 1-4: St- 30. Near Bahrein L.V., 87.3.1937. (88, 89, 95, 98 ram). No. 5-6: S t 1*3. Near Hindarabi, 9.4.1938. (33, 41 mm). No. 7: St. 134. Near Harkus, 34.4.1938. (68 mm). Notes: 8 sp>ecimens were caught at St. 3 0 ; othenvise only the said individuals were taken. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, East Australia. Fam .: Labrid,a,e Callyodon dussumieri (C u v. & V a 1.) * PI. IX, Figure i. Scaruj Dusnmitri Cuvier & Valenciennes, XIV, 1839, p. 959. (Sey- cheUes). Pseudojcarus DuisumUri B 1 k r. Bleeker, I, 186a, p. 46. Pseudoscans duisumieri C u v. & V a 1. Day, 1888, p. 804; 1889, II, p. 426. Callfodon dussumUri (C. V'.). Weber & Beaufort, V III, 1940, p. 308. Native name: Cbargook. Principal characteristics: Oblong form. Head and height iii? 3 */i in total length. L.lat. 21 -j- 7, L.tr. 1 . 6 scales before dorsal. Two 6 rows of scales on check; two scales on inferior preopercular limb. Weber & Beaufort (I.e.) say that there are 3 scales in this row. Lips rather broad, covering a little more than half of dental plate. A canine posteriorly in upper row. Dental plate white. D. 9/ 10, spines and rays subcqual. A. 3/9, P. 1/ 13. D ay (I.e.) states P. 15, Weber & Beaufort have 2/12; in the present specimen only one spine can be discerned with certainty; this is possibly No. 2, so that No. i is rudimentary, embedded into the skin at the b;j^ of the fin. V, 1/5 . Caudal emarginate. Weber & Beaufort (I.e.) say, “caudal slightly rounded, the lobes somewhat produced.” Colour: Back bluish-green, all scales with a blurred pink edge, which becomes more distinct and well delimited on the sides of the body. On the abdomen the scales are quite pink. Head green above and on sides, pink below. Under and in front of the eyes pink regions. Upper lip green with pink edge; lower lip darker green. Dorsal and anal pink with blue edge and base. First spine of dorsal and anaJ blue. Pectorals green with faintly pink base and hind border; upper edge (front border) blue, inside this a vivid red region. The spine of the ventral pink; the rest of the fin green. Caudal reddish at central part of base, otherwise green. I have some doubt in referring this species to C. dussumieri: the description of colour in Cuvier & Valenciennes does not quite agree with our specimen, the colour of which was reproduced by me from a living animal (pi. IX); among all B 1 e e k e r’s figures, how ever, his P. dussumieri comes nearest to our specimens. Material brought home: No. I : St. 39. Stiffe Bank, 7.4.1937. (425 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 39 (6). 4® (0 . Dates of capture: 7.-8. August, 1937. Notes: The 6 fish from St. 39, weighed 16J/2 kg. The sp>ecies was formerly taken in the Iranian Gulf (Weber & Beaufort, I.e.). H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Formosa, New Hebrides. Fannintr mr1 n.^. yojon robustus (G ii n t h.) - PI. IX, Figure 2. Xiphockilus robustus Gunther, IV, t86a, p. 98. (Mauritius). Xiphochilus robustus Giinth. Gunther, 1866, p. 85. Xiphochilu^ rnhusltit O ii n t h c r. Day, 1888, p. 802; 1889, II, p. 292. N a t i \ hargook. Principal characteristics; Large, clumsy head. Height and length of head nearly equally great and appro.ximately = height of bod\'. vvhifh i.s contained about 35/2 times in the length. L.r. about 3 0 ; 154 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran 22k L.tr. I . Four strong canine teeth in each jaw, the outer ones of the 'V mandible turning outwards; posterior canine tooth strong. Preorbital elevated. D. 12/8, P. 15, V. 1/5 , A. 3/9 . Dorsal spines stout, subequal, but the last one the longest, measuring about one third of the head. Caudal square. Third anal spine longest. Colour: pink on head and back, lighter on abdomen. On the back and the sides of the body all scales have a violet dot. On caudal peduncle these dots gather into 4 longitudinal bands. Over, through and below the eye are seen blurred, violet bands. Lips, sub-operculum and hind border of operculum violet. On lower jaw and in the region immediately below and in front of the eye some longish, ?■» faintly outlined, yellow spots. Dorsal yellow with blue stripes at edge and base. Caudal yellow with violet longitudinal streaks. Anal blue along base and edge, in the middle of a pale blue with two slightly yellow longitudinal bands. Pectorals pink. Ventrals violet anteriorly, yellowish posteriorly. The description of colour is based on a sketch, drawn by the author in the s . Gulf from the recendy caught fish. G ii n t h e r’s figure mentioned above seems to have been coloured from a specimen that has been discoloured by the preservation. Material brought home: No. i: S t 39. Stiffe Bank, 7.4.1937. (310 nun). Notes; Only this one specimen was caught. H a b.: Mauritius, Red Sea, Iranian Gulf, Ceylon. F am .: Teuthidae Teuthis siganus (F o r s s k.) Scams siganus Forssk&l, 1775, p. 25. (Red Sea). Amphacanthus luridus (Ehrenberg). R ii p p e 11, 1828, p. 45. Teuthis oramin (B 1. S c h n .). D a y , 1878, p. 168; 1889, II, p. 91. Siganus oramin ^BI. Schn.). Barnard, 1937, p. 785. Poul H. Winther del. Fig. 87. Teuthis siganus (Forsiji.). From a drawing by H. Blegvad. Native name: Saffee (Bahrein). ^ Principal characteristics: Body ovate, compressed. Scales c\ cloid and very- small, so that the fish seems to be scaleless. M outh small, not protractile. Teeth small, incisor-like. D. 13/ 10, A. 7/9 . At the preli minary examination in the Gulf these figures were counted to 12/10 and 5/ 10, respectively, but as no material was brought home, the figures can not be tested. Caudal lunate. Colour: Olivaceous on back, lighter on abdomen. Small scattered, light grey spots on sides. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins with dark stains. Pectorals yellow. No material brought home. Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 7a (3), 84 (i).— Stake-net: Jan. 30. (i). Dates of capture: 6.-23. March, 1937; 30. January, 1938. Notes; In Forsskal’s “fish-herbarium” in the Zoological Mu seum of Copenhagen are found two specimens that are habitually quite like our animals; they measure 195 and 160 mm and have D. 13/10 and A. 7/9 . UndoubteclK ihi;\ bclone to this species.—Besides at the places mentioned the fisl ther considerable numbers at the fish market of Bahrein. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Iranian Gulf. F am .: Pinguipedidae Parapercis smithii (R eg .') PI. X, Figure i . Percis Smithii Regan, 1905, p. 325. (Muscat). Principal characteristics: Oblong form. Height head 3 I/2 in length without caudal, 7 and 4 , re'^pertiveK, in total length. Eye 4 in length of head (acc. to Regan 3-3 / 4 ). L.r. 6 4 . L.tr. I . 16-17 Maxillary extending to below anterior edge of pupil. Regan (I.e.) states, “Snout shorter than eye,” but his two specimens, which I saw in the British Museum, were quite young. In our specimen the snout is considerably longer (i^/., times) than the eye. Preoperculum denticulated. Suboperculum finely serrated. D. 5/22, A. 1/ 18, P. 17, V. 6 . Length oi pectorals like distance from hind margin of eye to point of opercular spine. Regan states. “Pectoral as long as the distance from anterior edge of eye to extremity of opercular spine,” but the specimen in the British Museum does not quite show this structure, and, as mentioned, the ratio between diameter of eye and length of head is disagreeing. Ventrals cxtcndiri" v*’"' r iutl il vliahdv cmarcinatc. In the material in hand the best character seems to me to be the course of the lateral line. In P. smiihii it makes a short arch and then runs straightly or nearly straightly, but on the upper part of the body until, from the vertical under the last ray but two of D™, it follows the middle of the side of the body. In P. pulchella (Temm. & Schl.) the lateral line makes a smooth curve above the pectorals. Colour; Scales with dark edges, which gives the fish a peculiar chequered marking of dark brown on the back and lighter reddish-brown on the sides; the abdomen whitish. 6 reddish spots along the side, below the lateral line, which is light; some few, fainter spots immediately above the lateral line. The head bluish above, reddish on cheeks, whitish below. 2 yellow bands from eye to upper lip, a vertical yellow band between eye and upper edge of opercle. Lips yellowish red. Di with faint, small dots. Do hyaline with two series of reddish spots. C. reddish above, bluish below and with reddish-yellow cross bands. A. hyaline with yellow streaks across the fin rays. P. and V. hyaline. Material brought home: No. I : St. 32. S.W. of Tahiri, 31.3.1937. (183 mm). Notes: The species was observed nowhere else. H a b.: Gulf of Oman, Iranian Gulf. F am .: Trichonotidae Trichonotus setigerus B 1. S c h n. PI. X, Figure 2 . Trickonotut Setigerus Schneider. Bloch, 1801, p. 179, pi. 39. (East Indies). Trichonotus setigerus B I. S c h n. Day, 1888, p. 795. Trichonotus setiger B I. S c h n. Day, 1889, II, p. 328. ? Tctniolabrus cyclograptus Alcock, 1890, p. 430 and 1898, pi. 20, fig. 5. Principal characteristics: Small form. Very' slender shape of body. L.lat. about 6 0 , L.tr. 8-10 (1 0 scales below 15th dorsal ray). Length of head about GYs in total length. A single row of teeth in the jaw, pointed lower jaw, which protrudes a little before the upper jaw. Eyes near dorsal side of head. D. 4 8 , A. 3 7 , P. 13, V. 6 , C. 15. Anterior rays of dorsal not separated from the rest of the fin and not produced. The habitus of the fish agrees quite well with Bloch-Schneider’s figure fl.c.) if the first two, produced rays of the dorsal are excepted. The British Museum has some specimens of T. setigerus from the Mekran coast, but they, too, are distinguished for long filaments of the dorsal; possibly, however, this is only an age or sexual character (Day, I.e.; Norman). A specimen of the British Museum from Dobai (Iranian Gulf) does not possess these elongations and is completely like our speci men, but no decided ground ha.s been taken upon vn/ rlm. r. \vhif h is put down only as Trichonotus. It has 11 scales below 15th dorsal ray, and its head is contained 5 times in the length the body. Scafes rhomboid as in our specimen. They show no convincing likeness to the drawn scales in B 1 o c h-S c h n e i d e r (I.e.) and D ay ( 1888, p. 796 and 1889, II, p. 3 2 8 ), in both of which places they seem to be cycloid; nothing is said about this in the text. Judging from D ay’s figure of the animal it must be supposed to have 2 dorsals, and In the text it is stated that the first 2 rays are “slightiy divided from the remainder of the fin.” Our sf>ecimen, however, has an undivided ‘dorsal and B 1 o c h’s figure (I.e.), too, shows no partition. Unfortunately, the colour of the living animal cannot be stated with any very great exactitude. The preserved fish is brownish with hyaline fins. Material brought home: No. I : St. la. Off Bushire, 13.3.1937. (ia6 mm). Notes: The specimen was taken with a bottom sampler. A fish mentioned and figured by Alcock (I.e.) is much like the form men tioned here, both with regard to shape of scales and the rest of the structure; the fins (fin rays), however, are somewhat longer, but none of the fin rays are produced beyond the edge of the membrane. Ac cording to the figure the fish has L.lat. 6 0 , D. 5 0 , A. 3 9, P. 14, V. 6 , C. 13. H a b.; Iranian Gulf, Seas of India. F am .: Uranoscopidae Uranoscopus guttaim Cuv. & V a I. Uranoscopus guttaius Cuvier & Valenciennes, III, 1829, p. 305. (Pondi cherry). Uranoscopus guttaius Cuv. & Val. Day, 1878, p. 360; 1889, II, p. 217. Principal characteristics: Large-headed fish with eyes and mouth turned up. Nostrils situated in front of the centre of the eye. Four spines along lower edge of preopercle and on subopercle. Two large spines on shoulder bone, the lower one the larger. Posterior border of occiput with one central and on each side two small bony lobes, the posterior lateral lobes with a spine. Bones of head roughened. D. 4 | 12, * 1 A. 13, P. 17, V. 5 , C. 13. Dorsal spines weak, the first one longest, but only 7s 3S high as soft dorsal. Caudal rather rounded. Scales missing above first part of lateral line and on breast and chest to commencement of anal. L.r. about 5 1 , L.tr. about 5 0 . Lateral line from shoulder to base of second dorsal, along which it is continued. Colour: Brown with some lighter dots on the back. Di white at bas Sub-order: TRICHIUROIDEA F am .: Trichiuridae Trichiurtis muticus Gray Triehiurus muticus Gray, 1831, p. 10. (India). Trichiurus muticus Gray. Day, 1878, p. a o o ; 1889, II, p. 134. I Native names: Asp, Hasb, HasfaJc, Asbac, Saloo, Nakhooz. Fig. 89. Triehiurus muticus G r^^. (After Day, 1878). Principal characteristics: Very oblong (ribbon-like) shape of body. Head > 10, height of body 15 in total length. The lower jaw a little produced beyond the upper, interorbital space witli a keeled ridge along its centre. Anteriorly on the side of the upper jaw arc two pairs of large, curved teeth; two similar, but much smaller teeth are found in the lower jaw above the symphysis; these teeth stand before the snout when the mouth is shut. D. 130-140 rays, P. 12. Highest dorsal rays shorter than height of body. Colour: Greyish on back, silvery on sides. A narrow, black spot from snout to interorbital space. Material brought home: No. 1: St. 11. S. of Busbire, 11.3.1937. (535 mm). No. 3: St. 46, Off Bender Abbas, 11.4.1937. (585 mm). No. 3-4; Busbire Roads (stake-net), .36.1.1938. (as6, a8o mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): ^ II (i). I* (a), 14 (1), 46 (1), 47 (i), 55 |(8K 63c (i), 65a (a), 65b (2), 63d (3) 80 ( 0 , 9 6 (i),98 (3), iia (lo ), 133 (3).—Stake-net: Jan. 23. (3), *4. (14), 25- (37). 26. (15), 27. (23), 29. (9 ); Feb. I. (7), 3. (5), 4. (12), 5, (8), 8. (5), 9. (6), 10. (4). 15. (8), 16. (7), 17. {9), 19. (8), 20. (9), 23. (4). 23. (6), ^25. (10), a8. (8); Mar. i. (20), 4. (12). Dates of capture: 11. March-ao. April, 1937; la. January-13. April, 1938. » ^ ' Notes; The species was found to be evenly distributed over the area exanfiined. Larger specimens were sometimes , brought to the fish bazaars, but the species is of no great value as a food fish. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, China. Sub-order: SCOMBROIDEA F am .: Scombridae . Scomber microlepidotus R ii p p. Scombtr mUroUpuiotiu Ritppell, 1835, p. 38. (Red Sea) . Scomber microlepidotus Ruppell. D a y , 1878, p. 250; 1888, p. 790; 1889, II, p. 203. Native name: Seebah. Principal characteristics: Fusiform. Length of head about 4, height of body 4 in total length. L.lat. about 130. Eyes with a broad anterior and posterior adipose lid, extending Vz across the eye. Intcrorbital space flat. D. 8 1 la -1- 5 , A. 12 + 5 . Dorsal spines weak and receivable into a groove. Scales smaller above than below lateral line and largest just beneath pectoral fin. Colour: Greenish on back; lighter, silvery on sides. 2 rows of small, but distinct spots along summit of back, close to dorsal fin. fiq yellowish, tipped with black; the other fins yellowish. According^ to D a y Urge specimens have some dark longitudinal bands on the uppermost part of the body; our specimens did not show this character. w r : t • 160 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran \ ^ Material brought home; . No. I; St. 5. N.E. of Kharg, 4-3-I937- («43 mm). " No. a : St. 36. W. of Ayanat, 5-4 >937- ( i95 mm). • . No. 3: St. 100. Gulf of Oman, 30.3.1938. (258 imn). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 5 ( i) , 21 (i), aa (a), 36 (a), 100 (1). ■ ’f Dates of capture: 4. March-5. April, 1937; 30. March, rgsS. < \ N o t c s: As will be seen the fish was caught now and then, in localities I * distributed aU over the area. On the economic value of the fish in the Iranian Gulf nothing definitely can be said. At any rate it is not by far of the same importance as Cybium. According to D a y the species attains a length of about 30 cm. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China. Cybium guttatum (B 1. S c h n.) Scomber guttatus Schneider. Bloch, 1801, p. 23, fig. 5. (Tranquebar). Cybium interruptum Cuv. & Val. Day, 1878, p. 354; 1889, II, p. aio. (Partim). Cybium gutlatum (B 1. S c h n .). Day, 1878, p. 355; 1889, p. aro. (Partim). Native names; Ghobad, Ghobab, Sheer. % Fig. 91. Cybium guttatum (Bl. Schn.). Adult specimen. (After Day, 1878). * Principalcharacteristics: Elongate. 16 and 13 teeth in each half of respectively upper and lower jaw ; they are somewhat com pressed and of fairly uniform size. A patch, rounded anteriorly and slightly emarginate laterally on vomer, and a band along palatines. Lateral line with a gradual descent; it becomes somewhat undulating opposite the com mencement of second dorsal, and very much so below the 3rd and 4 th finlets. D. 16 1 3/16 ( 1 7 ), .A. 3 | 18 -}- 8 , P. 2 1 . Colour: Bluish or greenish above, silvery on sides. On upper half of trunk several longitudinal rows of small, sometimes rather indistinct, roundish spots. Spinous dorsal black. According to D ay (I.e.) the fish attains a length of i m. The characters mentioned are suggestive partly of C. interruptum, partly of C. guttaiuni (cp. Day, Lc.). The denticulation is more like that of the former spe cies, the run of the lateral line and the figures of the fin rays arc more like those of C. guttalum. It is perhaps doubtful whether the 2 namc^ are in fact indicative of the existence of ^ different species of Cybium. I have therefore chosen to class the species under the older name. Material brought home; No. i: St. 56. Strait of Hormuz, 31.4.1937. (430 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 9 (')> 10 (3). («), «a (i), ^ 6a (i), 19a (1), 20a (a), 20b (i), 21 (i), 34 (4). 44 (0 . 5* (3), 56 (4). 57 (3). 59 (3). «09 (1), «i7 (1).—Stoke-net: Feb. 4. (3), 5 ( " ) - , Dates of capture: 11. March-22. April, 1937; 4. February-6. April, 1938. Notes: As a typical inhabitant of the surface water this species was sparsely taken in the trawl. The two specimens from St. 109 and 117 weighed ^ kg each, but several sjjecimens observed were distinctly of higher weight. The specimen from St. 12 had small Leiognathus in its stomach. During our sailing in the Gulf large schoals of the fish were often seen to leap out of the water. It is an excellent food fish. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, China. Rhachycentrum canadus (L .) Gaiterosltm canadus L i n i n g , 1766, p^ 491. (Carolina). Scomber niger Bloch, V II, 1793, p. 57. (Southern Atlantic). Elacate nigra Bloch. Day, 1878, p. 256; 1889, II, p. 313. Rhachycentrum canadus (Linn.). Barnard, 1927, p. 511. Native names; Sekalae (Larak), Sokalah (Jask). Principal characteristics: Rather large form, oblong. Height of body 7 ^ - 8 in total length. Mouth wide, maxilla reaches to below anterior edge or first third of eye. Teeth villiform. D. 8 | 28-36 , P. 21, V. 1/5 , A. 2/25-2 9 . Dorsal s{>ines with a very short interspinous membrane. Second dorsal highest anterioriy where its rays equal the height of the body. Anal similar to second dorsal but rather lower; it arises on the vertical below the 7th or 8 th dorsal ray. Colour: Brownish with a dark band along the back and another along the middle of the side. The fins dark. Attains a size of about 80 cm (Day, 1 8 8 9 ). No material brought home. Caught at stations (numbers in brackets); «9 (1 ), 32 ( 0 , 4 ' ( 0 . 44 (a ). 9 * (* ). 9^ (1). •!»« («). I33 ( ') • Fig. 9a. Rhackj/etntrum canadus (L.). (After Day, 1878). i 6 a Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran Dates of capture: 27. March-io. April, ^ 3 7 ; 24. March-13. April, 1938. Notes: The species was taken dispersedly, but not in the'inner Gulf, i.e. not N. of Lat. 2 8 ° N. It is a good food fish. The fish captured were estimated to weigh between Yq and 2 kg and 2 kg measured). H a b.; Tropical Atlantic, Indian waters, Japan. Sub-Order: GOBIOIDEA Fam.: G o b i i d a e All determinations of species were made by F. P. K o u m a n s, whose manuscript, however, has been fitted into the lisual arrangement with addings of references to literature, field notes, etc. K o u m a n s’ words are expressly marked with his name. Bathygobius fuscus (Riipp.) Gobius fuscus Rupp ell, 1828, p. 137. (Red Sea). Gobius nebulo-punctatus Guv. & Val. Gunther, III, 1861, p. 26. Gobius alhopunctatus C u v. St Val. Day, 1878, p. 294; 1889, II, p. 265. Gobius (Mapo) fuscus Rupp. Barnard, 1927, p. 821. Bathygobius fuscus (Rupp.). K o u m a n s, 1935, p. 121. Principal characteristics: Body posteriorly somewhat compressed. L.iM. about 4 0 , L.tr. 13. Head depressed, a little longer than broad. Jaws subequal. Maxillary reaching to below eye. Teeth in several rows, villiform; the outer rows in both jaws slightly enlarged. No canines. 6 6 1 9 1 0 —. r I The head scaled above. D. j i/i i (K o u m a n s, l.c., says | / - ), * ^ A. 1/9 , P. 16 (Koumans, I.e., stating 19-2 0 ). Colour: Brownish with dark spots. A row of light spots on both sides of the dorsals. The fins »* with dark, grey spots in our (preserved) animals. According to Kou mans (I.e.) the fins of the species are “dark to light with or without dark markings.” * Koumans’ comment on our animals (in litt. 23 .2 . 19 4 0 ) runs as follows: “The specimens differ from the description of Koumans, Zool. I I I ;t Ble gv ad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 163 Med. Leyden XVIII, 1935? p. 121-2 3 , in having D. 6 | I'/ii. The scales on head and nape are very rudimentary and could not be found. The pattern of melanophores in the skin shows, however, that the head above behind the eyes and nape are scaled. In the pattern of colour the speci mens agree with specimens of Gobius albopunctatus of R ii p p e 11 of the Red Sea. I think that this slight difference is not worthy to make a variety for the specimens.” Material brought home: No. i: Coral-reef S. of Bushire, 3.3.1937. (4.2 mm). No. 2: Rakat-as-Safli, Bushire, 13.2.1938. (49 mm). Notes: The two fish were taken in puddles left at ebb-tide in the said localities (dead coral-reef and sand-bank). H a b .: Indian Ocean, China, Japan, America. Oxyurichthys tentacularis (Cuv. & Val.) Gobius tentacularis Cuvier & Valenciennes, XII, 1837, p. 128. (Java). Gobius tentacularis Cuv. & Val. Day, 1878, p. 291; 1889, II, p. 261. Oxyurichthfs tentacularis (C. k V.). Koumans, 1935, p. 126. Fig. 94. Oxyurichthys tentacularis (Cuv. & Val.). (After Day, 1878). Principal characteristics: Elongate. L.lat. about 6 0 , L.tr. 10 (Koumans, I.e., says; 14- 16). Eyes high up and close together. Width of head equals its length behii^d middle of eye. Snout obtuse and rounded. Mouth oblique. Maxillary extends to below' posterior part of eye. Lower jaw longer than upper. A single row of teeth in premaxillaries. Two or three rows in lower jaw without any canines. D. 6 | 1/ 12, P. 2 0 , A. 1/ 13. Dorsal spines extending far beyond the membrane and equal to height of body. Pectoral as long as head. Colour (according to Kou mans, I.e.) : Reddish green above, reddish pearl-colour below. Each scale of back and upper parts of sides with a round red spot at the margin. Below the eye an oblong, dark spot. D, and Dj with longitudinal rows of reddish-violet spots. P. orange, V. and A. violet; base of A. with a row of reddish-violet spots and with violet streaks along the blue border. C. yellowish, violet below with oblique reddish-violet streaks. Material brought home; No. I : St. 99. E. of Jask, 30.3.1938. (60 mm). Notes: Our specimen, which was found in the stomach of a Sea- Snake, Hydrophis lapemoides (Gray) (Volsoe, 1939, p. 2 1 ), is to tally decoloured. The species was taken in no other wise. