OPHIOCEPHALUP.— ATHERIIVA. 



( o 



1-2. Hgr. 

 3. A.l. 

 4-5. Hot. 

 G. A<1. 



7. Ad. 



Kondo-Kondo, Ogowe. 

 Ibali, L. Leopold II. 

 Monsnmljc, Upper Congo. 



Umanoi, 



Stanley Falls. 



rig. 45. 



Miss Kingsley (C). 

 M. P. Delhez (C). 

 Eov. .1. H. Weeks (P.). 

 C.'apt. Wilvcrth ((!.). 

 P.'v. W. H. Bentley (C). 



'"V^^-jfeSs 



/> i,'U.^> ■>' 





OpMocephalus insiynis. 

 Ibali. I. 



Fam. 15. ATHERINID^. 



Mouth protractile, the maxillaries excluded from the oral border ; 

 teeth in the jaws and on the pharj'ngeal bones. Two nostrils on each 

 side. Two well-separated dorsal fins, the anterior, if not rudimentary, 

 small and formed, at least in part, of non-articulated or spinous rays. 

 Pectoral fins inserted high up. Ventral fins more or less behind the 

 pectorals, with one spine and 5 soft rays ; pelvic bones connected Avith 

 the clavicular symphysis by ligament. Prsecaudal vertebrse with strong 

 parapophyses bearing the ribs ; epipleurals inserted on the ribs. 

 Vertebrae 32 to 60. Air-bladder present. 



Mostly marine and represented in all parts of the world. Some 

 species enter fresh waters, whilst others are entirely confined to these. 

 Two genera have representatives in African fresh waters. 



1. ATHERINA. 



Linn. Sy.st. Nat. i. p. 519 (170G) ; Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. x. p. 413 (1850) ; 



Guntli. Cat. Fish. iii. p. 392 (1861) ; Bonleng. Fish. Nile, p. 423 (1907). 

 Tschnomemhnis, F. AV. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Pbilad. Iv. 1904, p. 730. 



Cleft of mouth oblique ; teeth small, conical. Body more or less 

 elongate, subcylindrical or feebly compressed ; scales cycloid, moderate 

 or rather large, extending on parts of the head ; no distinct lateral line. 

 Anterior dorsal fin small but well developed, formed of 5 to 9 feeble 



