BAGKUS. 323 



7. BAGRTJS. 



Cuvier, Regne Anim. ii. p. 204 (1817), part,* ; Bleeker, Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk. i. 1863, p. 96 ; 

 Giinther, Cat. Fish. v. p. 69 (1864). 



Body moderately elongate, feebly compressed. Dorsal and anal fins short, the former 

 consisting of a spine and 8 to 11 soft rays and followed by a very long adipose fin. 

 Pectoral fins with a spine. Ventral fin with 6 rays, inserted below or just behind the 

 vertical of the posterior part of the dorsal fin. Four pairs of barbels : nasal, maxillary, 

 and two mandibulars. Nostrils widely separated from each other. Eye superior 

 or supero-lateral, with free border. Jaws with a band of villiform teeth ; a similar 

 band of teeth on the vomers. Gill-membranes free, deeply notched. Air-bladder 

 large, free. 



22 or 23 praecaudal and 30 to 34 caudal vertebrae. 13 branchiostegal rays. 



An exclusively African genus, with seven species, three of which occur in the Nile 

 system. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



Head once and three-fifths to once and three-fourths as long as broad ; last 

 ray o£ dorsal fin behind the vertical of the inner ray o£ the ventral ; 

 maxillary barbel extending to the extremity of the ventral fin or 

 beyond 1. B. bayad, Forsk. 



Head once and one-third to once and three-fifths as long as broad ; last ray 

 of dorsal fin in advance of the inner ray of ventral ; maxillary barbel 

 extending nearly to the base of the ventral fin or beyond 2. B. docmac, Forsk. 



Head once and two-fifths to once and a half as long as broad ; last ray of 

 dorsal fin in advance of the ventrals ; maxillary barbel extending 

 barely to the end of ihe pectoral fin in the adult, to the ventral fin in 

 the young 3. B. degeni, Blgr. 



Of the four other known species, B. urostigma, Vincig., inhabits the Ganana River 

 (Upper Juba), B. orientalis, Blgr., the Pangani River, B. meridionalis, Gthr., the Upper 

 Shire River, and B. ubangensis, Blgr., the Ubanghi. The genus is thus represented in 

 all the principal river-systems of Africa. 



* The name appears only in the French form, " Les Bagres," in the two editions of the ' Regne Animal.' 

 The name was first latinized by Eiippell in 1829, as quoted in the synonymy of the Nilotic species. 



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