SYNODONTIS. 397 Maxillary barbel not more than 4 length of head ; movable mandibular teeth at least aslongaseye. . » . ss » « « « OL. S. sorex, Gthr., p. 465. b. Hyes perfectly lateral, visible from below as well as from above ; movable mandibular teeth 12-19 ; adipose dorsal shorter than head. Maxillary barbel shorter than head . . . . 52. S. pleurops, Blgr., p. 466. II, Maxillary barbel branched; gill-opening not extending downwards beyond base of pectoral spine.
Movable mandibular teeth 4-11; maxillary barbel not margined, with short branches ; adipose dorsal as long as its distance from rayed dorsal ee cE OOO naecorUsm Doma pncOos Movable mandibular teeth 6-9; maxillary barbel with a distinct marginal membrane at base and with long, slender, finely tuberculate branches; adipose dorsal much longer than its distance from rayed dorsal. 54. S. clarias, L., p. 469. Movable mandibular teeth 60; maxillary barbel with a broad marginal membrane and short, obtuse branches ; adipose dorsal nearly touching rayed dorsal. . . . . 55. S. resupinatus, Blgr., p. 471. III. Maxillary barbel not branched, but broadly margined ; gill-opening extending downwards beyond base of pectoral spine ; adipose dorsal touching rayeddorsal.
Gill-openings widely separated ; mandibular barbels branched but not margined ; movable mandibular teeth 30-57 . . . 56, S. batensoda, Riipp., p. 472. Gill-openings separated by a narrow isthmus ; mandibular barbels branched at the base, with a membranous margin at the end ; [p. 474. movable mandibular teeth 6-9 . . . . 57. S. membranaceus, Geoftr., 1. SYNODONTIS CAUDALIS.
Bouleng. Ann. Mus. Congo, Zool. i. p. 44, pl. xxii. fig. 1 (1899), and Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 306 (1901).
Depth of body equal to length of head, 4 to 43 times in total length. Head as broad as long, nearly smooth above; snout rounded, 4 length of head; eye supero-lateral, 5$ to 6 times in length of head; 2 to 24 times in interorbital width; lips much developed; premaxillary teeth forming a rather long and moderately broad band ; movable mandibular teeth hardly 4 diameter of eye, 70 to $0 in number. Maxillary barbel not margined, 15 to 13 times length of head; mandibular barbels with
398 SILURIDA.
moderately long branches with tubercular ramifications, outer a little longer than inner and 3 length of head. Gill-opening not extending downwards beyond root of pectoral spine. Occipito-nuchal shield smooth, convex, only a little longer than broad, with posterior processes sharply pointed or obtuse. Humeral process feebly striated, narrow and sharply pointed, extending as far back as occipito-nuchal process. Dorsal I 7; spine not very strong, hardly 2 length of head, smooth in front, feebly serrated behind. Adipose dorsal 4 to 5 times as long as deep, 2} to 3} times as long as its distance from rayed dorsal. Anal III 8-9, rounded. Pectoral spine as long as or a little shorter than Sunodontis caudalis, Type (A. M.C.). 2.
head, strongly serrated on both sides, especially behind. Ventral nearly reaching anal. Caudal deeply notched, both lobes produced into a long filament. Caudal peduncle deeper than long. Uniform brownish. Total length 140 millim.
Congo.—Types in Congo Museum, Tervueren.
1-2, Two of the types. Leopoldville. Capt. Wilverth (C.). 2, SYNODONTIS POLYODON.
Vaill. C. R. Soc, Philom. 1893, p. 48, and N. Arch. Mus. (3) viii. 1896, p. 127, pl. xi. fig. L.
Depth of body 4} times in total length, length of head 4 times. Head slightly longer than broad, with feeble vermicular rugosities above; snout rounded, 4 length of head; eye supero-Interal, 54 times in length
SYNODONTIS. 399 of head, twice in interorbital width; lips moderately developed ; premaxillary teeth forming a long and moderately broad band; movable mandibular teeth about 4 diameter Fig. 302. of eye, forming a long series, about 75 in number. Maxillary barbel not margined, a little longer than head, extending a little beyond base of pectoral spine; mandibular barbels short, outer about 4 length of head, with simple branches, inner shorter and with ramified branches. Gillopening not extending downwards Synodontis polyodon.
