48 ANABANTIDJE. 



fin near the pectoral, with one spine and five soft rays ; pelvic bones 

 connected with the clavicular symphysis by ligament. Prsecaudal 

 vertebra? all with transverse processes, to the extremity of which the 

 ribs are attached. Air-bladder much elongate, bifid behind, and 

 prolonged into the caudal region, which bears ribs. 

 A single genus. 



1. ANABAS. 



Cuv. Regne Anim. ii. p. 339 (1817) ; Giinth. Cat. Fish. iii. p. 374 (1861) ; 



Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 371 (1901), and Fish. Kile, p. 441 (1907). 

 Spirobranclms, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. vii. p. 392 (1831) ; Giinth. t. c. p. 373. 

 Ctenopoma, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1844, p. 34 ; Giinth. t. c. p. 373 ; Peters, 



Reise Mossamb. iv. p. 14 (1868). 

 Satidelia, Casteln. Mem. Poiss. Afr. Anstr. p. 36 (1861). 



Body short or moderately elongate, more or less compressed, covered 

 with large, hard, ctenoid scales; lateral line interrupted. Head convex, 

 covered with scales ; mouth moderately large, with small conical teeth ; 

 teeth on the vomer and on the parasphenoid ; palatine teeth present or 

 absent. Anterior nostril in a short tube. Spinous part of the dorsal 

 and anal fins longer than the soft; 12 to 20 dorsal and G to 11 anal 

 spines. Vertebrae 25 to 81. 



South-eastern Asia and Tropical and South Africa. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Caudal peduncle * very distinct, measuring at least the diameter of: the eye ; 

 depth of body more than 2^ times in total length. 

 A. Ventral fin not reaching anal ; maxillary extending to below anterior 

 third of eye, or beyond; teeth on palatine bones. 

 1. 12 to 17 dorsal spines ; suboperculum not denticulate ; scales partly 

 cycloid, partly ctenoid. 

 D. XII-XIV 8-10 ; A. VI- VII 8-11 ; Sc. 27- 



30 q^q 1. A. capensis, C. & V. p. 50. 



D. XIII-XV 8-9 ; A. VIII-IX 8-9 ; Sc. 27- 



29 jj^j 2. A. vicinus, Blgr., p. 51. 



1). XV-XVII 9-10 ; A. VII- VIII 9-10 ; So. 



33-35 fj-Tri 3. ^4. bainsii, Casteln., p. 52. 



* The muscular part, not including the base of the caudal fin, which is covered with 

 scales. 



