256 



CHARACIXID.E. 



15. NEOLEBIAS. 



SteinJ. Notes Levd. Mas. xvi. 1894, p. 78 ; Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 183 

 (1901). 



Barely separable from the preceding by the absence of teeth on the 

 maxillary bone. Lateral line absent or reduced (o a few anterior 

 tubules. Adipose fin minute or absent. Vertebrae 31 (18 + 13). 



Liberia to Congo. 



Two species : — 



Depth of body 2|-3i times in total length ; 



10 series of scales between dorsal and 



ventral 1. i\^ i/nifasciatus, Stdr., p. 256. 



Depth of body 3g-4 times in total length ; 



9 series of scales between dorsal and 



ventral 2. i\^. trilineatus, Blgr., p. 257. 



1. NEOLEBIAS UNIFASCIATUS. 

 Steind. 1. c. pL iv. figs. 3 & 4. 



Depth of body 2| to 3i times in total length, length of head 3 to 3 J 

 times. Head twice as long as broad, slightly longer than deep, its 

 upper surface rugose in the adult; snout rounded, much shorter than 

 eye, which is 2J to 3 times in length of head and equals interoibital 

 width ; mouth terminal ; maxillary extending to below anterior border 

 or anterior third of eye ; 20 to 26 teeth in outer preemaxillary series. 



Neolehias utn/a.^cidtus. 

 Ja River. 



Gill-rakers short, about 10 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal 

 III-IV 7-8, originating above ventral, at equal distance from end of 

 snout and from caudal; longest ray f to f length of head. Anal III 

 6-7. Pectoral about f length of head, as long as ventral. Caudal 

 forked, with pointed lobes. Caudal peduncle as long as deep or a 



