1512 Bulletin 47, United States National Museum. 



Family CLVIII. CICHLID^E. 



(The Cichlids.) 



Body elevated, obloug or elongate, covered with moderate-sized scales, 

 -which are usually ctenoid; lateral line iuterrnpted, usually ceasing oppo- 

 site the posterior part of the dorsal, and then recommencing lower down 

 on the caudal peduncle; mouth varying in size, terminal, the jaws with 

 rather small teeth, which are usually conical, but sometimes lobate or 

 incisor-like; no teeth on vomer or palatines; nostril single on each side; 

 premaxillaries freely protractile; maxillary slipping under the broad pre- 

 orbital ; gill rakers various ; gill membranes often connected ; dorsal fin 

 single, with the spinous portion well developed, usually but not always 

 longer than the soft portion; anal fin with 3 or more spines, the soft part 

 similar to the soft dorsal ; ventral fins thoracic, I, 5 ; lower pharyngeal 

 bones united into a triangular piece, with a median suture; branchioste- 

 gals 5 or 6; no pseudobranchiip ; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth; verte- 

 bra''. in more or less increased number, about 28 to 40; air bladder present. 

 A large family of fresh-water fishes of moderate or small size, representing, 

 as to form, size, appearance, and habits, and even as to many details of 

 structure, in the waters of South America, the Centrarchida' of the United 

 States. Genera about 40 ; species about 150, inhabiting the rivers of Africa 

 and tropical America, the genus Heros extending into the limits of the 

 United States. Those with lobate teeth are herbivorous, the rest carniv- 

 orous. The species here enumerated are but the overflow of the vast river 

 fauna of South America. (Chromides, Giinther, Cat., iv, 264-316.) 



a. Outer gill arch normal, without additional lobe above; spinous portion of dorsal fin 

 not shorter than soft portion ; gill rakers short and few ; vertical limb of pre- 

 opercle entire ; scales of lateral line not enlarged. 

 b. Teeth all conic. 



c. Premaxillary very greatly protractile; anal spines 6; .snout not longer than 

 postorbital part of head ; preorbital narrow. Petenia, 613. 



cc. Premaxillary moderately protractile; ventrals inserted behind origin of 

 dorsal. 

 d. Jaws subequal. 

 e. Anal spines 3. 



/. Soft portion of dorsal and anal naked or scaled at base only; 



caudal scaled on basal half; lower jaw without distinct 



canines ; lower lip with a frenum. J^quidens, 614. 



ee. Anal spines more than 3 (4 to 11), some of the teeth usually 



enlarged, often canine-like. 



g. Lower lip with a frenum, its fold interrupted mesially. 



CiCHLASOJIA, ei,"). 



gg. Lower lip without frenum, forming a free fold for its whole 



extent. Herds, 616. 



ad. Jaws unequal, the lower jaw included; anal spines 4 or 5; cleft of 



mouth short ; scales on cheeks small. Theeaps, 617. 



bh. Teeth not all conic, a series of incisors in front, with a band of villiform teeth 



behind tlioin; anal spines 8. Neeteoplus, 618. 



aa. Outer gill arch with a compressed lamelliform lobe above. 



h. Eye beliind middle of head; soft dorsal entirely scaleless; fold of lower lip 

 interrupted in front; dorsal spines 13 to 15 ; anal spines 3; scales on cheeks 

 small. Satanopekca, 619. 



