168 



CICHLID.E. 



convex upper profile, much broader than long (1J to If), \ to § post- 

 ocular part of head; eye '6\ (young) to 6J times in length of head, 

 \\ (young) to 3 times in interorbital width, equal to or a little less than 

 pr;eorbital depth ; mouth rather small, \ to § width of head, extending 

 to between nostril and eye ; teeth in 4 to 8 series, 50 (young) to 120 in 

 outer series of upper jaw ; 2 or 3 series of scales on the cheek, width of 

 scaly part not greater than diameter of eye. Gill-rakers moderate, 17 

 to 19 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal XVI-XV1I (rarely XVIII) 

 10-13 ; spines subequal from the fifth, or last, longest, |nra little less 

 than \ length of head ; longest soft rays f to § length of liead. Anal 

 III (rarely IV) 10-11 ; third spine f to \ length of head. Pectoral 

 \\ to \\ times as long as head, reaching vertical of origin of anal or 



Fig. 108. 



Tilapiu variabilis. 

 Type(F.K). j. 



beyond. Ventral reaching vent, or not quite so far, rarely origin of 

 anal. Caudal truncate, more or less obliquely in the adult, lower angle 

 rounded. Caudal peduncle as long as deep or a little longer than deep. 

 Scales cycloid, 31-35 j.^ ; lateral lines u ^jg. Coloration very variable: 

 uniform olive-brown above, or brilliant vermilion on the sides, or bright 

 yellow with black markings ; dorsal and caudal fins sometimes edged 

 with red. Young with or without dark cross-bands on the body and 

 oblique dark bands on the soft part of the dorsal fin, and with a blackish 

 ocellar spot on the anterior part of the soft dorsal fin. 



Total length 320 millim. 



Lake Victoria and Victoria Nile. 



