226 



cypbinim:. 



12. BARBUS SURKIS. 

 (Plate XLII.) 



Ruppell, Mus. Senckenb. ii. p. 5, pi. i. %. 1 (1837) ; Boulenger, Ann. & Mug. N. H. 



(7) x. 1902, p. 424. 



Depth of body twice and two-thirds to three times in the total length, length of head 

 three and three-fourths to four and a half times. Snout broad, rounded, three and 

 one-fifth to three and a half times in the length of the head ; diameter of the eye four 

 and one-third to six times in the length of the head, interorbital width twice and a half 

 to three times ; mouth subinferior, its width four to four and a half times in the length 

 of the head ; lips moderately developed, broadly interrupted on the chin ; barbels two 

 on each side, the anterior one and one-sixth to one and three-fourths, the posterior one 

 and a half to one and three-fourths diameters of eye ; the distance between the barbels 

 two-thirds to once the diameter of eye. Dorsal fin with IV 8-9 rays, last simple ray 

 very strong, bony, not serrated, nearly straight, three-fifths to four-fifths the length of 

 the head ; free edge of the fin emarginate ; its distance from the occiput equals its 

 distance from the caudal fin. Anal fin with III 5 rays, longest ray as long as the head 

 and reaching the root of the caudal fin in the adult, about two-thircls the length of the 

 head in the half-grown. Pectoral fin acutely pointed, a little shorter than the head, 

 nearly reaching the ventral ; latter below the origin of the dorsal. Caudal fin deeply 

 forked. Caudal peduncle once and a half to once and two-thirds as long as deep. 

 Scales longitudinally striated, 31-36 ^f, 2^-3 between lateral line and ventral, 

 12 round caudal peduncle. 



According to Ruppell, the colour of the fish when fresh is of a light sea-green in 

 the upper half, yellowish with golden gloss in the lower half ; fins greenish, 

 transparent; iris brownish. Mr. Degen describes the only specimen obtained by him 

 as of a light bronze-yellow, strongly iridescent, the under parts whitish ; all the fins of 

 a light flesh-colour; iris dark bronze and mottled. 



Total length 380 millimetres. 



This Barbies was discovered by Riippell at Goraza, Lake Tsana, where it is known 

 to the native fishermen under the name of Surkis. I have examined a single specimen 

 from that lake, obtained by Mr. Degen at Zegi on May 15th, 1902. Although I 

 have not been able to compare this specimen with the type, which appears to have 

 been lost, I feel confident my identification is correct, notwithstanding the fact that 

 KiippeU's figure represents the fish with 4J series of scales above the lateral line and 

 4 between the latter and the ventral ; but as it is stated in the description that the 

 lateral line is very indistinct, especially on the anterior part of the body, I ascribe the 

 discrepancy to an error of the artist, who has represented the lateral line too high up 