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Oxyurichthys papuensis (Guv. & V a 1.) Gobius papuensis Cuvier & V'alencicnnes, XII, 1837, p. 106. (New Guinea). Gobius papuensis C u v. & V a 1. G ii n t h e r, III, 1861, p. 49. Cobius {Oxyurichthys) notonema M. Web. Weber, 1913, p. 477-78. Oxyurichthys papuensis (C. & V.). Koumans, 1935, p. 128. Principal characteristics: Oblong. L.lat. about 75, L.tr. about 2 0 . Scales small anteriorly, becoming larger on the tail. Eyes very close together. Snout obtuse. Moilth oblique. The maxillary extending to below middle of eye ; teeth in outer series enlarged. D. 6 | i/i 2, A. 1/ 13. Colour (according to Koumans): Greenish above, reddish below. Body with indistinct transversal bands. Dorsal fins and caudal fin reddish with many blue streaks. P. reddish with shiny spots, upper part of base with violet spot. V. reddish, outer pan violet. A. yellowish-red, violet to wards margin. A dark .spot on the middle of side of caudal peduncle. Material brought home: No. i: St. 106. Gulf of Oman, 1.4.1938. (ti2 mm). Notes: Only this one specimen was taj^cn. It is decoloured bccausc it was found in the stomach of a Sea-Snake, Hydrophis lapemoides (Gray) (Volsoe, 1939, P- 20- Ha b.: Seas of Australia, Malay Archipelago, Northern Indian Ocean. ? Acentrogobius ornatus (Riipp.) Gobius ornatus R ii p p e 11, 1828, p. 135. (Red Sea). Gobius ornatus Riipp. Giinther, 1866, p. 21, Gobius ornatus Riipp. Day, 1878, p. 294; 1889, II, p. 263. Acentrogobius ornatus (Riipp.). Koumans, 1935, p. 137. Principal'characteri sties: Oblong form. Height 6 times in total length. L.lat. about 3 0 , L.tr. 8 . Length of head equals height. Head obtuse. Mouth oblique. Maxilla extends to below anterior third of orbit. A recurved canine on either extremity of enlarged row of teeth of lower jaw. D. 6 | i/ii, A. 10, P. 17. Colour (according to Kou mans, I.e.): Green above, lighter on lower side. Head laterally with small yellowish spots and 3 purple transverse streaks. Dorsal half of head and body with irregular rows of violet spots; ventral half of body with larger violet spots in two longitudinal rows. Dorsal fin.s reddish to yel lowish, the membranes with oblong violet spots alternating with yellowish streaks in oblique series. P. orange, rays and ba.sc dark-spotted. \"entrals Fig. 95. Acentrogobius ornatus (Riipp.). (After Day, 1878). orange, tip violet. A. yellowish, dark-bordered. C. orange with dark and yellow spots. Concerning our specimen Koumans (in litt. 23.2.1940) further made these remarks, “This specimen differs in having no visible scales on the predorsal region. The head shows dark spots on the lower half. Further it agrees with A. ornatus.” Material brought home: No. I : Coral-reef S. of Bushire, 27.2.1937. (33 mm). Notes; Only this specimen was obscned. H a b .: Northwestern and Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines. Acentrogobius dayi Koumans Gobius breviroslris G ii n t h e r. Day, 1878, p. 285, pi. 63, fig. 5; 1889, II, p. 250'. Acentrogobius dayi Koumans, in litt. 23.2.1942. (Fao, Estuary of Shatt-el- .Vrab). F’ r i n c i p a 1 characteristics; In our animals the height was 7 - 7'/;, the head about 4 times (ontained in the total length. L.lat. about 40. L.tr. 15. .Snout obtuse. Cleft of mouth oblique. Ma.\illary reaches middle of eye. D. G | 1,11, A. 1*. i;^. Caudal rounded. Koumans' description of the species runs a*; follows; "D. 6 I i/io, 1/9. P. 17, L.la.. 40-42, L.tr. 14. Predorsal scales about 20-about 30. Bod\ elongate, (omprcssed, height 5 in length, (i in total length. Head subcylindrical, profile parabolic, 2‘ ; in length. in total length. Eye 4'/< in head, interorbital eye-diameter. Snout as long as eye, tip be fore lower part of eve. Mouth oblicjue. lower jaw prominent. Ma.\illar\' extends to below ;mterior part of eye. Teeth in several rows, outer row enlarged, anterior teeth caninoid. In lower jaw outer row to halfway the jaw, last tooth a recurved canine. Tongue truncate. Two longitudinal mucous canals over cheek. Two open pores in median line in interorliital. Gil!-openings a little continued forward below, isthmus moderate. Scalcs of body ctenoid, becoming (ycloid before D,. Head scaled abo\e from ' D a y's fishes do not seem to he identical with G ii n t h e r s spcrimens, for which reason a new name has been given (Koumans). a little behind the eyes with small cycloid scales. Upper part of opercle scaled with small scalcs ... D, about as high as body, 2nd ray is the longest. P. about as long as head. V. as long as head without snout. C. oblong, about as long as head. Colour (according to Day): Olivaccous. A blotched irregular band from mouth to centre of base of caudal; a nar row brown band from eye to above opercle terminating above axilla in a large light blue ocellus. Two small bluish spots on upper edge of opercle, another at the upper edge of base of caudal. Dorsal violet at base. Anal white with a violet band along the middle and bluish base. Caudal with some dark markings.” Material brought home: No. I : Coral-reef S. of Bushire, 3.3.1937. (60 mm). Xo. 2: Muharrak Island, Bushire, 31.12.1937. (47 mm). Notes: Spec. No. 2 was taken in a Periophthalmus tube. H a b .: Northwestern Indian Ocean, Iranian Gulf. ? Oligolepis acutipennis (Cuv. & Val.) Cobius acutipennis Cuvier & V’alenciennes, XII, 1837, p. 80. (Malabar coast). Gobius acutipennis Cuv. & Val. Day, 1878, p. 291 ; 1889, II, p. 261. Oligolepis acutipennis (C. & V'.). K o u m a n s, 1935, p. 141. Principal characteristics: Elongate, compres.sed. L.lat. about 25, L.tr. 6 K o u m a n s. I.e., says: 27-30 and 7-8, respectively). Snout obtuse and rounded. Cleft of mouth oblique. Greatest width of head equals its length behind middle of eye. Maxillary reaches to below foremost third of eye. Height equals length excluding snout. A narrow row of warts across the cheeks. A large opening of mucous canals opposite posterior lower angle of orbit. D. 6 | I 'lo, P. 15 ( K o u m a n s. I.e., saying 20-21A. 10. Spines of first dorsal weak, with filamentous termina tions ; last dorsal ray divided at its ba.se. C^olour (a( cording to K o u- mans and Day;: V’ellowish. An oblique, violet .streak from eye to behind maxillar\.-Some dark spots along the side. Fins reddish. Dorsal fin and caudal with dark spots. ,\nal with a dark border. About our specimen Koumans (in lilt. 23.2.1940) says, “Colour not typical.” Fig. 96. Oligolepis acutipennis (Cuv. & V'al.i. (.After Day, 1878). Material brought home; No. I : Larak, 5.4.1938. (26 mm). Notes: Only this specimen was obser\ed. It was taken in a shore seine quite near to the coast. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines. Barbatogobius asanai K o u m a n s Barbatogobius asanai Koumans (in press). K o u m a n s, in litt., 23.2.1942. (Kosamba Creek near Bulsan [Bulsar?], Western India). Principal characteristics: Broad, flat head. Head barely twice as broad as high. Head 3, height barely 6 times in length without caudal. L.r. about 55. D. 6 | i/io, A. i/g, P. qo. Colour of our preser\ed specimen: Brownish abo\ e with 5 large, light spots on back: one below anterior part of D,, one in front of and below anterior part of this fin, one below posterior half of D,, one on middle of caudal peduncle, and one at base of caudal; some smaller, irregular spots on sides. Ab domen whitish. Fins light with pronounced, dark scries of spots. Kou mans (in litt. 23.2.40) says about our animal: “In this specimen the barbel.s at the chin are bifid. On median ramus of lower jaw 3 barbels, the middle one is medially placed.” Koumans’ description of the species (I.e.) runs as follows: "D. 6 i/io, 1/9, P. Qi. L.lat. about 34, L.tr. 14, predorsal scales about 18. Body elongate, anteriorly cylindrical, posteriorly compressed, height 5 -5 '/> in length, 6 - 6 in total length. Head depre.ssed, flat abo\e, 3 in length, 3:^4 in total length. Eye 5'/'j-6 in head , interorbital i eye-diameter. Snout I!/j cyc-diamctcr, tip before inferior margin of eye. Anterior nostril in a tube, posterior nostril with a flap on the rim. Mouth a little oblique, lower jaw a little prominent. Maxillary prolonged posteriorly, extending to one cye-diamct<'r behind eye, in \oung ,';porinK’iis not .so far. On snout between the nostrils several barbels. Two barbels at the chin, four barbels on each side of medi.in ramus of lower jaw. Teeth in each jaw in se\eral rows, outer row enlarged. Outer row of lower jaw extends to halfway the jaw; no canines. Tongue feebly cmarginate. Medially of anterior nostril two longitudinal mucous canals on snout, laterally of which three short trans\ ersal ones. From posterior nostril begins a mucous canal which runs along maxillar\ to edge of mouth and then longiti dinalK o\ cr cheek. Abo\ e this canal, four ones run longitudinally over cheek, the upper ones a little obliquely vipward.s, the uppermost below e\c. Two mucous canals along lower jaw to posterior margin of preopcrcle. Some short ones on opercle. •\})ovc opercie two longitudinal mucous canals. Open pores: one posteriorly in interorbital space ; before and behind each eye one pore with a flaplikc M ! i 68 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran If Poul H. Winther del. Fig. 97. Barbatogobius asanai K o u m a n s. No. i, 64 mm. (Origin). rim ; two pores in supraopercular groove. Head scaled above from halfway or from end of preopercle with small cycloid scales which are somewhat rudimentary; cheek and opercle naked. Scales of nape, breast and belly cycloid. Below D, the scales become ctenoid. Dorsal fins very close, but separate. D, lower than body, convex, the middle rays are the longest. D 2 and A. anteriorly lower than body, posteriorly higher and pointed. P. and V. oblong, about as long as postorbital part of head. C. oblong, shorter than head. Colour in spirits; Brownish. Head with irregular dark markings. Body with 3 alternating rows of about 5 blotches. Di light, with 2 broad oblique dark bands. Do light, with 3-4 dusky oblique bands. A. in middle dusky. Rays of C. spotted. P. with a dark band at the base, ending above in a light oceUus, bordered with dusky; outermost part of P. spotted. V, dasky.” \ r U I'"* Material brought home: No. i: St. 123. E. of Hindarabi. (64 mm). t M Notes: Only this specimen was taken. l:il H a b.: Iranian Gulf. Lobulogobius omanensis nov. gen. nov. sp. K o u m a n s PI. X, Figure 3. Description (Koumans, In litt., 2 3 .2 . 1 9 4 0 ): “Lobulogobius nov genus. Body elongate; compressed, covered with about 30 deciduous ctenoid scales. Head subcylindrical, scaled above behind the eyes with faintly ctenoid scales, chtfcks and opercle naked. Eye small. Interorbitai 2 cye- diamcters. Snout much longer than eye. .interior nostril tubular. Mouth a little oblique, jaws .subequal. Maxillary not prolonged. Teeth in both jaw.s in several rows. In upper jaw outer row enlarged, .some canincs in front; on each side in front a depressed canine of inner row. In lower jaw outer row nearly not enlarged, inner row enlarged, caninoid, forming on cach side of symphysis a strong, curved canine. Tongue bilobate. A longitudinal mucous canal over check. Gill-openings far continued forward below, gill- mcmbranes united across the isthmus. Inner edge of shouldcr-girdle without llcMi\ Dorsal fins separate. Di.with 6 rays. D 2 1/8 ; A. i/g. V. united, basal membrane on each sidd with a round lobe. P. without free silk-like rays. C. oblong. Type of genus: Lobulogobius omanensis nov. gen., nov. spec. This genus is close to Cottogobius K o u m a n s 'in press), but differs principally in having the interorbital much wider. The lower pectoral rays are branched, while in Cottogobius these rays are unbranched. Lobulogobius omanensis nov. spec. . D. 6 I 1/8 ; A. 1.9 ; P. 2 0 ; L.lat. about 3 0 ; L.tr. about 1 0 ; predorsal scales about 15. Body elongate, compressed, height 4 % in length, 5 /2 in total length. Head subcylindrical, profile nearly straight, a little less than 3 in length, 3 /2 in total length. Eye 6 in head, interorbital 2 eye-diameters. Snout blunt, 2 eye-diameters, tip before lower margin of eye. Anterior nostril tubular. Mouth a little oblique, jaws subequal. Maxillary extends to below anterior part of eye. Teeth in several rows. In upper jaw outer row enlarged, on each side 3-4 canines in front, inner row a little enlarged, on each side in front a depressed canine of inner row. In lower jaw outer row scarcely enlarged, inner row enlarged, in front of each side of symphysis a strong, curved canine, laterally some smaller canines. Tongue bilobate. From anterior nostril a mucous canal to maxillary, from here a canal longitudinally over cheek. Above this, another longitudinal canal on cheek. Two open pores in supraopercular groove, the first one behind eye. Gill-openings far continued forward below, gill-membranes united across the isthmus. Head scaled above behind eye with weakly ctenoid scalcs, cheek and opercle naked. Scales of body deciduous ctenoid. D, lower than body, middle rays are the longest. P. without free silk-like rays, lower rays branched. Basal roembrane of V. with a round lobe on each side. C. oblong. Colour in spiritf: totally faded, only a dark stripe from eye to snout. Type: St. 9 5 . 6 miles W. by S. of Jask 35 m. 2 5 ° 4 0 ' N. 5 7 ° 33' E., 29-3-'938- J 8p. (47 m m ).” Notes; Only this specimen was taken. H Ml. * Scartelaos tenuis (Day) BoUopktkalmus tenuis Day, 1878, p. 305, pi. 65, fig. i. (Estuaries of the Indus). Boleopklkalmus tenuis Day. Day, 1889, II, p. a8a. Scartelaos tenuis (Day). Koumans, in lilt., *3.2.1940, Native names: MShee-sag (M&hec = fish; sag = dog), Shelambo, Goel- cheragh (Bender Shahpui '. Principalcl. Oblong shape of body. 8 large. 170 Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran pointed canines on each side of the middle of upper jaw; outside them are about 10 more, one third of their size. Those in lower jaw compressed, subhorizontal, pointed and about 17 on each side; two moderately sized posterior canines above symphysis. D. 5 | 2 7, P. 19-2 0, V. 1/5 . A. 2 6 . None of our fish with less than 19 pectoral rays. D ay (I.e.) states 13 rays in P. In most of our animals the 2nd ray of Di is produced; this character does not appear in D ay’s figure {1 8 7 8 ). Colour: Brownish- grey above, whitish below; numerous dark dots on head and anterior part of b a ^ ; behind a little larger, greyish spots, ist dorsal with black outer region; a similar one is found on upper edge and point of the caudal. Caudal otherwise grey, a little lighter in its ventral region. Pectorals and ventrals greyish, anal whitish. Fig. 98. Scarleaos tenuis (D a y ). (After Day, 1878). Material brought home: No. 1-4; Outer Roads of Bushire, 18.3.1937 (from the stomach of a sea-sna]cc, Hfdropkis cyanocinctus (V o 15 0 e, p. 18)). (146, 149, 157, abt. 160 mm). No. 5-7: Muharrak Island, Bushire, 31.13.1937. (71, 150, 15a mm). No. 8-17: „ „ „ 22.4.1938. (86, 87, 102, 104, 109, 12a, 137, 142, 143, J45 mm). Notes: Besides in the neighbourhood of Bushire it was observed in large numbers on the broad levels round Bender Shahpur, which were left dry at ebb-tide. Like the following species this animal lives in tubes in the clayey levels near the coast; it leaps rather well across the soft clay, though it is not so adroit a leaper and not so vivacious on dry land as Periophthalmus. H a b.: Arabian and Iranian Gulfs. ? Periophthalmus koelreuteri (Pall.) Gobius Koelreuteri Pallas, V III, 1764, p. 8, pi. 2, figs. 1-3. (No locality). Periophthalmus Koelreuteri Pallas. Riippcll, 1835, p. 140. (Shores of Indian Ocean, Massaua). Periophthalmus Koelreuteri (Pall.). Day, 1878, p. 303. Periophthalmus koelreuteri (Pall.). Day, i88g, II, p. 280. Native name: See Scartelaos. Principal characteristics: Shorter and tighter than Scar- telaos. Eyes elevated and close together. About 22-24 pointed teeth in * r: ' Blegvad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 171 each jaw. D. 13 | 14, A. 12, P. 14- 15, V. 1-5 . Colour: Olivaceous with lighter spots; some darker spots on sides of tail. Fins greyish. Material brought home: No. 1-3: Coral-reef 6 km S. of Bushire, 22.-24.3.1937. (75, 86, loa mm). Notes: All other Periophthalmus were determined by Koumans to the following species. The 3 specimens mentioned here were also deter mined by Koumans, but with some doubt. They were in a rather poor state of preservation. _ H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond. Periophthalmus waltoni Koumans Periophthalmus waltoni Koumans, in litt. 3 3 .2 .1942. (Estuary of Shatt-el-Arab). Native' names: M&hee-sag, Shetambo (Bushire), Goel-cheragh (Bender Shah- pur), the same names as Scarttlaos. Principal characteristics: Much like previous species. Our animals showed the following: Head 7*^, height 4 / 2-5 in total length. L.r. about 120. D. 12-13 1 14 (or 1/ 1 3 ), A. 12 (or i/ii). Koumans’ description (in litt., I.e.) of the species runs as follows: “D. 13 I 1/ 13, A. i/ii,P. 14. L.lat. about 9 0 , L.tr., 2 2, L.tr.2 about 1 4 ; predorsal scales about 3 0 . Body elongate, anteriorly cylindrical, posteriorly compressed, height 55/2 in length, 6 ^ in total length. Head blunt, subcylindrical, 354 in length, 4 /a in total length. Eye 4 % in head. Teeth on each side in each jaw about 15, placed in one row. In upper jaw on each side in front about 1 t' B. Loppenthin phot. Fig. 99, Periophthalmus waltoni Koumans. Bushire (on the deck of M/S Rashgoo), 41 1938- B. Loppenthin phot. Fig. lOO. Locality for Periopkthalmus waltoni Koumans. A fish is seen at near the edge of the puddle, left at low tide. Bender Shahpur, 16.3.193S. H. Blegv-ad phot. Fig. 101. Small water-pool, inhabited by Periopkthalmus wattoni Koumans. Low tide. Bender Shahpur, 19.3.1938. 5 caninoid teeth, among which 2-3 large ones, followed by about 10 small teeth laterally. In lower jaw in front on eadh side 6-7 caninoid teeth, among which 3-4 large ones, followed by about 8 smaller teeth laterally. Head and body scaled, on posterior part of body the scales gradually be come larger. Dorsal fins separate, but interspace small, about 6 in head. Di convex, a little higher than body, about as long as high, in male higher than body. D, much lower than body. P. about as long as head. V. with a distinct basal membrane. The fin is posteriorly emarginate as the inner rays are shorter than the middle ones; the membrane between the inner rays extends to the end of these rays. C. obliquely pointed, the upper rays are much longer than the lower ones, ^ of head. Colour in spirits: Brownish-grey with silvery spots on head and body. On ventral side these spots form more or less transverse silvery stripes. On body indefinite dark blotches. Di dark, becoming darker towards the outer margin, on basal half of the fin a row of light spots, one spot on each membrane between two rays. base dark, a light band, consisting of light blotches halfway the fin, at the nuiir sidp of which a blackish band; outer part of the fin dark. P., ' ' Material brought home; No. 1-4: Muharrak Island, Bushirc, 31.12.1937. (90, 106, 108, 112 mm). No. 5: Bender Shahpur, 19.2.1938. (100 mm). No. 6-9: Muharrak Island, Bushire, 22.4.1938. (88, n o , 114, 122 mm). Notes; The species was observed only in the localities mentioned above, but in return it was numerous here. The animals lept adroitly along the clayey ground and disappeared in their tubes. H a b.: Iranian Gulf, Arabian Gulf. Trypauchen vagina ■ ■ ■ ■■ ■ ' ■ ■ . J.7': ' Fig. loa. Trypavchen vagina (Bl. Schn.). (After Day, 1878). caught. Those from St. 133 were found in the stomach of a large, female Trygon uarnak (Forssk.), weighing 100 kg. H a b.; Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, China. Sub-o*d^: CALLIONYMOIDEA Fanu: Callionymidae CaUionymus longicaudaius Temm. & Schl. Callumymus longicaudatus Temminck & Schlegel, 1850, p. 151, pi. 78, figs. 1-2, pi. 79A, fig. I. (Japan). CaUionymus longicaudatus Temm. & Schl. Day, 1878, p. 322; 1889, II, P- 303- Principal characteristics: Very flat and broad-headed form. Head nearly triangular, as broad as long or a little broader. Length of head 5-5 }^, height of body 1 0 ^ 2-12 in total length. Eyes close together, 1 /2 diameter from end of snout; diameter about 4 in length of head. Preopercular spine rather stout, with 3-5 denticulations internally, 3 in the smallest specimens, 5 in the largest one, and one at its base pointing forward. Preopercular spine in our animals, however, more curved than in the specimen shown in Temminck & Schlegel (Lc., pi. 78, fig. I ) ; in appearance it is more like that of fig. Ill on the same table {CaUionymus valenciennei), but this fish is much darker than our animals. Gill-opening small, superior. Lateral line single. D. 4 | 9 , A. 9 , C. 9- 10, P. 16- 18, V. 5 . Dorsal spines weak, in males filiform, well over half as long as body with caudal. Caudal lanceolate, without prolonged rays. k*" Colour (of the recently caught individuals): Bluish with some lighter reddish-brown spots, on the animals in hand with dark edges. Fins greyish; dorsal generally with a black blotch; anal with a black band externally except in the largest one of the specimens brought home, in which this fin is of uniform colour; the other fins with small, dark dots. Material brought home: No. I ; St. 17a. S.W. of Kharg, 14-3.1937. (65 ram). No. 2-7: St. 27. Between Biuhire and Ras-cI-Muuf, 26.3.1937. (49, 54, 59, 65, 70, 72 mm). No. 8: St. 112. Near H omuz, 3.4.1938. (93 mm). Notes: The species was hardly taken elsewhere. