HAPLOCHILUS. 415 



3. HAPLOCHILUS. 



McClelland, Asiat. Res. xix. pp. 301 & 426 (1839) ; Qiinther, Cat. Fish. vi. p. 310 (1866) ; 

 Boulenger, Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 344 (1901). 



Very closely allied to the preceding ; differing only in the more posterior position of 

 the dorsal fin, the origin of which is behind that of the anal. 



About thirty-five species from South-eastern Asia, China, Japan, Africa, Central and 

 South America, and the West Indies. Twenty-four species are known from Africa, 

 five of which occur in the Nile system. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Dorsal fin with 6 to 8 rays ; scales 24 to 28 in a longitudinal series. 



A. Eye much longer than the snout, not or but slightly shorter than postorbital part of head ; 



caudal fin rounded, a little longer than head. 



Anal fin with 12 or 13 rays 1. 17". schoelleri, Blgr. 



Anal fin with 14 or 15 rays 2. H, load, Blgr. 



B. Eye not longer than the snout, shorter than postorbital part of head ; anal fin with 14 or 



15 rays. 



Caudal fin rounded, nearly as long as head 3. H. marni, Stdr. 



Caudal fin pointed, longer than head 4. H. bifasciatus, Stdr. 



II. Dorsal fin with 10 or 11 rays, anal with 14 or 15 ; scales 27 to 29 



in a longitudinal series ; eye longer than the snout ; caudal fin 



rounded, not longer than head 5. 17. pumilus, Blgr. 



1. HAPLOCHILUS SCHOELLERI. 



(Plate LXXIX. fig. 6.) 



Boulenger, Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) xiv. 1904, p. 136. 



Depth of body three and a half to four and a half times in the total length, length 

 of head three and a half to four times. Head flat above ; snout very short, truncate, 

 with the mouth directed upwards, the lower jaw strongly projecting; teeth small, 

 forming a narrow band ; eye better visible from below than from above, longer than 

 the snout, as long as or a little shorter than the postorbital part of the head ; inter- 

 orbital width two-fifths to one-half the length of the head. Dorsal fin with 7 or 8 rays, 

 originating above the middle of the anal, once and a half to once and two-thirds as far 



