414 



CICHLID^E. 



2S. PELMATOCHROMIS OBESUS. 



Bouleng. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) xvii. 1906, p. 442, and Fish. Nile, p. 491, 

 pi. lxxxix. fig. 5 (1907). 



Depth of body 2 to 2^ times in total length, length of head 3 times. 

 Head not twice as long as broad, with slightly concave upper profile ; 

 snout twice as broad as long in the adult, as long as eye, which is 

 3J times in length of head, 1^ to 1^ times in interorbital width and 

 much exceeds prseorbital depth ; mouth oblique, extending to below 

 anterior border of eye ; teeth small, in 2 or 3 series, 50 to 60 in outer 

 series of upper jaw ; 3 or 4 series of scales on the cheek, width of 

 scaly part exceeding a little diameter of eye. Gill-rakers short, some 

 T-shaped, 8 to 10 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal XV 9 ; spines 



Fig. 283. 



PelmatocJiromis obesus. 

 Type (F. K). f. 



increasing in length to the last, which measures f to J length of head ; 

 longest soft rays f length of head. Anal III 8-9 ; third spine stronger 

 but a little shorter than last dorsal. Pectoral as long as head, extending 

 to above base of third anal spine. Ventral extending to soft anal rays. 

 Caudal obliquely truncate, upper rays longest. Caudal peduncle 

 1^ times as long as deep. Scales denticulate, 32 -^ ; lateral lines jjzjg. 

 Olive above, with very indistinct dark cross-bands, yellowish white 

 beneath ; a rather indistinct dark vertical bar below the eye ; a dark 

 opercular spot ; dorsal fin greyish, blackish towards the border, the soft 

 portion with round dark spots ; anal fin yellow, with two or three large 