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, China. ? Callionymus sagitta Pallas, 1770, V III, p. ag, pi. 4, fig. 4-5, 1767. (Am- boina). ? Callionymus sagitta Pall. Day, 1878, p. 322; 1889, II, p. 304. Principal characteristics; Depressed. Head nearly trian gular, our animals with a little longer "snout than those given above as C. longicaudatus and than the specimen shown in P a 11 a s’ figure (I.e.). Eyes a little more than i diameter from end of snout. Length of head height 13 in total length. Maxilla scarcely reaches to below front edge of eye. Preopercular spine rather stout, as long as eye, with 2-4 denti- culations on inner side, of which the most lateral one forms the point of the spine. Gill-openings small, superior. Latqiral line single. D. 3 | 9- 10, A. 9 , C. ID, P. 15- 16, V. 5 . None of the 5 animals in hand had 4 distinctly developed spines in D ,; both Pallas and Day (I.e.) men tion 4 spines in D,. None of the caudals of our specimens showed produced rays. All the animals are probably females as they have no produced rays in Dj. Colour (dead specimen): Greyish with numerous darker dots on back; belly unstained. Paired fins hyaline, unpaired fins with dots of the same character as the body. Di with some small, distinct black spots. Material brought home: No. 1-3: St. 19. Bushire Roads, 18.3.1937. (53, 63 mm). No. 3-4: St. 82. Off Hor Musa, 4.3.1938. (66, 67 mm). No. 5; St. i n . Near Hormuz, 3.4.1938. (83 mm). Notes: The species was hardly caught elsewhere. H a b.: Northern and western Indian Ocean. Callionymus persicus Reg. Callionymus persicus Regan, 1905, p. 3254 pi. C, figs. i, lA, (Iranian Giilf). Principal characteristics: Depressed. Head broad, trian gular. Head 47*-5*/«> height 13 in total length. Eyes contiguous, 3-3 7 * in length of head. Preopercular spine straight with a single pronounced and 2 quite small denticulations on its inner ade; Regan (I.e.) states; serrated inner edge. Lateral line single. D. 3 | 9 , A. 8 , C. 9 , P. 17, V. 5 . Rays of Di not produced in the specimen in hand. Caudal about V3 of length of body. Median rays the longest, but not filiform. The specimen is a female; in the male dorsal and caudal are gready produced. Upper side of the body with some irregular spots, partially grouped in indistinct transversal bands. Fins with dark dots, grouped in series square to the rays. Material brought home: ’ No. i: Larak, 5.4.1938. ( J , 45 mm). Notes: This species was taken nowhere else by us than at Larak. H a b.: Iranian Gulf, Oulf of Oman. Sub-order: BLENNIOIDEA Fam .: B 1 e n n i i d a e Blennius persicus Reg. Blennius persicus Regan, 1905, p. 327, pi. B, fig. i. (Iranian Gulf). Principal characteristics: Depth of body 5 J/a-7 in total length. Diameter of eye 3 ^ - 4 in length of head. Snout nearly vertical. Jaws with a single series of immovable teeth. No canines. One of the Fig. 104. Blennius persicus Reg. (After Regan, 1905). specimens (No, i ) with 2 flaps of skin on the head and 2 simple tcntacles in front of and a little below the eyes; no supraorbital tentacles. The other specimens have tentacles but no crest. D. 12/17- 1 9 ; the highest number of rays is found in No. i (Regan, l.c., states: Dorsal 12/2 0 ). Dorsal notched, spinous portion composed of flexible spines. Pectoral slightly longer than head, reaching origin of anal. V. 2, A. 20-21 % (Regan, I.e.: 2 3 ), C. about 14- 16. Colour: Greyish-brown with dark spots on sides, i row along the ba.se of the dorsal, one row along the middle of the side; in the larger spots are seen small, light dots. Dorsal and caudal with numerous dark points, forming streaks square to the fin rays. In Regan’s figure (l.c.) D, has 3 rather broad stripes; the bands of our specimens are not so pronounced and broad. .Anal of No. i with a black edge, in the others with more or less dark rays; membrane greyish. ' Material brought home: No. ! ♦ Farur (tidal zone), 22.3.1938. {49 mm). No. a-7: Farur (tidal rone), 22.3.1938. (38, 39, 42, 44, 44, 46 mm). Notes: The fish was caught in the same locality as the following species but nowhere else. No. i is probably a male, the others are females. They are mature and live on Diatoms and some other vegetables. The animal is similar to Salarias frenatus C u v. & V a 1. (cp. D a y ,, 1878, p. 3 3 5 , pi. 70 , fig. 9 ) from the west coast of India, but it comes nearest to R e g a n’s description. H a b.: Iranian Gulf. “ i Salarias lineatus Guv. & V a I. Salarias lineatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, XI, 1836, p. 314. (Java). Salarias lineatus Cuv. & Val. Day, 1878, p. 332; 1888, p. 798; 1889, II, p. 316. Principal characteristics: Elongate. Clumsy head. A ten tacle with notched edges above orbit and a short, fringed one at front nostril. Males with a crest Fig. 105. Salarias lineatus Cuv. & Val. Male, (.\fter Day, 1878). as long as head e.xcluding snout. Colour: Dark bluish-grey. Some irregular and not very conspicuous spots on the sides. Fins dark; dorsals with delicate, oblique stripes, rising posteriorly in Dj. Anal without stripes, greyish with darker edge. Material brought home; No. 1-4: Farur, 22.3.1938. (94, 95, 102, 108 mm). | ^ Notes; The fish lived in the tidal zone and was taken in the puddles left dry at ebb-tide in the rock, where it must be able to suffer a very high temperature. We saw it nowhere else, but it was not very eagerly searched for. H a b.; Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Petroscirtes punctatus (C u v. & V a 1.) PI. X, Figure 4 . Blennechis punctatus Cuvier & V alenciennes, XI, 1836, p. 286. (Bombay). Petroscirtes punctatus (C u v, & Val.). Day, 1878, p. 326; 1889, II, p. 308. Principal characteristics: Elongate. Length of head 5 ^ 2, height of body 5-6 in total length. According to,Day the length of head is smaller, about 6 ^/^ in total length. Lower canines large, upper only half their size. D. 3 2 , P. 14, V. 2, A. 2 3 , C. about 15. Dorsal fin just reaches base of caudal. Ventrals short, not above half as long as pectorals. Colour; Greyish with 3 rows of spots on the side: i immediately at the base of the dorsal, i a little below and i nearly off horizontal sep tum, the anterior spots of the Jast-mentioned row forming horizontal lines. Material brought home: No. I ; Coral-reef S. of Bushire, 27.2.1937. (66 mm). No. a: Same locality, 3.3.1937. (46 mm). Notes: The species was taken nowhere else. H a b.: Northern and eastern Indian Ocean. Petroscirtes variabilis Cantor Petroscirtes variabilis Cantor, 1849, p. 1182 (1 ^ 0 , p. 200). (Strait of Malacca). Petroscirtes variabilis Cantor. Day, 1878, p. 327 ; 1888, p. 796; 1889, II, p. 309. Principal characteristics: Elongate. Length of head 4 ^ , height 5^2 in total length (according to Day, I.e., these values are 5 J4 and 6 , respectively). Snout somewhat produced, A short simple tentacle at posterior upper edge of eye and a very short one on either side of chin. Lower canines large, upper small. D. 28, P. 14, V. 3, A. 17, C. 11 (Day, I.e.: 1 3 ). Dorsal commences behind the preopercle; it terminates a short distance before root of caudal fin. Colour: Pinkish, with dark spots. Dorsal and anal fins marbled and spotted with lines. Material brought home: No. i: St. 29. N.E.^of Bahrein L.V., 27.3.1937. (61 mm). Notes: Only this specimen was observed. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Sub-order: STROMATEOIDEA F am .: Stromateidae Stromateus cinereus B 1. Stromateu! cinereus Bloch, IX, 1795, p. 90, pi. 420. (No locality). Stromateus cinereus Bloch. Schneidcr, 1801, p. 491. (Tranquebar). Stromateus cinereus Bloch. Day, 1878, p. 247; 1889, II, p. 198. Native name: Halva. English: Pomfret. H. Field phot. Fig. 106. Stromateus cinereus B I. Principal characteristics: Nearly rhomboid shape of body. Snout projecting over the mouth. D. 6/4 2 , P. > 2 0 , A. 5/3 8 . Dorsal and anal spines appear in a truncated form above the skin, which is more distinct in the young individuals; in the older they are totally or partly concealed in the skin. Anterior portion of soft dorsal elevated, but not to so great an extent as the anterior part of fhe anal. Pectoral rather pointed. Caudal deeply forked, the lower lobe the,longer. Colour: Back grey, i^radually turning into a silvery, white colour on the lower part of the side and on the abdomen. Very small black dots all over. Fins with a faintly yellowish tinge; the unpaired fins with dark edges. M aterial‘brotight home; No. i: St. 9. S. of Bushire, 11.3.193 7. (230 mml. No. 2: St. 73. S. of Bushire, 3.3.1938. (225 mm). No. 3: St. 79. Hor Musa, 16.2.1938. (99 mm). No. 4: St. 82. Off Hor Musa, 4.3.1938. (90 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): I 9 (90). >0 (50). '> (*5). '* (65). >4 (>7). 19a (30). >9b (6), 20a (abt. 20), aob (abt. 50), 21 (i), 22 (1), 34 (a), 35 (4). 47 (2 ). 56 ( 0 , 57 (s)i 6a ( 0 . 63 (5). 65a (i), 65b (i), 73 (6), 79 (i), 82 (3).—Stake-net; Jan. 23. (11). 24. (5), *5- (4). 26. (2), 27. (i), 29. (i) ; Feb. 2. (i), 3. (1). 4- (a ). 5- ( 0 . 6. (1), 7. (6), 8- («o), 9. (i), 10. (3), 19, (2), 20. (10), 22. (4 ), 23. (2), 25. (3). 28. (i); Mar. I. ( 1 ). Dates of capture; 11. March-22. .April 1937; 9. Januar>--4. March, 1938. Notes; The species was taken nearly all over the area investigated, from Her Musa to Jask, but the heavier catches were principally grouped about Bushire. 25 fish from the stake-net, 2 3 . Jan.-2. Feb., 1938, weighed 15.5 kg, an average of barely 7s kg. Apart from comparatively few small specimens (of less than 10 cm in length) the fish weighed about /a -?4 kg each. It is an excellent food fish, one of the best of the Gulf. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond. Stromateus niger B 1. Stromateus niger Bloch, IX, 1795, p. 93, pi. 422. Stromateus niger Bloch. Schneider, 1801, p. 492. (Tranquebar). Stromateus niger Bloch. Day, 1878, p. 247; 1889, II, p. 199. Native name: Halva-sia (sia = black). Principal characteristics: More slender than previous species. The lower jaw the longer. Dorsal and anal much elevated in front, very' low behind, with concave margins, though not so produced as in S. cinereus. D. 4 2 -4 3 , P. 2 2 , A. 3 9 . The last fourth of lateral line passes straight to middle of tail in the form of a raised, keeled line with lateral shields. Colour: greyish-brown with a bluish-grey tint. Lower portions of head and body lighter. Fins greyish-brown or brown with darker edges. Material brought home: No. I ; St. 20a. S. of Bushire, 19.3.1937. (235 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets) ; la (a), 19b (4), 20a (abt. 20), aob (few), 21 (i), 35 (2), 109 (1). Dates of capture: 12. March-i. April, 1937; 2. April, 1938. Notes; Rather few in numbers, much rarer than S. cinereus. Excel lent food fish. H a b.: Northern Indian Occan, Malay Archipelago, China. Psenes indicus (Day) Cubiceps indicus Day, 1870, p. 690. (Madras). Psenes indicus Day. Day, 1878, p. 237; 1889, II, p. 185.. , Principal characteristics: Snout short and blunt. Lower jaw the longer. Opercle spineless, endjt^hi a rounded point. Abdominal profile rather more convex than dorsaI?E,l. about 4 5 . Scales very decidu ous; some extending on to soft dorsal, anal and caudal fim. Lateral line on a row of plate-like scalcs. D. 10 | 1/15. A. q'! - P 2 j. V'. i '5. Colour: Silvery. Fins greyish. Material brought h o m r No. i; St. 8. S. of Bushire, .nui,. No. 2; St. 98. Jask, 29.3.1938. (98 mm). No. 3: St. 114. Clarf-nrf Strait,^4.4.1938. ( n o mm). I I Fig. 107. Psenes indicus (Day). (After Day, 1878). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets) : 6 (la), 8 (1), 13 (6), 15a (27), 15b (177), i6a (35), i6b (13), 17c (14), i7d (19 ). ('6 ) . 24 (37), »7 ( n o ) , 28 (600), 31a (2), 31b (2), 32 (6), 37 (as). 38 (44). 47 (abt. 100), 48 (20), 57 {3), 59 (2a), 98 (2), 114 ( i) . Dates of capture: 5. March-22. April, 1937; 29. March-4. April, 1938. Notes: The species was taken in localities dispersed over the greater part of the area, but with a very different representation in the two seasons. ^ Hab.: Northern and northwestern Indian Ocean. Sub-order: MUGILOIDEA F am .: Sphyraenidae Sphyraena jello C u v. & V a 1. Sphyrana jello Cuvier & Valenciennes, III, 1829, p. 349. (Coromandel coast). ^ Sphjrana jello C u v. & Val. Day, 1878, p; 342; 1889, II, p. 335. Sphyraena jello C .'V . Weber & Beaufort, IV, 1922, p. 220. Native names: Kool (Bushire), Ghelajeh (Henjam). European: Barracuda. Principal characteristics: Elongate, pike-like. L.lat. about 18 125, L.tr. I. Lower jaw the longer, a fleshy tubercle at the end of symphysis. Teeth in upper jaw‘«mall; 18-20 in mandible, the greatest ones posteriorly; 4-6 larger ones in anterior portion of palatines. Opercle wth two points. D. 5 | 1/9 , A. 1/9 , P. 15, V. 1/5 . Colour: Dark grey above, lighter below on sides, abdomen whitish. The dark grey colour of the back continues across the sides in a score of transversal bands, which disappear across the abdomen. Fias whitish or yellowish with numerous fine, black dots. Material brought home: ' No. i: St. lo i. Gulf of Oman, 31.3.1938. (490 mm). No. 2: St. 104. Chahbar, 31.3.1938. (340 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets)': 10 (2), 14 (2), 24 (i), 33 (2), 35 (2), 36 (6), loi (2), 103 (3), 104 (15), 117 (4), 118 (l), 121 (i). Dates *0 f capture: 11. March-5. April, 1937; 31. March-8. April, 1938. Notes: 20 fish from the eastern part of the Gulf of Oman (St.s 101- 1 0 4 ) weighed 9 kg, an average of barely /a kg. The largest specimens weighed about i kg. It was a good fish, though the meat was some what dry. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Formosa. Sphyraena obtusata Guv. & V a 1. Sphyrtena obtusata Cuvier & Valenciennes, III, 1829, p. 350. (Pondi cherry). Sphyrana obtusata C u v. & V a l.. D a y , 1878, p. 343; 1889, II, p. 337. Sphyraena obtusata, C. V. Weber Sc. Beaufort, IV, 1922, p. 226. Native name;i Koot. Principal characteristics: Slender, pike-like. L.lat. about 9 0 ; L.tr. f . Scales extended over opercle and checks. Operclc terminating in a single, flat membranous point. Preopercle nearly rectangular. Lower jaw the longer. About 20 teeth on either ramus of lower jaw, the posterior ones being the longest; at symphysis one, well-developed canine. Anteriorly in upper jaw 2 large canines, and 3 large canines in front of palatine.s, followed by a single row of small teeth. D. 5 | 1/9 , A. 1/9 , P. ( 14-) 15, V. 1/5 . Colour: Back greyish, sides and abdomen whitish. Limit between the grey and the white colour irregular. Pectorals greyish; the other fins yellowish. Material brought home: No. I : St. 10. S. of Bushire, 11.3.1937. (230 -|- x mm). Fig. 108. Sphyraena obtusata C u v. & Val. (After Day, 1878). ’ In the catches are possibly included specimens of the following specics as no distinction was made between the different Sphyraena species during the expedition. Notes: As we did not distinguish between the Sphyraena species during the expedition, there is a possibility 1 th^t one or sei^eral of the catches rftentioned under the previous species should be referred to this form, at any rate the two fish from St. 10. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, China, Philippines, Fiji Islands, New-Zealand. F am .: M u g i 1 i d a e Mugil dussumieri C u v. & V a 1. Mugil dussumieri Cuvier & Valenciennes, XI, 1836, p. 147. (Coasts of India). Mugil Dussumieri Cuv. & VaL Day, 1878, p. 352. Mugil dussumieri Cuv. & V a 1. Day, 1869, II, p. 347. Mugil dussumieri C. V. Weber & Beaufort, IV, igsa, p. 235. Mugil dussumieri Cuvier, & Valenciennes. Roxas, 1934, p. 401. Native names; Meid (small specimens), Beeah (larger specimens, Bushire), Garriz (larger specimens. Bender Abbas). Principal characteristics: Elongate, with rather large scales. L.lat. 30-3 2 ; L.tr. 10. Rostro-dorsal profile almost straight, snout convex. Adipose eyelid greatly developed, the posterior covering almost all of iris. Upper lip not particularly thick, lower lip thinner. Anterior nostrils circular, the posterior one appearing as a transverse slit. Preorbital scaly. Both soft dorsal and anal scaly. D. 4 | i/8 , A. 3/9 . Colour: Greyish- green on upper side, silvery on sides and abdomen. Hind edge of caudal dark; fins otherwise hyaline. Material brought home: No. i: S t 61, Bushire Harbour, 1.1.1938. (168 mm). No. a: S t 61, „ „ 7.1,1938. (255 mm). No. 3-145: Bender Shahpur, 20.2.1938.^(84-36 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets); S t 61 (Wheel) J Dec., 1937: 27. (4), 28. (5), 30. (6), 31. (5 ); Jan., 1938: >• (2). a- (4), 3. (8), 4- («0 , 5- (4). 6- (*). 7- (4)—Stake-net: Jan. 23. (19), 24- (27). 25- (>o). 26. (2), 29. (loa), 30. (23), 31. (9); Feb. 2. (aa), 19. (6), 23. (i6); Mar. i. (i).—Henjam, 6.4.1938 (6-7 spec.).— Arabi, 25.4.1938 (3). Dates of capture: 27. Dec., 1937-25. April, 1938. Notes: 203 of the fish mentioned above, taken in the staJte-net be tween Jan. 3 3 . and Feb. 2 ., 1938, weighed 16.5 kg or about 80 g on an average. Fish of this size were termed “Meid” by the fishermen. The specimens termed “Beeah” by the fishermen are supposed to have weighed H. Field phot. Fig. n o . Mugil dussumieri C u v. & V a 1. (“Beeah”) Yi-i Yi. kg. A specimen, which the fishermen called “Beea-arabce,” caught in Bushirc Harbour on 3 0 . 1. 1937, weighed kg. Beeah seems to have larger scales and thicker lips than Meid, and we thought that they re presented two species during our stay in the Gulf. The determination made difficulties at the moment, and so I asked Dr. J. R. N o r m a n to make another examination of the two fish mentioned. No. 1 (“Meid”) and No. 2 (“Beeah”). Dr. Norman, to whom I bring my thanks for his help, arrived at the result that they both belonged to the same species, Mugil dussumieri C u v. & Val.------^TJie youngs (No. 3- 145), which were taken in a catcher at the floating dock of Bender Shahpur, have not been subjected to a closer examination, but, they hardly belong to another species than that mentioned. It will be noticed that this fish, which is decidedly a coastal fish, was not taken by us in the trawl, but only in stationary gears near the shore. At Henjam the fish were caught for us in a cajsting net by a native fisherman. Hab.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay .\rchipcIago, Philippines, Au stralia. Entering fresh water (Day, 1889, i.e.). F am .: Atherinidae I I Atherina forskalii R iip p.j Atherina Forskalii R u p pell, 1835, p. 132. (Red Sea). Atherina Forskalii Rupp. Day, 1878, p. 345. Atherina forskalii Rupp. Day, 1889, II, p. 338. Atherina jorskilii Riipp. Weber & Beaufort, IV, 192a, p. 274. Principal characteristics: Elongate. L.lat. 42-4 5 ; L.tr. 6 . Head pointed, its upper surface flattened but slightly convex in interorbital part, whereform it is decidedly declivous to point of snout. Mouth com paratively large, the jaws equal. Snout much shorter than eye. Teeth in Fig. III. Atherina forskdlii Riipp. (After Day, 1878). ■ « • rather broad bands on jaws, pterygoids, palatines and vomer. D, 5 1 1/9 , A. 1/ 13, P. 1/ 15- 16, V. 1/5 . Vertical through anus a little in front of vertical through origin of first dorsal, separated by two scales. Colour: Back of a pale greyish-green with small dark dots. Sides silvery, Material brought home: No. 1-6: Bahrein Harbour, 18.3.1938. (77, 86, 87, 87, 88, 115 mm). Notes: The species was taken only in the said locality where it was frequent and was taken in a hand catcher. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond, Philippines. \ Sub-Ordrr: POLYNEMOIDEA Fam .: Polynemidae Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Shaw) Polynemus tetradactylus SLaw, V, 1804, p. 155. (India). Polynemus tttradattylus a w. Day, 1878, p. 180; 1889, II, p. io6. Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Shaw). Weber & Beaufort, IV, 1922, p. 199. Native name: Rashgoo. Principal characteristics: Greatly projecting snout. L.lat. 78-8 0 ; L.tr. .f,. Eyes covered with a gelatinous membrane. Mouth very u large, reaching far behind eye. Maxillaries scaly. Head covered with scales H. Field phot. Fig. til. Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Shaw). to tip of snout. Anterior and posterior nostrils close tc^ethcr. Preopcrculum serrated. Upper lip absent, lower lip only well developed near angle of mouth. A broad villiform band of teeth in both jaws, extending to out side of jaws. Similar teeth on vomer, palatines and pterygoids. D. 8 | 1/ 15, A. 2/ 17, P. 17 + 4 , V. 1/5 . Second dorsal, anal and caudal almost entirely scaled. Caudal deeply forked. Colour: Grey on back, dead silvery colour on sides, whitish on abdomen. Dorsal and caudal yellowish-grey with S|, numerous small, black dots, edges black. Ventrals and anal yellowish. Pectorals grey, free filaments wWte. Material brought home: No. I: Bushire Roads (stake-net), 34.1.1938. (340 m m ). No. 2: „ „ „ 26.1.1938. (315 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 19 (i).—Stake-net: Jan. 24. (i), 26. (a); Feb. 5. (i), 12. (i). Dates of capture: 18.3.1937; 24. January-12. February, 1938. Notes; The species was taken only once in towing net, which is s : J , ( no doubt due to these rapid animals being able to evade boat and trawl. . 'i The native fishermen caught the species in large numbers in nets and on hooks, and it was nearly constantly offered for sale in the bazaars. How ever, it is most likely a seasonal fish, approaching the coast in shoals. 3 fish caught on Jan. 2 4 .-2 6 ., 1938, weighed 2 kg in all, the smallest of them reaching 54 kg. We hardly took specimens of more than i kg, but in the bazaars were often ^en fish of 2 kg or more. Excellent food fish, perhaps the best of the Gulf. Hab.: Northern and eastern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China, Formosa. I ■ Ble gv ad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 187 Polynemus sextarius B 1. S c h n. Polynemus sextarius Schneider. Bloch, iSoi^ p. 18. (TranqueW ). Polynemus sextarius Bloch. S c h n. Day, 1878, p. 177, 1889, II, p. 104. Polynemus sextarius Bl. Schn. Weber & Beaufort, IV, 1922, p. 210. Nativ« name: Taer. Principal characteristics: Produced snout. Eyes covered by a gelatinous membrane. Mouth large, reaching far behind eye. Maxil- laries scaly. Head covered with scales to tip of snout. Anterior and posterior nostrils close together. Preoperculum serrated. A short, rather strong spine Q Fig. 113. Polynemus sextarius B 1. Schn. (After Day, 1878). at the beginning of the lateral line. Upper lip slightly, lower lip well developed, not continous at the symphysis. Jaws with a band of villiform teeth, a similar band on palatines; vomer without teeth. L.lat. about 5 0 , L.tr. D. 8 I 1/ 13, A. 3/ 13, P. 14 + 6 , V. 1/5 . Dorsal, anal and 8.9 ■ proximal part of caudal scaly. Caudal deeply forked, the lobes pointed. Colour: Golden. A large, black spot on the lateral line below front part of D,. Fins with numerous small, black dots. Material brought home: ' No. 1: S t 19. Bushire Roads, 18.3.1937. (185 mm). No. a*3: St. 64. Bushire Roads, 33.1.1938. (47, 54 mm). No. 4-5: Bushire-Roads (stake-net), 23.1.1938. (185, 195 mm). No. 6: St, 66. N.W. of Bushire, 25.1.1938. (76 mm). No. 7-8: St. 8*. Off H er Musa, 4.3.1938. (75. 82 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 14 ( 0 , iga (1), 19b (1), 34 (i), 55 (3), 64a (3), 65b (3), 66a (3), 82 (10), 83 (2), 84 (i), 98 (2), too (t$), 104 (8), III (i), 112 (50).—Stake-net: Jan. 23. (5), 26. (2), 29. (3) ; Febr. 2. (6). Dates of capture: 12. Fcbruary-20. April, 1937: 23. January-i. April, 1938. Notes: The spccics was caught scattcringly all o\er the area. On account of its small size it is of no great value as a food fish. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, China. Order: SCLEROPAREI Sub-Order; SCORPAENOIDEA F am .: Scorpaenidae Pterosis russellii B e n n. Plerois russellii E. T. Bennett, 1831, p. 128. (Mauritius). Pterois Russellii Bennett Day, 1878, p. 15a. Pterois russellii Bennett. Day, 1889, II, p. 60. Principal characteristics: Clumsy shape of body. Greatly produced pectorals, reaching tail, comparatively longer in smaller than in Fig. 114. Pterois russellii B e n n. (After Day, 1878). larger specimens. Spines of front part of dorsal only connected with a membrane in about the lower third. D. 12 | i/ii, P. 13, A. 3/7 . L.r. 11 about 70, L.tr. 1 Interorbital space concave, scaly. A spiny ridge abt. 30 traverses the preorbital and continues over the check to upper preopercular spine, below which'there are two or three more on the vertical and two along the horizontal edge. A spine at posterior upper angle of orbit, and a short supraorbital tentacle. Occipital and temporal ridges spiny. A rather long, fleshy tentacle at angle of preorbital, one at anterior nostril and several more along the head. Colour: Red with i o-11 broader and several narrower, darker stripes from the back and down upon the sides; they disappear towards the abdomen, which is of a uniform pink colour. A dark spot on operculum, immediately above the base of the pectoral. Anterior dorsal and pectoral and ventral fins red with dark spots; in the pectorals particulariy the upper and lower rays are spotted. Posterior dorsal and caudal and anal uniformly red. Material brought home; No. 1-3: St. 16. W. of Kharg, 13.3.1937. (165, *05, 250 mm). No. 4: St. 110. Strait of Hormuz, 2.4.1938. (i6c mm). Caught at stations (Numbers in brackets'): 15 ('). 