548 Mr. G. A. Boulenser on Fishes 



18. Varicorhinus latirostris, sp. n. 



Depth of body 3 to 3^ times in total length, length of 

 head 4 to 4>\ times. Snout rounded, If to 2 times as broad 

 as long, as long as or a little shorter than eye, which is 3 to 

 31 times in length of head and 1^ to 1§ times in interorbital 

 width ; mouth straight, its width § to \ length of head ; a 

 minute barbel at angle of mouth; a few, very small, conical 

 tubercles on sides of snout. Dorsal IV 10 (rarely 11), 

 equally distant from end of snout or nostrils and from 

 root of caudal, last simple ray very strong, bony, not 

 serrated, straight or very feebly curved, as long as or slightly 

 longer than head ; border of fin strongly emarginate. Anal 

 III 5, longest ray a little shorter than head. Pectoral as 

 long as or a little longer than head, not reaching ventral ; 

 latter inserted below anterior soft rays of dorsal. Caudal 

 deeply forked. Caudal peduncle twice as long as deep. 

 Scales 34—39 ^F~rr, 3-3A between lateral line and ventral, 

 14 (rarely 12) round caudal peduncle. Olive-brown above, 

 whitish beneath ; fins dark grey, often tinged with red. 



Ten specimens, measuring 100 to 160 mm., from the 

 Lucalla River at Lucalla. 



The discovery of these five species nearly doubles the 

 number of African species of the genus Varicorhinus, the 

 principal characters of which are here contrasted : — 



I. Two pairs of barbels ; last simple ray of dorsal strong and ossified. 



A. Spine of dorsal sborter than head; 9 branched rays in dorsal; 



posterior barbel as long as eye. 



Sc. 29 ff> 2, 12 ; caudal peduncle not longer 

 than deep ; ventral below anterior soft rays 

 of dorsal V. ansorgii, Blgr. 



Sc. 31 r|> 2\, 12 ; caudal peduncle much longer 



than deep ; ventral below middle of dorsal. V. brueii, Blgr. 



B. Spine of dorsal longer than head; 10 (rarely 9 or 11) branched 



rays in dorsal. 



Sc. 30-35 ^np, 2-2^, 12-14 ; mouth straight, 

 with rounded papillte in front and behind ; 

 posterior barbel about 5 diameter of eye; 

 ventral below anterior rays of dorsal .... V. etisifer, Blgr. 



Sc. 41 gf 4, 16 ; mouth curved, without 

 papillae ; posterior barbel § diameter of eye ; 

 ventral below middle of dorsal V. stenostoma, Blgr. 



