SAECODACES. \ 177 



1. SARCODACES. 



Xipliorliamphns, part., Miill. & Trosch. Hor. Ichtbyol. i. p. 17 (1845). 

 XipJiorht/nchus, part., Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xxii. p. 33G (1849). 

 Hydrocyonoides, Casteln. Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr. p. QtQ (18G1). 

 Sarcodaces, Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 352 (1864) ; Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Conoo, 

 p. 138 (1901). 



Snout elongate; mouth very large, with pointed teeth intermixed 

 with large canines ; two series of teeth in the lower jaw, the outer with 

 canmes; praeraaxillaries immovable, with a posterior process bearing 

 small teeth, between the maxillary and the palatine ; maxillary long, 

 toothed, slipping under the prte- and suborbitals. Cheek covered by 

 the large suborbitals ; nostrils near the eye, close together, separated 

 by a valvular flap ; gill-membranes free from the isthmus ; 4 branchio- 

 stegal rays. Body elongate, compressed ; belly rounded. Scales 

 moderately large, not ciliated ; lateral line nearer the ventral than the 

 dorsal outline ; a scaly process at the base of the ventral fin. Dorsal 

 fin with 9 rays, well behind the vertical of the ventrals ; anal with 

 12 rays; a small adipose dorsal fin. VertebrcC 44 (2S + 1G). 



Tropical Africa. 



1. SARCODACES ODOE. 

 Salmo odoe, Bloch, Ausl. Fische, viii. p. 122, pi. ccclxxxvi. (1794). 

 Xiphorhamphus odoe, Miill. & Troscli. oj). cit. p. 18. 

 Xiphorliynclius odoe, Cuv. & Val. t. c. p. 345. 

 Hydrocyonoides cuv/'eri, (/astelu. 1. c. 

 Sarcodaces odoe, Giinth. 1. c, and Ann. & Mag. N. H. (3) xx. 18G7, p. 114 ; 



Sauv. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1882, p. 319 ; Steind. Notes Leyd. Mus. xvi. 



1894, p. G3 ; Bouleng. 1. c. ; Pellegr. Bull. Mus. Paris, 1904, p. 310. 

 Sarcodaces odoe, var. microlepis, Bouleng. t. c. p. 139. 



Depth of body 4^ to 5J times in total length, length of head 3 to SJ 

 times. Plead 2J to 2f times as long as broad, flat above, with straight 

 upper profile ; bones of head rugose and striated ; prsemaxillary part of 

 snout narrowed, rounded, projecting beyond lower jaw ; eye lateral, 

 subinferior, 2 to 2^ times in length of snout, 5 to 7 times in length of 

 head. If to 2J times in interorbital width ; maxillary extending to 

 below posterior border of eye or a little beyond ; a triangular dermal 

 fold on each side of the lower jaw, covering a notch between pr«- 

 maxillary and maxillary bones. Gill-rakers long and slender, 12-14 

 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal II 7, above space between 

 ventrals and anal, 2h to 3 times as distant from end of snout as from 



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