106 siltjrid^:. 



of the pectoral, the outer^ of the mandible to the gill -opening. 

 Brownish above, with small blackish spots ; a dark band along the 

 middle of the side. 

 Brazil. 



45. PLATYSTOMA*. 



Platystoma, Agass., in Spix, Pise. Bras. p. 21. 



Brachyplatystoma, Pseudoplatystoma, Hemiplatystonia, Sorubimich- 

 thys, Bleek. Nederl. Tydschr. Dierk. 1863, p. 21. 



Adipose fin of moderate length ; a short dorsal fin with a pungent 

 spine and with six or seven soft rays ; anal fin rather short. Snout 

 very long, spatulate, with the upper jaw more or less projecting. 

 Eyes lateral or directed upwards. The upper surface of the head is 

 not covered by the skin. Barbels six. Caudal forked ; ventrals with 

 six rays, inserted behind the dorsal. Gill-membranes not united. 



South America. 



1. Platystoma planiceps. 



Sorubim pirauaca, Spix, Hsc. Bras. pi. 12. 



Platystoma planiceps, Agass., in Spix, Pise. Bras. p. 25; Kner, Sitzungs- 

 ber. Wien. Acad. xxvi. p. 400. 



D. 1/6. A. 10. P. 1/10. 



The upper jaw projects much beyond the lower. The maxillary 

 barbels extend to the anal fin, the outer ones of the mandible to the 

 gill-opening. Eyes nearer to the end of the snout than to the angle 

 of the operculum. The width of the snout between the maxillary 

 barbels is one-half of the length of the head. Dorsal spine serrated 

 behind. Caudal lobes pointed. Dark olive above ; head, back, dorsal 

 and pectoral fins with black dots ; an interrupted blackish longitu- 

 dinal band from the axil of the pectoral to the base of the anal. The 

 lower caudal lobe black, the upper with a whitish margin. 



Bivers Amazons, Solimoens, Bio Negro. 



2. Platystoma spatula. 



Sorubim jandia, Spix, Pise. Bras. pi. 14. 

 Platystoma spatula, Agass., in Spix, Pise. Bras. p. 26. 



D. 1/6. A. 10. P. 1/10. 



The upper jaw projects much beyond the lower. The maxillary 

 barbels extend on to the ventrals. Dorsal spine serrated. Uniform 

 brownish ; head, dorsal, pectoral and ventral fins with' numerous 

 black dots. {Ag.) 



Brazil. 



3. Platystoma artedii. 



Mystus, no. 6, Artedi, in Seba, iii. p. 84. tab. 29. fig. 6. 

 Mystus, no. 386, Gronov. Zoophyl. p. 125. 



D. 1/6. A. 13-14. P. 1/9. 



The upper jaw projects much beyond the lower. The maxillary 



* 1. Platystoma emarginatum, C. 4" V. xv. p. 25. — River San Francisco. 