16b (4), 27 ( 0 , 32 (i), 55 (i), 57 (2), 78 (i), 105 (i), no (i). Dates of capture: 13. March-22. April, 1937; 5. March-2. April, 1938. Notes: Pterois were caught scatteringly all over the area, occurring, however, in rather small numbers. The fish were generally very exhausted when they came on to the deck; the sting of their numerous spines is said to be very poisonous, but we never observed anything iii this respect though we examined the animals with naked hands. Hab.: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Pterois miles (Benn.) Scorpana miles J. W. Bennett, 1830, p. 9, pi. 9. (Ceylon). Pterois miles (Bennett). Day, 1878, p. 153; 1889, II, p. 61. Principal characteristics; Habitus much like that of previous species, but ail fins spotted. D. 12 | i/ii, P. 14, A. 3/7, L.r. 1 : about 9 0 , L.tr. 1 . lniL-rorbit.il sp.uc sc ah . Lower third of preorbital 17-18 covered with spiny elevations, which are continued across the cheeks to angle of preopercle where they end in spines. Two strong turbinal spines. Upper edge of orbit temporal and occipital ridges spiny. A short orbital tentacle, one at the anterior nostril, a long preorbital one over angle of mouth and other short ones about the head. Colour: Red with numerous broad, dark bands, broader than the intermediar> red regions. The bands reach the abdomen. The head is dark with light streaks. Axilla dark with a very distinct, light spot. Pectoral and ventral fins with large spots, nearly dark. D, also with large spots. D , C. ani A. with smaller, dark dots on the rays. Material brought home; No. i: S t 31. W. of Sheikh Shuaib, 30.3.1937. (275 mm). Notes: It cannot be said with certainty whether the species was caught more than this once. Hab.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond. Pterois cincta R ii p p. Pterois cincta R u p p r 11, 1835, p. 108, pi. 26, fig. 3. (Red Sea). Pterois cincta R ii p p e 11. G ii n t h e r, II, i860, p. 125. Pterois cincta R ii p p. Day, 1878, p. 154. ’ No distinctipn was made during the expedition between this and the following Pterois specie.^, and so this list of animals caught perhaps includr-c f-,v «r>. rnTiPns of P. miles. P. russellii, however, was the most common species. Principal characteristics: Habitus like that of previous species, but this form has larger scales. Length of head 3 / 2, height 4 in 6 _ total length. L.r. about 4 5 , L.tr. i . Eyes one diameter from snout, JO diameter apart. Interorbiial space much shorter than in the two previous species, nape scaly. Margin of orbit and occipital ridge serrated, but the head otherwise feebly armed. In the specimen in hand tentacles are not visible, but according to D a y (I.e.) there is one above orbit as long as distance from eye to snout, several long ones on snout and several fleshy tentacles otherwise on head. Teeth villiform. D. 12 1 1/ 11, P. 16, A. 3/5 ( 6 ). 7-8 (Day: 8-9 ) dorsal spines, the highest equalling half the height of body. On D a y’s and R U p p e ll’s figure the rays of D, are some what longer than the height of the body, and the produced rays of the pectorals reach beyond the tip of the caudal. Colour (according to R ii p- pell) : Head and region before pectorals of light brick-colour, the rest of the body dark reddish-brown with 8 narrow, milk-white transversal bands. Base of caudal brown with 2 pale blue longitudinal streaks on either side. Pectorals, ventrals and first dorsal black with scarlet spines and rays; posterior dorsal, caudal and anal of uniform, light brick-colour. Our speci men and D a y’s figure show spots on Dj, caudal and anal. Material brought home; No. I : St. 93. Strait of Hormuz, 38.3.1938. (97 mm). Notes: In the young specimen in hand, the only one caught by us, the structure agrees rather well with the statements of the literature mentioned above, but judging even from the decoloured specimen the colours must have been different from those mentioned in R ii p p e 11 and Day. The snout Ls uncoloured. Back darker with 5 rather broad bands (still a little darker) tapering and disappearing on the abdomen, which is otherwise without markings. P. and V. dark. D, greyish, parti cularly towards the ede Hah: Xorthefn Inciian ucean, Malay Archipelago, Samoa Islands. Apistus carinatus (Bl. Schn.'» Scorpaena carinata Schneider. Bloch, 18 1 ranquebar). Apistus carinatus (Bl. Schn.). Day, 1878, p. 155; i Hbg, il, p. 64. Principal characteristics: Small, high-backed form. Up per surface of the head rugose, with two divergent lines pa.ssing from snout between eyes to occiput, where they terminate in small spines a little in front of either side of base of dorsal fin. D. 15/8-9 , P. 12 - f i, V. 1/5, A. 3/7. Colour according to Day: Greyish on back, becoming rosy on abdomen. Pectorals black. D, light grey with dark edge. A couple of brownish, oblique stripes over the soft part of the dorsal and the caudal. .\nal greyish with a yellow horizontal band. Our specimen, which is ap parently a young one, is greatly decoloured by the preservation; it shows an intense black pigment on Di from the 7th spine and nearly totally black pectorals. The posterior part of the anal has small black dots. Fig. 115. Apislus carinatus (Bl. Schn.). (After Day, 1878). I Material brought home; St. »•}. S. of Bushire, 26.3.1937. mm). Notes: Only this specimen was observed. H a b.; Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond. Minous monodact^us (Bl. Schn.) Scorpaena monodaclyla Schneider. Bloch, i8oi, p. 194. (No locality). Minoas monadactylus (B I. Schn.). Cuvier & Valenciennes, IV, 1829, p. 434. (Batavia). .Vinous monodactfluj (Bl. Schn.). Day, 1878, p. 159; 1889, II, p. 70. Principal characteristics: Small, rather short and clumsy form. Greatest height 3 /2 to barely 4 in length with caudal (Day stating 4-4 / 2). Body without scales. Spines on preoperculum and operculum; also a strong downwards and backwards fiiiected preorbital spine. D. lo/io, P. 10 + I, V. 1/5, A. 9 , Spiny dorsal with deeply incised membrane between the indi\idual spines. Colour (from a*sk«tch of the living an im al): Head, back and upper part of sides grey with bro%vn markings, sometimes appearing as 2 longitudinal rows along the middle of the side; on the back the spots are grouped as backwards directed cross bars from dorsal spines to the upper longitudinal streak. Abdomen pinkish-orange. Di grey and brown with a deeply black edge. Da black in the lower Caudal grey with 2 broad, brown cross bands. Pectorals black, free ray light. Ventrals and anal black. Material brought home: No. 1-2: St. 64. Bushire Roads, 33.1.1938. (77, 85 mm). No. 3: Bushire Roads (stake-net), 26.1.1938. (69 mm). Notes: Only the said 3 specimens were taken. The fish is of no economic value. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, China. Choridactylus multibarbis Rich. Choridaetylus multibarbis Richardson, 1848, p. 8, pi. 2, figs. 1-3. (Sea of China). Chorismodactylus multibarbis (Richards.). Gunther, II, i860, p. 151. Choridactylus multibarbis Richardson. Day, 1878, p. 161; 1889, II, p. 74. . _ * Principal characteristics: Rather short, clumsy body. Osseous ridges on head, a deep groove in interorbital space. Preorbital, preopercular and opercular spines. A groove on the occiput. A fleshy tentacle over the centre of the eye and some others on mandible. D. 13/9 , interspinous membrane deeply emarginate. P. 9 3 , V. 1/5, A. 2/8 . Colour: Brown with a couple of orange-coloured vertical bands. Fins in the main 4 blackish-brown, the dorsal with a couple of broad, light cross bands and a 'b black edge. Caudal dark at base, light in the middle, the extreme third again dark with a narrow, light edge. Free pectoral rays light at base and with dark tips. Material brought home: No. i: St. 31. Petween Bahtein L.V. and Bustanu, 30.3.1937. (133 mm). Notes; Only this one specimen was caught. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, China.^ ^ , Leptosynanceia melanostigma (Day) Pseudosynanceia melanostigma Day, 1878, p. 163, pi. 55, fig. 6. (Sind). Leptosynanceia melanostigma (Day). Day, 1889, II, p. 77. Native name; Farialleh. Principal characteristics; Head large, its upper side full of grooves and not spiny ridges. Opercle with a spine. No tentacles. Eyes turned up. Mouth highly turned up, symphysis of lower jaw forming a Fig. It8. Leptosynanceia mflanoitigma (Day). (After Day, 1878). portion of the dorsal profile. D. 16/5 , spines rather strong, increasing in length posteriorly; interspinous membrane deeply incised. P. 14- 15, V. 1/3, A. 3 -4/7 . Anal spines short. Colour: Yellowish-grey, mottled with black on head and back, more yellow on ades and abdomen. Spiny dorsal of the same colour as the back, soft dorsal yellow in front, posterior half being black. Pectorals yellow, faintly mottled with grey and with a black edge. Ventrals and anal yellow' with black edge. Caudal yellow with a broad black band some distance from Ihe hind border. Material broug'ht home: No. i-a : St. 61. Bushire Harbour, 30.1a.I937.*(i29, i6o mm). No. 3: St. 61. Bushire Harbour, 3.1.1938. (155 mm). No. 4: Bushire Roadii (stake-net), 34.1.1938. (125 mm). No. 5 : » ™ 36.1.1938. (65 mm). Caught at stations (numbers. in brackets); 64 (1), 82 (2 ).—St. 61 (wheel); Dec., 1937: 30. (2), 31. (i); Jan., 1938: 3. (1).—Stoke-net; Jan. 24. (ij, 26. (3), 27. (i), 29. (3): Feb. i. (i). Dates of capture; 30. Dec., 1937-4. March,, 1938. Notes; The species, which is apparently a coastal form, was taken at Bushire from Dec. 3 0 . to Feb. i. Only one catch (2 fish) was made else where, off Hor Mu-sa on 4 . March. The fish is of no economic importance. H a b.; Indian Seas, Iranian Gulf. F am .: T r i g l i d a e I? Lepidotrigla omanensis Reg. ? Lepidotrigla bispinosa S t e i n d a c h n e r , 1898, p. 780, pi. i, figs. i-ia. (Bay of Sues). Lepidotrigla omanensis Regan, 1905, p. 324. (Sea of Oman). Principal characteristics: Head about 3^^, height about 5 in length with caudal. Maxillary reaches to below anterior % af eye. Interorbital space concave, its width 5 times in length of head. Preorbital Fig. 119. Lepidotrigla omanensis Reg. (After Regan, 1905). ending in a pointed spine. Two small spines above eye. Behind eye a bony ridge, ending in a broad spine, which reaches to between 3 . and 4 . dorsal spine; on operculum a somewhat smaller spine. As regards these two spines our fish are more like Steindachner’s Figure (L. bispinosa) than R e g a n ’s figure (L. omanensis), where the opercular spine is shown to be considerably longer, and the nuchal spine only reaches the 3 . dorsal 3 spine. Body scaled. L.Iat. about 5 8 , L.tr. 1 . About 23 scales on either . 18-20 side of imbedded dorsal. The first 3-6 ones are oval, flat and rough on upper side, the following ones smaller, with a ridge along the middle ending in a spine. Excepting the nethermost 6-8 longitudinal rows the scales of the body are greatfy serrated at the free edge. D. 8-10 | 14- 15, A. 14- 16, P. 3 -j- 10, V. 1/5 . The pectorals reach the 5 . or 6 . anal ray. Of the free pectoral rays the uppermost is the longest and of fairly the same length as the ventrals. Caudal slightly emarginate. Colour: Red, paler below on sides, whitish on abdomen. On the hind side of the pectorals is found a laj^e, oval, dark spot; specimen No, 3 does not show this character. Between 4 . and 7. dorsal spine there is a much less pronounced, but, it is true, distinct dark sf)ot. Fins otherwise unstained. Material brought bonie; No. I : St. 4. E. of Khai^, 4.3.1937. (85 -f- x mm, D. 8 1 14, A. 14). Xo. 2; St. 5. E. of Kharg, 4.3.1937. (100 ra, D. 9 | 15, A. 14). No. 3: St. 9. S. of Bushire, 11.3.1937. (100 m, D. 10 I 14, A. 16). No. 4; St. 32. S.W. of Tahiri, 31.3.1937. (i6o mm, D. 8 ' 14, A. 14). No. 5: St. 103. Chahbar, 31.3.1938. (55 ram, D. 8 : 14, A. 14). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): ' 3b ( 0 , 4 (i), 5 ('), 6 (2), i6b (50), 28 (i), 32 (i), 73 (i), 103 (i). Dates of capture: 4.-31. March, 1937; 3. February-31. March, 1938. Notes; The two names mentioned above, L. bispinosa S t e i n d. and L. omanensis Regan have most likely been given to the same species. Numbers of fin rays and scales are a little different: Steindachner (I.e.) has: , D. 8/ 11- 12, A. II, L.lat. 57-5 8 , L.tr. i . Regan (I.e.) has: 21 D. 8/ 14, A. 14. L.lat. 53-5 7 , 25/2 scales above the lateral line. Thus, Regan’s values come nearest to those of our animals. How ever, the descriptions in the said two papers do not exclude the suspicion that the two species are identical, an opinion %vhich is moreover supported by the two figures given (Steindachner, pi. i, fig. i and Regan, pi. B, fig. 2 ). The difference mentioned above between nuchal and oper cular spines in the res does not seem to be essential. As will be seen from what was ^ ve, the numbers of rays in dorsal and anal fins differ in some of our individuals. Lepidotrigla longipinnis A 1 cock ( 1899, p. 68 and 1900, pi. 3 1 , lig. i) is much like She form from the Iranian Gulf. The figure shows the values L.lat. 59^ 9 I A. 15, P. 3 + n , V. 1/5 . H a b.: Northwestern Indian Ocean, Iranian Gulf, Red Sea. F am .; C o 11 i d a e Platycephalus maculipinna R e g . Platycephalus maculipinna Regan, 1905, p. 323, pi. A, fig. 3. (Muscat). Native names: Zemin-kan, Woahar. Principal characteristics; Very large and flat head, which constitutes nearly '/3 of the total length of the fish. L.lat. about 100. The height of the body is contained about 6 times in the length. Maxillary extending to below anterior ^ of eye. Upper surface of head with ridges, bearing some short spines at inter\ als, but not serrated except the supra orbital ridge, which has 4 teeth. Preoperculum with a strong spine at the angle, below which is found a short, spinous projection. Lateral line spinate in its whole extent. D. 9 | 12- 13, P- 2 2, V. 1/5, A. 13- 14. Colour: Reddish-brown above, whitish on abdomen. Spinous dorsal with a large, black blotch between the seventh and eighth spine. Soft dorsal with small Fig. 120. Platycephalus maculipinna Reg. (After Regan, 1905). IF • dark spots on the membrane. Caudal blackish with a pale brown edge. Pectorals with quite small, black dots, so that the membranes seem to be nearly dark. Material brought home: No. I : St. s8. N. of Bahrein L.V., 27.3.1937. (240 mm). No. 2: S t 57. Near Larak, 22,4.t937. (180 mra). No. 3; St. 74. S. of Ras-el-Mutaf, 9.2.1938. (182 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets'): « (3). 6 (7). i6b (i), 19b (i), 25 (2), 28 (1), 56 (5), 57 (1), 58 (10), 64 (1), 66a (i). 73 (1), 76 (i), 78 (1), 96 (10), 97 (8), 98 (2), loi (3), 102 (10), 106 (5), 109 (5), 133 (1), 136 (3).— St. 61 (wheel): Dec., 1937: 25- (2), 3«- («); Jan., 1938; I (i), 4. (i).—Suke-net: Jan. 29. (5). Dates of capture; 28. Fcbruary-22. .^pril, 1937; 25. December-27. April, «938- ■ . Notes: Platycephalus were taken in fairly odpal quantities all over the area. The fish were rather frequent, but as wifl be seen they were caught in no large numbers. Larger specimens were often offered for sale in the bazaars. Hab.: Gulf of Oman, Iranian Gulf. Platycephdus tuberculaius C u v. & V a 1. Platjfcephalui iuberculatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, IV, 1829, p. 258. (Trincomalee, Ceylon). Platycephalus Iuberculatus C u v. & V a 1. Day, 1878, p. 275; 1889, II, p. 237. Principal characteristics: Large- and flat-headed fish. Anterior third of lateral line .spiny, the rest smooth; in the present young individual only the very foremost few scales are spiny. L.lat. about 5 4, L.tr. j_. Supraorbital margin serrated with two sharp spines anteriorly; '3 from here a serrated ridge backwards to occiput. A second ridge from behind eye to upper opercular spine, a third one from preorbital to angle ' The figures include more than one ipccies of Platycephalus, at any rate also P. tuberculatus, though P. maculipinna was by far the most frequent species. of preopercle. The latter with a strong spine, which is half as long as the distance between its base and orbit. Jaws \yith |villifomi teeth; on the vomer there are 2 parallel patches and on the palatines is found an elongate band. D. 9 | 12, P. 2 0, V. 1/5, A. la. Colour: Brownish above, lighter below. Sides with broad, alternating light and dark bands. First dorsal brown. 2 . dorsal, caudal, anal and ventral fins with brown dots; ventrals greyish. Material brought home: No. I : St. 37. Off Bustanu, 26.5.1937. (52 m m ). Notes: Most probably larger specimens were also taken, but un fortunately they were not brought home. The possible catches are included in the figures of P. maculipinna. H a b.: Northwestern and northern Indian Ocean. I .. Order: HETEROSOMATA F am .: Psettodidae Psettodes erumei (B 1. S c h n.) PleuTonectes ^ c h n e i d e r. Bloch, 1801, p. 150. (Tranquebar). Psettodes erumei dHjMchn.). Day, 1878, p. 422; 1889, II, p. 439. trumei c h n.). W e b e r & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. 97. Psettodes erumei (Schneider). Norman, 1934, p. 57. Native name: Kovshak (collective name of all flat fishes). Principal characteristics: Dextral, more rarely sinistral. Head 4 Vj, height 27s in length with caudal. L.lat. about 72. Afouth large, lower jaw longer than upper. Jaws and dentition nearly equally developed at both sides. Teeth on jaws, vomer atiii palatines. In each jaw 2 rows of curved, slender, distant teeth. D. 4 7 . Dorsal fin commences on neck; most of dorsal and anal rays branched. P. 16, A. 3 7 , V. 6 . Colour: Greyish-brown on ocular side, sometimes with darker transversal bands; blind side white. Material brought home: No. I ; St, 97. Jask, 29.3.1938. (320 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets); 24 (i), 26 (a), 44 (2), 55 (0, 36 (2), 89 (2), 97 (i), 100 (4), 106 (4), 109 (2), 110 (2), Dates of capture: 23. March-21. April, 1937; 23. March-2, -\pril, 1938, Notes; The species was taken dispersedly all over the area of in\estigation, but—as will be seen—never in large numbers. It was an e.xcellent food fish. 15 of the fish captured weighed 15 kg. The \ ariation of size was small, i specimen has eyes on the left, the rest on the right side. H a b.: Western and northern Indian Ocean, Philippines, China, Formosa, Japan. ' F am .: B o t h i d a e Pseudorhombus triocellatus (Bl. Schn.) PleuTonectes triocellatus Schneidcr. Bloch, 1801, p. 145. (Tranquebar). Pseudorhombus triocellatus (B 1. Schn.). Day, 1878, j#. .424 ; 1889, II, p. 442. Pseudorhombus triocellatus (Bl. Schn). Weber & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. 108. Pseudorhombus triocellatus (Schocider). Norman, 1934, p- 96. Principal characteristics: Sinistral; rather high-backed form. Head 4 /j, depth of body nearly 2 in length with caudal. L.lat. about 70-7 3 . Upper profile of head a little notched in front of eyes. Upper jaw reaches to or nearly to below middle of eye. Teeth minute in both upper and lower jaw. Scales ctenoid on ocular side; on the blind side they are cycloid e.xcept in front and round the ba.ses of dorsal and anal fins, where the> are ctenoid. Supratemporal branch of lateral line end.-' near the 13. ray of the dorsal fin. D. 71, anterior rays elevated, free from membrane. Dorsal commences a little in front of anterior nostril of blind side. Colour: On ocular side greyi.sh-brown with 3 inten.se, dark ocelli triangularly disposed; the two anterior ones are situated on each .side of lateral line, near the middle of the fish, the third one being found on the lateral line nearly halfway between them and the caudal. Fins dusky yellow of colour, the unpaired ones with some small, dark spots. Material brought home: No. i: St. 104. Chahbar, 13 3.1938. (iio mm). Notes: Only this specimen was observed, H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Pseudorhombus malayanus B 1 e e k e r, 1866, p. 43. (East Indies). Pseudorhombus oligodon (Blkr.). Weber & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. loi. Pseudorhombus malayanus Bleekcr. Norman, 1934, p. 98. Principal characteristics: Sinistral. Head about height about 2 in length with caudal. Pectoral of blind side about 2 in head. Ctenoid scales on both sides of body. L.lat. about 6 8 . Upper profile of head with a notch in front of eyes. Anterior margins of eyes level. Maxillary reaches to below middle of eye. Teeth small in both jaws; ac cording to Norman (I.e.) the anterior ones are the largest, but this is not the case in our animals. (The animals in hand might well be classed as P. elevatus, but the ctenoid scales on the blind side point to the present species). D. 6 9 , P. 13, V. 6 , A. 5 2 . Colour: Our animals were greyish- brown with some few larger, dark, ring-shaped spots and numerous small dots on ocular side and on fins. Material brought home; No. I : St. 55. Jask, 20.4.1337. (85 + x mm). No. 2-3; St, 102. Off Ras Rashidi, 31,3.1938. (59, 66 mm). Notes: The species was not observed with certainty in other localities, but in the Gulf we did not distinguish between P. malayanus, P. elevatus and P. javanicus. The total catches of these three species are given under P. elevatus. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines. Pseudorhombus arsius (Ham. Buch.) Plturonectes arsius Hamilton Buchanan, 1822, p. 128. (Estuaries of the Ganges). Pseudorhombus arsius (Ham. Burh), Day, 1878, p. 423: 1889, II, p. 441. Pseudorhombus arsius (H. B,). Weber & B,?aufort, V', 1929, p. 105. Pseudorhombus arsius (Hamilton). Norman, 1934, p. 101. Native names: Kovshak. Principal characteristics: Sinistral. Head 4-4V- height 2’/.,-27 in length. Pectoral of blind side 2 in head. Lateral teeth in upper jaw small, anteriorly 2-4 pain; of canines; in the lower jaw the lateral teeth are .stronger. Upper profile of head with a notch in front of eyes. Anterior margin of right eye a little in front of that of left one. Maxillary extending to below posterior edge of eye. Scales ctenoid on ocular side, cycloid on blind side. D. 76. P. 12. V. 6 , A. 6 0 . Colour: Greyish-brown with .<;onic scattered, often ring-.>;haped spots on ocular side: further a distinct dark .spot at junction of straight and curved parts of lateral line, a smaller spot on its straight portion and one near the base of the caudal. Median fins with numerous linear pigmentations. Material brought home: No. I : St. 15b. W. of Bushire, 13.3.1937. (220 mm). No. 2: St. 61. Bushire Harbour, 4.1.1938. (215 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): I (30), 2 (1), 3b (2), 15b (i), i6b (11), 17a (5), 17b (3), i7d (2), i8b (2), 22 (i), 23 (3), 24 (2), 25 (3), 26 (3), 27 (2), 29 (i), 31b (i), 32 (3), 44 (25). 56 (6), 57 (i), 58 (10), 63b (i), 65b (3), 67 (3), 69b (1), 70a (3), 72 (4), 74 (>), 75 (6), 76 (.), 78 (2), 78b (I), 84 (1), 86 (i), 87 (2), 92 (4), 95 (2), 96 (3). 97 (2), 99 (10), ICO (3), lOi (31), 102 (10), 103 (2), 105 (2), 106 (9), 107 (i), 108 (2), 109 (5), no (3), Ml (2), 112 (15), 116 (3), 117 (5), 123 (i), 127 (i), 130 (5), 131 (i).— St. 61 (wheel): Dec., 1937: 27, (i); Jan., 1938; 4- ( 0 , 5- ('), 7- (2).—Stake-net: Jan. 23. (2), 25. (i), 29. (5); Feb. 4. (2), 28. (3). Dates of capture: 28. February-22. .April, 1937; 27. December, 1937-13. April, 1938. Notes: The species was by far the most common flat-fish of the Gulf. The catches are equally distributed over the whole area, but it will be noticed that only few hauls contained more than 10 individuals of the species. The specimens from St. 23 had crabs in their stomachs. The meat is tasty but scanty, and the species is of no great value as a food fish. 51 fish from St.s 9 9 , lo i and 102 weighed 11.75 average of 230 g. H a b .; Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China, Japan. Pseudorhombus elevatus O g i 1 b y Pseudorhombus javanicus (Bleeker). Day, 1878, p. 424; 1889, II, p. 442. Pseudorhombus elevatus O g i 1 b y, 1912, p. 45. (Ea.st .\ustralia). Pseudorhombus afjinis M. Web. Wq,ber & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. 