304 STLURID^. 



14. BAGRUS. 



Cuv. Regne Anim. ii. p. 204 (1817), part.*; Bleek. NeJerl. Tijdschr. Dierk. i. 

 18G3, p. 96 ; Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 69 (1864); Bouleng. Fish. Nile, p. 323 

 (1907). 



Body moderately elongate, feebly compressed. Dorsal and anal fins 

 short, the former consisting of a spine and 8 to 11 soft rays and followed 

 by a very long adipose fin. Pectoral fin with a spine. Ventral fin with 

 6 rays, inserted below or just behind the vertical of the posterior part 

 of the dorsal fin. Four pairs of barbels : nasal, maxillary, and two 

 mandibulars. Nostrils widely separated from each other. Eye superior 

 or supero-lateral, with free border. Jaws with a band of villiforra teeth ; 

 a similar band of teeth on the vomers. Gill-membranes free, deeply 

 notched. Air-bladder large, free. 



22 or 23 pra^caudal and 30 to 34 caudal vertebrae. 13 branchiostegal 

 rays. 



Nile and Tropical Africa. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Occipital process long and narrow and in contact with or narrowly separated 

 from first interneural bone (which is hidden under the skin). 

 A. Distance between rayed dorsal and adip6se fin less than base o£ former ; 

 anal with 12-15 rays (8-10 branched) ; maxillary barbel much longer 

 than head. 

 Head If to 1| times as long as broad ; last 

 ray of dorsal behind vertical of inner ray 

 of ventral ; maxillary barbel extending to 



extremity of ventral or beyond . . . . 1.7?. ha>/ad, Forsk., p. 305. 

 Head 1| to li times as long as broad ; last 

 ray of dorsal in advance of inner ray of 

 ventral ; maxillary barbel not extending 



beyond venticd 2. B. orientalis, Blgr., p. 307. 



Head 1^ to Ig times as long as broad ; last 

 ray of dorsal in advance of inner ray of 

 ventral ; maxillary barbel extending nearly 

 to base of ventral or l^eyond 3. 7?. docmac, Forsk., p. 308. 



* The uaiue appears only in the French fcrui, " Les Bagres," in the two editions of 

 the 'Regue Animal.' The name was first latinized by Riippeli in 1829, as quoted in the 

 synonymy of the Nilotic species. 



