168 



PHRACTOL.^MIDiE. 



1. PHRACTOL^MUS. 



Boulcng. Proe. Zool. ISoc. 1901, i. p. 0. 



Body elongate, subcylindrical, covered with large striated scales ; 

 lateral line complete, tubes straight. Head strongly ossified, covered 

 Avitli thin skin ; mouth small, proboscidiform, capable of being thrust 

 forward, retractile into a depression on the upper surface of the snout ; 

 no teeth, except a conical tooth on each dentary, near the symphysis ; 

 a single nnrial orifice, preceded by a barbel. Gill-openings narrow, 

 restricted to the sides ; 3 branchiostegal rays ; no pseudobranchise. 

 Dorsal short, opposite to the sp.ice between ventrals and anal ; latter 

 short. Ventrals far back, with 6 rays. Vertebra? 34 (2G -|- 8). Air-bladder 

 very large, extending as far back as the anal fin. 



Niger, Congo. 



1. PHRACTOLiEMUS ANSORGII. 



Bouleiig. 1. c. })1. ii., and Ann. Mus. Congo, Zool. ii. p. 22 (190l') ; RiJewood, 

 Joiirn. Linn. Sue, Zool. xxix. 1905, p. 277. 



Depth of body 5 to 6 times in total lengtdi, length of head 6^ to 7f 

 times. Head depressed, with very broad, slightly convex interorbital 



riff. 133. 



<^- 



PJirdf/ohemiis (ni.^orgv. 

 Type. f. 



region ; eye small, lateral, 4^ to 5 J times in length of head, 3 to 3J times 

 in interorbital width ; nasal barbel nearly ^ length of head. Dorsal 6, 

 first four rays simple, the others usually bifid, originating at equal 

 distance from head and from root of caudal ; second ray longest, 1 J times 

 length of head. Anal 6, similar to dorsal, but rays shorter. Pectoral 



