189 



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Description 



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Maximum size to 190 mm SL in the material examined. Head blunt, body "^"^ * 

 moderately robust, compressed, and very deep in comparison to species of 

 Ageneiosus. Principal morphometric characters are summarized in Table 7. The 

 number of specimens is indicated parenthetically following meristic counts in the 

 following description; values for the holotype are indicated with an asterisk. 



Head short (24-28% SL in length), broad (20-23 % SL in width), and 

 relatively deep (66-76% at occiput). Dorsal profile acutely sloping upward to dorsal 

 fin origin, very concave above occiput in larger specimens, the supraoccipital and 

 nuchal shield forming a prominent convex hump in mature males. Snout short (47- 

 53% SL), very broadly rounded in dorsoventral profile. Gape broad, gently 

 recurved (Figs. 1, 3). Lips thick and fleshy. Premaxillary tooth patch narrow, with 

 numerous minute, vilhform teeth. Dentary teeth similar to those on premaxillary, 

 symphysis of dentaries with an upturned knob. Maxillary barbels of females and 

 immature males filiform, extending to or beyond rictus. Maxillary groove continued 

 beyond comer of mouth as furrow beneath eye, reaching to interopercle as shallow 

 groove in mature males. Maxillary barbels of nuptial males very long and sinuous, 

 ossified most of length and covered by thin, pigmented epidermis, with a series of 

 transverse ridges or weak tuberculations on the dorsal surface (Fig. 16a); barbels 

 lying within shallow postrictal groove when retracted, held vertical to the main body 

 axis when adducted. Skin on top of head thick, generally not exposing superficial 

 texture of the neurocranial bones, except on the nuchal plate. Fontanelle relatively 

 short, terminating posteriorly at a point about even with a plane passing through the 

 middle of the orbit; internal opening of fontanelle considerably smaller than at 

 surface of frontals, evident as an opaque, elliptical area near the posterior part of 

 the surface groove. Eyes fairly deeply recessed, covered by thick opaque skin. 



