SYJSODONTIS. 



467 



band; movable mandibular teeth ^ to ^ diameter of eye, 12 to 19 in 

 number. Maxillary barbel with a broad marginal membrane at the 

 base, f to f length of head ; mandibular barbels with obtuse, ramified 

 branches, outer ^ length of head, inner ^. Gill-opening not extending 

 downwards beyond root of pectoral spine. Occipito-nuchal shield 

 granulate like the head, obtusely tectiform, 1^ to 1^ times as long as 

 broad ; posterior processes rounded or obtusely pointed. Humeral 

 process little longer than broad, flat, granulate, very obtusely pointed or 

 truncate, not extending further back than occipito-nuchal process. 



Fig. 350. 



Synodontis pleurops. 

 Upper Congo. |. 



Dorsal I 7; spine curved, smooth in front, feebly serrated behind, nearly 

 as long as head. Adipose dorsal small, 2 to 3 times as long as deep, 

 \ to f as long as its distance from rayed dorsal. Anal IV 7-8, pointed. 

 Pectoral spine a little shorter than head, not reaching ventral, outer 

 border smooth, inner rather feebly serrated. Ventral obtusely pointed, 

 reaching anal. Caudal deeply forked. Caudal peduncle a little longer 

 than deep. Brown above, uniform or with rather indistinct round 

 darker spots, whitish beneath ; a more or less distinct blackish band 

 along each lobe of the caudal. 



55 Bou i/ii 



