The Freshwater Fishes of SoutJi Africa. \~>i 



Closely allied to the Indian Ocean A. dussumieri, C. and V., and 

 imperfectly known from a half-skin of a small specimen, the palate 

 of which is injured/' 1 



Zambezi." 



9. SYNODONTIS. 



Guv., Kegne Anim., ii., p. 203 (1817) ; Guv. and Val., Hist. 

 Poiss., xv., p. 244 (1840) ; Giinth., Cat. Fish., v., p. 210 (1864) ; 

 Vaill., N. Arch. Mus. (3), vii., 1895, p. 233, and viii., 1896, 

 p. 87; Bouleng., Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 301 (1901), Pish. Nile, 

 p. 350 (1907), Cat. Fresh. Fish. Afr., ii., p. 391 (1911). 



Dorsal fin short, a large or very large adipose dorsal fin ; a 

 cephalo-nuchal bony shield, united to clavicular bones ; 3 pairs of 

 barbels one maxillary and two mandibular, all or at least latter 

 branched. Nostrils widely separated, anterior tubular. A band of 

 conical premaxillary teeth ; movable teeth implanted in lower lip 

 usually followed by small teeth on lower jaw ; palate toothless. 



Key to Species. 



Pectoral spine feebly serrated on outer border, not 

 reaching ventral. Adipose dorsal 1J-2J times as 

 long as its distance from rayed dorsal ; mandibular 

 barbels with long slender branches without rami- 

 fications ; humeral process much longer than 

 broad; movable mandibular teeth 35-38 .. .. 1. S. zambezensis, Peters. 



Pectoral spine feebly serrated on outer border. Adi- 

 pose dorsal as long as its distance from rayed dorsal ; 

 mandibular barbels with long slender branches ; 

 humeral process slightly longer than broad ; movable 

 mandibular teeth 20. Anal rounded 2. S. woosnami, Blgr. 



Pectoral spine feebly serrated on outer side ; adipose 

 dorsal as long as its distance from rayed dorsal ; 

 mandibular barbels with short simple branches, 

 inner row bifid ; movable mandibular teeth 18. 

 Humeral process not longer than broad. Anal 

 pointed in front 3. .S'. ncbuloaux, Peters. 



Pectoral spine strongly serrated on outer side, very 

 strongly on inner ; adipose dorsal 1J times as long 

 as its distance from rayed dorsal ; mandibular 

 barbels with short tubercular branches ; movable 

 mandibular teeth 20-26. Humeral process a little 

 longer than broad. Anal rounded 4. S. macrostigma, Blgr. 



* "The figure of the teeth, as given by Giinther, is consequently not quite 

 correct. ' ' 



