198 SYNOPSIS OF FISHES OF GENUS MASTACEMBELUS. 



African species are characterized, in common with a few Asiatic species, by com- 

 plete fusion of the vertical fins, forms intermediate between the two extremes 

 occurring in the Euphrates and in Burma and the Malay Archipelago. 







Synopsis op the Species. 



I. Snout entirely scaly; 3 anal spines, close together, second largest; vent nearer base of caudal 



than end of snout; a preorbital spine. 



A. Caudal fin free from dorsal at anal; 3 to 5 preopercular spines; length of head 5 to 6 times 



in total length; mouth not extending to below nostril. 



D XXIV-XXVI 30-42; A. Ill 31-46 1. M. pancalus, Ham. Buch. 



D. XXVIII-XXIX 50-52; A. Ill 51-56 2. M. zebrinus Blyth. 



D. XXXIII-XXXV 74-94; A. Ill 75-95 3. M.dayi Blgr. 



B. Caudal fin embraced by dorsal and anal; length of head 7 to 8 times in total length. 



D. XXVII-XXX 58-74; A. Ill 62-75; 2 preopercular spines; mouth not extending to below nostril. 



4. M. guentheri Day. 



D. XXVI-XXX 60-70; A. Ill 59-69; no preopercular spines; mouth extending to below nostril. 



5. M. maculatus C. & V. 



II. Snout naked, or scaly only on the sides. 



A. Anal spines 3, the third large and widely separated from the others; vent much nearer 



base of caudal than end of snout; a preorbital but no preopercular spine; caudal fin 

 confluent with dorsal and anal; mouth extending to below anterior border of eye. 

 D. XXXIII-XXXV 60-72; A. Ill 65-70 6. M. sinensis Blkr. 



B. Anal spines, if more than one, close together. 



1. Caudal fin embraced by dorsal and anal, but separated from either or both by a notch; 



vent nearer base of caudal than end of snout; a preorbital spine. 

 a. No preopercular spines. 

 D. XXXII-XXXV 80-90; A. Ill 80-90; mouth extending to below anterior border of eye; head 6f-7£ 



times in total length. 7. M . haleppensis Bl. Scnn. 



D. XXXII-XXXIV 75-85; A. Ill 75-85; mouth extending to below nostril; head 6* times in total 



length 8. M . unicolor C. & V. 



D. XXXI-XXXIII 62-66; A. Ill 60-65; mouth not extending to below nostril; head 5 to 5* times 



in total length .9. M. caudiocellatus Blgr. 



d. Preopercular spines; cleft of mouth not extending to below nostril; head 6* to 

 7 times in total length. . . „, 



D. XXIX-XXXIII 48-55; A. Ill 46-55; 4 or 5 preopercular spines 10. M. oatesn B gr. 



D. XXXV-XXXVI 75-85; A. Ill 70-80; 3 preopercular spines II. M. alboguttatus Blgr. 



2. Caudal fin completely united with caudal. 



a. Vent considerably nearer caudal fin than end of snout. 



o. 3 anal spines; preopercular spines present. . t -i 



* A preorbital spine; mouth extending to below nostril, or between nosim 



and eye. . T „„„_ 



D. XXXIV-XXXIX 80-90; A. Ill 80-90 12. M. armatus Lacep. 



D. XXXII-XXXIV 65-75; A. Ill 65-75 13. M. argus 



** No preorbital spine. 



D. XXXII-XXXVII 70-80; A. Ill 70-80; mouth extending to below nostril . Rlkr 



14. M. erythroUBma BiKj. 



D. XXXVI 80; A. Ill 85; mouth extending to below anterior third of eye. ... 15. U. caudatus Mcueii. 



D. XXXI 95; A. Ill 70; mouth not to below anterior border of eye 16. M. tnspinosus war. 



p. 2 anal spines. 



* 29 to 32 dorsal spines. 



._ VVTV w-v- t I >reorD i ta l aQ d preopercular spines present. 



D. XXIX-XXX 110; A. II 110; mouth extending to below anterior border of eye. . « lff 



17. M . ubangenfs B gj. 



D XXXI 70; A. II 70; mouth not extending to below nostril 18. M. ^W* WV ' 



Gtbr. 



D. XXX-XXXII 



ft No preorbital spine ; preopercular spines present. , * jy 



[ 85; A. II 70; mouth extending to below posterior border of eye; deptn oi 



D 



nearly 20 times in total length . . . 19. M . marmoratus r*erug ^ 



. XXIX-XXXII 70-80; A. II 70-80; mouth extending to below eye; depth of body 13 .to £ 



in total length * .. 20. M. brencauaa j^ 



D. XXXI-XXXII 90; A. II 90-95; mouth extending'to beiow nostril ; depth of body 11 L to w 



m total length ......21.M. reticulaw d & 



D.XXXI 51; A. II 53 ^ . N ° .^'^ " P reo P ercular spine \.. 22 . U . brachyrkinus ». 



