442 



Annul* of the South African 'Museum. 



Clarias microphthalmus, Pfeff., op. cit., p. 28; Hilgend., Zool. 

 Jahrb. Syst., xxii., 1905, p. 410. 

 Clarias giintheri, Pfeff., I.e. 



Depth of body 5 to 65 times in total length excluding caudal, 

 length of head 3J times. Head 1^ to li times as long as broad, its 

 upper surface closely granulate ; occipital process angular ; frontal 

 fontanelle sole-shaped or knife-shaped, 3i to 4^ times as long as 

 broad, 4 to 5^- times in length of head ; occipital fontanelle small, 

 in advance of occipital process ; eye 3i to 4^ times in length of 

 snout, 4i to 6? times in interorbital width ; width of mouth 

 about equal to interorbital width ; band of premaxillary teeth 

 5i to 8^ times as long as broad ; vomerine teeth granular, form- 

 ing a crescentic band which is as broad as premaxillary band ; 



Fio. 96. Clarias mossambicn*. 



nasal barbel \ to f length of head ; maxillary barbels 1 to \\ times 

 length of head, reaching to end of pectoral fin or a little beyond; 

 outer mandibular barbel 1^ to If times as long as inner, which 

 measures -V to f length of head. Gill-rakers long and closely set, 

 30 to 60 on anterior arch. Clavicles hidden under the skin. 



Dorsal 62-72 ; its distance from occipital process about \ length of 

 head, its distance from caudal H to 2^ times diameter of eye. Anal 

 50-60 ; separated from caudal by a distinct interspace. Pectoral f to 

 i length of head, the spine serrated on the outer border and - 

 the length of the fin. Ventrals slightly nearer to end of snout 

 than to caudal. Caudal ?- to | length of head. 



Colour (of preserved specimens) dark mottled brown on back and 

 sides ; a dark band on each side of lower surface of head. 



