186 



CHARAClNlDiE. 



5. HYDROCYON BREVIS. 

 Hydrocyon forskalii, part., Cuv. & Val. Hist, Poiss. xxii. p. 309 (1849) ; Peters, 



Eeise Mossamb. iv. p. 69 (1868). 

 Hydrocyon hrevis, Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 351 (1864), and Petherick's Trav. ii. 



p. 245, pi. iii. fig. A (1869) ; Steind. Sitz. Ak. Wien, lxi. i. 1870, p. 547 ; 



Bouleng. Fish. Nile, p. 107, pi. xvi. fig. 2 (1907). 



Depth of body 3^ to i\ times in total length, length of head 3^ to i\ 

 times. Head 2 to 2f times as long as broad ; snout •§■ to \ length of 

 head ; diameter of eye 4 (young) to 7-^ times in length of head, inter- 

 orbital width 3 to 3-f times ; suborbital and opercular bones more or less 

 distinctly striated ; mouth extending to below nostrils or anterior border 

 of eye, maxillary bone to below centre or posterior border of eye ; 4 or 5 

 large teeth in upper jaw and 3 or 4 in lower. Gill-rakers short, 7 to 9 



Fig. 143. 



Hydrocyon brevis. 

 Type(F.N.). j. 



on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal II 8, equally distant from eye and 

 from root of caudal, or a little nearer latter ; second simple ray or first 

 branched ray longest, f to nearly once length of head. Anal III 11-13 

 (exceptionally 15), longest ray f to f the length of head. Pectoral 

 § to f length of head. Ventral fin a little shorter than pectoral, below 

 anterior half of dorsal. Caudal deeply forked, with long, pointed 

 lobes. Caudal peduncle If to If times as long as deep. Scales 47-54 

 &T» ^ between lateral line and scaly process at base of ventral. Colora- 

 tion very similar to that of //. forskalii ; longitudinal dark streaks or 

 series of spots, more or less distinct in adult specimens, usually confined 



