118 



MASTACEMBELID.E. 



5. MASTACEMBELUS SCLATERI. 



Bouleng. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1903, i. p. 28, pi. v. fig. 2, 



Depth of body 11 to 13 times in total length, length of head 6 to 7 

 times. Vent equally or nearly equally distant from end of snout and 

 from caudal, its distance from head 2^ to 2f times length of latter. 

 Snout 3 times as long as eye, ending in an appendage which is about 

 1^ times as long as eye; mouth extending hardly to below posterior 

 nostril ; a strong erectile spine below the latter ; two strong preeopercular 

 spines. Dorsal XXVI-XXVII 85-90 ; spines short, last longest and 

 nearly twice as long as eye ; distance between first spine and head 

 ^ to f length of latter. Anal II 80-90. Caudal obtusely pointed. 

 Pectoral not quite -j length of head. Scales very small, 19 to 21 

 between origin of soft dorsal and lateral line. Olive-brown, whitish 

 on the belly ; a dark band on each side of the head, passing through 



Fig. 71. 



Mastacemhelus sclatcri. 

 Type (P. Z. S. 1903). f 



the eye, sometimes continued on the anterior part of the body; a series 

 of square or X-shaped dark spots may be present on each side, on the 

 lateral line ; a more or less distinct series of dark light-edged ocelli 

 along the base of the dorsal ; posterior part of dorsal and anal, and 

 caudal black-edged. 



Total length 300 millim. 



South Cameroon. 



Near Efalen. 



55 



Ja R. at Bitye. 

 Esamesa. 



G. L. Bates, Escj. (C). 



