CLAROTES. 



339 



9. CLAROTES. 



Kner, Sitzb. Ak. Wien, xvii. 1855, p. 313 ; Giinther, Cat. Fish. v. p. 73 (1864). 

 (ronocephalus, Kner, 1. c. 



Octonematichthys, Bleeker, Act. Soc. So. Ind.-Neerl. iv. 1858, p. 60, and Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk. i. 

 1863, p. 95. 



Distinguished from Chrysichthys only by the presence of rays (one thick anterior 

 spinous ray and several articulated soft rays) in the adipose dorsal fin. But, as pointed 

 out by Giinther, there is no sign of these rays in very young specimens, the adipose 

 fin of which cannot be distinguished from that of a Chrysichthys-, they first appear as 



Pig. 28. 



Skeleton of end of caudal region of Clarotes laticeps. 



slender, hair-like, horny filaments, and they are gradually transformed into structures 

 similar to those of the anterior dorsal fin, except that they are deprived of endoskeletal 

 supports or baseosts * ; the spine is formed by the fusion of fulcra-like scutes. 



The skeleton of the single known species is quite similar to that of Chrysichthys ; 

 there are 19 prsecaudal and 24 caudal vertebrae. 



The " jjorus lateralis" above the base of the pectoral, which Kner was unable to 

 find, is as well developed as in Chrysichthys auratus. 



* In his paper on the dermal fin-rays of fishes, Mr. E. S. Goodrich (Q. J". Micr. Sci. xlvii. 1904, p. 465) 

 has abstained from considering such cases, of which there are several among the Siluridse. He is not justified 

 in his broad statement (p. 473) that there are never any lepidotrichia (as he terms the articulated rays) in 

 the adipose dorsal fin of Siluridse. 



2x2 



