160 



CYPEINID^E. 



Mouth inferior, transverse, nearly straight or feebly curved, without 

 lips, the lower jaw completely exposed and showing a sharp cutting- 

 edge covered with a horny layer ; dorsal fin originating above or 

 a little in advance of the ventral 3. Varicorhinus, Riipp. 



Mouth terminal or inferior, with more or less developed lips, the upper 

 being always perfectly distinct ; dorsal fin originating above or a 



little behind or a little in advance of the ventrals 4. Barhus, Cuv. 



B. Lateral line running along the lower part of the caudal peduncle ; anal fin with 10 to 19 

 branched rays ; suborbitals large, covering the whole or a considerable part of the cheek. 



Dorsal fin originating in advance of the origin of the anal ; bellv 



rounded 5. Barilius, Ham. Buch. 



Dorsal fin originating above or a little behind the origin of the anal ; 



belly rounded 6. Neobola, Vincig. 



Dorsal fin originating behind the origin of the anal ; belly keeled 



between the very large pectoral fins 7. Chelcethiops, Blgr. 



II. COBITIN.E. — Barbels three pairs or more ; pharyngeal teeth small ; anterior part of the air- 

 bladder divided into a right and left chamber separated by a constriction and enclosed in a 

 bony capsule, the posterior part free, or absent ; scales minute or absent. 

 Three pairs of barbels, none at the lower jaw ; dorsal fin opposite to 



the ventrals 8. NemacUlus, Van Ha 



iass. 



I. LABEO. 



Olivier, Regne Anim. ii. p. 194 (1817) ; Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Poiss. xvi. p. 335 (1842) ; 



Heckel, Russegger's Reisen ii. p. 1024 (1843) ; Giinther, Cat. Fish. vii. p. 45 (1868) ; 



Boulenger, Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 209 (1901). 

 Abrostomus, A. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Africa, Fish. (1841). 

 Ti/lognathus, Heckel, t. c. p. 1027 ; Griinther, t. c. p. 62. 

 Rolutkhtliys, Bleeker, Atlas Ichth. iii. p. 25 (1863). 



Body more or less compressed, covered with small, moderate, or large scales. 

 Lateral line nearly equally distant from the back and from the belly or a little 

 nearer the latter. Mouth moderate or large, protractile, inferior, with much 

 developed lips forming a sort of sucker and furnished on the inner side with a sharp 

 cutting-edge covered with a horny layer ; barbels present or absent. Suborbitals 

 not covering the cheek. Dorsal fin with 11 to 26 rays, 8 to 23 of which are 

 branched, originating in advance of the ventrals. Anal fin short, with 7 or 8 rays. 

 A scaly process at the base of the ventral fins. Pharyngeal teeth in three series 

 (3^ 3 ? 5 — 5 ? 3 ? 3) with the crowns spoon-shaped and close together. 



This genus is principally characterized by the great development of the lips, which, 