110. Pseudorhombus elevatus O g i 1 b y. Norman, 1934, p. i o8- Principal characteristics; Sinistral. Head 3 / 2-4 , depth of body 2 /2 in length with caudal. Pectoral of blind side 2 in head. Ctenoid scales on ocular side, cycloid ones on the blind .side. L.lat. from operculum about 75, straight part 4 4 . Supratemporal branch of lateral line reaching base of 10. ray of dorsal. D. 6 8 , P. 12, V. 6 , A. 5 2 . Upper profile of head with a notch in front of eyes. Anterior margin of eyes level. Maxillary reaches to below middle of eye. Teeth small in both jaws. Colour: Greyish-brown with 3 sometime.s rather indistinct, dark .spots on the lateral line. Besides, numerous ring-shaped spots are found scatteringly all over the ocular side. Unpaired fins greyish with numerous linear pigmentations along the fin rays. Material brought home: No. I : St. 15. W. of Bushire, 13.3.1937. (98 m m ). No. 2: St. 55. Jask, 20,4.1937. (105 mm). No. 3: St. 74. S. of Ras-el-Mutaf, 9.2.1938. (120 m m ) . Caught at stations (numbers in brackets'): 6 ( ' 5 ), '5b { i), 27 (3 )> 28 (3), 38 {9), 55 (2), 74 (i), 102 (5), 103 (i), 104 {2). I Dates of capture: 5, March-20. April, 1937; 9. February-31. March, 1938. Notes: The 9 fish from St. 38 weighed a little more than i kg, an average of about 180 g, most of the specimens caught, however, weighing less. Fish No. i is a “double example” or “Black-bellied Flounder” with ctenoid scales and colour on both sides. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean from Iranian Gulf to Australia, Malay Archipelago. ? Pseudorhombus javanicus (Blkr.) PI. XII, Figure i. Rhombus jaianicus B 1 c e k e r, 1853, p. 302. (Java . Pseudorhombus javanicus (Bleek.). Gunther, IV, 1862, p. 427. Pseudorhombus javanicus (Blkr.). Weber & Beaufort, V, 1862, p. 427. Pseudorhombus javanicus (Bleeker). Norman, 1934, p- 109. Principal characteristics; Sinistral. Height barely twice, head 3'/^ times in length. Norma n’s corresponding measurements for P. javanicus i l.c.; are 2'y..-2’/3 and 3V.-4, respectively. Upper profile of head very slightly notched in front of eyes. Anterior margin of eyes level. Maxillary reaches to below middle of eye. Small teeth in both jaws, anteriorly a little enlarged. L.lat. 70. Supratemporal branch of lateral line reaches ba.se of 10. dorsal ray. Scales of ocular side more or le.'^.'; ctenoid anteriorly, cycloid on posterior part of l)ody. Gtcnoid scales on dorsal and anal. On the blind .side the scales are cycloid. The dorsal fin cojii- menccs in front of anterior nostril of blind side. D. 71, A. 53. P. 11. V. 6. In our animals the length of the pectoral of the ocular side is contained i7<-i in the length of the head: the corresponding measurements of specimens of the British Museum were I’ .-i' . Pectoral of blind side 2'jr2'l, in head. Colour: On ocular side brownish-grey with , ' In the figures are included P. elevalus, malayanus and javanicus, between which forms we made no distinction during the cruisc. our stay in the Gulf.—The fish brought home and dealt \\ith here agree w th P. javanicus, but they are somewhat higher than usually in the case of this species. In Dr. J. R. N o r m a n’s opinion they possibly belong to a new species. At any rate fish of this kind were not found in these waters before. H a b. {ol P. javanicus): Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Southern China. Arnoglossus asfrilos (Blkr.) Rhombus aspilos Bleeker, 1851, p. 408. (Java). Arnoglossus aspilus (Bleek.). Gunther, IV, 1862, p. 417. PUttophrys (Arnoglossus) aspilus Blkr. Bleeker, VI, 1^6-73, p. 15. ill . Bolhus (Arnoglossus) aspilus (Blkr.). Weber & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. 133. Arnoglossus aspilos (B1 e e k e r). Norman, 1934, p. 187. Fig. 122. Arnoglossus aspilos (Blkr.). (.\fter Norman, 1934). Principal characteristics: Eyes on left adc. Head 4 -4/21 depth of body 3 in length with caudal. L.lat. 4 8 . Scales ctenoid on ocular side, cycloid on blind side. Eyes about 4 times in length of head. Lower eye a little in front of upper; they are separated' by a bony ridge. Maxillar\ reaches to below anterior part of eye. Teeth close-set, minute. D. 80, P. 12, V. 6 , A. 6 4 .^ Colour: Uniform brownish without markings on ocular side. Material brought home: No. 1-2: S t 28. N. of Bahrein LV., 18.3.1937. (60, 64 mm). Notes: Only these two specimens were observed. Hab.: Malay Archipelago, Iranian Gulf. Engyprosopon grandisquama (Temm. & Schl.) Rhombus grandisquama Temminck & SchlegeU 1850, p. 183, pL 92, figs 3*4- (Japan). Bolhus (Arnoglossus) poecilurus (Blkr.). Weber St. Beaufort, V, 1929, P «3>. Engyprosopon grandisquama (Temminck & Schlegel). Norman, 1934. p. 209. Blegvad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 203 I Principal characteristics: S^ist?-al. Rather liigh and ver>’ compressed shape of body. Head 5, height 2 in length with caudal. L.lat. about 4 0 . Snout shorter than eye. Considerable distance between the eyes, interorbital space concave. Posterior edge of lower eye below first third Fig. la j. Engyprosopon grandisquama (Tem m. & Schl.). (After Weber & Beaufort, 1929). of upper. Maxillary 3 times in length of head, almost reaching front margin of eye. Teeth of upper jaw biserial anteriorly, uniserial posteriorly, uniserial in lower jaw. D. 83, A, 6 1 , P. 11, V. 6 . Colour: Yellowish- brown. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins with small brown dots, on the caudal further 2 spots, a little larger and darker, off the middle of upper and lower edge, respectively. Material brought home: No. i: St. 104. Chahbar, 31.3.1938. (96 mm). Notes: Only this specimen was obser\ ed. H a b.: Indian Ocean, Malay ArcHpelago, Philippines. Japan. Laeops guentheri A 1 c o c k Laopt Cuenlheri Alcock, 1890, p. 438. (Gulf of Martaban). Laop) gutntktri Alcock. Norman, 1934, p. 357. Principal characteristics; Sinistral. Oblong shape. Head depth of body nearly 3 in length with caudal. Upper profile more con vex than shown by N o r m a n (see fig. 12 4 ), rather high anteriorly, taper ing towards the tail. L.lat. about 9 2 . Upper profile of head and body a little convex above and behind eye. Lower eye in advance of upper. Maxil lary scarcely reaching anterior edge of eye. Teeth in jaws in narrow bands and only on the blind side. D. 9 5 , beginning above posterior nostril on blind side; first two rays detached from remainder of fin. P. 14, shorter than head, V. 6 , A. 7 6 . Colour: Pale brown; dorsal, anal and caudal fins a little darker. ^ ♦ I 1 1' 'vw*/ 4t. !? Fig. 124. Laeops guentheri Alcock. (After Norman, 1934]. Material brought home: No. i: St. 15. W. of Bushire, 13.3.1937. (115 mm). Notes: Only this one specimen was observed. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, including Iranian Gulf. Fam .: Soleidae Solea elongata Day SoUa elongata Day, 1878, p. 426, pi. 90, fig. 4. (Madras). SoUa elongata Day. Day, 1889, II, p. 445. Solea elongata Day. N o r m a n,^i9<8, p. 175. Native names: Kovshak (Bushire), Nemasak (Bender Abbas). Principal characteristics: Dextral; elongate. Length of head 5^/b, height of body 3 V* in total length. L.lat. 125- 130. Diameter of eye about 5 times in length of head. Numerous barbel-like tentacles on blind side of head. A small nostril in front of lower eye, another tubular one anteriorly to it. D. 7 6 , P. 7, V. 5, A. 5 9 . Dorsal and anal rays un branched. The numbers of rays agree with Norman’s statements (I.e.) but not with those given by D ay (I.e.) (D. 7 0 -7 3 , A. 60-6 2 ). Colour: Fig. 135. Solea elongata Day. (.\ftcr Day, 1878). Greyish-olivaceous with numerous larger and smaller spots on the ocular side. The unpaired fins of the same colour as the body. The pcctoral of the ocular side with an intense, black spot on its outer half. Material brought home: No. i; St. 15. W. of Biuhire, 13.3.1937. (41 mm). No. 2: St. 84. W. of Fort Dilam, 4.3.1938. (96 fnm). No. 3-5: St. 97. Jask, 29.3.1938. (97, 106, 115 mm). | No. 6-7: St. III. Near Hormuz, 3.4.1938. (,88,j 08 fnm). No. 8-9: St. 112. Near Hormuz, 3.4.1938. (85, 97 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 15 (0 . 48 (100), 64 (3), 84 (1), 86 (3), 97 {5), III (15), 112 (10), 113 (3), 114 ( 5 ) — Wheel: 30. Dec., 1937 Brachirus orientalis (B 1. S c h n .) Pleuronectes orUntalis Schneider. Bloch, 1801, p. 157. (Traiiquebar). Synaptura orientalis (B 1. Schn.). Day, 1878, p. 429; 1889, II, p. 449. Brachirus otientalis (Bloch, Schneider). Norman, 1928, p. 179. Synaptura orientalis (Bl. Schn.). Weber & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. 175. Principal characteristics: Dextral. Rather short, oval shape of body. Head 5 */^, height 2 in length with caudal. L.lat. about 7 5. Scales ctenoid on both sides. On blind side of head numerous cutaneous filaments. Upper jaw slightly prominent. Small teeth in jaws on the blind side. Eyes separated by a concave, scaly jnterorbital space. D. 6 5 , A. 5 3 . Dorsal beginning on snout. Dorsal and anal scaled, both confluent with caudal. Colour: Brownish-gre>- with some irregularly situated, darker spots. Pectoral of ocular side black. H. FieU phot. Fig, la6. Brachirus orientalis (Bl. Schn.). Material brought home: No. i; St. 115. Clarence Strait, 4.4.1938. (275 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): I (4). '15 (4)- Dates of capture: 28. February, 1937; 4. April, 1938. Notes: Good food fish, which was not, however, observed in the bazaars. H a b.; Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, China, Formosa, Australia. Pardachirus marmoratus (Lac.) PI. XII, Figure 2 . Achirus marmoratus Lacepede, IV, 1802, pp. 658, 660. (Mauritius). Pardachirus marmoratus (Lace p.). Gunther, IV, 1862, p. 478. Pardachirus marmoratus (Lacep.). Norman, 1928, p. 186. Principal characteristics; Dextral. Oblong, oval. Head 5V2, height 2^5 in length with caudal. A straight lateral line on both sides, besides a second one on blind side along upper profile of neck, commencing on snout, terminating opposite the 19th dorsal ray. L.lat. 9 5 - 100. Each scale on ocular side with a roughened patch posteriorly, but without marginal spines. Anterior nostril a wide tube above middle of mouth. Left side of head covered with rather long filaments. Quite small teeth, only in the blind side of the jaws. D. 66-6 9 , A. 5 2 -5 5 . Dorsal beginnini; on snout. Dorsal and anal terminating at the root of the caudal. Pectorals lacking. Colour: Light greyish-brown with numerous dark dots and larger, somewhat irregularly shaped, dark rings scattered all over tfv "i ■■■ m I ■ and the unpaired fins. Material brought home: No. 1-2: St. 86. Near Bahrein L.V., 16.3.1938. (230, 235 mm) Notes: The species was observed nowhere else by us. Hab.^ W«tem and northwestern Indian Ocean with Iranian Gulf. Fam .: Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus bUinealus I.ai .j ' » Achirus bilineatus Lacepedc, IV, 1802, pp. 659, 663. (Chinrip and Indian waters). Cynoglossus quadrilineatus (B 1 - D 21 y, 1878, p , Cynoglossus Sindensis Day, 1878, p. 434. Cynoglossus sindensis Day. Day, 1889, II, p. 455. Cynoglossus bilineatus (Lacep.). Norman, 1928, p. 198. Cynoglossus bilineatu! (Lac.'. Weber & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. 194. Principal eristics: Sinistral. Eloncate. Hcipht Blegvad: Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 207 about 3 % in total length. L.lat. about 8 5 . On the ocular side there are two lateral lines, separated by 12-13 scales (Norman (I.e.) stating r14-19, Weber & Beaufort (I.e.) 13-1 6 ). Two lateral lines on blind side, one on upper part, the other in thi middle of the body. Scales ctenoid on coloured side, cycloid on blind side. Posterior margin of upper eye above middle of lower eye. Two nostrils on ocular side, one tubular, situated on upper lip in front of lower eye; the other is simple and situated between the eyes. On the blind side the anterior nostril is tubular, the posterior one has a semilunar rim. On the blind side of the head some scales have been transferred intp papillae. Dorsal begins near tip of snout. D. about 105, A. about 8 2 . Colour: Reddish-brow'n, unstained apart from a blurred, dark spot on operculum. Material brought home; No. i: S t 19a. Bushire Roads, 18.3.1937. (188 mm). No. 2: St. 67. „ „ 26.1.1938. (178 mm). Notes: Most likely more specimens than these two were taken, but we made no distinction during the cruise between C. bilineatus and C. macTolepidotus. The latter apparently being the most numerous form, the total number of catches are given under this species. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean with Red Sea and Iranian Gulf, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Japatti, Australia. Cynoglossus macrolepidolus (Blkr.) Plagusia macroUpidota Bleeker, 1851, p. 415. (Batavia). Cynoglossus macrolepidotus (Bleeker). Day, 1878, p. 434.; 1889, II, p. 455. Cynoglossus macrolepidotus (Bleeker). Norman, 1928, p. aoa. Cynoglossus macroUpidotus (B lk r.). Weber & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. 205. Native name: Kovshak. Principal characteristics: Eyes on left side. Elongate. Height 4^4 in total length. Eyes about(io times in head. Two lateral lines separated by 7-8 scales on coloured ade, none on blind side. L.lat. abt. 65 (D ay (I.e.): 50-5 5 , Norman (I.e.): 55-5 6 , Weber & Beaufort (I.e.) : 4 8 -5 5 ). Scales ctenoid on ocular side, cycloid on blind side. Mouth strongly curved, snout hooked and overhanging opening of mouth. Comer of mouth behind lower eye, about midway between hind border of oper culum and point of snout. Upper eye somewhat in front of lower. Posterior nostril on coloured side in interorbital space; anterior nostril tubular. Pectorals lacking. Dorsal, anal and caudal confluent. D. 101, A. 7 5 . Colour: Uniform reddish-brown on the whole ocular side, somewhat darker only on operculum. Material brought home: No. I ; Iranian Gulf, 1937. (193 mm). No. 2: Bushire Roads (stake-net), 24.1.1938. (222 mm). No. 3-4: St. 82. Off Her Musa, 4.3.1938. (59, 128 mm). No. 5: St. 9||i^Jask, 29.3.1938. (200 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets'): 64b (i), 63d (i), 67 (i), 73 (3), 82 (15), 83 (2), 97 (10), 98 (5), 100 (i), *02 (9), 109 (i) , 110 r1 1. iri iT-2 (‘2 -\ tiQ /cl lofi /oV— Stake-net: Jan. •24. (4). 29- (ll). Dates of capturc; ?, 1937; 14. January-27. April, 1938. N o t e s : The specimens caught were mostly small and of no economic value; only the 9 fish from St. 102 were fairly well-.sizcd. weiehinp 4 '/| ke in all, and of interest as food fish. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines. Cynoglossus puncticeps (Rich.) Plagusia puncticeps Richardson, 1846, p. 280. (Chinese Seas). Cynoglossus brachyrhynchus Day. D a y , 1878, p. 435; 1889, II, p. 457. Cynoglossus puncticeps (Richardson). Norman, 1928, p. 205. Cynoglossus puncticeps (Rich.). Weber & Beaufort, V, 1929, p. 198. Principal characteristics: Sinistral. Elongate. 2 lateral lines on ocular side, an upper and a median one, separated by 16-17 scales: no distinct lateral line on blind side. L.lat. about 9 5 . Scales ctenoid on both sides. Upper eye somewhat in advance of lower. Posterior nostril on ocular side simple, between front parts of eyes. Anterior nostril tubular, in front of lower eye. Comer of mouth below middle of lower eye, nearer to the point of the snout than to gill-opening. D. about 9 9 , A. about 8 0 . Colour: Brownish with irregular, darker motdings on ocular side. Unpaired fins with irregularly situated, dark stripes along the rays. Material brought home: No. i: S t 113. Near Hormuz, 3.4.1938. (142 mm). N o t e s : Only this specimen was observed. ------• ' In the figures are undoubtpdly included some C, bilineatus as no distinction was made between the two forms during the cruise. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago to Philippines and China. } I ' Order: DISCOCEPHALI * Fam .: Echeneididae Echeneis neucrates L. Echeneis neucrates Linnaeus, 1758, p. 261. (Seas of India). Echeneis naucraies Linn. Day, ^878, p. 257 ; 1889, II, p. 214. Native name; Laz&k. Principal characteristics: Elongate, i . dorsal transformed into a sucking-disk. 23-26 laminae in the disk. Outside the disk there is a wide, fleshy membrane. D, and A. opposite each otHW; Dj 3 6 , A. 3 2 , Fig. 128. Echeneis neucrates L. (After Day, 1878). P. 20 , V. Mandible pointed and with numerous rows of villiform teeth, forming a triangular, toothed space in front of the pointed upper jaw. Colour: Greyish-brown. Along the side a broad band of darker colour; sometimes a narrow, lighter streak below this. Pectorals brown, caudal dark with light outer parts of upper and lower edge. D, and A. dark with white tips. Material brought home: , No. I : St. 19. Bushirc Roads, 18.3.1937. (310 mm, D. 23 35). No. 3: St. 19. Bushirc Roads, 18.3.1937. (380 mm, D. 24 | 35). No. 3: S t 40. S.W. of Qais, 8.4.1937. (251 ram, D. 26 [ 34>. No. 4: St. 77. Off Kangun, to.2.1938. (5ti mm, D. 23 j 3:^ Caught at stations (numbers in brackets) f 19a (2), 29 (i), 40 (1), 77 (i).— St. 6i (wheel): Dec. 29th, 1927 (1), Dates of capture: 18. March-8. April, 1937; 29. December-io. February, 1938. Notes: The 2 specimens from St. 19 were fastened to a 2 m long Rkynchobatus ancylostomus (Bl. Schn.) (cp. p. 4 8 ); those from St. 40 and St. 77 to large Green Turdes, Chelone mydas, of which the specimen from St. 77 weighed 99 kg. The sucker from St. 61 had probably been observed by us for several days, sitting on a large Spams cutAeri (Day), which at last went into the wheel (cp. p. 1 4 2 ). Several suckers were seen to make small swims round the Ijrge Rhincodon typus Smith obser\'cd at Quishm on April 6 th, 1938 (cp. p. 3 4 ). Hab.: Tropical and temperate seas. Irw U Order: PLECTOGNATHI Sub-order: BALISTOIDEA Fam .: Triacanthidae Triacanthus indicus R eg. Triacanthus biaculeatus (Bloch). Cantor, 1850, p. 360. Triacanihus brevirostris Temm. & Schleg. Day, 1878, p. 685; 1889, II, p. 471. Triacanthus indicus Regan, 1903, p. 184. (Seas of India). Triacanthus indicus R e g a n. F r a s e r-B r u n n e r, in litt., July 1939. Native name; Sokharee. Principal characteristics: High, compressed form. An terior rays of dorsal and ventral fins very strong and provided with barbs, Fig. 129. Triacanthus indicus Reg. (After Day, 1878). dorsal spine, however, a littie shorter than head. D. 5 | 2 4 , second and third spines weak and about equal in length. P. 14, V. i, A. 19. 8 teeth in outer row of upper jaw, 6 in inner row, the two median ones the largest. In the lower jaw are found i o teeth in outer and 2 in inner row; they are smaller than those of the upper jaw. According to Regan (I.e.) this form is distinguished from Triacanthus brevirostris, especially by its longer snout and .shorter postorbital part of head. Colour: Bluish-grey on sides, bluish-green on back, silvery on abdomen. A black spot at D,, reaching on to this fm. Also a black spot at the base of the pectoral. Mostly a couple of yellow spots on the side and the caudal. Material brought home: No. i: St. 33. S. of Rai-el-Mutaf, 31.3.1937. (195 mm). No. a: Bushire Roads (stake-net), 36.1.1938. (175 mm). No. 3-4: St. 105. Gulf of Oman, 31.3.1938. (197, 205 -f- x mm). Caught a t stations (numbers in brackets): 9 (5). 'o (127), II (31), n (30), 14 (a), 19a (100), 19b (3), 22 (50), 33 (147), 34 ('o). 3® 300). 46 (60), 58 (3), 53 (1), 59 (95). 67 (16), 68 (10). 75 (146), 76 (3)j 77 (>5°o), 84 (i), 85 (60), 96 (i), 98 (i), loi (60), 103 (S4), 107 (i), 113 (i), 114 (5). (2 9 ). '2ob (i), laoc (la), lai (35), 127 (a), 128 (ai), 129 (abt. 50), 131 ( I ).— Stake-net: Jan. 34. (3), 25. (3), 26. (5), 27. (3) ; Feb. i. (4), 28. (7). Dates of capture; ii. March-aa. April, 1937; 34. January-13. April, 1938. Notes: 156 fish from St.s 68 and 75 weighed well over 21 kg or about 135 g on an average. The largest individuals are estimated to have weighed about 300 g; specimens of this size were seen to be taken by native fishermen in the eastern part of the Gulf. However, the fish can hardly be said to be of any real economic value; on the contrary, it is very embarassing in rational fishery, particularly when occurring in large quantities. On account of the strqng, barbed spines of the dorsal and ventral fins the fish stick to the meshes of the gear and can only be removed with the hands, a difficult and time-wasting work. H a b .: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Triacanthus strigilifer Cantor Triacanthus strigilifer Cantor, 1849, p. 1345, pi. 9; (1850, p. 363). (Sea of Penang). T riacanthus strigilifer C 3 n t o T. Day, 1878, p. 685; 1889, II, p. 47a. Triacanthus strigilifer Cantor. F r a s e r-B r u n n e r, in litt., July, 1939. Native names: Sokharee, Chelbcdo (Kangun). Principal characterisi smaller than previous form. Dorsal and ventral spines comparatively longer, first dorsal spine longer than head and very strong, the second 3 times as long as third. D. 5 | 2 2 , P. 14, V. I, A. 16. 8 teeth in outer row of upper jaw, 4 in inner row. 10 in outer and 2 in inner row of lower jaw. Colour: Greyish, darker on upper side, with some irregular, yellow streaks on head and trunk. Material brought home: No. i; S t 29. N.E. of the Bahrein L.V., 37.3.1937. (140 ram). No. a-4 : St. 75. Off Ras-el-Mutaf, 9,3.1938. (95, 135, 130 mm). N a 5: S t 117. W. of Henjam, 6.4.1938. (107 mm). No. 6: S t 129. Tahiri, 11.41938. (127 + x mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets); 4 (1), *9 (7). 30 ( 0 , 3a ( 0 , 45 (>), 75 (27). 76 (see), 77 (100), loi (39), >03 (>), 117 {15), >aa (5). 1*3 (*). >*5 (s). >*7 (2). >28 (3), 129 (abt 1,000), >31 (I). Dates of capture: 4. March-io. April, 1937; 9. February-13. April, 1938. Notes: The spccics was common in the area, but it hardly seems to reach the frequency and wide distribution of the previous species. When occurring in large quantities it is just as embarrassing to get into the trawl as T. indicus. H a b .: Iranian Gulf, Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, China. * Fan\.: Balistidae ' ■JrrT' ' '* ■ Abalistes stellaris (Bl. Schn.) Balistes stellaris Schneider. Bloch, i8of, p. 476. (Indian Seas). Balistes stellatus (Bleeker). Day, 1878, p. 687. Balistes stellaris Bl. Schn. Day, i88g, II, p. 473. Abalistes stellaris (Bloch & Schneider). Frase r-B runner, 1935, p. 663. Native names: Khar, Gargom (Fanir). B. Loppenthir phot. Fig. 130. Abalistes stellaris (Bl. Schn.). St. 123. Off Hindarabi, 9.4.1938. Principal characteristics; Large head. Teeth uneven, notched. Scales covering cheeks. L.lat. about 4 5 , L.tr. 2 6 . Tail posteriorly depressed. Two ridges on either side of tail. D. 3 | 2 7 , P. 14- 15, A. 2 5 . Posterior edge of caudal concave. Colour: Grey with green tinge. Some larger white and numerous small blue spots on the back and a little down the sides. Abdomen lighter. Fins with dark streaks. Material brought hone: No. I : S t *9. N.E. of Bahrein L.V., *7.3.1937. (*75 mm). No. a: St. 70a. E. of Kharg, 31.1.1938. (149 mm). No. 3: Sl 88. S. of Farur, 23.3.1938. (267 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets) ; 3 ( 0 , 7a (6), 7b (5). 