CHEL^ETHIOPS. 271 



7. CHEL^THIOPS. 

 Boulenger, Ann. Mus. Congo, Zool. i. p. 101 (1899), and Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 236 (1901). 



Body strongly compressed, the belly keeled between the pectoral fins, covered with 

 rather large scales. Lateral line low down, following the ventral outline of the body 

 and running along the lower part of the caudal peduncle. Mouth large, oblique, 

 without lips ; no barbels. Suborbitals large, covering the cheek. Grill-membranes 

 narrowly united to the isthmus. Dorsal fin without ossified ray, with 9 or 10 rays, 

 7 of which are branched, originating behind the vertical of the origin of the anal. 

 Anal fin with 19 or 20 rays. Pectoral fins elongate, in contact or narrowly separated 

 on the mid-ventral line. A scaly process at the base of the ventral fins. Pharyngeal 

 teeth conical, hooked, in two series (3, 5 — 5, 3). 



The pectoral fins are composed of 11 or 12 rays and the ventrals of 9 or 10. The 

 skeleton is similar to that of Barilius, but the coracoids form together a very strong 

 keel. Vertebrae, in C. bibie, 36 (14 + 22). The intestinal canal is short and, as in 

 Barilius niloticus, the posterior chamber of the air-bladder is reduced and tube-like ; 

 in a specimen 40 millim. long (without caudal fin), the body-cavity measuring 18, the 

 anterior chamber of the air-bladder measures 4 and the posterior 5. 



This genus comprises two species: C. elongatus, Blgr., from the Upper Congo and 

 Ubanghi, and the Nilotic C. bibie. 



1. CHEL^ETHIOPS BIBIE. 

 (Plate XLVIII. fig. 5.) 



Leuciscus bibie, Joannis, Mag. de Zool. 1835, iv. pi. iv. 

 Pelecus bibie, Heckel, Russegger's Reise Egypt, iii. p. 329 (1846). 

 Barilius bibie, Giinther, Petherick's Trav. ii. p. 264 (1869). 

 Chelcethiops bibie, Boulenger, Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) x. 1902, p. 263. 



Depth of body four to five times in the total length, length of head four to four and 

 two-thirds times. Head twice to twice and one-third as long as broad ; snout acutely 

 pointed, slightly projecting beyond the mouth, not longer than the eye, the diameter 

 of which is contained three to four times in the length of the head ; interorbital width 

 equal to the diameter of the eye or a little greater; mouth extending to below the 

 centre of the eye ; suborbital bones nearly entirely covering the cheek, the second 

 very narrow and extending to below the centre of the eye. Gill-rakers few and very 

 short. Dorsal fin with III 7 rays, above the anterior half of the anal, twice as far 

 from the occiput as from the base of the caudal fin; the first branched ray longest, 



