48 axaba:stid.e. 



fin near the pectoral, uith one spine and five soft rays; pelvic bones 

 connected with the clavicular symphysis by ligament. Praecaudal 

 vertebra all with transverse processes, to the extremity of which the 

 ribs are attached. Air-bladder much elongate, bifid behind, and 

 prolonged into the caudal region, which bears ribs. 



A single genus. 



1. ANABAS. 



Cuv. H^gne Anim. ii. p. 339 (1817) ; Guiith. Cat. Fish. iii. p. 374 (1861) ; 



Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 371 (1901), and Fish. Nile, p. 441 (1907). 

 Spirohrajichus, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. vii. p. 392 (1831) ; Giiiith. t. c. p. 373. 

 Ctenopoma, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1844, p. 34; Giinth. t. c. p. 373; Peters, 



Reise Mossainb. iv. p. 14 (1868). 

 Sandelia, Casieln. Mem. Poiss. Afr. Anstr. p. 3G (18G1). 



Body short or moderately elongate, more or less compressed, covered 

 with large, hard, ctenoid scales; lateral line interrupted. Head convex, 

 covered with scales ; mouth moderately large, with small conical teeth ; 

 teeth on the vomer and on the parasphenoid ; palatine teeth present or 

 absent. Anterior nostril in a short tube. Spinous part of the dorsal 

 and anal fins longer than the soft; 12 to 20 dorsal and 6 to 11 anal 

 spines. Vertebrae 25 to 31. 



South-eastern Asia and Tropical and South Africa. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



1. Caudal peduncle * very distinct, measuring at least the diameter of the eye ; 



depth of body more than 2^ times in total length. 



A. Ventral fin not reaching anal ; maxillary extending to below anterior 



third of eye, or beyond ; teeth on jialatine bones. 



1. 12 to 17 dorsal spines ; subopcrculum not denticulate ; scales partly 



cycloid, partly ctenoid. 



D. XII-XI V 8-10 ; A. VI- VII 8-11 ; Sc. 27- 

 3—4 

 '^^ olio 1. .1. capemis, C. k V., p. 50. 



L). XIII-XV 8-9 ; A. VIII-IX 8-9 ; Sc. 27- 



29 ioin 2. ^1. vicinus, Blgr., p. 51. 



D. XV-XVII 9-10 ; A. VI I- VIII 9-10 ; Sc. 



33-35 jgj^. 3. ^1. baiii.sii, Casteln., p. 52. 



* The muscular part, not including the base of the caudal fin, which is covered with 

 scales. 



