AEIUS. 



585 



1. ARIUS LATISCUTATUS. 



Ariiis lafiscutatus, port., Gvlnth. Cat. Fisli. v. p. 151 (186-4); Boulen;^. Poiss. Bass. 



Congo, p. 300 (11)01). 

 Arii(S parkii, part., Giiritli. t. c. p. 154. 



Depth of body 4 to -5 times in total length, length of head 3^ to 4 

 times. Head slightly longer than broad, the posterior part of its upper 

 surface rough with pearl-like granules; occipital process tectiform, 

 broader at base than long, in contact with the interneural shield, which 

 is small and crescentic and studded with granules same as on the skull ; 

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

 oval, 1|- (young) to 2^ tim.es in length of snout, 4^ to 8 times in length 

 of head, 2^ to o times in interocular width; praemaxillary band of teeth 



Fig. 297 



AriKs latisadafus. 

 Ciinieroon. ^. 



5 to G times as long as broad ; palate with two very large groups of 

 villiform teeth, consisting of an anterior transverse portion narrowly 

 separated from its fellow on the median line and a posterior triangular 

 portion which is longer than broad ; maxillary barbel f to |^ (1^ in the 

 young) length of head, outer mandibular ^ to f (or once), inner 

 mandibular |- to |. Gill-rakers moderately long, 12 or 18 on lower 

 part of anterior arch. Dorsal I 7, spine f to f length of head, with 

 granular tubercles anteriorly and small serree posteriorly. Adipose 

 dorsal small, its base at least | that of rayed dorsal, about twice as 

 distant from latter as from caudal. Anal 19-20 (13-14 rays branched). 



