AMPHILIUS. 353 



20. AMPHILIUS. 



Pimtlodus, part., Gunth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 114 (1864). 



Amphilius, Gunth. t. c. p. 115 ; Poche, Zool. Anz. 1902, pp. 121 & 212. 



Anoplopterus, Pfeff. Jabrb. Hamb. Wiss. Anst. vi. 2, 1889, p. 15, and Thierw. 0.- 



Afr., Fische, p. 33 (1896) ; Bouleng. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) i. 1898, p. 255, 



and Ann. Mus. Congo, Zool. ii. p. 41 (1902). 

 Chimarrhoglanis, Vaill. Bull. Mus. Paris, 1897, p. 81. 



Body more or less elongate, more or less depressed anteriorly. Dorsal 

 and anal fins short, the former consisting of a soft simple ray and 5 to 7 

 branched rays ; an adipose dorsal fin. Pectoral fin expanded horizontally, 

 the outer ray more or less thickened but not ossified, formed of very 

 numerous angularly bent articles, bearing an outer series or fringe of hair- 

 like rays. Ventral fin with 6 rays, the outer of which is similar to the 

 outer pectoral. Three pairs of barbels : maxillary and two mandibulars. 

 Nostrils widely separated from each other. Eye superior, without free 

 border. Maxillary bone rather large, bidden in the lip but bordering 

 the mouth ; jaws with a band of .villiform teeth ; no teeth on the palate. 

 Gill-membranes free, deeply notched. Air-bladder large, free. 



Vertebra? 41 (19-20+20-21). 8 or 9 branthiostegal rays. A more 

 or less distinct foramen above the axil. 



Tropical Africa. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Dorsal entirely in advance of the ventrals, above the space between the latter 

 and the pectorals. 

 A. Head not or but slightly longer than broad ; snout broadly rounded, its 

 length not more than twice interocular width ; base of adipose dorsal at 

 least nearly twice as long as that of rayed dorsal. 



1. Length of head 5£ times in total length. 



Maxillary barbel longer than head; caudal peduncle [p. 354. 



not longer than deep 1. A. uranoscopus, Pfeff.., 



2. Length of head 4 to 4rj times in total length. 

 Maxillary barbel shorter than head; length of snout 



If to 2 times interocular width ; caudal 



peduncle not longer than deep 2. A. grandis, Blgr., p. 355. 



Maxillary barbel as long as head ; length of snout 



1^ times interocular width ; caudal peduncle 



not longer than deep Z. A. hrefftii, Blgr., p. 356. 



Maxillary barbel a little shorter than bead ; length 



of snoot 1\ to If times interocular width; [p. 357. 



caudal peduncle longer than deep. .... 4. A. platyc hir, Gth'r.., 

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