265 



Description 



A relatively small-sized species, not exceeding 170 mm SL in the material 

 examined. The principal meristic and morphometric characters are summarized in 

 Tables 17- 18. 



Head greatly flattened and spatulate; 27-32% SL in length, 17-20% SL in 

 breadth. Snout elongate (42-51 % HL), broadly rounded along anterior margin. 

 Contour on top of head gradually sloping to dorsal fin origin, slightly inflected 

 upward at nuchal plate; profile above supraoccipital much more acute in breeding 

 males. Skin on top of head very thin; superficial neurocranial bones moderately 

 textured with weak striae. Fontanelle moderately long, extending posteriorly onto 

 supraoccipital as a weak groove. Nuchal plate hourglass-shaped, relatively narrow 

 in middle. Anterior nares directed forward, just above upper lip and lateral to 

 mesethmoid cornua. Posterior nares remote from anterior pair, between frontals 

 and posterolateral margins of lateral ethmoids. Eyes moderately large, 15-20% HL. 

 Maxillary barbels small, filiform, hidden in rictal groove in females and nonbreeding 

 males. Nuptial males with elongate, hyperossified barbels bearing 7-14 sharp, 

 recurved odontodes on dorsal margin of each. Gape moderately curved, mouth 

 inferior. Teeth on premaxillaries numerous, setiform, in moderately broad 

 crescentic bands, tapering gently to corners of mouth; teeth on dentaries similar, 

 forming a weakly upturned knob at symphysis. Gill membranes broadly fused to 

 isthmus at a plane at or behind rear margin of orbit. Branchiostegal rays 8-10, 

 modally 9. Gill rakers moderately long, 3-5 in outer row of first epibranchial, 8-13 

 on ceratobranchial; total gill rakers in outer row of first arch 11-18 (x = 13.4; N = 

 26). / -o^ ^ - 



Body elongate, notably compressed behind pectoral fins; width of body at 

 pectoral-fin origin 17-20%, width at pelvic origin 9-11% SL. Sides of body strongly 



