i8 7 



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 (Clarias], 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 Clarias]. Branchiostegals 7 9. 



A. No adipose fin, dorsal nearly reaching caudal or 



united with it Clarias p. 187. 



B. An adipose fin posterior to the dorsal Heterobranchus p. 194. 



I. 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.). 



Synopsis of the s'pecies. 



A. Pectoral spine with more or less vertical, strong 



teeth at its frontmargin C. melanoderma p. 188. 



B. Pectoral spine smooth, rough or with few not 

 very prominent serratures 



1. Dorsal and anal united with the caudal at least 



with its base 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. 