After Vaillant, l.c. 2.
beyond root of pectoral spine. Occipito-nuchal shield with feeble vermicular rugosities, obtusely tectiform, a little broader than long, with posterior processes obtuse. Humeral process striated, keeled, longer than deep, acutely pointed. Skin villose on sides. Dorsal I 7; spine nearly as long as head, striated, smooth in front, feebly serrated behind. Adipose dorsal 3} times as long as deep, about 1} times as long as its distance from rayed dorsal. Anal III 8, obtusely pointed in front. Pectoral spine as long as head, strongly serrated on both sides, especially on the inner, Ventral not reaching anal. Caudal deeply notched. Caudal peduncle as long as deep. Brownish ; caudal with traces of dark spots forming four or five transverse series. Total length 175 millim.
Ogowe.—Type in Paris Museum,
400 SILURIDA, 3. SYNODONTIS ACANTHOMIAS, Synodontis omias (non Giinth.), Vaill. N. Arch. Mus. (3) vili. 1896, p. 130, pl. xiii. fig. 2.
Synodentis acanthonias, Bouleng. Ann. Mus. Congo, Zool. i. p. 46, pl. xxiii. (1899), and Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 310 (1901).
Depth of body equal to or a little greater than length of head, 3% to 4% times in total length. Head as long as broad or slightly longer than broad, feebly rugose above from between the eyes; snout obtusely Fig.303.
Symodontis acanthomias, Type (A. M. C.). 3.
pointed, 14 to 14 times length of postocular part of head; eye superolateral, 54 to 74 times in length of head, 2 to 3 times in interorbital width ; lips moderately developed; preemaxillary teeth forming a broad and rather short band; movable mandibular teeth nearly 4 diameter of eye, 36 to 50 in number. Maxillary barbel not distinctly margined, 1 to 14 times length of head, reaching anterior third or middle of pectoral spine ; outer mandibular barbels twice as long as inner, with long slender branches, inner with shorter branches bearing tubercular ramifications. Gill-opening not extending downwards beyond root of pectoral spine. Occipito-nuchal shield obtusely tectiform, rough like
SYNODONTIS. 401 the occiput, 14 to 1} times as long as broad, with truncate or pointed posterior processes. Humeral process 2$ to 3 times as long as broad, extending as far back as occipito-nuchal shield, armed in the adult with several strong spines directed backwards; these spines reduced to 2 or 3 in the young. Skin villose on the sides. Dorsal I 6-7; spine as long as or a little shorter than head, striated, smooth in front, very feebly serrated behind. Adipose dorsal 5 to 7 times as long as deep, 3 to 5 times as long as its distance from rayed dorsal. Anal IV 8-10, rounded or obtusely pointed in front. Pectoral spine a little longer than head, strongly serrated on both sides. Ventral reaching anal or not. Caudal deeply forked, upper lobe the longer. Caudal peduncle as long as deep. Greyish or brownish above, uniform or with small round blackish spots, yellowish white beneath.
Total length 400 millim.
Congo.—Types in Congo Museum, Tervueren.
1. One of the types. Boma, Lower Congo. Capt. Wilverth (C.). 2. Ad. Matadi, 4 M. P. Delhez (C.).
Gy ak Stanley Pool. M. De Meuse (C.).
4-5. Ad. & her. Monsembe, Upper Congo. Rey. J. H. Weeks (P.). 6. Ad. Stanley Falls. Rev. W. H. Bentley (C.).
7-10. Ad. & her. Upper Congo. Brussels University.
. Skel. Fy Rey. G. Grenfell (P.).
4. SYNODONTIS OMIAS.
Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 213 (1864) ; Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 311 (1901). Depth of body equal to length of head, 35 times in total length. Head a little longer than broad, feebly rugose above from between the eyes ; snout very obtusely pointed, as long as or slightly shorter than postocular part of head ; eye supero-lateral, 5 to 6 times in length of head, 2 to 2} times in interorbital width ; lips moderately developed ; premaxillary teeth forming a broad and short band ; movable mandibular teeth barely } diameter of eye, 40 to 50 in number. Maxillary barbel with a rudiment of fringe at base, a little longer than head, reaching anterior third of pectoral spine ; mandibular barbels with short branches bearing tubercular ramifications, outer twice as long as inner. Gillopenings not extending downwards beyond root of pectoral spine. Occipito-nuchal shield obtusely tectiform, feebly rugose like the occiput, 14 to 14 times as long as broad, with rounded or truncate posterior processes. Humeral process 14 times as long as broad, VOL, Il. 2b
402 SILURIDZ.
extending as far back as occipito-nuchal shield, with 2 or 3 strong spines directed backwards. Skin villose on the sides. Dorsal 17; spine as long as or a little longer than head, feebly curved, striated, smooth in front, very feebly serrated behind. Adipose dorsal 3 to 33 times as long as deep, twice as long as its distance from rayed dorsal. Anal V 7-8, pointed in front. Pectoral spine nearly as long as head, strongly serrated on both sides. Ventral reaching beyond origin of anal. Caudal deeply Fig.304.
