18. SYMPHYSODON. 315 



17. GEOPHAGUS. 



Geophagus, ep., Heckel, Bradl. Fhm-Fische, in Ann. Wien, Mus. ii. 

 1840, p. 383. 



Body compressed, oblong, covered with ctenoid scales of moderate 

 size. Dorsal spines numerous, anal spines three ; base of the soft 

 dorsal scaly. Teeth in a narrow band, small, conical. The outer 

 branchial arch is provided with a compressed lamelliform lobe at 

 its upper extremity ; its concave side is provided with short horny 

 processes, the edge of the lobe with more or less distinct papilla3. 

 Cleft of the mouth of moderate width. Scales on the cheek small, in 

 more than five series. 



Brazil and Guiana. 



1. Geophagus surinamensis. 



Spams surinamensis, Bl. taf. 277. fig. 2. 



Geophagus megasema, Heckel, Brasil. Fluss-Fische, p. 388. 



altifrons, HecM, I c. p. 385. 



siu-iuameusis, Midi. Sf Trosch. in Schomh. Guiana, iii. p. 625. 



^- i^- ^- 1- ^- ^^t- ^^- ^- ^^^^^- 6/12. 



The eye is situated in the posterior half of the head ; snout elevated, 

 the prajorbital being twice as wide as the orbit. Fold of the lower 

 hp interrupted in the middle. Scales on the cheek small, arranged 

 in six or seven subvertical series. The ninth dorsal spine is not 

 quite half as long as the head. Caudal fin cnvcloijed in small scales, 

 except in the middle, which is naked ; the outer ventral ray produced 

 into a long and thick filament. The greatest depth of the body is 

 below the origin of the dorsal fin, and one-third of the total length, 

 the length of the head one-fourth. Yellowish (in spirits), Avith a 

 large black blotch on the side ; dorsal and anal fins and the scaly 

 portion of the caudal with bro^^^l longitudinal streaks, which are 

 reticidatcd in young individuals. 



BrazU and Guiana. 



a-c. Fine specimens. River Capin. Purchased of Mr. Stevens. 

 (1. Adult. Guiana. Presented bj' Sir R. Schombiu-gk. 

 e. Half-grown. Guiana. From Mr. Frank's Collection. 

 /'. Young. From the Collection of the Zoological Society. 



In a specimen which I examined, in the BerlinAnatomical Museum, 

 I foiuid the third anal ray prolonged into a filament ; D. j^. 



18. SYMPHYSODON. 



Symphysodon, Heckel,Brasil.Fhiss-Fische,in Ann. Wioi.Mits. ii. 1840, 

 p. 332. 



Body much compressed and elevated, covered with small ctenoid 

 scales. One dorsal, the spinous portion of which is of less extent 

 than the soft : anal spines 8-10 ; the soft dorsal and anal scaly. 

 Tcclh small, occupying only the symphysial portions of the jaws. 



