ASPROTILAPIA. 279 



caudal region ; scales ctenoid ; two incomplete lateral lines. Teeth 

 small, with long slender shafts and expanded tricuspid crowns, in 

 two series in both jaws. Mouth inferior, transverse ; greater part of 

 maxillary bone concealed under the prseorbital. Dorsal with 14 spines, 

 anal with 3. Parietal and occipital crests moderately strong, extending 

 to between the orbits. Vertebrae 35 (16 + 19). 



Lake Tanganyika. 



Connected with Tilapia through T. hoops. 



1. ASPROTILAPIA LEPTURA. 

 Bouleng. 11. cc, Tr. pi. xx. fig. 2 ; Pellegr. t. c. p. 354. 



Depth of body 5 times in total length, length of head 3| to 1 times. 

 Head twice as long as broad ; snout as long as broad, subconical, 

 strongly projecting beyond the mouth, ^ length of head ; eye very 



Fig. 100. 



Asprotilapia lepiura. 

 Type (Tr. Z. S. 1901). f. 



large, as long as snout and nearly twice interorbital width, 2f to 2s- 

 times in length of head ; width of mouth f that of head ; 36 to 40 

 teeth in outer row of upper jaw; 3 series of small scales on the cheek. 

 Gill-rakers very short, tubercle-like, 15 or 16 on lower part of anterior 

 arch. Dorsal XI V 14 ; spines slender and subequal, f length of head ; 

 soft rays a little longer. Anal III 8 ; third spine nearly as long as 

 dorsals. Pectoral a little shorter than head. Ventral reaching vent. 

 Caudal deeply emarginate, crescentic. Caudal peduncle 3 times as 



2 • 27 



long as deep. Scales strongly denticulate, 38 ^; lateral lines H5. Brown, 

 darker on the snout and vertex; a blackish opercular spot; fins greyish. 



Total length 110 millim. 



Lake Tanganyika. 



1. Type. Msambu. Prof. J. E. S. Moore (C). 



2. Ad. L. Tanganyika. „ 



3. Skel. 



