Jordan and I<'.iH'rinann. — Fishes of North Atnerica. 155 



stout; adipose liii \o\\^^ longer than high; dorsal rays I, 6. Species 

 chiefly Brazilian, about 10 recognized in the genus as now restricted. 



(7r(/ze/i//c, fat.) 



250. PIMELODUS MACULATUS, Lacdpfedc. 



(CONGUO liARlillSO.) 



Head 3i to 4i ; depth 34 to 5. D, I, 6; A. 11. Head granulated, entirely 

 naked above. Vomerine teeth none or in very minute patches ; teeth on 

 the pterygoids. Eye 5 in head; interorbital space 3J. Maxillary barbels 

 extending beyond tip of dorsal. Dorsal spine with its dermal tip as long 

 as head, not quite reaching the short adipose fin, which is 3} to 5i times 

 in body. Anal emarginate, some rays extending beyond tips of last rays. 

 No brown bars on caudal; a dark cross spot at base of first dorsal spine. 

 Rio Mamoni (Panama) and southeastward "to Rio de la Plata; extremely 

 variable, generally abundant in Brazil. (Steindachner; Eigenmann.) 

 (maculalus, spotted.) 



Silurus clarion, Linn.hus, x, 30G, 1758, in part, not the type. 



Pimehdm darias, Steindachner, Flussfischc Siiilamer., ir, 10, 1879, and of various aiitliors. 



Pimelodus maculatns, LAciiPLDE, Ilist. Nat. Poiss., v, 94, 107,1803, Rio de la Plata; fii'NTiir.R, 

 Cat.,v, 115, 18G4, and many authors. 



Piramnlana hlochii, Gi'NTHER, Cat., v. 111, 1864, Cayenne, Surinam. 



Pimehdus rir/idits, Spix, in Agassiz, Pise. Brazil., 10, 1829, Brazil. 



Pimelodus blochil, Cuvier & Valenciennes, xv, 188, 1840, after Bhioh, 



Mi/stmascila, Gronow, Cat. Fishes, 15l5, 1854, no locality given. 



Pimelodus maa-onema, Bleeker, Silures do Suriname, 79, pi. 14, 18G4, Surinam. 



Pseudat-iodes pantherinus, Lutken, Meddel. Nat. Hist. Foroni., 1874, Nos. 1, 2, pp. 194, 198, Vene- 

 zuela. 



Psendorliarndiapiscalrij; Cope, Proc. Am. Phil. See. Phila., xr, 569, 1870, Pebas. 



Piramnlntia iiiacroapila, GiiNTHER, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., July, 1880, 10, i)l. ir, Rio de la 

 Plata. 



Pimelodus fhiriitK, Eigenmann, S. A. Nematosnatbi, 171, 1890. 



Family XXXV. LORICARIID^. 



Catfishes with sides and back covered with bony plates and with the 

 caudal vertebra? compressed; the neural and Inemal spines cxi)anded, 

 forming a continuous ridge above and below. Mouth wholly inferior, 

 provided with broad, disk-like lips. Maxillaries thin, with a terminal 

 barbel, which is partly tinited with the disk at the mouth. No barl)el8 

 at the chin or nostrils. Teeth, if present, hooked and usually two-lobed 

 at the tip; the functional ones in one series; premaxillaries separate 

 from each other, box-shaped, filled with numerous relay teeth; dentaries 

 separate from each other and formed like the premaxillaries ; no teeth on 

 palate; no frontal or occipital fontanelle. Dorsal fin present, situated 

 on the abdominal part of the vertebral column, not connected with the 

 occipital process. Adipose fin, if present, composed of a spine with a 

 thin membrane. Anal short. Gill membrane joined to the isthmus ; the 

 gill openings restricted to the sides. Intestinal canal long and coiled 

 upon itself. Nostrils close together, a flap between them ; placed a lit- 

 tle above and in front of the eyes ; iris with a flap encroaching on and 

 sometimes dividing the pupil. Air bladder cavity narrow at the base; 



