FISHES OP THE FAMILY LOBICAEIIDJ2. 273 



III. Upper lip very narrow, entire medianly, usually with short fringes laterally ; lower lip 



smooth or in part covered with very small papilla?, which are sometimes enlarged 

 posteriorly, its margin entire or slightly fringed ; barbel not, or not much longer than 

 diameter of eye; teeth very small or rudimentary, more numerous in the lower jaw 

 than in the upper; an anal plate, bordered anteriorly by 2 or 3; head without, or with 

 weak keels. (Loricariichthys Blkr.) 



A. 30-32 scutes in a longitudinal series (18-22 + 9-14). 



a. Breadth of head 1^-1-^ times in its length. 



Length of snout twice in that of the head, interorbital width 



4-4^ times 20. L. maculata Bi. 



Length of snout 2j-2J times in that of the head, interorbital 



width 3-J— 3g- times 21. L. typus Blkr. 



b. Breadth of head If times in its length, length of 



snout 2i times, interorbital width 5^ times; 12-15 



teeth in the upper jaw, 18-25 in the lower . . .22. L. acuta C. & V. 



c. Breadth of head 1^ times in its length, length of snout l|-2 times; 3-8 teeth in the 



upper jaw, 5-12 in the lower. 



Interorbital width ol times in the length of head ; 30 scutes in a 

 longitudinal series (18 + 12); all the scutes in front of the 

 dorsal carinate 23. L. nudirostris Kner. 



Interorbital width 4^-5 times in the length of head ; 30 scutes in 

 a longitudinal series (18-21 + 9-12); scutes not carinate 

 except for the lateral keels 24. L. labialis Blgr. 



Interorbital width 4 times in the length of head ; 32 scutes in a 

 longitudinal series (22 + 10) ; scutes not carinate except for 

 the lateral keels 25. L. spixii Stdr. 



B. 34-36 scutes in a longitudinal series (29-34 + 2-5) . . 26. L. anus C. & V. 



IV. Lips both well developed, covered with filiform or tentacle-like papilla?, which are some- 

 times very small ; marginal fringes long; barbel long or rather long, usually extending to 

 the inner angle of gill-opening or beyond ; no distinct enlarged anal plate. (Loricaria.) 



A. Snout pointed. 



a. Teeth few, strong, in equal number in both jaws ; abdomen naked or nearly so, except 



for the lateral series of plates. 

 Supraoccipital with a strong serrated keel; abdomen with a lateral 



series of 8 plates on each side 27. L. evans-ii Blgr. 



Supraoccipital with an obtuse median ridge ; abdomen with a 



lateral series of 4 plates on each side 28. L. nudiventris C. & V. 



b. Teeth moderately strong, about 12 on each side in 



both jaws ; supraoccipital with a pair of serrated 

 keels ; abdomen with 4 or 5 irregular series of plates 

 between the lateral series 29. L. macrops Rgn. 



2o 2 



