

227 

 rear margin of orbit. Upper limb of first gill arch with 3-7 (modally 4) thin, weakly 



crenulate gill rakers in outer row; lower limb with 9-15 (modally 11) rakers. Total 



number of rakers in outer row of first gill arch 14-23 (modally 16). Maxillary 



barbels normally small, fihform, concealed in groove above upper lip; barbel of 



nuptial males elongated, ossified the entire length, and with 4-10 (modally 8) long, 



sharp, recurved hooks protruding dorsally. 



Dorsal profile of body from behind dorsal fin to caudal slightly convex, 

 smooth. Belly slightly rounded from throat to anal fin origin. Ventral contour of 

 body above anal fin angled upward in straight line roughly parallel to dorsal profile 

 of head behind eyes. Caudal peduncle relatively deep (X = 11% SL). Body not 

 markedly compressed at pectoral fin base, but rather gradually tapered to base of 

 tail. • ^ - 



Dorsal spine relatively short, stout, posterior margin armed with about 20-30 

 (X = 24.5; N = 10) retrorse odontodes in females and nonreproductive males. 

 Dorsal spine of nuptial males greatly elongated (18-43% SL), with about 45-60 (x = 

 53.2; N = 8) sharp, antrorse odontodes along anterior margin; serrae arranged in an 

 alternating fashion along distal portion of spine, in a single row along midline at 

 base (Fig. 23b). Adipose fin small, with posterior margin free. Anal fin relatively 

 short (23-30 rays), distal margin straight except in breeding males; anterior rays of 

 nuptial males coalesced and lengthened to form copulatory organ. Anal fin 

 pterygiophores 21-27, modally 25. Pectoral fin spine short, stout, with about 12-26 (X 

 = 19.4; N = 94) sharp, retrorse serrae along posterior margin; entire fin not 

 reaching to pelvic fin origin, with 7-9 branched rays. '■ ' 



