GALEICHTHYS. 381 26. GALEICHTHYS.
Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xv. p. 28 (1840), part. ; Bleek. Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk. i. 1863, p. 90; Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 174 (1864). Bagrus, part., Mill. & Trosch. Hor. Ichthyol. iii. p. 6 (1849). Body moderately elongate, feebly compressed. Dorsal and anal fins short, the former consisting of a spine and 7 branched rays; a moderately large adipose fin. Pectoral fin with a spine. Ventral fin with 6 rays, inserted behind the vertical of the dorsal fin. Three pairs of barbels: maxillary and two mandibulars. Nostrils close together. Eyes lateral, with free border. Maxillary bone rudimentary; jaws with a band of yilliform teeth; teeth on the vomer and the pterygoids. Gillmembranes narrowly attached to isthmus, not notched, forming a continuous transverse fold.
Vertebre 52 (23-429). Branchiostegal rays 5.
Coasts and mouths of rivers of South Africa.
‘Two species :— Caudal tin with long pointed lobes; caudal peduncle at least twice as long as deep . . 1. G. feliceps, C. & V., p. 381. Caudal fin with short obtuse lobes; caudal peduncle not twice aslong asdeep . . . 2. G. ater, Casteln., p. 382. 1, GALEICHTHYS FELICEPS.
Cuv. & Val. t. ce. p. 29, pl. cecexxiy. ; Casteln. Poiss. Afr. Austr. p. 62 (1861); Giinth. t. ec. p. 175; Bleek. Nat. Tijdschr. Nederl. Ind. xxi. 1860, p. 76. Bagrus capensis, A. Smith, Il, Zool. S. Afr., Fish. pl. viii. (1840); Pappe, Syn. Ed. Fish. Cape G. H. p. 29 (1853).
Depth of body 4 to 4% times in total length, length of head 5} to 4 times. Head as long as broad or a little longer than broad, moderately depressed, smooth or feebly striated on the occiput and operculum ; a long and narrow occipital process, in contact with a small interneural shield; snout broad, rounded, projecting feebly beyond mouth; eye lateral, oval, 14 (young) to 2} times in length of snout, 43 to 8 times in length of head, 2 to 4 times in interocular width; premaxillary band of teeth 4 to 5 times as long as broad, broader than the crescentic band of teeth on the palate; barbels rather flattened, maxillary about 2 length of head in the adult to once in the young, outer mandibular 4 to %, mner mandibular $ to $. Gill-rakers rather short, 8 or 9 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal I 7, 14 to 1} times as distant from
382 SILURIDA.
end of snout as from root of caudal, spine } to 3 length of head, very feebly serrated in front and behind. Adipose dorsal 14 to 1} times as long as rayed dorsal, 12 to 24 times its distance from latter. Anal 17-19 (11-13 rays branched). Pectoral spine similar to dorsal, but usually a little longer. Caudal deeply forked, with pointed lobes, upper the longer. Caudal peduncle 2 to 23 times as long as deep. Galeichthys feliceps.
Type, after Cuvier & Valenciennes. 3. Olive-brown above, yellowish on the sides, pinkish white beneath ; fins greyish.
Total length 420 millim.
Damaraland to Natal.—Type in Paris Museum, 1, Ad., skin, type of Cape of Good Hope. Sir A. Smith (P.). B.capensis.
2-5. Yg. Damaraland.
6. Ad. Algoa Bay. J. M. Leslie, Esq. (P.). Mod. * H. A. Spencer, Esq. (P.). 8-9. Ad. & her. Port Elizabeth. Hh 10. Skel. . a 11-20. Eggs & yg. * J. M. Leslie, Esq. (P.). 21, Ad. Natal. Dr. E. Warren (P.). 2. GALEICHTHYS ATER.
Casteln. Poiss. Afr. Austr. p. 62 (1861). Depth of body 4% times in total length, length of head 84: times. Head as long as broad, moderately depressed, smooth; a long and narrow occipital process, hidden under the skin, in contact with a small interneural shield; snout broad, rounded, projecting feebly beyond mouth ; eye lateral, oval, 24 times in length of snout, 8 times in length
GALEICHTHYS.—ARIUS. 383 of head, 4 times in interorbital width; premaxillary band of teeth 6 times as long as broad, broader than the crescentic band on the palate ; barbels flattened, maxillary 2 length of head, outer mandibular not quite 3, inner mandibular 3. Gill-rakers rather short, 7 on lower part Fig.296.
