2G2 



CICllLID.E. 



90. TILAPIA BREVIS. 

 Bouleng. Ann. & Mag. X. H. (8) ii. 1908, p. 243. 



Depth of body 2i times in total length, length of head 2| times. 

 Head twice as long as broad ; snout rounded, with very convex upper 

 profile, broader than long, shorter than postocular part of head ; eye 

 longer than snout, 2^ times in length of bead, exceeding interorbital 

 width and pr^orbital depth; mouth rather small, f width of head, 

 extending to below anterior border of eye ; teeth very small, in 2 or 3 

 series, about 80 in outer series of upper jaw ; 3 series of scales on the 

 cheek, width of scaly part about i diameter of eye. Gill-rakers short, 

 8 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal XV 12 ; spines increasing in 

 length to the last, which measures about f length of head ; soft rays 



Tig. 177. 



Tilapia hrevis. 

 Type. 



scarcely if at all longer. Anal III 9 ; third spine a little shorter than 

 longest dorsal. Pectoral as long as head, reaching vertical of origin 

 of anal. Ventral reaching origin of anal. Caudal deeply emarginate. 



3 



Caudal peduncle as long as deep. Scales finely denticulate, 31-32 jg ; 



lateral lines 



22-25 

 16-17- 



Silvery, back brownish ; a dark brown opercular 

 spot ; a dark brown band on each side, from the nape to the root 

 of the tail. 



Total length 70 millim. 



Lake Xyassa. 



1-2. Types. L. Xyassa. Capt. E. L. Rboades (P.). 



