278 characinjd^:. 



Fam. 2. CHARACINID^E. 



Characini, Mull. Abhandl. Berl. Acad. 1844, p. 184. 



Body covered with scales, head naked ; barbels 

 none. Margin of the upper jaw formed by the inter- 

 maxillaries in the middle, and by the maxillaries 

 laterally. Generally a small adipose fin behind the 

 dorsal. Pyloric appendages more or less numerous; 

 air-bladder transversely divided into two portions, and 

 communicating with the organ of hearing by means 

 of the auditory ossicles. Pseudobranchise none. 



Inhabitants of the fresh waters of tropical Africa and America. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



I. Adipose fin none (Erythrinina). 



A. Ventral fins below the dorsal. 



Palatine teeth unequal in size, those of the outer series being enlarged. 



1. Macbodon, p. 281. 



Palate with villiform teeth only ; teeth in the jaws conical. 



2. Ekythrinus, p. 283. 



Jaws with a single series of tricuspid teeth 3. Lebiasina, p. 285. 



B. Ventrals in front of the dorsal. 



Anal short 4. Pyrrhulina, p. 286. 



Anal long 5. Corynopoma, p. 287. 



II. Adipose fin present. 

 A. Dentition imperfect. 



a. Dorsal Jin short (Cttrimatina). 



Teeth none; belly rounded 6. Curimatus, p. 288. 



Each lip with two series of minute, ciKubrm, moveable teeth, the posterior series 

 being angularly bent. Belly rounded 7. Prochilodus, p. 294. 



Teeth rudimentary, moveable ; the fourth branchial arch dilated, covered with a 

 folded membrane 8. Cjenotropcs, p. 297. 



A series of flat, serrated, moveable teeth in the upper jaw ; none in the lower. 



9. Hemiod^s, p. 298. 



A series of flat, spoon-shaped teeth in the upper jaw ; none in the lower. Lower 

 lip three-lobed 10. Saccodon, p. 301. 



Teeth moveable, few in number, denticulated ; the lower jaw toothless in the 

 middle, and with only a few on the side 11. Parodon, p. 301. 



