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Show 1899.] SYRIAN FISHES OF THE FAMILY CICHLID/E. 129 Ctenochromis Tcirlii, Pfeffer, 1. c. p. 19. Tilapia hirkii, Bouleng. Tr. Zool. Soc. xv. 1898, p. 4. Teeth small, in 3 or 4 series in both jaws. Depth of body 2f-to 2 | in total length, length of head 3 times. Snout with straight upper profile, 1^ to 1| diameter of eye, which is 3|- to 4 times in length of head and equal to or a little less than interorbital width ; mouth f to | width of head ; maxillary extending to below nostril or between nostril and eye ; 3 series of scales on the cheek ; large scales on the opercle. Gill-rakers short, 11 or 12 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal X V - X V I I 9-11; last spine longest, about -t- length of head, not or but little shorter than the soft rays. Pectoral pointed, as long as or a little shorter than the head. Ventral reaching vent or a little beyond. Anal III 8-10; third spine a little shorter than longest dorsal. Caudal truncate or feebly emarginate, the rays covered with small scales. Caudal peduucle 1| to lg as long as deep. Scales finely denticulate on the border, 33-34 ^ | ; lat. 1. j ~ . BroAvnish above, silvery beneath, with a blackish stripe from the opercular spot to the root of the caudal; a second stripe may be present between the upper lateral line and the dorsal fin ; both these stripes may be broken up into spots ; soft dorsal and caudal Avith small dark and light spots forming more or less regular series. Total length 150 millim. Upper Shire River and Lake Nyassa. C. strigigena is founded on young specimens from Mbuzini, German East Africa. 42. TILAPIA LETHRINUS. Chromis lethrinus, Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1893, p. 622, pi. Iv. fig. A. Tilapia lethrinus, Bouleng. Tr. Zool. Soc. xv. 1898, p. 4. Teeth very small, in 3 or 4 series in both jaws. Depth of body nearly equal to length of head, 2 | to 2 | in total length. Snout long, Avith straight upper profile, If to 2 diameter of eye, Avhich is 4 to 4 | times in length of head and equals interorbital Avidth ; mouth small, \ width of head ; maxillary extending to betAveen nostril and eye ; 3 series of scales on the cheek; large scales on the opercle. Gill-rakers large, falciform, 8 or 9 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal X V - X V I 10-11 ; last spine longest, not 5 length of head, about f length of soft rays. Pectoral pointed, a fittle shorter than the head. Ventral reaching vent or origin of anal. Anal III 8-9 ; third spine shorter and stronger than longest dorsal. Caudal with crescentic emargination, the rays covered Avilh small scales. Caudal peduncle 1^ as long as deep. Scales finely denticulate on the border, 33-34 ^-^ ; lat. 1. ~^ Silvery, brownish on the back ; some blackish spots or a black stripe above the upper lateral line; a blackish stripe may be present along the side of the body and above the lower lateral line ; dorsal and caudal chequered with blackish between the rays, P R O C . Z O O L . Soc-1899, N o . IX. 9 |