18b (6), 14 (3), 26 (7), 29 (9), 30 (37), 31a (4), 31b (20), 39a (7), 39b (i), 40 (35), 41 (i), 42 (3), 69b (i), 70a (4), 70c (2), 78 ( 0 , 86 (2), 87 (4), 88 (6), 123 (3), 124 (4), 13a (i), 134 (1). Dates of capture: 4. March-9. April, 1937; 30. January-26. April, 1938. Notes: Most of the specimens caught were estimated to weigh be- t\veen and fully •/[ kg- D a y ( 1889, p. 4 7 2 ) says that the meat is ■^metimes poisonous. Maxwell (p. 4 9 ) states'that it tastes like poultry and is eaten both by Malayans and Australians, who often have the fish :\ e Fam.: M on acanthidae Paramonacanthus oblongus (Temm. & Schl.) Monacanthus oblongus Temminck & Schlegel, 1850, p. 291, pi. 130, fig. 2. (Japan). Monacanthus oblongu; Schleg. Gunther, VIII, 1870, p. 241. Stephanolepis oblongus (Schlegel). Jordan & Fowler, 1903, p. 266. Monacanthus oblongus Schleg. Barnard, 1927, p. 956. Paramonacanthus oblongus ( S '■ b 1 ! “i F r ar-B r u n n c r, in litt., July, >939- Principal cliaracteristics: Small form. Large-headed. Rather < ' ' i"ht 3 tim a in total length, 2 /2 times without caudal. D. I I _ ,)inc rather strong, 2/3 of length of head, armed with two series of small barbs behind. A. 2 8 , P. 12, C. 12. Caudal fin rounded, sometimes with the upper or the middle ray produced, which, however, is not the case in the present specimen. Dorsal and anal increase in height to the 7th ray, after which they decrease evenly. Colour: greyish-brown with darker mottling. Fins greyish with some few darker spots; caudal with a spot at base and two cross bars, one nearly in the middle, another near posterior edgp. Material h r o ii ? h t home: ' of Hindarabi, 9.4.1938. (80 mm). Notes; Only this specimen was taken with certainty (however, cp. below under Stephanolepis diaspros). H a b .; Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Paramonacanthus choirocephalus (Blkr.) Monacanthus choirocephalus B 1 e e k r r, 1852 (Balist), p. 19, pi. 2, fig. 4. (Malay .\rchipclago). Monacanthus chatocephalus Bleek. Gunther, 1870, p. 242. Monacanthus choirocephalus B 1 e e k e r. Day, 1878, p. 693; 1889, II, p. 481. Paramonacanthus choirocephalus (Bleeker). Fowler, 1925, p. 264. Paramonacanthus choirocephalus (Blkr,). F r a s e r-B r u n n e r, in litt., July, '939- Principal characteristics: Large-headed, hardly as oblong as previous form. Height 27.1 in total length ( 2V4 without caudal). D. I ] p-,,-. .1 spine armed with ■? of small barbs behind, mcxierately strong, 2/3 of length of head. A. 3 0 , P. 12, C. 12. Caudal rounded; upper ray slightly produced. Colour: Grey with small black spots and dots. Caudal with a couple of dark cross bars on the inner part. Material brought home: No. I : St. 78. Near Kharg, 14.2.1938. (62 mm). Fig. 131. Paramonacantkus choirocephalus (Blkr.). (After Day, 1878). Notes: Only this specimen was observed with certainty, but possibly some few others are included under the catches mcnti Stephandepis diaspros Fraser-Brunner SUpkanoUpis diaspros F r a s e r-B r u n n e r, in litt., July, 1939 (original descrip tion not seen). . Principal characteristics: Larger. Nearly rhomboid form. Shorter shape of body than in Paramonacanthus. Height 2V5 in total length (barely 2 without caudal). D. i | 3 3 . Dorsal spine moderate, 2/3 of length of head. In larger specimens the dorsal profile between dorsal spine and D2 stands at an angle to the median line of the trunk (in Paramon- acanthus they are nearly parallel). In the largest of the specimens in hand the 2nd ray of Dj is greatly produced, to 5/6 of the height of the bod> . A. 3 3 , P. 14, C. 12. Colour: Greyish-brown in small specimens with darker dots; in the large specimen with lighter reticular markings.— An original description was not available. Frase r-B runner determined the fish during my stay in London in the summer of 19 3 9 . Material brought home: 1 ( 1 • No. I-a: St. 29. N.E. of the Bahrein L.V., 37.3.1^37.1(50, 245 mm). No. 3-5: St. 3a. S.W. of Tahiri, 31.3.1937. (19, 34, 37 mm). So. 6: St. 100. Gulf of Oman, 30.3.1938. (92 mm). No. 7: St. loi. W. of Ras Rashidi, 31.3.>938. (133 mm). daught at stations (numbers in brackets); 9 (6 ), 29 (3 ). 3 «b { ' ) , 39 (> ), 4 ° ('), 100 (Oi ('), H 7 (> °)- Dates of capture: 11. March-8. April, 1937; 30. March-6. April, 1938. Notes: Some of these catches possibly include some few individuals of the Paramonacanlhus species. However, Stephanolepis diaspros was un doubtedly the most common among the Monacanthidae. H a b.: Iranian Gulf. Fam .: Ostraciontidae Ostracion gibbosus L. Ostracion gibbosus L i n n 1758, P- 332. (India). Ostracion iurritus Forskil, 1775, p. 75. (Red Sea). Ostracion turritus Fortk. Day, 1878, p. 695; 1889, II, p. 484. Ostracion gibbosum Linnxus. Jordan & Fowler, 1903, p. 279. Principal characteristics: The body is covered by a scale armour, triangular in cross-section. *\ngular osseous plates forming a solid carapace, which leaves* only the snout, bases of fins and caudal peduncle uncovered. Carapace 3-ridged, the upper ridge elevated and comprcffied into a sharp triangular spine. Lateral ridges well de\'eloped and armed with triangular, flattened, strong spines. 2 less pronounced ridges run parallel to the dorsal ridge from the upper edge of the eye to below the dorsal fin. D. g, A. 9 , P. 10, C. 10. Colour: Greenish-brown with some faintly visible dark streaks and spots. A blue spot in the middle of each scale. Fins straw-coloured. Caudal with a tcouple of indistinct cross bands. Material brought home: No. 1 : St. 31. Midway between the Bahrein L.V. and Bustanu, 30.3.1937. (aio mm). No. 2: St. 39. S. of Sheikh Shuaib, 7.4.1937. (aaa mm). No. 3-4: St. 118. S.E. of Tunb, 7.4.1938. (210, 240 mm, dried). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 31a (8), 31b (8), 39a (47), 39b (2). 118 (4). Dates of capture: 30. March-7. April, 1937; 7. April, 1938. Notes: The fish were taken on hard bottom at a depth of 33-60 m. The 4 animals from St. 118 were all females with big roes. The specimens from St. 3 1 b had fragmentary shells of bivalves and crustaceans in their stomachs. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. Sub-order: TETR.\ODONTIDEA Fam .: Tetraodontidac Spheroides inermis (Temm. & Schl.) Tetrodon inermis Temminck & Schlegel, 1850, p. 27B, pi. I as, fig. 2. (Japan). Tetrodon inermis Temm. & Schl. Day, 1878, p. 701; 1889, II, p. 490. Spheroides inermis (Schlegel). Jordan & Snyder, 1902, p. 237. Spheroides inermis (Temm. i Schlegel). Frase r-B runner, in litt., July, ' 939- Native name: Fogol. Principal characteristics: Skin smooth in the present specimens; spines not present or at any rate present only in a rudimentary' form on the abdominal surface. A moderate fold of skin along side, begin ning a little behind the pectorals and running along the lower side of the body to the base of the tail. D. 12, lo-i i, P. 17. Anal and dorsal fins similar. Colour; Upper side greyish. A broad, blurred, brownish band from eye to tail. Gill-opening black internally. Dorsal yellowish at base, more greyish in outer 2/3 . Caudal yellowish at base, greyish behind. Anal and pectoral fins yellowish. , Material brought home: No. I : St. 78. Off Kharg, 14.2.1938. (230 mm). No. 2; St. 87. Between Bahrein and Qais, 20.3.1938. (240 mm, dried). No. 3-4: St. 120C. W. of Quishm, 8.4.1938. (80, 57 mm). Notes; It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between this and the following form ; and we did not do so during the expedition, and the total numbers of catches are therefore given unrder S. lunaris. To all ap pearance the species was not rare, though S. lunaris predominated. S. inermis is able to blow itself out to a considerable degree. H a b .: Indian Ocean, Japan. Spheroides lunaris (Bl. Sc hi.) Tetrodon Lunaris Schneider, Bloch, 1801, p. 505. (Malabar Sea). Telrodon lunaris B 1. S c h n. Day, 1878, p. 701; 1889, II, p. 401. Spheroides lunaris (Bl. Schn.). F r a s e r-B r u n n e r, in litt., July, 1939. N a t i ■ Principal characteristics; Habitually very much like previous species. The principal distinguishing mcirk is constituted by small spines covering antcror part of back from opposite front margin of eyes. The abdomen Ls mostly covered by well-developed, small spines, which, however, are sometimes less pronounced, so that they only scratch the fingers when they stroke along the abdomen. D. 12-13, A. 11, P. 17. Colour; Greenish-grey above, white below. A yellow streak runs from the eye on to the caudal. Dorsal and pectoral fins yellowish. Anal whitish. Material brought home: No. i: St. 9. S. of Bushire, 11.3.1937. (132 mm). No. 2: S t I7d. Inner Iranian Gulf, 14.3.1937. (245 mm). No. 3-ir^ UtaLr.mn, 24.1.1938. (93, 95, 95, 97, 98, 99, III, 114 mm). No. II: St. 09a. 01 MiaiK. 311.1.1938. (155 mm). No. la: St. 91. Near Larak, 24.3.1938. (abt. 150 mm, dried). No. 13; St. 97. Jask, 39.3.1938. (106 mm). \n 14; St. loq. Strait of Hormuz, (115 mm). ( mbers in brackets') : 9 O ', 17a I' ‘"n ' J , ‘9a (3)» ‘9b (10), 20a (6), 22 (12), 28 (2), 43 (i), 64b (5). 65b (3), 63d (10), 69a (i), 78 (i), 82 (l), 83 ,(i), 84 {50), 91 (i), 97 (5). 98 (3), 'oo (5), 102 (25), 103 (1), 108 (5), 109 (6 ), n o (10), i n (2), 112 (20), laoa (5'. 191 f i\ 133 (5), 136 (5).—Suke-net: Jan. 23. (10), 24. (95), »7- U ) , *9- i>‘ «• ( 20)- Dates April, 1037; 2'^. January-27. April, 1938. ' The figures includc both 5. inermis and 5. lunaris bccause we did not distinguish hrK,.w..i i,.„ sni.ru v ili'riiiir Our work in the Gulf. Notes; Spheroides lunaris was the most frequent species of the genus in the area of investigation. By far the greater part of the individuals were small, about lo cm long. The fish is able to puff itself out to a rather considerable degree. H a b.: Northern Indian Oceaq^ Malay Archipelago and beyond. Lagocephalus sceleratus (G m.) Tetrodon sceleratus (Forster). G m e 1 i n, 1788, p. 1444. (Pacific O cean). Tetrodon sceleratus (Forster) G m e 1. Day, 1878, p. 701; 1889, II, p. 491. Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin). Fowler, 1925, p. *65. Tetrodon sceleratus Forster. Barnard, 1927, p. 969. Principal char.it ti ii>ii tudal pcdunde depressed. Head and back with fine spines, none on the .sides, but some with three roots along abdominal surface to behind base of anal. D. 10, A. 9 , P. 16. Caudal lunate. Colour: Olivaceous with brown spots above, whitish beneath; a broad, silvery' streak along the side running from the snout to the base of the caudal. In front of the eye a triangular, white spot. Gill-openings dark. Material brought home: No. i: S t 29. X.E. of the Bahrein 127 mm). Caught at stations (numbers in brackci 29 ('), 30 ('), 3'a (i), 34 (9), 35 Tetraodon stellatu Tetrodon lagocephalu 'atus S c ti ! Mau ritius). • Tetrodon stellatus B 1. S c h n. Day, 1878, p (89, II, p. 494. Tetrodon stellatus Schneider. Fowler, 1925, p. 267. Native names: Cheld-abee (Bender Shahpurl KnUu,,, H..i Shahpur), Fogol. Principal characteristics: Small spines extending ail f>\ ( r the body, often with 4-6 roots. Interorbital space nearly flat. Two n tentacles on each side. D. 11, A. 11, P. 18, C. n . Colour: Brownish-,i;r on back, whitish on abdomen. Head, back and upper parts of the sidr- sown with blacki.sh-brown spots. At the base of the pectorals and belo'^ this there arc .some larger, black spots. A black ring round vent. Caudal spotted like back, dorsal and anal fins dark. Pectorals vfllowisli B. Leppenthin phot. Fig. 134. Tetraodon stellatus (Bl. Schn.). St. 124. Off Sheikh Shuaib, 9.4.1938. Material brought hoine: ^ No. I : St. 30. E. of the Bahrein L.V., 27,3,1937. (430 ram). No. a: St. 78. Near Khar^, 14.3.1938. (about aoo mni, dried). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets); as (1), 3 0 ( 0 , 3 9 (a), 5« ('), ?8 (i), 87 (1), 88 (4), 117 (i), 124 (2). Dates of capture; 23, March-17. April, 1937; 14. February-g. April, 1938. Notes: This was the largest of the Telraodontidae found by us in the area. The largest among the individual caught weighed 2-2 }^ kg. The fish is without economic value; it is even noxious because, as a feeder on bivalves, it damages the bank!< of pearl-oysters. Among the Tetraodonti- dae of the GiJf this species is able to blow itself more out than its allies. H ab.: Western and northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago and beyond. Chilonodon paloca (Ham. Buch.) Tetrodon paloca Hamilton (Buchanan), 1822, pp. 7 & 363, pi. 18, fig. a. (Estuaries of the Ganges). Tetrodon paloca Ham. Buch. Day, 1878, p. 703; 1889, II, p. 493. Tetrodon patoca Ham. Buch. Barnard, 1927, p. 973. Chilonodon patoca (B u c h a n a n-H a m i 1 to n). Fraser-B runner, in litt., July, 1930.1939. Native name: Anaas (Bushire). Principal characteristics: Eye nearly halfway between end of snout and gill-opening. Interorbital space nearly equal to snout. A single, fringed, imperforate nasal cavity on each side of snout. On the back very small spines are found from interorbital space towards origin of ■ - im dorsal. Abdomen with numerous spines with 3 or 4 roots. Region behind cheek and immediately in front of vent naked; sides of the body and tail 135- Chilonodon patoca (Ham. Buch.). (.\fter Day, 1878]. also without spines. D. 10, A. 10, P. 18, C. 10. Caudal subtruncate. Colour: Brownish above, with some round or oval, light spots. Belly white with a yellowish tinge. Material brought home; No. i-a: St 7b. N.E. of Kharg, 6.3.1937. (205, *55 ram). No. 3: St. 78. AV. of Kharg, 14.2.1938. (168 mm). No. 4: St. 78b W, of Kharg, 5.3.1938. (180 oim, dried). No. 5: St. 87, Midway between Bahrein and Farur, 20.3.1938. (215 min, dried). Caught at stations (numbers in brackets): 7b (i), 29 (1), 30 (i), 3ib (2), 78 (6), 78b (3), 87 (3). 91 (t).—St 61 (wheel) : 28.13.1937 (l). Dates of capture: 6.-30. March, 1937; 28. Dec., 1937-24. March, 1938. Notes: Small numbers of the .species were taken in localities dispersed all over the area. It is «vithout value as an object of fishery. Its faculty of blowing itself out is less than that of the other spccies. Hab.: Western and northern Indian Ocean, China. Fam.: Diodontidae , Chilomycterus orbicularis (Bl.) PI. XI, Figure 2 . Diodon orbicularis Bloch, I, t785, p. 73, pi. 127. ([Jamaica, Cape of Good Hope,] the Moluccas). Chilomycterus orbicularis (Bloch). Fowler, 1925, p. 267. Diodon orbicularis Bl. Barnard, 1927, p. 982. Chilomycterus orbicularis (Bloch). F r a s e r-B r u n n e r, in litt., July, 1939. Principal characteristics; Body nearly globular. Spines 3-rooted, strong but short, scattered over nearly the whole of the body. Jaws rather feeble, without median suture. D. 11, A. 11, P. 21, C. 9 . Caudal subtruncate. Colour: Brownish with irregular dark spots. Fins greyish. Material brought home: No. I ; St. i6b. W. of Kharg, 13.3.1937. (120 mm). Notes: Only this specimen was observed. H a b. : Indium ;mf) P;uifii Order: H.APLODOCI Fam.: Batracoididae Batrachus grunniens L. PI. XII, Figure 3 . Cottus grunniens Linnaeus, 1758, p. 264. (America) [?]. Batrathus grunniens (Linn.). Dayj 1878, p. 269; 1889, II, p. 229. -Native name: Khonkhomane (Bushire). Principal characteristics: Bullhead-like. Head large and flat, 3}4*3?4 in total length, height 5 |4 in total length. 3 blunt spines on upper part of operculum. Mouth large. Several small pointed teeth. Some small tentacles on snout. \ round foramen in upper part of axilla. D- 3 I 17- 19- Spines of first dorsal short and moderately strong; rays of second dorsal longer. A. 14, P. 2 1 . Caudal rounded. Colour: Yellowish- grey with dark-brown cross bands on tail and fins. Head with intenser mottling, nearly dark. Lower side light. Material brought home: ( No. 1 : Bahmani, S. of Bushire, 3.3.1937. (120 mm). No. 2: St. 61. Bushire Harbour, 6.1.1938. (205 mm). Notes: Only the two specimens brought home were observed. The species is hardly of economic value. H a b.: Northern Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago. List of Names used by Iranian Fishermen Terms without any marking apply to fish. An asterisc (*) indicates the native names of other marine animals. In several cases the terms are different in different places; the name of the place where the term con cerned was heard is, therefore, sometimes given in brackets. .After the names now and then some other information is given. Direct transla tion of some of the fishermen’s names are given in “ All the terms have been written down after the pronoimciation of the people, there fore some of the names will appear in more than one place owing to different dialects (Asbac-Hasfac, Asp-Hasp, Sekalae-Sokalah, Soboor- Zoboor etc.). Agal (Kangun) ...... Lutjanus fulviflamma A-lach ...... Fistularia villosa Anaas (Bushirej ...... Chilonodon patoca Anenoo...... Torpedo panthera Aroose-nakhoda ( "Bride of the captain” ) ...... Plectorhynchus pictus Asbac ...... Trichiurus muticus Asp (“Horse” ) ...... Trichiurus muticus Balool (Bushire) ...... Epinephelus tauvina (small speci mens) Bambak ...... Shark i Carcharias, Hemigaleus, Mustelus) Bambak-gorbeh f “Shark-cat” ) ... Chiloscyllium griseum Barak ...... Horse-mackerel {Caranx, Atropus) Balaam...... Crenidens crenidens Bath ...... Genes sp. Baylanee (Bushire) ...... Big Sciaenid fi.sh (Pseudosciaena bleekeri ?) Beeah ...... Mugil dussumieri (bigger speci- . mens) Beeahoo (Bender Abbas) ...... Small species of Sciaenidae {Pseu- dosciaena, Johnius, Sciaena) Bente-nakhoda ( “Girl of the cap tain” ) ...... Plectorhynchus pictus Bjou (Bushire) ...... Small species of (Pieu- dosciaena, Johnius, Sciaena) Bozar (Lingeh) ...... Chorinemus sp. Chaghoo (Bender Abbas, Jask) ... Gerres sp. Chargook...... Callyodon, Choerodon Chashereh (Bushire) ...... Gerres sp. (Jhelbedo (Kangun) ...... Triachanthus strigilifer Cheld-abee (Bender Shahpur) ... Tetraodon stellatus Chingoo ...... Slender siK er\- fish with prolonged snout {Tylosurus, Hemirham- phus. Fistularia) Djalah ...... Caranx chrysophrys ’ Djarnch ...... Squilla sp. Djash (Lingeh ...... High-backed Caranx (C. rnalaba- ricus, C. auroguttatus) Doheer (Bender Abbas) ...... Chirocentrus dorab *Dokh ...... Dolphin ■"Dool ...... Jelly-fi.sh Engez ...... Lutjanus janthiuropterus ( ?) Farialleh ...... Leptosynanceia mclanostigma Fascar (Bahrein) ...... Sparus bifascialus Fogol ...... Cilobe-fish (Tetraodontidae) Forrukoo ...... Leiognathus sp. *Gabgob ...... Crab (Arabic) Gani-gam ...... Pomadasys stridens Cianimak ...... Apogon sp. Gargom (Farur) ...... Abdistrs stellatus Garriz (Bender Abbas) ...... Mugil dusstmii^ri (bigger speci mens) Gedeer (Larak) ...... Lethrinus sp. Gclloo ...... Cat-fish {Arius. Plotosus) Ghelajeh (Hcnjam) ...... Sphyraena sp. Ghobab ...... Cybium guttatum Ghobad ...... Cybium guttatum Goaff ...... Dorosoma sp. Goazim ...... Memipienis sp. Goel-cheragh Bender Shahpur) Periophthalmus waltoni, Scartelaos tenuis Gol-dom ...... Sargus noct GcK)ag (Bender Abbas) ...... Dorosoma nasus Goofar ...... Sparus spinifer Goopahr ...... Spams spinifer Gorzak (Bender Abbas) ...... Plotosus anguillaris Gozim ^Bushire) ...... Plotosus anguillaris Halva ...... Pomfret, Stromateus cinereus Halva-sia ...... Black Pomfret, Stromateus niger Hamad...... Pomacanthus macidosus Hamoor ...... Epinephelus tauvina Hasb...... Trichiurus muticus Hasfac ...... Trichiurus muticus Hashineh ...... Small Herring fish (Sardinella, Dussumieria) Jellee fKangun) ...... Therapon theraps Jennam ...... Plectorhynchus schotaf, P. pictus Kabazaindoo (Larak) ...... Semipterus japonicus Kaffer (Larak; ...... Pteroplatea poecilura Kalar ( Bender Abbas) ...... Leiognathus sp. Kardooz (Kangun) ...... Lethrinus nebulosus (small speci mens) Kareichoon (Bushire) ...... Saurida tumbil Karteh (Bender Abbas) ...... Caranx malabaricus Kash fLarak) ...... Caranx armatus. C. speciosus. C. chrysophrys *Kasse-posht ...... Turtle {Chdone mydas, Thalasso- chelys caretta) Kavazard...... Mullet i Mulloidichthys, Upeneus) Keemar (Arabic sailors) ...... Saurida tumbil Kerr-mahee ...... Big “sleepy” fish (f.i. Rhincodon typus) ♦Khachank ...... Crab (Iranian) Khahr ...... Plectorhynchus cinctus Khar...... Abalistes stellaris *khar-changal...... Scyllarus sp. K1 .;too (Bushire) ...... Chirocentrus dorab ).;>: ,vh ...... Leiognathus sp. Kii boor (Bushire) ...... Plectorhynchus cinctus Ki: nkhomane...... Balrachus grunniens Ki tinoo (Larak) ...... Plectorhynchus pictus K hoc (Bushire, Bender Shah- ,jur) ...... Tetraodon stellatus R. /^ ra (Jasii) ...... Leiognathus sp. K ; (Bushire) ...... Spyraena sp. K I (Bender Abbas) ...... Crenidens crenidens K ■ 'haii ...... Flat-fish {Heterosomata) K V iKangun) ...... Ilisha indica K a (Bender Abbas) ...... Engraulis vitrirostris ■K .issag ...... Cuttlefish K ic (Larak) ...... Pterois sp. K I...... Shark K 'aireh (Bender Abbas) ...... Pomndasys stridens K u’ ...... Big Shark (Arabic) K -ae (Larak) ...... Otolithes ruber i„ ,di...... Engraulis ritrirostris 1. \ ...... Echeneis neucrates I in ...... Big Lutjanus or Epinephelus 1 iiiieh ...... Ray (all species, especially Trygon) I K) ...... Plotosus anguiUaris 10 ...... Fish i Iranian(i \: ■uc-arre-dar ...... Pristis sp. M hrc-balec ( “Fish-bird” ) ...... Flying-fish V ii'c-sag (“Fish-dog” ) ...... Periophlhalmus walto.u, Scartdaos tenuis :-mahee (“Snakc-fish” ) ...... Eel M'iii ...... Mugil dussumieri (smaller speci mens) '!‘ii;oo (Iranian) ...... Prawn [Pcnaeus) Mclgoo-Larakee (“Prawn from 1-arak” ) ...... Langoustc [Palinurus) ire/...... Sparus spinifer '■i '! IS Moosh-dandoon (“Mouse-tooth” ) Otolithes ruber (Bender Abbas) ...... Moran ^Dobeil ...... Hemirhamphus sp. Mottoo (Bender Abbas) ...... Small Clupeids (Stolephorus) Nakhoos ...... Trichiuriis muticus Nemasak (Bender Abbas) ...... Solea elongata Niameh ...... Torpedo panthera Omek ...... Some Clupeid fish Oofar ...... Sparus spinifer Pahlowa Jask) ...... Dowsotna nasus Pikoo ...... Ilisha indica i ■I - ■' *■ Ramek ...... ' ffyliobalis sp. Rashgoo ...... Elentheronema tetradactyhim *Rebioon Arabic ...... Prawn \Penaeus) Reeshoo ...... \emipterus jtiponicus Saaffee (Bahrein) ...... Teuthis siganus Salesol ...... Caranx chrysophrys Saloo ...... Trichiuriis muticus Sangsar ( "Stone-head” ...... Pomadasys urgentea Saoul 'Hormuz; ...... C'.aranx malabaricus Sarm (Bender Abbas ...... C.'horineinus sp. Sebeisjoo (Larak) ...... Scoliopsis personatus Sebeitee ...... Sparus cuvieri Seebah Larak) ...... Scomber microlepidotus Seemak ...... Fish (Arabicj Sekalae Larak) ...... Rhachycentrum canadus Shaghoom ...... Sparus datnia Shahree ...... Lethrinus sp. Shangoo ...... f.eiognatkus equulus. aho Drepane, Ephippus Sha-6m '^Bushire i ...... Sparus datnia Sheink ...... ( :ompre.s,secl, high-backed, silver)’ fish : Drepane, Ephippus, Alec- tis fCp. Shangoo) Shelambo...... Periophthalmus waltoni, Scartelaos tenuis .Sheer ...... Cybium guttatum Shoort ...... Sillago sihama Shuridae (Bushire) ...... Ololithes ruber Soboor ...... Hilsa ilisha Sokalah (Jask) ...... Rhach)ce7\tru7n canadus Sokharee ...... Triacanthus sp. Somman ...... Epinepheliis areolatus, E. chloro- stigma Soos (Jask) ...... Rhynchobatus djiddensis Sorkhov ...... Lutjanus coccineiis Sveitee ...... Sparus cuvieri Taleh (Lingehi ...... Alropus atropos Teegh-mahee-arreh ...... Pristis sp. Totuan (Bushire) ...... Therapon puta Woahar ...... Platyccphaliis sp. Yennam ...... Plectorhynchm schotaf Zarah (Bushire ...... Drepane p'lnctata Zardeh ...... Chorinemus and other elongate Carangidae. Cybium Z a rook ...... Scatophagiis A hi, Ernst: Zur Kenntnis der Knochenfischfamilie Chaetodontidae, insbesondere der Unterfamilie Chaetodontinae. Arch. Naturgesch., Bd. 89, Abt. A., Hft. 5, p. 1-205, 1923. Alcock, A.: On some undcscribcd Shoff-fishcs from the Bay of Bengal. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 6. ser., vol. 6, p. 425-43. 1890. — Illustrations of the Zoology of the Royal Indian marine survey ship Investigator, under the command of the Coni™ander T. H. H e m i n g. Fishes. Calcutta 1892-1908, , __ ^ revised account of the deep-sea fishes, collected by the Royal Indian Marine Survey Ship “Investigator." C a lc u tta 1899. [Not available.] 9 A n n a n d a 1 e, N. : Report on the fishes taken by the Bengal Fisheries Steamer “Golden Crown.” Part i. Batoidei Mem. Ind. Mus., vol. 2, p. 1-60, 1909. Barnard, K. H. : .A monograph of th^’ marine fishes of South Africa. Ann. South .African Mus., vol. 21, 1925-27. Beaufort, L. F. de: See: Weber, Max, and L. F. de Beaufort. 