GALEICIITHYS. 381 



2G. GALEICHTHYS. 



(\\v. & Val. Hist. Polss. XV. p. 28 (1840), part. ; Bleek. Noderl. Tij Ischr. DIerk. 



i. 18G3, p. 90 ; Gihith. Cat. Fish. v. p. 174 (18G1). 

 Biiffi-us, part., Mull. & Trosch. Hor. Ichtliyol. iii. p. G (1849). 



Body moderately elongate, feebly compressed. Dorsal and anal fins 

 short, the former consisting of a spine and 7 branched rays ; a 

 moderately large adipose fin. Pectoral fin with a spine. Ventral fin 

 with 6 rays, inserted behind the vertical of the dorsal fin. Three pairs 

 of barbels: maxillary and two mandibulars. Nostrils close together. 

 Eyes lateral, with free border. Maxillary bone rudimentary; jaws with 

 a band of villiform teeth ; teeth on the vomer and the pterygoids. Gill- 

 membranes narrowly attached to isthmus, not notched, forming a 

 continuous transverse fold. 



VertebrcE 52 (23 + 29). Branchiostc gal rays 5. 



Coasts and mouths of rivers of South Africa. 



Two species : — 



(xuulal tin with long pointed lobes ; caudal 



])odunc'le at least twice as long as deep . . 1. G. fclicejts, (J. & V., p. ."^81. 

 ( audal fin with short obtuse lobes ; caudal 



peduncle not t«ice as long as deep . . . 2. G. ater, Casteln., p 382. 



1. GALEICHTHYS FELlCEPS. 



Cuv. k Val. t. c. p. 29, pi. cccc.xxiv. ; Casteln. Poiss. Afr. Atistr. p. 62 (18G1); 



Giinth. t. c. p. 175 ; Bleek. Nat. Tijdschr. Nederl. Ind. xxi. 18G0, p. 7G. 

 J)a()nis caj>f'»sis, A. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr.^ Fish. pi. viii. (1840); Pappe, Syn. 



Ed. Fish. Cape G. H. p. 29 (185:',). 



Depth of body 4 to 4| times in total letigth, length of head 3^ to 4 

 times. Head as long as broad or a little longer than broad, moderately 

 depressed, smooth or feebly striated on the occiput and operculum ; 

 a long and narrow occipital process, in contact with a small interneural 

 shield ; snout broad, rounded, projecting feebly beyond mouth ; eye 

 lateral, oval, 1^ (young) to 2^ times in length of snout, 4^ to 8 times in 

 length of head, 2 to 4 times in intei ocular width ; pruemaxiliary band 

 of teeth 4 to 5 times as long as broad, broader than the crescentic 

 band of teeth on the palate ; barbels rather flattened, maxillary about 

 I length of head in tlie adult to once in the young, outer mandibular 

 ^ to |, inner mandibular ^ to I. Gill-iaUers rather short, S or 1) on 

 lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal I 7, Ih to J 4^ times as distant fiom 



