186 



CHAEACINID.E. 



5. HYDROCYON BREVIS. 



Hydrocyon forskalii, part., Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xxii. p. 309 (1849) ; Peters, 



Reise Mossamb. iv, p. G9 (18G8). 

 Hydrocyon hrevis, Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 351 (18G4), and Petherick's Trav. ii. 



p. 245, pi. iii. fig. A (18G9) ; Steiud. Sitz. Ak. Wicn, Ixi. i. 1870, p. 517 ; 



Bouleng. Fish. Nile, p. 107, pi. xvi. fig. 2 (1907). 



Depth of body ^ to i\ times in total length, length of head 3J to i\ 

 times. Head 2 to 2f times as long as broad ; snout f to J length of 

 head ; diameter of eye 4 (young) to 7^ times in length of head, inter- 

 orbital width 3 to 3f times; suborbital and opercular bones more or less 

 distinctly striated ; mouth extending to below nostrils or anterior border 

 of eye, maxillary bone to below centre or posterior border of eye ; 4 or 5 

 large teeth in upper jaw and 3 or 4 in lower. Gill-rakers short, 7 to 9 



Ilydrocyon hrevis. 

 Type(r.N.). i. 



on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal II S, equally distant from eye and 

 from root of caudal, or a little nearer latter ; second simple ray or first 

 branched ray longest, f to nearly once length of head. Anal III 11-13 

 (exceptionally 15), longest ray f to -| the length of head. Pectoral 

 I to I length of head. Ventral fin a little shorter than pectoral, below 

 anterior half of dorsal. Caudal deeply forked, with long, pointed 

 lobes. Caudal peduncle If to If times as long as deep. Scales 47-54 

 -jr^, 3 between lateral line and scaly process at base of ventral. Colora- 

 tion very similar to that of //. fordrcUi ; longitudinal dark streaks or 

 series of spots, more or less distinct in adult specimens, usually confined 



