16 Mr. C. T. Regan on the 



forming a sutural union with frontals. Hypocoracoids sepa- 

 rate, often forming a pair o£ flat vertical laminse which are 

 apposed in the middle line ; pectoral radials usually 4, com- 

 pressed and somewhat elongate, articulating with a ridge on 

 the hypercoracoid. Scales cycloid. Dorsal fin median or 

 posterior, short or of moderate length. 



Chiefly carnivorous fishes from tlie fresh waters of Central 

 and South America and Africa. 



The principal genera may be arranged thus : — 



I. Prsemaxillaries fixed, firmly attached to the mesethmoid ; maxil- 

 laries usually movable, rarely adherent to praemaxillariea. 



A. Abdomen not serrated. 



1. Teeth on the palatines or pter^'goids: American. 



a. Anal fin short ; no fontanel. 

 Lateral line present, running straight along 



middle of side ; teeth in jaws conical, 

 with canines ; a band of teeth on each 

 side of the palate ; hypocoracoids not in 



contact. {Erythrinince.) Erythrinus, Hoplias, , 



Lateral line absent; teeth in jaws rather 

 small, tricuspid; a few small teeth on 

 each side of the palate ; hypocoracoids 

 forming vertical laminae which are ap- 

 posed in the middle line. {Lebiasinince.) Lehiasina, Piabucina. 



b. Anal fin long ; lateral line more or less decurved ; hypo- 



coracoids forming median vertical laminae ; teeth in jawa 

 conical, with canines. 

 - A series of conical teeth on each pterygoid ; 

 base of pectoral fin rather short, {Aces- 



trorhamphincB.) Oligosarcus, Acestrorham- 



phus, Acestrorhytichus. 

 Minute granular teeth on pterygoid and meso- 

 pterygoid ; base of pectoral fin very long. 

 \C'ynodo7itincs.) Cynodon. 



2. Palate toothless ; lateral line usually decurved ; hypocoracoids 



forming median vertical laminee. 



a. Praemaxillary with a posterior toothed process lying between 



maxillary and pterygoid * ; teeth conical, with canines : 

 African. {Sarcodacince.) . . , , Sarcodaces. 



b. Prsemaxillary normal. {CharacincB.) 



a. Mesethmoid very lai-ge Chalceus, Plethodectes, 



Pyrrhulina, Pogonocharax. 



j3. Mesethmoid of moderate size. 

 Teeth usually in 2 to 4 series in the prsemax- 



* In Sarcodaces, as in many Characiformes with the snout produced, 

 the pterygoids extend to the vomer below or internal to the palatines, 

 which retain their lateral ethmoid attachment. 



