OCR Text |
Show 1902.J FISHES FROM THE NIGER DELTA. 325 3. P o l y p ter us se n eg a lu s C u v .-Assay, Abo. The young specimens of these three species obtained by Dr. Ansorge have been described and figured in P. Z. S. 1902, i. p. 4, pis. x. & xi. L e p id o s ir e n id .e . 4. P rotopterus an ne ct ens Owen. (Plate X X Y III. fig. 1.) Three young specimens, 160 to 215 millim. long. The limbs are longer than in specimens of P. cethiopicus and P. dolloi of corresponding size, the fore limb extending to the vent, or beyond. Head 3§ to 4 times in distance from end of snout to vent; eye 7 to 8 times in length of head, 1| to 2 in interorbital width. 50 scales in a longitudinal series from gill-opening to vent, 38 round the middle of the body. The longest external gills measure | the length of the head. Vent on the left side in two specimens, on the right in the third. The following are the measurements of the largest specimen :- Total length 215 millim. ; head 24 ; head to vent 70; head to origin of dorsal 30; fore limb 80 ; hind limb 56. M o rm yr id ^e . 5. M ormyrops d elic iosus Leach.-Agberi, Assay. 6. P e trocepiialus simus Sauv.-Agberi. 7. P etroceph alus a n so r g i i , sp. n. (Plate X X V III. fig. 2.) Depth of body 3 times in total length, length of head Aj. Head slightly longer than deep ; snout rounded, £ length of head ; mouth situated below the eye, its width 4- length of head ; teeth bicuspid, 10 in the upper jaw, 20 in the lower; nostrils close together, close to the eye, a little above the level of its lower border; eye large, twice as long as the snout, 1| interorbital width. Dorsal 33, originating above 9th ray of anal, its length 1^ in its distance from head. Anal 39, equally distant from base of ventral and from base of caudal. Pectoral pointed, f length of head, twice as long as ventral and extending beyond base of latter. Caudal with pointed lobes. Caudal peduncle 3 times as long as deep, ^ length of head. 45 scales in the lateral line, ^ in a transverse series on the body, ^ in a transverse series between dorsal and anal, 8 round caudal peduncle. Silvery, brownish on the back and on the anterior rays of the dorsal. Total length 105 millim. A single specimen from Agberi. This species is well distinguished from all others of the same genus in having only 8 scales round the caudal peduncle. It approaches P. bane Lacep. in the number of dorsal and anal rays, but differs in the larger eye and the fewrer teeth. 8. M a r c u se n iu s b r a c h y i i is t iu s Gill.- Agberi. |