1911-40. B e a n, B a r t o n A. : See : F o w 1 e r, H c n r y W ., and B a r t o n A. B e a n. 1928-30. Bennett, Edward Turner: .Account of a collection of fishes from the M au ritius. Proc. Zool. See. London, p( i ; PP 59'6o, 61, 126-28, 165-69; 1830-31. — List of zoological specimens. Me(noir of Sir T. S. Raffles. London 1830. [Not available.] Bennett, John Whitchurch: A selection from the most remarkable and interesting fishes found on the co^st of Ceylon. London 1830. B 1 e e k e r, P. : Bijdrage tot de kennis der Percoiden van den Malaijo-Molukschen .Archipel, mit besrhrijving van 22 neiuwe soorten. Verh. Bataviasch Gen. Kunst. Wetensch, vol. 22, p. 1-64, 1849. available.] — A contribution to the knowledge of the ichthyological fauna of Celebes. Ind. .Arch. East. .Asia, vol. 3, p. 6 5 ‘74. '849. — Over eenige nieuwe soorten van en Hemiramphus van Java. Nat. Nederl. Ind., vol. i, p." 93-95, 185O. —■ Over eenige nieuwe soorten van Pleuronectolden van den Indischen .Archipel. Ibd., vol. I, 1850, p. 401-16, 1851 __ Bijdrage tot de kennis der Balistini ‘‘n Ostraciones van den Indischen Archipel. Verh. Bataviasch Gen. Kunst. Wetensch., vol. 24, 1852. [Not available.) —• Bijdrage tot de kennis der haringachtige visschen van den Soenda-Molukschen en van den Indischen Archipel. Ibd., 24, 1852. [Not available.] — Defde bijdrage tot de kennis der ichlhijologische fauna van Celebes. Nat. Tijdj. Nederl. Ind., vol. 3, p. 739-82, i 8 5 *- — Bijdrage tot de kennis der Plagio*tomen van den Indischen Archipel. Verh. Bataviasch Clen. Kunst. Wetensch., vol. 24, 185a. [Not available.] — Diagnoitochc besthrijvingen van nieuwe op nnenig bekende vijcVi4ooT\tT» -vw Batavia. Nat. Tijds, Nederl. Ind., vol. 4, p. 4 5i-5'6, 1853. —• Vierde bijdrage tot de kennis der jchthyologische fauna van Celebei. Ibd., vol. 5, p. 153 -74, '853- . Bleeker, P.; Nieuwe nalezingen op dc ichthyologic van Japan. Verh. Bata- viasch Gen. Kunst. Wetensch., 26, 1854-57, p. 1-132, 1857. [Not available ] — Dcscriptiones specierum piscium Javancnsium novarum vel minus cognitarum diagnosticac. Nat. Tijds. Nedcrl. Ind., vol. 13, p. 323-68, 1857. —■ Atlas ichthyologiquc des Indcs Orientales Neerlandaiscs. T. 1-9, .Vmsterdam 1862-78. — Description de quelques especcs ineditcs des genres Pseudorhombus et Platophrys de rin d e Archipelagique. Nederl. Tijds. Dierk., vol. 3, p. 43-50, 1865. [Not available.] — Sur les especes d'Exocet de Tlnde Archipelagique. Ibd., vol. 3, p. 105-29, 1865. [Not available.] — Description d ’une espece inedite de Chaetopterus de I'lle d'.Amboine. (1866.) Verslagen Meded. Koninkl. Akad. Wetensch., ■■Xfd. Letterk. en Natuurk., 2. reeks, vol. 3, p. 80-85, 1869. — Notice sur le Sparui Cuvieri (Chrysophrys Cuvieri Day). Ibd., 2. reeks, vol. 13, p. 43-46, 1878. Bloch, Marcus Elieser: Naturgeschichte der auslandischen Fische. Theil 1-9. Berlin 1 785-95. — Systema ichthyologiae iconibus CX illustratum. Post obitum auctoris opus inchoa- tum absoluit, correxit, interpolavit Jo, Gottlob Schneidcr. Berolini 1801. B o r s i e r i, 1 e m e n t i n a : Contribuziono alia conoscenza della fauna ittiologica de!!a colonia Eritrea. Annali Mus. civ. storia nat., ser. 3, vol. i (41 \ p. 187-220, 1904. B o u 1 e n g e r, George 1 b e r t: ,\n account of the fishes obtained by Surgeon- Mayor A. S. G. Jayakar at Muscat, East Coast of .\rabia. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, d. 653-67, 1887. — C'.atalogup of the Perciform fishes in the British Museum. \'ol. i, 2. ed. Lon don 1895. — Description of new fishes from the Mekran Coast, Persia. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 6. ser., vol. 20, p. 420-2i, 1897. Buchanan: See: Hamilton, Francis. 1822. Cantor, Theodore E.; Description of a new .species of ZyS<^^“- Quarterly Journ. Calcutta Med. Physical Soc., p. 315-20. 1837. — Catalogue of Malayan fishes. Journ. .\siatic Soc. Bengal, vol. 18, pp. i-.\iii, 983 1442, 1849. (Separate: pp. i-xiii, 1-461. Calcutta 1850.^ C h g v e y, P.: Poissons des cainpagnes dii ‘De Lancssan" (1925-1929), Ire partie. ,Trav, Inst, oceanogr. de ITndochine, 4c 11 cm., Iconographie ichthyologiquc de rindorhine. Saigon 1932 Ci^ys'.land, Cyril: Some common Red Sea fishes. Sudan Notes and Records, vol. 3, no. 2, p. 117-29, 1920. Cuvier, Georges: Le rcgne animal. T. 2. Paris 1817. — & Achillf Valenciennes: Histoire naturelle des poissons. Vol. 1-22. Paris 1828-49. — Lr r^gne animal. Nouv. ed., revue rt augmentee. T. 2. Paris 1829. — Le regne animal, distribue d'apres son organisation ... Edition ... par une reunion de disciples de Cuvier. (1836-46.) Les poissons. .\vcc un atlas, par A. Valenciennes. Paris 1842. Day, Francis: The fishes of Malabar. London 1865. — On some new or imperfectly known fishes of India. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, P- 699-707. i 8 «9 . —^ On the fishes of the .\ndaman Islands. Ibd , p. 677-705, 1870. — O n new or imperfectly known fishes of India. Ibd., p. 236-40, 1873. — The fishes of India : being a natural history of the fishes known to inhabit the seas and fresh waters of India, Burma, and Ceylon. London 1878. Day, Francis: The fishci of India ... Supplement. Ibd. 1888. — The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Fishes. Vol. 1-2. Ibd. 1889. Dean, Bashford: A bibliography of fishes. Vol. J-3. New York 1916-23. D e 1 s m a n, H. C., en J. D. F. H a r d e n b e r g : De indische zeevisschen en zee- visscherij. Bibliotheek N'ederl.-indische Natuurhist. Vereeniging, 6. Batavia 1934. Dumeril, Aug.: Histoire naturellc des poissons ou Ichthyologie generale. T. 1, filasmobranches. Paris 1865. E h r e n b e r g, C. G. : Naturgeschichtlichc Reisen durch Xord-.^frika und West-Asien in den Jahren 1820 bis 1825. Von W. F'. Hemphrich und C. G. E h r e n- b e r g. Historischer Theil. Berlin, Posen, Bromberg 1828. Engelhard t, Robert: Cber einige ncue Selachier-Formen. Zool. Anz., Bd. 39, p. 643-48, 1912. Euphrasen, Bengt And.: Raja {\arinari). Kongl. Vetenskapsakademiens nya handlingar, t. 11, p. 217-19, 1790. F i 1 i p p i, F. d e : Xote di un viaggio in Persia nel 1862. Milano 1865. Forsskal, Pehr: Descriptiones aninialium ... piscium . . quic in itini re oricnLali observavit Petrus Forskal. Post mortem auctoris edidit C a r s t e n X i e b u h r. Haunia; 1775. ' Fowler, Henry W. : See : Jordan, David Starr, and Henry Fowler. 1903. — Fishes from Natal, Zululand, and Portuguese East .\frica. Proc. Acad. Xat. Sci. Philad., \ol. 67 f ig 2 j) p. 187-268, 1926. — and Barton .A. Bean: The fishes of the families Pomacentfidae, Labridae, and Callyodontidae. collected by the United States Bureau of Fisheries steamer ■'.■\lbatross, " chiefly in Philippine Seas and adjacent waters. L'. S. Xat. Mus., Bull. 100, vol. 7, 1928. — and Barton .\. Bean: The fishes of the series CaprijoTmts, Ephippiforrnes, . and Squamipfnnts, collected by the ... ".Mbatross," chiefly in Philippine seas ... Ibd., vol. 8, 1929. — and Barton -A. Bean: The fishes of the families Arniidae. Chandidae, Duleidae, and Serranidae, obtained by the ... ".Mbatrosv" in 1907 to 1910, chiefly in Philippine Islands and adjacent si as Ibd., vol. 10, 1930. — The fishes of the families P•eudochromidae, Lnbotidae, Pempht ridae. Priai an- thidae, Lutjanidae, Pornada-,yidae. and Thtrajioni/lae, collected by the ... ".Albatross,” chiefly in the Philippine Seas . . Ihd., vol. M, 1931. — The fishes of the families Banjtnidaf, I.fthrinidae, Sfiariilae, (iiri’llidai, Kypho- sidae, OpU’gnathidae, (ierridae, Mulltdaf, Enimflichthyidaf’, St iafnidae, Sil- hginidae, Arripiriaf, and Ennploiiiitif, collerted h>- the ... “.Albatross," chiefh' in the Philippine Seas ... Ibd., vol. 12, 1933 Fraser, F. C. : See: X o r m a n, J. R., and F. C. Fraser. 1937. F r a s e r-B r u n n e r. .A.: revision of the Cha-todont Fishes of the siifaniily Poma- chanihincr. Proc. YakA. Soc. London, p. ,'>43-99. 1933 - Notes on the Pli ctognath Fishes. I. A synopsis of the genera of the family Baliitidce. .Ann. Mag. Hist., to. ser., vol. 13, p. 6',8-63, 1935,. — Notes on Plectognath Fishes. II. .A synopsis of the genera of the family Ostra- riontida. Ann. Mag. NaL Hist., 10 ser>, vol. 16, p. 313-20, 1935. Freycinet, Louis de: See : Q u o y, J., et P. G a i rn a r d. i 824. Gaimard, P : See: Q u o y, J., et P. a i m a r d. 1824. Carman, Samuel: The Plagiostoina. (Sharks, Skates and Rays.) Mem. Mus. Comp Zool Harvard C^oll., vol. 36, 1913. G e o f f r o y-S a i n t-H i 1 1 a i r e, Isidore: Histoire naturclle des poissons de la Mer Rouge [et de la Mediterraneel description de I’tgypte. Histoire naturelle, t. I, p. 31 1-43. Paris 1809. G i g 1 i o 1 i, Enrico Hillyer: Note intorno agli animali vcrtcbrati, racroiti dal Conte Augusto Bontourlinr e dal Dr. Leopoldo Traversi ad Assab 0 nrllo Scioa ncgli anni 1884-87. Pesd. Aniiali Mus. civico stor. nat. Genova, ser. 2 a., vol. 6 (26), p. 67-73, 1888. G i 11 c h r 1 s t, J. D. i'., and W. Wardlaw Thompson: Descriptions of fishes from the coa-t of Natal. Pt. 1-2. .^nn. South African Mus., vol. 6, pp. 145-206, 21S-79. 1908-09. and VV. Ward law Thompson: catalogu" of the sea fishes recorded from Xatal. .\nn. Durljan Mus., vol. 1, pt. 3-4, p. 2",5-431, 1916-17. G i 1 t a V, Louis: Poissons. Resiiltats sricntifiqucs du voyage aiix Indcs Orientales N'eerlandaiscs df LL. RR. Ir Prince ct la Princcsse Leopold de Belgique. Vol. 5, fasc. 3, 1933. G m t 1 i n, Jo . Frid.; Caroli a L i n n c, S>-tcnia rraturae per resna tria naturae. T. I. Lipsiae 1788. Gray, John Edward: Illustrations of Indian zoology, chieflv silpctcd from the collection of M ajor-General H a r d \v i c k e. London 1830-34. i.-\\ ailable is only vol. I (1830-32) (and \ol. 2. Pt. 11-12 which contains nothing of interest concerning our investigation 1 .J - - The zoologcal miscellany. London 1831. —• List of the specimens of fish in the collection of the British Museum. Pt. 1. Chondrr>ptrTy!iii. London 18=1. G r u V e 1, : L'indochine. Ses richesscs marines rt fluvialcs. Paris 1925. G ii n t h e r, A 1 !) e 1 t L, G. : C.atalocue of the .^caiUhopt'-rvKian fishes in the collection of the Kritisli Museum. C:al. fish, Brit. Mus.. vol. 1-3. London 1859-61. — Catalotfue of the Aranlhopterr,i;ii. Pharynfognati and Anaranthini in the col lection of the British Mus< um. (^tt. f:sh. Brit. M y ., vol. 4. London 1862. — Clatalogue of the Physoslotni ... in the collection of the British Museum. Cat. fish. Brit. Mus., \ol. 5-8. London 1864-70. — The fishes of Zanziliar. Pharyngoonntl.i. London 1866. Hamilton, Francis (foriiierh Biichanani: .\n account of the fishes found in the River Ganges and its branches. Edinbureh 1822. H a r d e n b e r g, J. D. F. : See : Dels ni a ri. IL t... en J. D F. H a r d e n b e r g. 1934. H a r d w i c k r : .See : G r a y, John E d w a r d, 1830-34. H a s s e 1 t, van; .\leem. Konst- en Letterbode, Deel i, 1823. ;Xot available.] Hemphrich, \V. F. : See; F. h r e n b e r g, ('., G. 1828. H e n 1 e, J. : See: Muller, J, und J Henle 1841. Herr e, .\ 1 b e r t M., and H e r a c 1 i o R. M o n 1 a 1 b a n : The Goatfishes, or MuU lidtr, of the Philippines. Philippine Journ. Science, vol. 36, p. 95-136, 1928. — and George S. M \ e r s ; A contribution to the ichthyology of the Malay Peninsula. Bull. Raffles Mus., Singapore, Straits Settlements, no. 13. p. 5-75. 19.37. Holly, M a X 111 i 1 i a n : Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Fisrhfauna Persiens. Zool. .\nz., Bd. 85, p. 183-85, 1929. H o r n 0 11, James: .\ statistical analvsis of the fishing inchistr\- of Tutirorin !Soutb India). Ntadras Fisheries Bull., vol. 11. rep. no. 3 (1917'. 1918. — and M. R a m a s u a in i \ a y u d u : .\ contribution to the life-histor\‘ of the Indian Sardine with notes on the plankton of the Malahar Coast. Ibd., vol. 17, rep. no. 5 (1 9 2 3 ^ 1924. Jenkins, J. T. : Notes on fish from India and Persia, with descriptions of new species. Rec, Indian Mus., vol. 3. p 123-40. 1910. Jordan, David Starr, and John (1 t t e r li i' i n S 11 \ der: .\ review of the (iymnodont Fishes of Japan. Pror. I S. N.it. Mus.. vol. 24, p. 229-64, 1902. and Henry W. Fowler: A review of the Trigger-fishcs, Filo-fishc;; and Trunk-fishes of Japan. Ibd.. vol. 25. p. 251-86. 1903. - and Robert Earl B i c h .1 r d s o n : A review of the Flat-heads, Gurnards, and other Mail-cheeked fishes of the waters of Japan. Ibd., vol. 33, p. 62^ 70 igo8. Jordan, David Starr: The genera of fishes. Stanford University, Calif., 191 20 — and Alvin Seale: Review of the Engraulidae, with descriptions of and rare species. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Havard Coll., vol. 67, no. ii, p. 418, 1926. Kaup, Johann Jacob: Catalogue of the Apodal fishes in the collectio of the British Museum. London 1856. K 1 u n z i n g e r, C. B. : Synopsis dcr Fische des Rothes Meeres. Verh. kais.-kon. ; ol - bot. Ges. Wien, Bd. 20, p. 669-834, Bd. 21, pp. 441-688, 1353-68, 1870-7! — Die Fische dcr Rothcn Mecrcs. i. Thcil. Acanthopteri veri Owen. Stui _an 1884. Kossman, R., und H. Rauber: Zoologischr Ergebnisse einer im Auftragr <]ir koniglichen .^kaderaie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin ausgefuhrten Reise ii die Kiistengebiete des Rothen Meeres. Pisces. Leipzig 1877. 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Mohr, .Anthon: Den persiske bukt. Oslo 1929. Montalban, Heraclio R, : See; Herre, Albert W., and Heracii K M o n t a 1 b a n. 1928. ■ Miiller J., und J. Henle: Systeraatische Beschreibung der Plagiostomen. 1 im 1841. Myers, George S.: See: Herre, Albert W., and George S. .M ■ :> 1937- Nayudu, M. Ramaswami: See: Hornell, James, and M. Ramaswami N.i ii 1924. . Niebuhr, Carsten: See: ForsskSl, Pehr. 1775. N o r m a n, J. R .: A revision of the Clupeid fishes of the genus Iluha and ,1 ud genera. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 9. ser., vol. 11, p. 1-22, 1923. — A synopsis of the Rays of the family fihinobatida, with a revision of thi Rhinobatus. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 941-82, 7926. — The flatfishes (Heterosomata) of India, with a list of the specimens 1 i Indian Museum. Pt. 1-2. Rec. Indian Mus., vol. 29, p. 7-47; vol. 30, p. 1 7 ^ ■ 1927-28. — A systematic monograph of the Flatfishes (Heterosomata). Vol. i. Psel: Bothida, Pleuronectida. London 1934. — The Carangid fishes of the genus Decapterui B1 e e k e r. Ann. Mag. Nal. • ^ i i 10. ser., vol. 16, p. 25»-64, 1935. — A revision of the Lizard-fishes of the genera Sycodus, Trachinocephal. uid Saurida. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, no. 4, p. 99-135, 1935. Norman, J. R., and F. C. Fraser; Giant fishes, Whales and Dolphins. London 1937- Ogilby, J. Douglas; On some Queensland fishes. Mem. Queensland Mus., vol. I, p. 26-65, pi. 12-14, 1912. Olfcrs, I. F. J. M. von; Die Gattung Torpedo in ihren naturhistorischen und antiquarischen Beziehungcn erlautcrt. Berlin 1831. [Not available.] Pallas, Peter S.; Spicilegia zoologica, T. i, fast. 7-8. Berolini 1769-70. Pellegrin, Jaques; Poissons du Musee dc Naples prevenant des expedition du “Vettor Pisani” et du “Dogali” et de la Mer Rouge. Annuar. Mus. zool. R. Univ. Napoli, nuova ser., vol. 3, no. 27, 1912, Peters, W. : Neue und weniger bckanntc Fischc des Berliner zoologischen Museums. Monatsber. kon. preus. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, (1869), p. 703-11, 1870. Playfair, R. Lampert; The fishes of Zanzibar. Acanthopterygii. London 1866. Q u o y, J., et P. Gaimard; Voyage autour du mondc ... Execute sur Ics corvettes dc S.M. rUranie et la Physicienne, pendant les annees 1817, 181B, 1819 et 1820. Publi6 ... par Louis de Freycinet. Zooiogie. Paris 1824. R a u b e r, H. ; See; K o s s m a n n, R., und H. R a u b e r. 1877. Raffles, Thomas Stanford; See; Bennett, Edward Turner. 1830. Regan, C. Tate; revision of the fishes of the genus Triacanthus. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, vol. i, p. 180-85, 1903. — On the fishes from the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and Karachi, collected by F. W. Townsend. Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. 16, p. 318-32, — \ revision of the Sharks of the family Orectolobida:. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, vol. I, p. 1-430, 1908, — The classification of the Percoid fishes. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 8. ser., vol. 12, p. 111-145, I9' 3- — \ revision of the Clupeoid fishes of the genera Pomolobus, Brevoortia and Dorosoma, and their allies. Ibd., 8. ser., vol. 19, p. 297-316, 1917. — revision of the Clupeid fishes of the genera Sardinella, Harengula, &c. Ibd., 8. ser., vol. 19, p. 377-95, '917 —- Selachii. Natural history, p. 196-201. London and Melbourne 1936. —• Pisces. Ibd., p. soi-96. Richardson, John: Report on the ichthyology of the seas of China and Japan. Rep. 15 meeting Brit. .\ss. .Advancement Science, held Cambridge 1845, p. 187 320. London 1846. — - Fishes. The zoology of the voyage of H. M. S. Samarang. London 1848. Richardson, Robert Earl; See; Jordan, David Starr and Robert Earl Richardson. 1908. R o X a s, Hilario A. ■. \ review of Philippine MugiUdar. Philippine Journ, Science, vol. 54, p. 393-431, 1934. Russel, Patrick: Descriptions and figures of two hundred fishes: collected at Vizagapatam on the Coast of Coromandel. Vol. i-a. London 1803. R ii p p e 1 1, Eduard: .\tlas zu der Reise im nordlicheii .\frika. Fische des rothcn Meers. Frankfurt a. M. 1828. Neue Wirbelthiere zu der Fauna von Abyssinien gehorig. Fischc des rothen Meeres, Frankfurt a. M. 1835, Sain t-H ilaire, Isidore Geoffroy: See : G e o f f r o y-S a i n t-H i I a i r e, Isidore. Schneider, Jo. Gottlob: See ; B1 0 c h, Marcus E I i e s e r. 1801. Schlegcl, H.; See; T e m m i n c k, C. J., and H. S c h 1 e g e I. 1850. Seale, 1 v i n : See : Jo r d a n, David Starr, and .\ 1 v i n Scale. 1926. Shaw, George; General zoology. Vol. 4-5. Pisces. London 1803-04. Shcrborn, Charles Davies; Index animalium ... Sect. 1-2. Cambridge- London 1902-32. Smith, Andrew: Contributions to the natural history of South Africa, &c. The zoologiral journal, vol. 4, p. 433-44> 1828-29. Snyder, John O t t c r b p i n : Sec : Jordan, David Starr, and John O t t e r h f i n Snyder. 1 902. S t e i n d a c h n e r, Franz: t'bcr einige neue Fischartcn aus dem Rothen Meero ... Sitzungsber. kais. .\kad. Wiss. Math.-nat. Classe, vol. 107, p. j8o-88, 1898. — Fische aus Siidarabien uiid Sokotra. Denk^rhr. kais. Akad. Wiss. Math.-nat. Klasse, vol. 71, i. Halbh., p. 123-68, 1907. Suvatti, Chote: Inde.K to fi^hes of Siam. Bureau of fisheiies. Bangkok 1936. S w a i n s o n, \V i 1 1 i a ni : On the natural history and classification of fishes, am phibians, and reptiles. \'ol. London 1838-39. (The C^abinet of C^yclop.rdia. Cunducted by the Rev. D i o n \ s i u s L a r d n e r. Natural history.) T c m m i n c k. C. J., and H. S c h 1 i- g e 1 : Fauna japonica. Pisces. Lugduni bata- vorum I 830. T h u n b e r g, C:. P. : Atskillige forut okande fiskar af abor-sliiktet. Kongl. \ et. .\kad. n.ya hao.dUn.gar. bd. t'j, p. 1192. T h o ra p s o n, \V. W a r d 1 a w : See : (i i 1 c h r i s t, J. D. I'., :ind W . V\ a r d 1 a \v 7' h o m p s o n. 1908-09, iQib-17. T o r t o n e s Enrico: Intonio ad alcuni pcsci del Mar Rosso. Bol. Mus. Zool. Anat. comparata L'niv. Torino, si-r. 3, vol. 43, p. 221-28, 11. 38, 1933. — Pesci della Persia raccolti dal Marchese G I a c o m o D o r i a. Ibd., ser. 3, vol. 44, n. 49, 1934. — - Pesci del Mar Ro>so. Ihd.. 'er. 3, vol. 43, n. (13, 1933-31). V a 1 e n c i c n n 1 - .\ c h i 1 1 e : Sur 1' sous-genre Maiti au, 'yga tia. Mein Mus. Hist. Nat., t. q. p. 222-28, 1822. — See : C u V i e r, Georges, & .\ c h i 1 ! e \' a 1 e n c i e n n i- s. 1 828-49. — Descriptions de plusieurs espec s nouvelles de poissons du gi nre Apo^on. N on\. .Ann. Mus. d'Hist. Nat., t. i, p. 3i-f><'- '832. — - See : C' u i f I , (» e o 1 l; e s. ' i 8,j.2. \ 'o 1 s o e. Ilelgr: The Sea Siiaki s of the Iranian (iulf and the Gulf of Oman. Danish >rientific in\cstigations in Iran, pt. 1, p. 1-43. Copenhagen 1940. Waite, Edgar R. and .\ I 1 a n R. M c (.: u 1 1 o c h : The fishes of the South Xu'tralian rio\ ei ninerst riaw ling Ciruise. 1914. Trans. Proc. Ro\ .Soc. South .\ustralia, vol. 39, p. 433-93, 1915. W' e b e r. M a .\ : Die Fische der .Vru- und K.ii hiseln. Ein Beitrag zur Zof)geographie dieser Inseln. Senkeribergisch-n naturf. Cies., Bd. 34. p. 1-49, 191 i. and L. F. d e Beaufort: The fishes of thi' Indo-.\u^tralian .\rchipelago. \'ol. 1-8. I."id''n 1911-40. - Die Fischi de> Siboga-Expedition. Siboga-expeditie. \ol. 37, Leiden 1913. Z u g m a y e r. Erich: Die Fische von Balutschistan, mit einleitendrn Bemerkungen iiber die Fauna d(«; Landes. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Reise von Dr. Erich Z u g ni a y c r in Balutschistan 1911. .\bh. Kiin. Bayerischen ,\kad. Wiss. raath.-phys. Klasse, Bd. 26, 6. .