24S 



CICHLID.E. 



77. TILAPIA AURATA. 



Chromis auratus, Bouleng. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (6) xix. 1897, p. 155. 

 Tilapia aurata, Bouleng. Tr. Zool. Soc. xv. 1898, p. 4, and Proc. Zool. Soc. 1899, 

 p. 137, pi. xii. fig. 3 ; Pellegr. Mem. Soc. Zool. France, xvi. 1904, p. 343. 



Depth of body 3-§ times in total length, length of head oi times. 

 Head twice as long as broad, with strongly curved upper profile ; snout 

 as long as broad, shorter than postocular part of head ; eye 4 times 

 in length of head, slightly greater than interorbital width, equal to least 

 depth of pneorbital ; mouth small, f width of head, extending to 

 between nostril and eye ; teeth rather small, in 5 or 6 series, 42 in 

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

 part less than diameter of eye. Gill-rakers very short, 8 on lower part 



Fig. 164. 



Tilapia auraia. 

 Type (P. Z. S. 1399) 



of anterior arch. Dorsal XIX 6 ; spines subequal from the fourth, ^ 

 length of head, f longest soft rays. Anal III 6 ; third spine as long as 

 longest dorsals. Pectoral f- length of head, not extending to origin of 

 anal. Ventral reaching vent. Caudal truncate, densely scaled. Caudal 

 peduncle a little longer than deep. Scales finely denticulate, 34 -^ ; 

 lateral lines ^. Bright golden yellow, with three black stripes, one 

 along the side of the body from the eye to the base of the caudal, a 

 second above the upper lateral line from the occiput to the caudal 

 peduncle, and a third along the dorsal fin ; two curved black bands 

 across the snout from eye to eye ; a few black spots on the upper part of 

 the caudal fin. 



Total length 75 millim. 



Lake Nyassa. 

 1. Type. Monkey Bay, W. Coast of L. Nyassa. G. H. Pigott, Esq. (P.). 



