3G0 



CICHLIDtE. 



41. PARATILAPIA DIMIDIATA. 

 Chromis lateristriga, part., Griinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 312. 

 J/emichromis dimidiatus, Giinth. t. c. p. 313. 



Paratilapia dimidiata, Bouleng. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1898, p. 145 ; Pellegr. Mem. 

 Soc. Zool. France, xvi. 1904, p. 264. 



Depth of body 3 to 3J times in total length, length of head 2| to 

 3 times. Head 1\ to 2\ times as long as broad, with straight or 

 slightly curved upper profile; lower jaw projecting; snout rounded, as 

 long as broad or a little longer than broad, as long as postocular part 

 of head ; eye 4|- to 5| times in length of head, 1\ to \\ times in inter- 

 orbital width, equal to or a little less than prseorbital depth ; mouth 

 not extending to below anterior border of eye ; teeth in 3 to 5 series, 

 outer moderate or rather large, 40 to 60 in upper jaw ; 4 or 5 series of 

 scales on the cheek, width of scaly part equal to or greater than 



Fig. 2-14. 



Paratilapia dimidiata. 



L. Nyassa. 



2 



diameter of eye. Gill-rakers short, 10 or 11 on lower part of anterior 

 arch. Dorsal XVI-XVIII 10-12 ; spines increasing in length to the 

 last, which measures -| length of head ; longest soft rays \ to \ length 

 of head. Anal III 10-11 ; third spine as long as middle dorsals. 

 Pectoral § to f length of head, not extending to vertical or origin of 

 anal. Ventral not reaching beyond vent. Caudal densely scaled, 

 feebly but distinctly emarginate. Caudal peduncle 1^ to If times as 

 long as deep. Scales cycloid or very indistinctly denticulate, 34-36 j^ii \ 



22-25 



lateral lines 



15-19' 



Olive-brown above, silvery white beneath ; a blackish 



