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. ' "' 251 



Description 



A small to medium-sized species, reaching a maximum of 220 mm SL in the 

 material examined. The principal meristic and proportional measurements are 

 summarized in Tables 15-16. 



Top of head gradually sloping upward in a straight line to dorsal fin origin. 

 Underside of head slightly convex. Head profile from above broadly parabolic. 

 Gape broad, gently recurved (Fig. 1); mouth weakly inferior, the upper jaw 

 overhanging lower jaw by less than width of premaxillary tooth band. Head 

 relatively robust, 28-33% SL in length, width at postorbitals 20-23% SL. Eye 

 relatively small, 11-16% HL. Fontanelle moderately short, 28-41%HL, terminating 

 near plane through rear margin of orbits. Premaxillary tooth patch narrow, gently 

 recurved at posterior margins; teeth short, viliform, randomly scattered over 

 premaxillae. Dentary teeth sunilar to those on premaxillae, the patches on each 

 side of approximately equal width. Anterior nares just above edge of upper lip and 

 lateral to mesethmoid, displaced on very short, valvular, fleshy flaps in anterodorsal 

 position. Each posterior nare situated behind anterior one by distance about equal 

 to width of eye, bordering lateral margin of frontal, surrounded by short flap of skin. 

 Gill membranes fused to isthmus at plane passing behind orbits. Branchiostegal 

 rays 8-11, modally 9. First epibranchial with 3-6 moderately short, weakly crenulate 

 gill rakers in outer row; first ceratobranchial with 9-12 rakers; total number of gill 

 rakers on outside row of first arch 12-18, modally 15. Barbels short, filiform in 

 females and non-breeding males, concealed within rictal groove. Maxillary barbels 

 of nuptial males elongated and ossified, reaching to or slightly beyond ft-ont margin 

 of eyes, and with 5-8 sharp odontodes on dorsolateral margin. Mental barbels 

 present in postlarval individuals, reduced to tiny vestiges or completely resorbed in 

 specimens greater than about 50 mm SL. 



