CichUd Genera Ciclilii, Clisetobranclius, lOc. "231 



Body moderately cloiigato, compressed ; scales small, 

 ctenoid. Two lateral lines, wliieli may sometimes he united ; 

 scales of the lateral line not enlarjj^ed. Mouth rather lar{|;e ; 

 lower jaw i)rojeetin.i; ; m:ixill;iry nearly completely sheatlied 

 hy the pneorbital ; a haiul ol" small jjointed teeth in each 

 jaw ; upper surface ot head to between the orbits, cheeks and 

 opercular bones scaly; pra^opcrculuin entire. (Jill-rakcrs 

 moderately long, in moderate number (15-18 on the lower 

 ])art of anterior arch). Dorsal fin with a deep notch between 

 spinous and soft portions, with XlIl-XV, I 15-18 ravs. 

 Anal with III 10-11 rays. Pectoral asymmetrical, pointed, 

 with 15 or 1(5 rays; ventrals below the base of the jjcctorals. 

 Caudal sli^^htly cm;irgiuate in the young, truncate or sub- 

 truncate in the adult. 



Three species from Brazil, Guiana and Venezuela. 



Sktleton. 



In Cichla ocel/aris the supraoccipital crest is very strongly 

 dcvek)ped and extends to the anterior extremity of the 

 Irontals, where it bifurcates to form the posterior margin of 

 the cavity for the praemaxillary processes. The parietal 

 crests are well developed and extend forwards on the frontals 

 to the level of the middle of the orbit. The vertebral 

 column consists of 18 priccaudal and 17 caudal vertebrie ; 

 paraj)0|)hyscs arc developed on the fourth and succeeding 

 vertebrie and become longer and more downwaixlly directed 

 posteriorly, the last four pairs being bridged to form a closed 

 luemal canal; the first four ribs are sessile, the rest are 

 inserted on the parapophyscs ; the e{)ii)leurals, except those 

 of the two anterior ri bless vertebrae, are attached either to 

 the ribs or to the parapophyscs ; the third vertebra bears a 

 l)air of very small inleiior apophyses. The pelvic bones do 

 not diverge anteriorly. The lower pharyngeal bones are 

 united by a straight suture anteriorly, but diverge poste- 

 riorly ; corresponding to the incomj)lctc union of the lower 

 pharyngeals, the third and fourth upper pharyngeals on each 

 bide are separate from each other. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Origin of dorsal above axil of pectoral. 



9—12 



Scales 83-102 gj;^ ]. ocellaris. 



Scales 104-121 JJ^* o t(.,„fnsis. 



II. Origin vi dortal ftbove jiufettiior jnrt orpectnial . . 3. mul/i/'aHt'ald. 



