384 S [LURID-*:. 



anal fins short, the former consisting of a spine and 6 or 7 branched 

 rays ; a small adipose fin. Pectoral fin with a spine. Ventral fin with 

 6 rays, inserted behind the vertical of the dorsal fin. Three pairs of 

 barbels : maxillary and two mandibulars. Nostrils close together. 

 Eyes lateral or supero-lateral, with free border. Maxillary bone 

 rudimentary ; jaws with a band of villiform teeth ; teeth on the 

 pterygoids, none on the vomer *. Gill-membranes narrowly attached 

 to isthmus, not notched, forming a continuous transverse fold. 



Vertebra 48-58 (22-29+27-33). Branchiostegal rays 5 or 6. 



Tropical Seas ; a few species in fresh waters, or entering rivers. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Teeth on palate villiform. 



A. Maxillary barbel not reaching extremity of pectoral spine. 

 Teeth on palate in two very large groups, con- 

 sisting of an anterior transverse portion 



narrowly separated from its fellow on the 



median line, and a posterior triangular 



portion which is longer than broad ; 



occipital process broader at base than 



long 1. A. latiscutatus. Glhr., p. 385. 



Teeth on palate in two large triangular groups, 



very narrowly separated on the median 



line ; occipital process broader at base 



than long 2. A. ffic/aSj Blgi;., p>,386. 



Teeth on palate in two rather small, widely 



separated, oval or subtriangular groups ; 



occipital process as long as broad at base . 3. A. heudeloti, C. & V.. p. 387. 



B. Maxillary barbel reaching beyond pec- 



toral spine ; teeth on palate in two 



irregularly oval groups ; occipital [p. 388. 



process as long as broad at base . . 4. A. madagascarierisvi, Vaill., 



II. Teeth on palate granular. 



Two groups of teeth on each side of palate, 



anterior small and rounded, posterior large 



and triangular 5. A. kirkii, Gthr., p. 389. 



A large subtriangular group of teeth on each 



side of palate 6. A, africanus, Gthr., p. 389. 



* The teeth on the palate have been deacribed, in the African species, as vomerine and 

 palatine, but the bones that support them are the entopterygoids (or entopterygoids -f 

 ectopterygoids). 