Galeichthysater,4.
of anterior arch. Dorsal I 7, 14 times as distant from end of snout as from root of caudal, spine 4 length of head, not serrated. Adipose dorsal 12 times as long as rayed dorsal, 13 times its distance from latter. Anal 17 (12 rays branched). Pectoral spine a little longer than dorsal, feebly serrated on outer side. Caudal notched, with very short, obtuse lobes. Caudal peduncle not quite twice as long as deep. Blackish green above, lighter beneath ; fins black.
Total length 360 millim.
Cape of Good Hope.
1, Ad. Cape of Good Hope. Dr. J. D. F. Gilchrist (P.). 27. ARIUS, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xv. p. 53 (1840), part.; Mill. & Trosch. Hor. Ichthyol. iii. p. 6 (1849); Bleek. Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk. i. 1863, p. 91; Giinth. Cat. Fish. y. p. 138 (1864), part.; Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 298 (1901). Ariodes, Mtll. & Trosch. 1..c.
Pseudarius, Bleek. |, c.
Body moderately elongate, not or but feebly compressed. Dorsal and
584 STLURID 4, anal fins short, the former consisting of a spine and 6 or 7 branched rays; a small adipose fin. Pectoral fin with a spine. Ventral fin with 6 rays, inserted behind the vertical of the dorsal fin. Three pairs of barbels: maxillary and two mandibulars. Nostrils close together. Eyes lateral or supero-lateral, with free border. Maxillary bone rudimentary ; jaws with a band of villiform teeth; teeth on the pterygoids, none on the vomer*. Gill-membranes narrowly attached to isthmus, not notched, forming a continuous transverse fold. Vertebrie 48-58 (22-29-+4-27-33). Branchiostegal rays 5 or 6. Tropical Seas ; a few species in fresh waters, or entering rivers. Synopsis of the Species.
I. Teeth on palate villiform.
A. Maxillary barbel not reaching extremity of pectoral spine. Teeth on palate in two very large groups, consisting of an anterior transverse portion narrowly separated from its fellow on the median line, and a posterior triangular portion which is longer than broad ; occipital process broader at base than WON sob O66 Go a 4 Boe ig ala Uae teietntn rll, igh oteah Teeth on palate in two large triangular groups, very narrowly separated on the median line; occipital process broader at base thanwlonGuecnsiate. ait cable a faa Buen clonic blo apes 0. Teeth on palate in two rather small, widely separated, oval or subtriangular groups ; occipital process as long as broad at base. 3. A. heudeloti, C. & V., p. 387, B, Maxillary barbel reaching beyond pectoral spine; teeth on palate in two irregularly oval groups; occipital [p. 888. process as long as broad at base . . 4. A. madagascariensis, Vaill., IL. Teeth on palate granular.
Two groups of teeth on each side of palate, anterior small and rounded, posterior large Ail PET ET 55 Vig e Vall dasa onde oy Bowls kirk, Gthr., p. 389. A large subtriangular group of teeth on each Bidevof palate V0.) 6 2) NE) 6a A Wapmicanns,|Gthins, ps 389. * The teeth on the palate have been described, in the African species, as vomerine and palatine, but the bones that support them are the entopterygoids (or entopterygoids + ectopterygoids),
ARLUS. 385 1. ARIUS LATISCUTATUS.
Arius latiscutatus, part., Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 151 (1864); Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 300 (1901).
Avius parkit, part., Giinth. t. c. p. 154.
Depth of body 4 to 5 times in total length, length of head 3} to 4 times. Head slightly longer than broad, the posterior part of its upper surface rough with pearl-like granules; occipital process tectiform, broader at base than long, in contact with the interneural shield, which is small and crescentic and studded with granules same as on the skull; snout broad, rounded, projecting feebly beyond mouth; eye lateral, oval, 14 (young) to 24 times in length of snout, 43 to 8 times in length of head, 24 to 5 times in interocular width ; premaxillary band of teeth Fig.297.
Arius latiscutatus.
Cameroon. j.
5 to 6 times as long as broad; palate with two very large groups of villiform teeth, consisting of an anterior transverse portion narrowly separated from its fellow on the median line and a posterior triangular portion which is longer than broad; maxillary barbel 3 to 7 (14 in the young) length of head, outer mandibular x to # (or once), inner mandibular ? to %. Gill-rakers moderately long, 12 or 13 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal 17, spine ? to § length of head, with granular tubercles anteriorly and small serre posteriorly. Adipose dorsal small, its base at least % that of rayed dorsal, about twice as distant from latter as from caudal. Anal 19-20 (13-14 rays branched). VOL. Il. 2c
386 SILURID&.
Pectoral spine similar to dorsal. Ventral reaching, or nearly reaching, origin of anal. Caudal deeply notched, with long, pointed lobes. Caudal peduncle 2 to 24 times as long as deep. Olive-brown above, silvery on the sides, white beneath ; distal half of pectoral, ventral, and anal fins brown or blackish.
