1*04 On new Frcs/twaler Fishes from Sirrra Leone. 



Paratilupia thoinasi. 



Deptl) of body 2 to 2^ times in total length, length of head 

 2| to 3^ times. Head twice as long as broad ; snout witli 

 convex upper profile, broader than long, 4 ^o ^ ]iostocnlar 

 part of head ; eye 3^ to 3i times in length of head, 1 to 1 ^ 

 times in inrerorbital width, greater than prfeorbital deptii ; 

 mouth rather small, extending to between nostril and eye ; 

 praiuiaxiliary jiroeesses short; teeth small, in 3 or 4 series ; 

 3 or 4 set ies of scales on the cheek, width of scaly part a 

 little less than diameter of eye. Gill-rakers short, 7 or 8 on 

 lover part of anterior arch. Dorsal XIV 9-10 ; spines in- 

 creasing in length to the last, which measures | to -^ length 

 of head ; longest soft ray nearly as long as head. Anal 

 III 7-8 ; third spine a little shorter than last dorsal. Pec- 

 toral a little shorter than head, not exteiuling to vertical of 

 origin of anal. Ventral much produced, extending beyond 

 origin of anal. Caudal rounded. Caudal peduncle deeper 

 than long. Scales very feebly denticulate, 25-27 f^ ; lateral 

 lines -^jjj. Yellowish, with six black cross-bands, the third 

 of which niay expand into a rliombic spot ; a black bar from 

 the eye to the mouth ; a black opercular spot, with or without 

 small pearl-white spots; dorsal and aiial fins grey, the former 

 edged with white ; outer rays of ventral black. 



Total length 65 u)ra. 



'i'hree specimens. 



Appears most nearly related to P. dorsah's, Pellegr. As 

 in P. codriiKjtoni, BIgr., the maxillary bone is concealed when 

 the mouth is closed, the fish having the appearance of a 

 Tilapia. 



The exploration of the freshwater fauna of Sierra Leone 

 has not receivefl much attention. Tiie number of species of 

 fisheswith which I am acquainted amounts only to eighteen : — 

 Pohjpterus palmas^ Ay res, Protopterus annectens, Ow., Mar- 

 cuseniiis hrachistnis, Gill, JSotoptertis ofer, Gtiir., Alestes 

 ovfjipivnis, Gthr., Barhvs leonensis, Blgr., Clarias Uberiensis, 

 Stdr., J'lindulus cjoesiedd, Lonnb., Haplochilus fasciolatns, 

 Gtnr., H. chaperi, Sauv., H. mncruriis, BIgr., //. annulatus, 

 Blgr.. Paraiilapia t/wmnsi, Blgr., Ilemichroniis fasciatus, 

 Peters, II. bimaciilatus, Gill, Eleotris lehretoni, Stdr., E. leo- 

 nensis, ^'n''-» ^""^ Mastacembelus reticulaius, Blgr. 



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