187 
nasal barbels. Eyes small, with free orbital margin. A long 
dorsal and anal, composed entirely of soft rays, extending 
nearly to the caudal or united with it (C/arzas), or the dorsal 
is shorter and followed by an adipose fin (Heterobranchus). 
Ventrals with 6 rays, pectorals with the outer ray spinous. 
Jaws with more or less united patches of villiform teeth. Vomer 
with a crescentic band of similar teeth. Gillmembranes shortly 
united, deeply notched in the middle, free from isthmus. Gill- 
rakers 13—19 (in C/arzas). Branchiostegals 7—9. 
A. No adipose fin, dorsal nearly reaching caudal or 
Ehaitsal GuM@nlamig: Gecea a aed aso £ Sr OC BNO PeeMecmCnoes Clarias p. 187. 
ZB. An adipose fin posterior to the dorsal. ..... . Heterobranchus p. 194. 
1. Clarias Gronovius. 
(Gronovius Zoophyl. 1781. p. 100). 
For characters of the genus, see those of the family. 
Freshwater fishes of Africa, Syria, Southern Asia and East 
Indian Archipelago. 
Fig. 74. Clarias batrachus (L.). 
Sy nopstevet the species. 
A. Pectoral spine with more or less vertical, strong 
teet bab wits IGOMEMAnOUN. Mb coe ks op os oss . . C. melanodermd-p. 188. 
4, Pectoral spine smooth, rough or with few not 
very prominent serratures 
1. Dorsal and anal united with the caudal at least 
SUEEMIRIOS MASON Sel ve fey ee es 6 + ee C. nieuhofi p. 189. 
2. Median fins not united. 
a. occipital process triangular, its top more or less 
blunt, its height about twice in its base, ante- 
rior border of frontal fontanel reaches to a line 
through the middle of eyes or farther forward. 
