OCR Text |
Show 1899.] SYRIAN FISHES OF THE FAMILY CICHL1D.E. 127 scales on the opercle. Gill-rakers very short, 8 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal X V I 12-13 ; last spine longest, ^ length of head. Pectoral pointed, a little longer than the head, extending as far as origin of anal. Ventral not reaching vent. Anal III 9-10; third spine as long as middle dorsals. Caudal rounded. Caudal peduncle not longer than deep. Scales cycloid, 30-32 r^-r^; lat. 1. j^rj-j. Body Avithout distinct markings; snout and a spot on the opercle blackish ; dorsal fin Avith blackish spots and oblique bars. Total length 220 millim. Upper Shire River. 37. TILAPIA AFEINIS. Tilapia ajfinis, A. D u m . Arch. Mus. x. 1859, p. 255. Chromis uffinis, Rochebr. Act. Soc. Lian. Bord. Ari. 1883, p. 131. Chromis aureus, Steind. Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xiv. 1864, p. 229, pi. viii. fig. 5. Teeth small, in 3 or 4 regular series in both jaws. Depth of body 2 | to 2 | in total length, length of head 3. Snout with straight upper profile, 1-| to 1^ diameter of eye, which is contained 4 times in length of head, and 11 to li- in interorbital width ; mouth nearly | Avidth of head, extending to below anterior border of eye ; 3 series of scales on the cheek ; large scales on the opercle. Gill-rakers short, 8 or 9 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal X V 11-12; last spine longest, -i- length of head, nearly \ longest soft rays. Pectoral pointed, 1^ length of head, extending to origin of anal. Ventral reaching origin of anal. Anal III 8-10 ; third spine a little shorter than last dorsal. Caudal rounded. Caudal peduncle slightly deeper than long. Scales cycloid, 32 ^r ; lat. 1. ^. Olive, a black opercular spot; soft dorsal AAlth blackish spots more or less confluent into oblique streaks. Total length 170 millim. Senegal and Niger. 38. TILAPIA BTJRTONI. Chromis burtoni, Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1893, p. 631, pi. lviii. fig. C. Tilapia burtoni, Bouleng. Tr. Zool. Soc. xv. 1898, p. 5. Teeth in 5 closely-set series, outer moderately large, inner very minute. Depth of body 2f- in total length, length of head 2i. Snout with slightly concave upper profile, 1^ diameter of eye, which is contained 4 times in length of head and equals interorbital width ; mouth rather large, nearly f width of head, extending to below anterior border of eye; 4 series of scales on the cheek ; large scales on the opercle. Gill-rakers short, 10 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal X I V 11; spines equal from the 10th, 3 length of head, \ longest soft rays. Pectoral 4 length of head, extending as far as origin of anal. A'entral prolonged in |