540 MASTACEMBELHLE. 



OPISTHOMI. 

 MASTACEMBELID^. 



Body more or less Eel-shaped ; a series of short spines detached from the very 

 elongate dorsal fin, which is more or less confluent with the likewise very elongate 

 anal fin. A single nostril on each side. Mouth not protractile, bordered by the 

 praemaxillaries, to the upper border of which the maxillaries are attached. Gill- 

 openings inferior ; gills four; bran chiostegal rays six ; no pseudobranchiae. Vertebrae 

 numerous (72 or more), the prsecaudals with transverse processes bearing the ribs. 



Carnivorous fishes from fresh and brackish waters of Southern Asia and Tropical 

 Africa. Two genera are known, one of which is represented in Africa. 



These curious fishes, which stand to the Acanthopterygians much in the same 

 relation as the Eels to the Malacopterygians, were long believed to be characteristic of 

 the fresh waters of Southern Asia. At present, however, the African species far exceed 

 the Asiatic in number. 



Little is known of their habits. Day observes of the Indian species that they are 

 fond of concealing themselves in mud, and that they require to occasionally breathe 

 atmospheric air, becoming drowned or asphyxiated if prevented from reaching the 

 surface of the water. They are said to be excellent as food. 



1. MASTACEMBELUS. 



Gronovius, Zoophyl. p. 133 (1781), part. ; Giinther, Cat. Fish. iii. p. 540 (1864) ; 

 Boulenger, Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 490 (1901). 



Snout ending in a trifid dermal appendage, which is not striated inferiorly. Jaws 

 with a band of cardiform teeth. Scales very small. 7 to 39 spines in the dorsal fin, 

 1 to 3 in the anal. 



Thirty-eight species are distinguished, thirteen inhabiting South-eastern Asia, one 

 Mesopotamia and Syria, and twenty-four Tropical Africa. One species is represented 

 in Lake Victoria. 