Synodontis omias.
Jebba. 3.
forked, upper lobe the longer and produced into a filament. Caudal peduncle as long as deep. Uniform brownish. Total length 550 millim.
Niger.
1. Ad. Jebba, Upper Niger. ‘apt. G. I. Abadie (P.). 2. Skeleton, type. Niger. Mr. J. T. Dalton (©.). . Skel. W. Africa.
Oo
SYNODONTIS. 405 5. SYNODONTIS BUDGETTI, sp. n.
Depth of body equal to length of head, 33 times in total length. Head slightly longer than broad, feebly rugose above from between the eyes; snout rounded, as long as postocular part of head; eye superolateral, 64 times in length of head, 24 times in interorbital width ; lips moderately developed; premaxillary teeth forming a broad and short band; movable mandibular teeth barely + diameter of eye, 55 in number. Fig.305.
Synodontis budgette.
1 Type. 3.
Maxillary barbel with a broad fringe at base, 12 times as long as head, nearly reaching extremity of pectoral spine; mandibular barbels with short branches bearing tubercular ramifications, outer twice as long as inner. Gill-openings not extending downwards beyond root of pectoral spine. Occipito-nuchal shield obtusely tectiform, feebly rugose like the occiput, 13 times as long as broad, with rounded posterior processes. Humeral process 13 times as long as broad, extending as far back as occipito-nuchal shield, with 3 strong spines directed backwards. Skin villose on the sides. Dorsal 17; spine as long as head, bearing a long filament, feebly curved, striated, smooth in front, very feebly serrated 2D2
404 SILURIDE.
9 behind. Adipose dorsal 5 times as long as deep, 5} times as long as its distance from rayed dorsal. Anal V 7, pointed in front. Pectoral spine as long as head, strongly serrated on both sides. Ventral reaching origin of anal. Caudal deeply forked, both lobes produced into a filament. Caudal peduncle as long as deep. Uniform brown. Total length 540 millim.
Niger.
1. Type. Lokoja, Upp. Niger. J.S8. Budgett, Esq. (P.). 6. SYNODONTIS SCHALL.
Schall, Sonnini, Voy. Egypte, 13. p. 278, pl. xxi. fig. 2 (1799). Stilurus schall, Bloch-Schneid. Syst. Ichth. p. 885 (1801). Pimelodus clarias, Geoftr. Descr. Egypte, Poiss. pl. xiii. figs. 3 & 4 (1809). Synodontis clarias, 1. Geottr. op. cit. p. 316 (1827). Synodontis maculosus, Riipp. Beschr. n. Fische Nil, p. 10, pl. iii. fig. 1 (1829). Synodontis arabi, Cuy. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xv. p. 261 (1840). Synodontis schall, Hyrtl, Denksehr. Ak. Wien, xvi. 1859, p. 16; Giinth. Cat. Fish. y. p. 212 (1864), and Petherick’s Trav. ii. p. 235 (1862) ; Steind. Sitzb. Ak. Wien, Ixi. i. 1870, p. 533 ; Vaill. N. Arch. Mus. (3) viii. 1896, p. 121, & vii. pl. x. fig. 7; Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1896, p. 221, fig.; Pfeft. Thierw. O.-Afr., Fische, p. 36 (1896); Vincig. Ann. Mus. Genova, (2) xix. 1898, p- 246; Bouleng. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) xvii. 1906, p. 566, and Fish. Nile, p. 353, pl. liv. (1907).
Hemisynodontis schall, Bleek. Nedcrl. Tijdschr. Dierk. i. 1863, p. 55. Leiosynodontis maculosus, Bleek. 1. c.
Synodontis smithii, Giinth, Proc. Zool. Soe. 1896, p. 222, pl. ix. ; Vincig. 1. e. Depth of body 3 to 4 times in total length, length of head 31 to 4 times. Head 1} to 1§ times as long as broad, little broader than deep, rugose above behind snout, which is rounded and as long as or shorter than postocular part of head; eye supero-lateral, 45 (young) to 8 times in length of head, 12 to 21 times in interorbital width; lips moderately developed ; premaxillary teeth forming a short and broad band; movable mandibular teeth not more than $ diameter of eye, 24 to 36 in number. Maxillary barbel with a narrow marginal membrane at base, # to 1% times length of head, reaching between base and posterior fifth of pectoral spine ; outer mandibular barbel about twice as long as inner, former with long, slender branches, latter with shorter branches, with tubercular ramifications. Gill-openings not extending downwards beyond root of pectoral spine. Occipito-nuchal shield rough like the occiput, obtusely tectiform, 14 to 2 times as long as broad, with posterior