Total length 520 millim.
Gambia, Niger, Cameroon, Fernando Po, Congo. 1. Her., type. Fernando Po.
2. Ad. Cameroon. Mr. C. L. Salmin (C.). 3. Ye., one of the types of Niger. Mr. L. Fraser (C.). A, parkit.
4, Ad. Gambia. J.S. Budgett, Hsq. (P.). 2. ARIUS GIGAS, sp. n. *.
Arius latiscutatus, part., Giinth. Cat. Fish. vy. p. 151 (1864); Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 300 (1901).
Depth of body 4 times in total length, length of head 3} times. Head slightly longer than broad, the posterior part of its upper surface Fig.298.
Arius gigas.
Half-erown. 2,o * The name refers to the large skeletons which were regarded by Giinther as the adults of his A. latiscutatus, which differs in the palatal dentition; but the description of the externalcharacters,asheregiven,isnecessarilytakenfromthemuchsmallerspecimenin spirit (total length 275 millim.).
ARIUS. 387 rough with pearl-like granules; occipital process tectiform, broader at base than long, in contact with the interneural shield, which is small and crescentic and studded with granules same as on the skull; snout broad, rounded, projecting feebly beyond mouth; eye lateral, oval, twice in length of snout, 6 times in length of head, 5 times in interocular width ; preemaxillary band of teeth 6 times as long as broad ; palate with two large subtriangular groups of villiform teeth narrowly separated from each other in front; maxillary barbel 3 length of head, outer mandibular #, inner mandibular 3. Gill-rakers moderately long, 12-15 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal I 7, spine ¢ length of head, with granular tubercles anteriorly and small serre posteriorly. Adipose dorsal small, its base § that of rayed dorsal, 13 times as distant from latter as from caudal. Anal 17 (12 rays branched). Pectoral spine similar to dorsal. Ventral reaching origin of anal. Caudal deeply notched, with long, pointed lobes. Caudal peduncle twice as long as deep. Olive-brown above, silvery on the sides, white beneath ; distal half of dorsal, pectoral, ventral, and anal fins blackish. Total length 1150 millim.
Niger.
1. Her., type. Lokoja, Upper Niger. J. 8. Budgett, Esq. (P.). 2, 3. Skels., types of Niger. Mr. J. T. Dalton (C.). A.latiscutatus.
3. ARIUS HEUDELOTI.
Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xv. p, 73, pl. cecexxviii. (1840). Arius parkii, part., Giinth, Cat. Fish. v. p. 154 (1864). Arius park, Steind. Notes Leyd. Mus. xv. 1894, p, 61. Depth of body 5 to 6 times in total length, length of head 34 to 4 times. Head 1} to 1} times as long as broad, the posterior part of its upper surface rough with pearl-like granules ; occipital process tectiform, as long as broad at base, in coutact with the interneural shield, which is small and crescentic and studded with granules same as on the skull; snout short and broad, projecting very feebly beyond mouth ; eye lateral, oval, 1 to 1} times in length of snout, 5 to 6 times in length of head, 24 to 4 times in interocular width ; premaxillary band of teeth short, 4 times as long as broad; palate with two rather small, widely separated, oval or subtriangular groups of villiform teeth; maxillary barbel as long as or a little shorter than head, outer mandibular } to 3 length of head, inner mandibular { to §, Gill-rakers moderately long, 2¢2
388 SILURID_E.
8 or 9 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal I 7, spine 3 to # length of head, with granular tubercles anteriorly and small serrz posteriorly. Adipose dorsal small, its base about 4 or § that of rayed dorsal, about twice as distant from latter as from caudal. Anal 17-20 (12-14 rays branched). Pectoral spine similar to dorsal. Ventral reaching, or nearly reaching, origin of anal. Caudal deeply notched, with long, pointed lobes. Caudal peduncle 2 to 24 times as long as deep. Fig.298.
Arius heudeloti.
Lagos. Rhee Brownish above, silvery on the sides, white beneath; distal half of pectoral, ventral, and anal fins brown. Total length 500 millim.
Upper Senegal, Niger, Lagos, Cameroon.—Types, in Paris Museum, examined.
1. Her., one of the types Niger. Mr. L. Fraser (C.). of A. parkit.
2. Her. i a Lagos. J. Wood, Esq. (C.).
3. Her. Cameroon. Dr. J. A. Smith (Rey: 4, ARIUS MADAGASCARIENSIS.
Vaill. Bull. Soc. Philom. (8) vi. 1894, p. 77. Depth of body 44 times in total length, length of head 33 times. Snout rounded ; eye about 5 times in length of head and 24 times in interorbital width ; palate with two irregularly oval groups of villiform