TILAPTA. 



191 



broad or a little broader than long, as long as postorbital part of head ; 

 eye 3 (young) to 5 times in length of head, 1 (young) to 2j times in 

 interorbital width, less than prceorbital depth in adult ; mouth moderate, 

 f to f A>idth of head, extending to between nostril and eye; teeth in 3 

 (young) to 5 more or less regular series, outer largest, 30 (young) to 60 

 in upper jaw, and separated from the others by a rather wide interspace ; 

 3 or 4 series of scales on the cheek, width of scaly part greater than 

 diameter of eye in adult. Gill-rakers short, 8 to 12 on lower part of 



Fig. 123. 



Tilapia melanopleura. 

 Type of T. latif rons (Tr. Z. S. 1906). i. 



anterior arch. Dorsal XV-XVI 10-14; last spine longest, f to | 

 length of head ; middle soft rays more or less produced in adult, usually 

 as long as or a little longer than head. Anal III 9-11 ; third spine 

 usually shorter than the longest dorsal. Pectoral 1 to J| times as long 

 as head, often extending nearly to vertical of origin of anal. Ventral 

 usually reaching vent or anal. Caudal truncate ,^r feebly emarginate. 

 Caudal peduncle deeper than long. Scales cycloid or very feebly 

 denticulate, 29-32 ^^^ ; lateral lines j"J^. Olive-brown, with or with- 

 out 4 to G very indistinct darker bars ; a black opercular spot ; dorsal 

 fin with blackish oblique streaks, or grey or blackish, with or without 



