

W^h ^w^vi^^V^ 8 9:/6« 



1. SA^CODACES. 



Xipliorliamp>lais, part., Mull. & Trosch. Hor. Ichtbyol. i. p. 17 (1845). 

 Xiphorhynchus, part., Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xxii. p. 336 (1849). 

 Ilydrocyonoides, Casteln. Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr. p. 66 (1861). 

 Sarcodaces, Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 352 (1864) ; Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Congo, 

 p. 138 (1901). 



Snout elongate ; mouth very large, with pointed teeth intermixed 

 with large canines ; two series of teeth in the lower jaw, the outer with 

 canines ; praemaxillaries immovable, with a posterior process bearing 

 small teeth, between the maxillary and the palatine ; maxillary long, 

 toothed, slipping under the prse- and suborbitals. Cheek covered by 

 the large suborbitals ; nostrils near the eye, close together, separated 

 by a valvular flap ; gill-membranes free from the isthmus ; 4 branchio- 

 stegal rays. Body elongate, compressed ; belly rounded. Scales 

 moderately large, not ciliated ; lateral line nearer the ventral than the 

 dorsal outline ; a scaly process at the base of the ventral fin. Dorsal 

 fin with 9 rays, well behind the vertical of the ventrals ; anal with 

 12 rays; a small adipose dorsal fin. Vertebras 44 (2S + 16). 



Tropical Africa. 



1. SARCODACES ODOE. 



Sahno odoe, Bloch, Auel. Fische, viii. p. 122, pi. ccclxxxvi. (1794). 



Xiphorluzmphus odoe, Mull. & Trosch. op. cit. p. 18. 



Xiphorhynchus odoe, Cuv. & Val. t. c. p. 345. 



Ilydrocyonoides cucieri, Casteln. I.e. 



Sarcodaces odoe, Giinth. 1. c, and Ann. & Mag. N. H. (3) xx. 1867, p, 114 ; 



Sauv. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1882, p. 319 ; Steind. Notes Leyd. Mus. xvi. 



1894, p. 63 ; Bouleng. 1. c. ; Pellegr. Bull. Mus. Paris, 1904, p. 310. 

 Sarcodaces odoe, var. microlepis, Bouleng. t. c. p. 139. 



Depth of body 4j to 5-g- times in total length, length of head 3 to 3^ 

 times. Head 2^ to 2f times as long as broad, flat above, with straight 

 upper profile ; bones of head rugose and striated ; prEemaxillary part of 

 snout narrowed, rounded, projecting beyond lower jaw ; eye lateral, 

 subinferior, 2 to 2| times in length of snout, 5 to 7 times in length of 

 head, If to 2^ times in interorbital width ; maxillary extending to 

 below posterior border of eye or a little beyond; a triangular dermal 

 fold on each side of the lower jaw, covering a notch between prae- 

 maxillary and maxillary bones. Gill-rakers long and slender, 12-14 

 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal II 7, above space between 

 ventrals and anal, 2i to 3 times as distant from end of snout as from 



VOL. I. N 



