BARBTJS. 195 



4. BARBUS. 



Barbus, Cuvier, Hegne Anim. ii. p. 197 (1817); Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Poiss. xvi. p. 122 

 (1842) ; Heckel, Russegger's Reisen, ii. p. 1017 (1843) ; Giinther, Cat. Fish. vii. p. 82 (1868) ; 

 Boulenger, Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 221 (1901). 



Labeobarbus, Riippell, Mus. Senckenb. ii. p. 14 (1837) ; Heckel, 1. c. p. 1019. 



Cheilobarbm, A. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr., Fishes (1841). 



Pseudobarbus, A. Smith, 1. c. 



Capoeta, part., Cuvier & Valenciennes, t. c. p. 278. 



Systomus, part., Heckel, 1. c. p. 101G. 



Luciobarbus, Heckel, 1. c. p. 1019. 



Puntius, Bleeker, Nat. Verh. M. Wetensch. Haarlem, xvii. 1862, p. 112. 



Enteromius, Cope, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. (2) xiii. 1867, p. 407. 



Barynotus, Giinther, t. c. p. 61. 



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

 Lateral line, if complete, usually nearer the belly than the back, but always running 

 along the middle of the caudal peduncle. Mouth small or moderately large, more 

 or less protractile, with more or less developed lips ; barbels present or absent. 

 Suborbitals not covering the cheek. Dorsal fin with or without ossified ray, 

 with 10 to 14 rays, 7 to 10 of which are branched. Anal fin short, with 7 to 9 rays. 

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

 (2 or 3, 3, 4 or 5 — 5 or 4, 3, 3 or 2), mostly with hooked, spoon-shaped crowns, 

 one or more of the anterior of the inner series often molariform or mamilliform. 



The structure of the scales varies considerably according to the species. In B. hynni 

 and its allies the exposed surface is striated by numerous longitudinal, scarcely 

 radiating, straight or slightly wavy canals, visible to the naked eye or with the aid 

 of a magnifier of low power, whilst the centre is more or less finely rugose. In 

 B. macropristis and pleurogramma the striations are likewise numerous, but they 

 radiate fan-like from the centre, whilst in B. perince, and other small species of the 

 Nile system, the canals are reduced to from two to five, radiating from the centre, 

 the scales appearing smooth, but for the fine concentric striation which is present 

 on the scales of all Cyprinids. The three principal types of scales are figured on 

 the next page. 



The rays of the pectoral fins vary from 15 to 18, those of the ventral fins from 9 to 

 10 (7 or 8 of which are branched). 



The gill-rakers are short or moderately long, 10 to 15 in number on the lower part 



2c2 



