An Important Throughly Illustrated, And Exhaustive Work That Lists, Classifies And Describes All The Known Fish Fauna Of Ceylon. Offers A Systematic Enumeration Of The Entire Range Of Fishes Under Two Broad Classes - Elasmobranchii And Teleostomi 28 Different Orders, Various Sub Orders And Families, And Over 800 Species. All The Necessary Details And Data Have Been Provided For Each Of The Species Under Its Description. And For An Easier Identification, There Is An Illustration Corresponding To Each Of The Species. The Utility Of The Text, For The Concerned Scholars And Researchers, Has Been Enhanced By Incorporating A Meticulously Compiled Glossary Of Technical Terms; Aptly Labelled Sketches; A List Of Over 100 References To Relevant Literature; And A Comprehensive Index With Cross References To Scientific Names And Vernacular Names In The English, Sinhalese And Tamil Languages. Needless To Mention That The Book Has A High And Lasting Reference Value. Contents Part 1- Sharks, Skates And Rays (Class Elasmo-Branchii); Chapter 1: Sharks (Order Lamniforms); Chapter 2: Saw-Fishes, Skates And Rays (Order Rajiformes); Chapter 3: Electric Rays (Order Torpediniformes); Part 2- Bony Fish (Class Teleostomi); Chapter 4: Herring-Like Fishes (Order Clupeiformes); Chapter 5: Deep-Sea Lantern Fishes, Lizard-Fishes (Order Scopeliformes); Chapter 6: Carps, Barbs, Loaches And Cat-Fish (Order Cypriniformes); Chapter 7: Eels, Moryas, Congers (Order Anguilliformes); Chapter 8: Deep-Sea Lizard-Fish (Order Halosauriformes); Chapter 9: Garfish, Needle-Fish, Half-Beaks, Flying Fish (Order Beloniforms); Chapter 10: Deep-Sea Cod (Order Gadiformes); Chapter 11: Rat-Tails, Whip-Tails (Order Macruriformes); Chapter 12: Pipe Fish, Sea Horses, Flute Mouths, Razor Fish (Order Syngnathiformes); Chapter 13: Top-Minnows, Killifish (Order Cyprinodontiformes); Chapter 14: Red-Fish, Slime Heads, Knight Fish Soldier Fish (Order Beryciformes); Chapter 15: Boar Fish (Order Zeiformes); Chapter 16: Pike, Barracuda, Grey Mullet, Hardyheads (Order Mugiliformes); Chapter 17: Thread-Fins, Tassel Fish (Order Polynemiformes); Chapter 18: Snake-Heads (Order Ophiocephaliformes); Chapter 19: Shore Eels (Order Symbranchiformes); Chapter 20: Perch-Like Fishes (Order Perciformes); Suborder Percoidei, Suborder Blennioidei, Suborder Ophidioidei, Suborder Callionymoidei, Suborder Siganoidei, Suborder Acanthuroidei, Suborder Trichiuroidei, Suborder Scombroidei, Suborder Stromatroidei, Suborder Anabantoidei, Suborder Kurtoidei, Suborder Gobioidei, Suborder Cottoidei; Chapter 21: Flying Gurnards (Order Dactylopteriformes); Chapter 22: Flatfishes, Soles, Flounders (Order Pleuronectiformes); Chapter 23: Spiny Eels (Order Mastacembeliformes); Chapter 24: Suckerfish, Remoras (Order Echeneiformes); Chapter 25: Trigger-Fish, File-Fish, Leather-Jackets, Box-Fish, Globe-Fish, File-Fish, Sun-Fish (Order Tetradontiformes); Suborder Balistoidei, Suborder Ostracioidei, Suborder Tetradontoidei, Suborder Moloidei; Chapter 26: Frogfish (Order Batrachoidiformes); Chapter 27: Angler-Fish, Monkfish, Handfish, Fishing Frogfish (Order Lophiformes); Chapter 28: Dragon-Fish (Order Pegasiformes).

When the late Professor Joachim Illies suggested in 1980 that I edit a volume of the Monographiae Biologicae on Sri Lanka, I was glad to accept the challenge. Although I had spent only six years of my research and teaching career in Sri Lanka, I had made personal contact or corresponded with many scientists who had worked in, still work in, or who have studied material from Sri Lanka. The present domicile of the authors of the chapters in this volume shows the wide geographic spread of interest in Sri Lanka, and indicates also the dispersion of Sri Lankan scientists like myself. Sri Lanka has had a relatively long history of indigenous scientific research in the natural sciences. From the early work of Kelaart (1852, Prodromous Fauna Zeylanicae, Ceylon Govt. Press, 250 pp.) to the present time, there has been a more or less sustained research effort in the natural sciences. The Colombo Museum, which celebrated its centenary only a few years ago, and the world famous Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, served as repositories and bases for continued research on the fauna and flora. There are a number of land marks in these studies.