\bh., 1913. The names under which the fish are mentioned in the systematic synopsis of the material are put in Roman letters, synonyms and species additionally mentioned in the text in italics, Asteriscs (*) after the names indicate illustrations. Numbers denote pag<-s. Abalistes stellaris* 212 Anthias johfiii lob abbreviata. Aeanthocepola* i ■, 1 Anthias maculatus 125 abbreviata, Cepoia 151 Apistus Carinatus* 190 Acanthorepola abbreviata* 151 Apodes 73 Acentroeol)ius da\ i i()5 Apogon fraenatus 89 Acentrogobius ornatus* itj^. Apogott frenatus 89 Achirus bilineatus ao6 Apogon lineolatus 89 A fhiru\ niarrnoraiui 2 o() Apogon niacTopterus 89 aruminatui, (.ha^todon 149 Apogon thurstoni* 90 acuminatus, Heniochus* 149 Aprion microlepis* i 11 acuta, Dussumieria* ^7 arah, Plotosus 70 afutipennn, (iobim 166 tirmlata, Perea 82 acutipeniiis, Oligolipis* 166 areolatus. Epinephelus 82 acutus, Oarcharias 39 areolatus. Si nanus 82 Aetobati> narinari* areolatu^, Serranu^ 83 Aflomrlat'us maciilaltif 55 arcentea, Pomadavs* 125 At'toniylat'us nirhojii 54 argintea. Sriaena 125 •iffinis, Pseudorhombus 200 argMi'us, Pow ada^)' I 2 t) Alauia kana^urta 63 nrci/.', Chaetodon 147 Alausa Tfi flan urn t>t> avgus, Scatophaeus* 147 olbnpum l:obiu^ ib i Ariidae 72 Alectis indica* 100 Arius tlialassinus* 72 Alosa kuruinurtfi 6;^ armatus, C^arans 97 Arnbl}oi>{i^tt'T urm t»h iirmatu<, Snatna 97 Amphacanthus luridus 154 Arnoglossus aspilos* 202 Atnphiulf u itlala 81 Arnogli"sii ■ aipilus 202 am ylmtornus. Kharnphobalit 4 ; pot'edurus 202 ancylostomus, P.hynchobatus* 47 arsiu^, Plcuror.fttii 199 anci/t, johnius 128 arsius. Pseudorhombus 199 aneus, Pseudosciai’na 1 28 avinai, BarbatOKobius* 167 fineus, Siiarna 128 aspilos, ArnoKlossus* 202 anguillaris, Platystofhui 70 aspilo<. Rhombus 202 anguillaris, Plotosus* 70 aspi!u>. Arnoglo^'Ui 202 angularis, Kpinephflus 8s aspilus. Bothus 202 annularis, Srrranus 82 nspilus, Platophrys 202 annularis, Lutjanus 108 Athcrina forskalii* 185 Atherina forskalii 185 Blennius persicus* i 76 Atherina sihama 90 blochii, Cestracion 41 Atherinidae 185 blochii, Zygaena* 41 atropos, Atropus* 94 Boleophthalmus tenuis 169 atropos, Brama 94 Bothidae 198 atropus, Caranx 94 Bothus aspilus 202 Atropus atropos* 94 Bothus poecilurus 202 Atropus atropus 94 Brachirus orienulis* 205 Aulostomatidae 80 brachypterus, Parexocoetus 78 auriflamma, MuUoides 133 brachyrhynchus, Cynoglossus 208 auriflamma, Mulloidichthys* 133 Brama atropos 94 auriflamma, Mullus 133 brevirostris, Gobius 165 auroguttatus, Caranx 97 brevirostris, Triacanthus 210 axillaris, Corvina 129 axillaris, Pseudosciaena* 129 caerulescens, Holacanthus 150 axillaris, Sciaena 129 Caesiomorus baillonii io2 Callyodon dussumieri* i 5» Bagrus thalassinus 72 Callionymidae 174 baillonii, Caesiomorus 102 Callionymoidea 174 baillonii, Trachinotus* 102 Callionyraus longicaudatus 174 balfouri, Hemigaleus* 40 Callionymus persicus* 175 Batistes stellaris 212 Callionymus sagitta 175 Balistes stellatus 212 canadus, Gatterosteus 161 Balistidae 2I2 canadus, Rhachyccntrum* 161 Balistoidea 210 cantori, Hemirhamphus 76 Barbatogobius asanai* 167 Carangidae 92 Bathygobius fuscus* 162 Carangoides armatus 97 Batoidea 44 Carangoides auroguttatus 97 Batracoididae 221 Carangoides chrysophrys 99 Batrachus grunniens* 221 Caranx armatus 97 Belone Uiurus 76 Carax atropus 94 Belone liura 76 Caranx auroguttatus 97 Belone strongylura 75 Caranx chrysophrys 99 Belonidae 75 Caranx crumcnophthalmus 95 berda, Chrysophrys 140 Caranx djedaba* 95 berda, Sparus 140 Caranx djeddaba 95 biaculeatus, Triacanthus 21O Caranx gallus too bifasciatus, Chaetodon 141 Caranx kalla 96 bifasciatus, Chrysophrys 14! Caranx kurra 93 bifasciatus, Sparus 141 Caranx Icptolepis 99 bilineatus, Achirus 206 Caranx malabaricus 98 bilineatus, Cynoglossus 206 Caranx nigrescens 99 bindu^, Equula 119 Caranx rottleri 92 bindus, Lriognathus 119 Caranx russellii 93 bispinosa, Lepidotrigla 194 Caranx speciosu» 100 bleekeri, Pspudcsciaena 130 Carcharias acutus* 37 bleekeri, Sciaena 130 Carcharias menisorrah* 37 Blennechis punctatus 178 Carcharinidac 37 Blenniidae i 76 carinatus, Apistus* 190 Blennioidea 176 carinata, Scorpaena 190 - irutta, Johnius 131 cinereus, Muraenesox* 73 , irutta, Sciatna 131 cinereus, Strom iteus* 178 , lebicus, Epinephelui 82 Clupanodon chacunda 59 ; estracion blochii 41 Clupanodon ilisha 63 i ritriscidae 81 Clupea dorab 56 tntriscus scutatus* 81 Clupea fimbriata 65 i rpola abbreviata 151 Clupea ilisha 63 I ■ polidae 151 Clupea kanagurta 63 hacunda, Chatoessus 59 Clupea melanura 66 hacunda, Clupanodon 59 Clupea najuj 58 I acunda, Dorosoma 59 Clupea perforata 64 I haetodon acuminatus 149 Clupea sindensis 65 haetodon argus 147 Clupea sirm 66 I haetodon bifasciatus 141 Clupeidae 56 haetodon maiulosus 150 Clupeonia perforata 64 I'.aetodon obscurus* 148 coccinea, Diacope 107 i . haetodon orhis 145 coccineus, Lutjanus* 107 haetodon punctatus 146 Coius datnia 139 ' [actodontidac 147 Congridae 73 i.aetopterus microlepis i i i cordyla, Megalaspis* 92 Chatoessus chacunda 59 cordyla, Scombtr gg ' hnloessus nasus 58 Corvina axillaris 129 ' nirocentrus dorab* 56 Cottidae 195 :iilodipteridae 89 Cottus grunniens 221 ' lilomyctfrus orbicularis* 220 Crenidcns crenidens* 143 ' hilonodon patoca* 219 Crenidens forskaelii 143 iiiloscylliuin griseum* 35 Crenidens iniiicus 143 hiloscyllium hasseltii 35 crenidens, Sparus 143 hiloscyllium indicum 35 crumenophthalraus, Caranx 95 crumenjphthalmus. Scomber 95 ' '.iloscyllium punctatum 35 lorostigma, Epinephelus 83 Cubiceps indicus 180 'oTostigma, Serranus 83 cuspidatus, Pristis* 44 cuvieri, Chrysophrys 142 nerocephalus, Monacanthus 213 cuvieri, ^arus* 142 ‘ . oerodon robustus* 153 Cybium guttatum* 160 '.ouocephalus, Monacanthus 213 Cybium interruptum 160 •oiroccphalus, Paramonacanthus* 213 Cynoglossidac 206 ' iioridactylus multibarbis* 192 Cynoglossus bilineatus 206 I liorincmus lysan* 101 Cynoglossus brachyrhynchus 208 (^Korinemm sancti-petri loa Cynoglossus macrolcpidotus* 207 ‘ horismodactylus multibarbis 192 Cynoglossiis puncticeps 208 hrysophrys berda 140 Cynoglo!sus quadrilineatus 206 < hrysophrys bifasciatus 141 Cynoglossus sindensis 206 hrysophrys, Caranx 99 Cyprinodon dispar* 79 'hrysophrys cuvieri 142 Cyprinodontidac 79 ( hrysophrys iatnia 140 C.ypsilurus oligolcpis 79 ( hrysophrys sarba 141 'incta, Pterois 189 :ncturn, Diagramma 121 Dasybatus gerrardi 50 (inctus, Plcctorhynchus* 121 Dasybatus sephen 52 (inerea, Muraena 73 Dasybatus uarnak 48 datnia, Chrysophrys 140 Echelidae 74 ilatnia, Coius 139 Echeneididac 209 datnia, Sparus* 139 Echeneis naucrates 209 daura, Equula 118 Echencis ncucrates* 209 dauiTiS, Leiognathus* 118 edentula, Equula 118 Daya jerdoni* 151 ehrenbergi, Diacope 105 dayi, Accntrogobius 165 ehrenbergi, Lutjanus* 105 Dccaptcrus russcllii* 93 ehrenbergi, Mesoprion 105 delicalulus, Lactarius 91 Elacate nigra 161 Eleuthcronema tetradactylum* 185 Denlex tolu 112 clevatus, Pscudorhombus 200 diacanthus, Lutjanus 129 elongata, Solea* 204 diacantlius, Pscudosciacna 129 Engraulis grayi 61 diacanthus, Sciaena 129 Engraulis hamiltonii 61 Diacope coccinea 107 Engraulis heteroloba 61 Diacope ehrenbergi 105 Engraulis indicus 62 Diacnpe lineolata 106 Engraulis malabaricus 61 Diacope sanguinea 108 Engraulis mystacoides 61 Diagramma cinctum 121 Engraulis mystax 61 Diagramma griseum 122 Engraulis purava 61 Diagramma pictum 123 Engraulis vitrirostris* 60 Diagramma punctatum 123 Engraulis lollingeri 61 diasproi, Stephanolepis 214 Engyprosopon grandisquama* 202 Diodon orbicularis 220 Ephippidac 145 Diodontidac 220 Ephippus orbis* 145 Discoccphali 209 Epinephelus angularis 82 dispar, C^yprinodon* 79 Epincphclus arcolatus 82 dispar, Lebias 79 Epinephelus celebicus 82 ditchoa, Pellona 67 Epinephelus chlorostisrna 83 djcdaba, Caranx* 95 Epincphclus tauvina* 84 djedaba. Scomber 95 Epinephelus -juaandenii 83 djeddaba, Caranx 95 Equula bindus 119 djeddenus, Rhynchobatus 47 Equula daura 1 18 djiddonsis, Rhynchobatus* 47 Equula edentula I 18 djiddensis. Raja 47 Equula insidiatrix 117 dorab, Clhirocentrus* 56 Equula lineolata 121 dorah, C.lupea 56 ‘ Equula longimana I 16 Dorosoma rharunda 59 equula. Scomber I I 8 Dorosoma nasus* 58 equulus, Leiognathus 118 Drcpanf punctata* 146 erumei, Pleuronectes 197 Drepanidar 146 crumei, Psettodcs 197 dussumicri, Callyodon* 152 erythropterus, Lutjanus 108 dussumicri, Mugil* 183 Esox marginatus 78 duv,umieri, Pseudoscarus 152 Euselachii 34 dussumieri, Sraruf 152 Exococtidac 78 dussumieri, Sciarna* 132 Exocoetoidca 76 duisumieri, Umhrina 13a Exocoetus mento 78 Dussurnirria acuta* 57 Exocoetus oligoUpis 79 ductor, Gasterosteus 103 ductor, Naucrates* 103 filamtntoiui, Gerrei 116 fimbriata, Clupea 65 granulatus, Rhinobatus* 46 fimbriata, Sardinella* 65 grayi, Er.graulis 61 fimbriata, Spratella 65 griscum, Chiloscyllium* 35 Fistularia serrata 80 griseum, Diagramma 122 Fistularia villosa* 80 giunnicns, Batrachus* 221 flavolineatus, Mulloides 133 grunniens, Coitus 221 forskalii, Athorina 185 guenthcri, Lacops* 203 forskaelii, Crenidens 143 guoraca, Pristipoma 126 forskalii, Aiherina 185 guttatum, Cybium* 160 fiacnatiis, Apogon 89 guttatus. Scomber 160 frenatus, Apogon 89 guttatus, Uranoscopus* 157 fulviflamma, Lutjanus iio futviftamma, Sciaena iio hamiltonii, Engraulis 61 fuscomaculata^ Torpedo 4.4. Haplodoci 221 fuscus, Bathygobius* 162 Harengula fimbriata 65 fuscus, Gobius 162 Harengula "nelanura 66 Harengula perforata 64 gaiinardi, Hemirhamphiis 77 hasseltii, Chiloscyllium 35 Galeoidca 34 hasta, Pomadasys 126 Caleorhinus manazo 42 Itasta, Pristipoma 123 callus, Caranx 100 Hemigaleus balfouri* 40 Ga terosteus canadui 161 Hcinirhaniphidae 76 Gasterosleus ductor r03 Hemirbamphus cantori 76 gcorgii, Heinirhamphus* 7fi Heinirhamphus gaimardi 77 f,errardi, Da^ybatus 50 H(.-mirhainphus gcoigii* 76 gi-rrardi, Trygon* 50 Hemirhamphus limbatus 77 Gerres jilamentosu^ 116 Hpniirhanipluis maiginatus 78 Gerrcs oycna 115 Heniochus acuniinatus* 149 Gerres oyena 115 Heniochus macrolepidotus 149 Gerres poeti i i tieteroloba. Engraulis 61 Cicires punctatiis* 116 Hcti-ro!.oinata 197 ^ibba, Siiaena 107 Hilsa ihsha* 63 gibbosus, Ostracioii* 213 Hilsa kariagurta 63 gibbus, Lutjanus* 107 hcovrnii, Pisoodonophis* 74 GnathanotioTi ^pfcicu' 100 hoeven.i, Ophisusrus 74 Gobiidac i()2 Holacanthus laerulescens 150 Gobioidca ifiz HolafanthiJS lineatu.s 150 Gobius acutipt'Tinis 166 Holai anthiis rnaculosus 150 Gobius albopunclalus 162 holocentrum, Priacanthus 88 Gobiut brei'irostris ifi-, Holocenlnis quadrilineatus 87 Gobius jusruf 162 Hypolophus st'phen* 51 Gobius hoelreuteri 170 Hyposerranus areolatus 82 Gobius nebulo-punctatus 162 Hypotroniata 44 ^ Gobius notoncrrta 164 Gobius ornatus 164 ilisha, Clupanodon 63 Gobius papuensis 164 ilislia, Clupea 63 Gobiuf tentaculoris 163 ilisha, Hilsa* 63 ^ Gobius vagina 17? Ilisha indica* 67 grandisquama, Engyprosopon* 202 indica, Alectis* 100 grandisquama. Rhombus 20a indica, Ilisha* 67 indica, Pellona 67 Lactariidae 91 indicum, Chiloscyllium 35 Lactarius delicatulus 91 indicus, Cubiceps 180 Lactarius lactarius* 91 indicus, Crenidens 143 lactarius. Scomber 91 indicus, Engraulis 62 Laeops guentheri* 203 indicus, Opisthopterus* 68 Lagocephalus sceleratus 218 indicus, Platygaster 67 lagocephalus, Tetrodon 218 indicus, Pristogaster 68 lanceolatus, Serranus 84 indicus, Psenes* 180 laticeps, 4' indicus, Scyris 100 Lebias dispar 79 indicus, Stolephorus* 62 Leiognathidae 115 indicus, Triacanthus* 210 Leiognathus bindus 119 ' inermis, Spheroides* 216 Leiognathus daurus* 118 inermis, Tetrodon 216 Leiognathus equulus 118 Iniomi 69 Leiognathus insidiator 11 7 insidiator, Leiognathus i i 7 Leiognathus lineolatus 121 insidiator, 117 leiurus, Belone 76 insidiatrix, Equula 11 7 leiurus, Tylosurus 76 interruptum, Cybium 160 LepidotrigUi bispinosa 194 Isospondyli 56 LepidotAgla longipinnis 195 Lepidotrigla omanensis* 194 janthinuropterus, Lutjanus* 109 leptolepis, Caranx 99 janthinuTOpterus, Mesoprion 109 Leptosynanceia melanostigma* 193 japonicus, Nemipterus* 113 Lethrinidae 136 japonicus, Spams 113 Lethrinus rainiatus 136 japonicus, Synagris 113 Lethrinus nebulosus* 136 jarbua, Sciaena 87 Lethrinus rostratus 136 jarbua, Therapon 87 limbatus, Hemirhamphus 77 javanicus, Pseudorhombus* 301 lineolata, Diacope 106 javanicus. Pseudorhombus 200 lineatus, Holacanthus 150 javanicus. Rhombus 201 lineatus, Lutjanus 109 jello, Sphyraena 181 lineatus, Plotosus 70 jerdoni, Daya* 151 lineatus, Salarias* 177 jerdoni, Pomacentrus 151 lineolata, Equula 121 johnii, Anthias 106 lineolatus, Apogon 89 johnii, Lutjanus 106 lineolatus, Leiognathus 121 Johnius aneus 128 * lineolatus, Lutjanus to6 Johnius carutta 131 liura, Belone 76 Johnius maculatus* 131 Lobulogobius omanensis* 168 Johnius Tuber 127 longicaudatus, Callionymus i 74 longimana, Equula 116 kalla, Caranx 96 longimanus, Pentaprion* 116 kanagurta, Alausa 6^ lunaris, Spheroides 217 kanagurta, Alosa 63 lunaris, Tetrodon 217 kanagurta, Clupea 63 luridus, Amphacanthus 154 kanagurta, Hilsa 63 Lutjanidae 105 koelrcuteri, Gobius 170 ^ Lutjanus annularis to8 koelreuteri, Periophthalmus 170 Lutjanus coccineus* 107 kurra, Caranx 93 Lutjanus diacanthus 129 Labridae 152 Lutjanus ehrenbergi* 105 Lutjanus erythropterus 108 M cdl maculata* 104 Lutjanus fulviflamma iio Menidac 104 Lutjanus gibbus* 107 menisorrah, f'li charias* 37 Lutjanus janthinuropterus* 109 mento. Exocoetus 78 Lutjanus johnii 106 Miento, Parexococtus* 78 Lutjanus lineatus 109 Mrsrpiion ehrenbergi 105 Lutjanus lineolatus 106 Mesop rion janthinuropterus 109 Lutjanus oligolepis 105 Mesoprion russellii i 10 Lutjanus russellii iio Microcyprini 79 Lutjanus sanguineus* 108 microlepidotus, Scornbcr* 159 lysan, Chorinemus loi microlepis, Aprion* 11 1 lysan. Scomber loi microlepis. Chaetopterus i i i mtcrura, Pteroplatea 53 macToUpidota, Plasusia 207 micrura. Raja 52 macrolepidotus, Cynoglossus* 207 miles, Pterois :rf9 macrolepidotus, Heniochus 149 miles, Scorpaena 189 rnacropterus, Apogon 89 miniatus, Lrthrinus 136 maculata, Menc* 104 viiniatus, Sparus 136 maculata. Myliobatis 55 Minous monodactylus* 191 maculata, Sciaena 131 •' Monacanthidao 213 maculatum, Pristipoma 125 Monacanlhus choerocephalus 213 rnaculalu^, Aetamrlaeui 55 Slonacanthus choirocephalus 213 maculatus, Anthias 125 . Monacanthus oblongus 213 maculatus, Johnius* 131 monvdactyla, Scorpaena 191 maculatus, Myliobatis 55 monodactylus, Minous* 191 maculatus, Pomadasys* 125 Mueil dussumii-ii* 183 maculatus, 104 Mueilidai- 183 maculipiiina, Platycephalus* 195 Mugiloidca 181 maculosur. Chaetcdon 150 Mullidae 133 maculoius, Holacanthus 150 MuUoides aurijlamma 133 maculosus, Pomacai’thus* 150 MuUoides flai'olineatus 133 inalabaritus, Caranx 98 Mulloidichtbys auriflainma* 133 malabaricus, Engraulis 61 \fuUus auriflamma 133 malabaricus. Scomber 98 \tu tlus iittatui 134 malabaricut. Serranu> 84 multibarbis. Choridactylus* 192 nialayanus, Pscudorhombus 199 multibarbis. Chorisrjiodat ty ’u^ 192 manazo, (ialeorhinus 42 \furaena tota riuerea 73 manazo, MustrKis* 42 Muracnesox ciiii-irus* 73 Mapo juicus 162 Muraenicbthys schultzei* 74 marginalus, Esox 78 marginatus, Hcmirhamphus 78 Mustelus inanazo* 42 marmorata var. y panthera. Torpedo 44 imiticus, Trichiurus* i marmoratus, Achirus 206 Nf>rtophoidac 69 niarrnoratus, Pardacbiriis* 206 Myciopboidca 69 Megalaspis cordyla* 92 Mvliobatidac 54 mclanostigina, Lcptosynancoia* 193 Myliobatis maculatus j', melanouigrna, Pseudosynanceia 19;^ Mylioh.itis nicbofii* 54 melanura, Alausa 66 Myliobatis nituhofii 54 melanura, Clupea 66 mystacoidfs. Engraulii 61 melanura, Sardinella 66 mystax. Engraulis 61 nageb, Pristipoma 124 oramin, Teuthis 154 Narcacion panthera 44 orbicularis, Chilomycterus* 220 Narcobatoidea 44 orbicularif, Diodon 220 narinari, Aetobatis* 55 orbis, Chaetodon 145 narinari. Raja 55 orbis, Ephippus* 145 nasus, Chatoessus 58 Orectolobidae 34 nasus, Clupea 58 orientalis, BrachiruS* 205 nasus, Dorosoma* 58 orientalis, Pleuronectes 205 nasus, yematalosa 58 orientalis, Synaptura 205 Xaucrates ductor* 103 ornatus, Acentrogobius* 164 naucrates, Echeneis 209 ornaius, Gobius 164 nebulosa, Sciaena 136 Ostariophysi 70 nebulo-punctatus, Gobius 162 Ostracion gibbosus* 2 15 ncbulosus, Lethrinus* 136 Ostracion turritus 215 Nematalosa nasus 58 Ostraciontidae 215 Nemiptcridae 112 Otolithes ruber* 127 Xemipterus japonicus* 113 Otolithus ruber 127 N'emiptcrus tolu 112 Oxyurichthys notonema 164 N'eopterygii 56 ^xyurichthys papuensis 164 neucratcs, Echeneis* 209 TRxyurichthys tcntafularis* 162 nichofii, Aetomylaeus 54 oyena, Geires 11 5 nichofii, Myliobatis* 54 nichofii, Raja 54 Pagrus ruber 138 niehofii, Raja 54 Pagrus spinifer i 38 nieuhofii, Myliobatis 54 pala sorrah, Scoliodon 39 ' niger. Scomber 161 panthera, Narcacion 44 niger, Stromateus 180 panthera, Torpedo* 44 nigra, Elacate 161 pantherinus, Serranus 84 nigrescens, Caranx 99 papuensis, Gobius 164 noct, Sargus* 142 papuensis, Oxyurichthys 164 notonema, Gobius 164 Parapercis smithii* 155 Paramonacanthus choirocephalus* 213 oblongus, Monacanthus 213 Paramonacanthus oblongus 213 oblongus, Paramonacanthus 213 Pardachirus marmoratus* 206 oblongui, Stephanolepis 213 Parexocoetus brachyplerus 78 obscurus, Chactodon* 148 Parexocoetus mento* 78 obtusata, Sphyraena* [82 Pastinachus uarnak 48 oyena, GcrroS 115 patoca, Chilonodon* 2tg oligudun, F^eudorhombus 199 patoca, Tetrodon 219 Oligolf-pis acutipcnnis* 166 Pclates quadrilineatus 87 oligolepis, Cypsilurus 79 Petlona ditchoa 67 otigolepis, Exocoetui 79 Pellomf indica 67 otigolepir, Lutjanus 105 Petitaprion longimanus* 116 omancnsis, Lppidotrigla* 194 Perea areolata 82 omanensis, Lobulogobius* 168 Perea picta 123 Ophichthyidae 74 Perea tauvina 84 Ophisurus hotvenii 74 Percis smilhii 155 Opijthopterus indicus* 68 Percoidca 82 Opisihopterus tartoor 68 Pcrcomorphi 82 oramin, Sigartus 154 perforata, Clupea 64 perjorata, Clupeonia 64 Pomadasys hasta 126 perforata, Sardinella 64 Pomadasy- ipaculatus* 125 Periophthalmus koelreuteri 170 Pomadasys stridens 124 Periophthalmus waltoni* 171 Priacanthidae 88 porsicus, Blcnnius* i 76 Priacanthus holocentrum 88 persicus, Callionymus* 175 Priacanthus tayenus* 88 personatus, Scolopsides 114 Prionodon menisorrah 37 pcrsonatus, Scolopsis* 114 Pristidae 44 PetroscirtPS punctatus* 178 Pristigaster tarloor 68 Petroscirtf’s variabilis i 78 PrisUpoma hasta 125 picta, Perea 123 Prislipoma guoraca 126 piclum, Diagramma 123 PrisUpoma rnaculatum 123 pictus, Plcctorhynchus* 123 Prislipoma nageb 124 Pinguipedidae 155 Prislipoma sexlinealum 87 Pisces 56 Prislipoma stridens 124 Pisoodonophis hoevcnii* 74 Ptislipomoides microlepis i i i Flagusia macrolepidota 207 Pristis cuspidatus* 44 Plagusia puncticepi 208 Pristis ^sron* 45 Flatophrys aspitus 202 Pristogaster indicus 68 Platyrcphalus maculipinna* 195 PrTstogaster lardoore 68 Platycrphalus tuberculatui 196 Psenes indicus* 180 Platygaster iniiicui 67 Psetlodcs tTumei* 197 Platystachus anguillaris 70 Psettodidae 197 Plectognathi 210 Pseudorhombus affinis 200 Plcctorhynchus cinctiis* iQi Pscudorhombus arsius 199 Plcctorhynchus pictus* 123 Pscudorhombus clovatus 200 Pli'ctorhynchiis schotaf 122 Pseudo’-hombus javanicus* 201 Pleu ronectes arsius 199 Pseudorhombus javanicus 200 PleuTone'tes erumei 197 Psoudorhombus malayanus 199 Pleuronectes orientalis 205 Psrudorhonibus olieodon 199 PUuronecUs Iriocellalus 198 Pscudorhombus triocrllatus 198 PU’urotrrmata 34 Pseudosi arus dusfumieri 152 Plotosidac 70 Psrudosciacna anrus 128 Plotos\is anguillaris* 70 Psi-.idosrianna axillaris* 129 Plotosus arab 70 Ps<'tidosc iacna bUvkori 130 Plotosus lineatus 70 Pscudosciaena diacanthvis 129 pocriliira, Ptcroplatca* 52 Psfudosrnancfia meianostigma 193 poetiluta. Raja 52 Ptcrois rincta 189 poecilurus, B othui 309 Pterois miles 189 poeti, Gerrei 115 Ptcroi'i russi’llii* 188 Polynrmidar 185 Pleroplalea micrura 52 Polyncinoidra i8fi Ptoroplatca poccilura* 52 Polyncinus srxtarius* 187 punctata, Drrpanr* 146 Polynemus teiradactylus 185 pundalum , Chilos/'yttium 36 Pomacanthus maculosus* 150 punclatum. Diagramma 123 Pomaccntridac 151 punctatus. Blennechis 178 Pomacentrus jerdoni 151 punflatus, Chaetodon 146 Pornadasidac 121 punctatus, Grrrcs* 116 Pomadasys argentra* lij punctatus, Prtroscirtrs* 178 Pomadasys argyreus 126 puncticrps, C.ynoglossus 208 puncticeps, Plagusia 208 Sardinella fimbriata* 65 purava, Engraulis 61 Sardinella melanura 66 puta, Thcrapon 85 Sardinella perforata 64 Sardinella sindensis 65 Sardinella sirra 66 quadrilineatus, Cynoglossus 206 Sargus noct* 142 quadrilineatus, Holocenirus 87 Saurida tumbil* 69 quadrilineatus, Pelatcs* 87 Scartelaos tenuis* 169 quadrilineatus, Therapon 87 Scarus dussumieri 152 Scarus siganus 154 Raja djiddensis 47 Scatophagus argus* 147 Raja micrura 52 sceleratus, Lagocephalus 218 Raja narinari 55 sceleratus, Tetrodon 2r8 Raja nichofii 54 schotaf, Piectorhynchus 122 Rojo me'no)'n 54 schotaf, Sciaena 122 Raja poecilura 52 schultzei, Muracnichthys* 74 Raja sephen 51 Sciaena aneus 128 Raja uarnak 48 Sciaena argentea 125 Rhachycentrum canadus* 161 Sciaena armatus 97 Rhamphobatis ancy'lostomus 47 Sciaena axillaris 129 Rhincodon typus* 34 Rhinobatidac 46 Sciaena bleekeri 130 Sciaena carutta 131 Rhinobatus eranulatus* 46 Sciaena diacanthus 129 Rhinodon typicus 34 Rhombus aspilos 202 Sciaena dussumieri* 132 Sciaena julvijlamma iio Rhombus grandisquarha 202 Rhombus javanicus 201 Sciaena gibba 107 Rhynchobatus ancylostomus* 47 Sciaena jarbua 87 Rhyncobatus djiddensis* 47 Sciaena maculata 131 robustus, Chocrodon* 153 Sciaena nebulosa 136 robustus, Xiphochilus 153 Sciaena schotaf 122 rostratus, Lethrinus 136 Sciaena stridens 124 rot tie ri, Caranx 92 Sciaenidac 127 rottleri. Scomber 92 Scleroparei 188 ruber, Johnius 127 Scoliodon pala sorrah 39 ruber, Otolithes* 127 Scolopsidei personatus 114 ruber, Otolithus 127 Scolopsis personatus* 114 ruber, Pagrus 138 * Scomber cordyla 92 Tussellii, Caranx 93 Scomber crumenophthnlmus 95 russellii, Derapterus* 93 Scomber djedaba 95 russellii, Lutjanus 110 Scomber equula 118 russellii, Mewprion iio Scomber guttata 160 russellii, Pterois* 188 Scomber lactarius 91 Scomber lysan loi sagitta, Callionyraus 175 Scomber malabaricus 98 Salarias lineatus* 177 Scomber microlepidotus* 159 Salmo tumbil 69 Scomber niger 161 sancti-petri, Chorinemus 102 Scomber rottleri 92 sanguinea, Diacope 108 Scomber rim, speciosus too sanguineus, Lutjanus* 108 Scombresocoidea 75 sarba, Chrysophrys 141 Scombridae 159 Scombroidca 159 Solenichthyes 80 Scopelidae 69 Sfaridae 138 Scorpaena carinata 190 ^parus berda 140 Scorpaena miles 189 Sparus bifasciatus 141 Scorpaena monodactyla 191 ^parus crenidens 143 Scorpaenidae t88 Sparus cuvieri* 142 Scorpacnoidca 188 Sparus datnia* 139 scutata, Amphisile 81 Sparus japonicus 113 scutatus, Ccntriscus* 81 Sparus miniatus 136 Scyris indicus 100 ^Darus spinifer* 138 Selachii 34 Spheroides inermis* 216 Selar cTumenophthalmus 95 Spheroidcs lunaris 217 Selar djedaba 95 SDhyracna jcllo 181 Selar kalla ,q6 ^Dhyracna obtusata* 182 Selaroides leptolepis 99 speciosus, Caranx lOQ sephen, Dasybatus 52 ^Peciosus, Scomber 100 sephen, Hypolophus* 51 ^Pinifer, Pagrus 138 sephen. Raja 51 spinifer, Sparus* 138 sephen, Trygon 51 ^bratella jimbriata 65 Serranidac 82 stellaris, Abalistes* 212 Serranus angularis 8a ^hliaris. Batistes 312 Serranus areolatus 82 ^^ellalus, Balistes 212 Serranus areolatus 83 st^llatus, Tetraodon* 218 Serranus chlorostigma 83 ^^ellatus, Tetrodon 218 Serranus lanceolatus 84 Slephanolcpis diaspros 2 :4 Serranus malabaricus 84 Stephanolepis oblongus 213 Serranus pantherinus 84 Sloiephorus indicus* 62 serrata, Fistularia 80 Slolcphorus zollingeri 61 stridcns, Pomadasys 124 setiger, Trichonotus 156 ^‘ridens, Pristipoma 124 setigcrus, Trirhonotus* 156 ^tridens, Sciaena 124 sexlineaium, Pristipoma 87 strigilifcr, Triacanthus 211 sextarius, Polyncmus* 187 Slromateidao 178 Siganus oramin 154 Sliomatcoidea 178 siganus. Scarus 154 siganus, Truthis* 154 ^’Iroma ous cinercus* 178 sihaina, Sillago* 90 Slromatous nigpr 180 sihama, Sillago 90 'hongylura, Belone 75 Sillaginidac 90 'trongylurus, Tvlosurus* 75 ^ynagris japonicus 113 Sillago sihama* 90 Siluroidoa 70 Synagris tnlu 112 sindensis, Clupea 65 ^ynaptura orientalis 205 sindensii, Cynoglossus 206 Syncntognathi 75 sindensis, Sardinolla 65 sinus peruci. Torpedo 44 sirm, Clupea 66 tnrdoore, Pristogaster 68 sirm, Sardinolla 66 ^trtoor, Opisthopterus 68 smithii, Parapcrcis* 155 * Triacanthus strigilifor 211 itaandersii, Epinephelus 83 Trichiuridac 158 waltoni, Periophthalmus* 171 Trichiuroidea 158 Trichiurus mutirus* 158 Trichonotidac 156 xanthurus, Therapon 87 Trichonotus setiger 156 Xiphochilus robustus 153 Zeus insidiatoT 11 7 zugmayeri, Torpedo 44 Zeus maculatus 104 Zygaena blochii* 41 ZoUingeri, Engraulis 61 Zyg'^ena laticeps 41 zollingeri, Stolephorus 61 zysron, Pristis* 45 O 2 o £ •*> a -5 K I 5 \‘ym 2a. T rygon gerrardi Gray. Dorsal tubercles of the figured specimen. I. Trygon uarnak (Forssk.). Full-grown foetus. No. i, 8 8 cm. a. Trygon gtrtardi Gray. No. i, 88 cm. Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran. III. Fbhes of the Iranian Gulf I. Torpedo panthtra Olfers. No. r, 35 cm. 3. Apogon thurstoni D ay. Combined from No.s i-a, 76-79 mm. 2. Engraulis vitrirostris G ilchrist & Thompson. No. 4, 203 mm. Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran. III. Fishes of the Iranian Gulf 3. Lutjanus sanguineus (C u v. & V a l.). No. I, 143 mm. PL V o 2; (4 > > 3 o ea a • • • • • a i 1. Plectorhynchus cinctus (Temm. & Schl.). No. I, 178 m m . 2. Plectorhynchus pictus (Thunb.). Young specimen. No. i, ao7 mm. 3. Plectorhynchus pictus (Thunb.). .\dult specimen. Combined from No.s a and 4, aga and 302 mm). Danish Scientific Investigations in Iran. III. Fishes of the Iranian Gulf L" ' ' -' ■ ■'ta-. aS!SST:M»'W- ■ _ - -J " V. \ ‘A ‘ ‘ l_. MuUoidichthys auriflamma (Forssk.), No. 3, 165 nun. ' y 'a W - 1 a. Upeneus vittatus (F o r^ ik .). No. 1, 148 mm. 'I m m 3. Upentus traguU Rich. No. 1, 137 mm. H. Blegvad dir. Poul H. Winther pinx. I. Spams datnia (Ham. Buch.). No. i, 258 mm. 2. Sparus cuvUri (Day). No. i, 227 mm. 3. Crenidens crenideni (Forssk.). No. 3, 169 nun. H. Blegvad dir. Poul H. Winthcr del. Danish Scientific Investigationsi in Iran. III. Fishes of the Iranian Gulf PI. IX I. Callyodon dussumuri (G uv. & V a l.). No. i, 495 mm. t I 3. ChotTodon robustus (Giinth.). No., 1, 310 mm. I. Parapercis smithii (R eg .). Ko. i, 183 mm. 2. Trichonotus setigerus B 1. S c h n. No. i, 126 mm. I 3. Lobulogobius otnanenns K o u m a n «. Type specimen, 47 imn. I. Pseudorhombus javanicus (Bikr.). [?] No. 3, 173 mm. 3 . Pardachirus marmoratus (L a c ^ . No. 3, 235 mm. 0 ) > H u . « £ ^ t i ^ « c > s t * X o ^ s « O .2 -=> a J 3 > s ^ < 0 1 « U2 . a c/3 . c/3 c u « £ = 4 ^ V. o a •o be - “ « e j ^ CO QQ •; a ? 6 o "; B o" vO S vD < i m ^ - J 6J CT ^ CO tf*) - * • ► 3 J J: in Z i n i r » m