400 



SILUR1D.E. 



3. SYNODONTIS ACANTHOMIAS. 

 Synodontis omias (non Giinth.), Vaill. N. Arch. Mua. (3) viii. 1896, p. 130, 



pi. xiii. fig. 2. 



Synodcntis acanthomias, Botileng. Ann. Mus. Congo, Zool. i. p. 46, pi. xxiii. 



(1899), and Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 310 (1901). 



Depth of body equal to or a little greater than length of head, 3§ 



to 4f times in total length. Head as long as broad or slightly longer 



than broad, feebly rugose above from between the eyes ; snout obtusely 



Fig. 303. 



Synodontis acanthomias. 

 Type (A. M. C). |. 



pointed, lj to ltj- times length of postocular part of head ; eye supero- 

 lateral, 5^ to 1\ times in length of head, 2 to 3 times in interorbital 

 width ; lips moderately developed ; praemaxillary teeth forming a broad 

 and rather short band ; movable mandibular teeth nearly ^ diameter of 

 eye, 36 to 50 in number. Maxillary barbel not distinctly margined, 

 1 to 1| times length of head, reaching anterior third or middle of 

 pectoral spine ; outer mandibular barbels twice as long as inner, with 

 long slender branches, inner with shorter branches bearing tubercular 

 ramifications. Gill-opening not extending downwards beyond root of 

 pectoral spine. Occipito-nuchal shield obtusely tectiform, rough like 



