304 SILURID.E. 



14. BAGRUS. 



Cuv. Regne Anim. ii. p. 204 (1817), part.*; Bleek. Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk. i. 

 1863, p. 96 ; Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 69 (1864); Bouleng. Fish. Nile, p. 323 

 (1907). 



Body moderately elongate, feebly compressed. Dorsal and anal fins 

 short, the former consisting of a spine and 8 to 11 soft rays and followed 

 by a very long adipose fin. Pectoral fin with a spine. Ventral fin with 

 6 rays, inserted below or just behind the vertical of the posterior part 

 of the dorsal fin. Four pairs of barbels : nasal, maxillary, and two 

 mandibulars. Nostrils widely separated from each other. Eye superior 

 or supero-lateral, with free border. Jaws with a band of villiform teeth ; 

 a similar band of teeth on the vomers. Gill-membranes free, deeply 

 notched. Air-bladder large, free. 



22 or 23 prsecaudal and 30 to 34 caudal vertebras. 13 branchiostegal 

 rays. 



Nile and Tropical Africa. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Occipital process long and narrow and in contact with or narrowly separated 

 from first interneural bone (which is hidden under the skin). 

 A. Distance between rayed dorsal and adipose fin less than base of former ; 

 anal with 12-15 rays (8-10 branched) ; maxillary barbel much longer 

 than head. 

 Head 1| to If times as long as broad; last 

 ray of dorsal behind vertical of inner ray 

 of ventral ; maxillary barbel extending to 



extremity of ventral or beyond . . . . 1 . B. buijad, Forsk., p. 305. 

 Head 1| to If times as long as broad ; last 

 ray of dorsal in advance of inner ray of 

 ventral ; maxillary barbel not extending 



beyond ventral 2. B. orientalis, Blgr., p. 307. 



Head 1£ to 1? times as long as broad ; last 

 ray of dorsal in advance of inner ray of 

 ventral; maxillary barbel extending nearly 

 to base of ventral or beyond 3. B. docmac, Forsk., p. 308. 



* The name appears only in the French form, " Les Bagres," in the two editions of 

 the 'Begne Animal.' The name was first latinized by Riippell in 1829, as quoted in the 

 synonymy of the Nilotic species. 



