APPENDIX C. 
231 
Clarotes laticeps, Eiipp. [Abu Mesaeka.) 
D. 1/6. A. 12. P. 1/9. 
The height of the body is eontained from four times and a half 
to five times and a half in the total length (without caudal) ^ the 
length of the head thrice and a fourth. Head much depressed, 
broad, truncated in front, its greatest width being four-fifths of its 
length; upper jaw overlapping the lower. Nasal barbels slender, 
not so long as the snout ; the maxillary barbels extend to the end 
of the pectoral, the outer ones of the mandible to the root of the 
pectoral. The teeth on the palate form four narrow bands of nearly 
equal length, the vomerine band being interrupted in the middle 
and not continuous with the palatine band. The upper surface of 
the head coarsely granulated, the granules being arranged in striae. 
Occipital process not much larger than, and similar in shape to, 
the triangular basal bone of the dorsal spine. Dorsal spine strong, 
slightly serrated along both edges, more than half as long as the 
head. Adipose fin short, subdivided into rays only along its upper 
margin in young individuals ; in old specimens the division into 
rays extends to the base of the fin, and the first ray is changed 
into a hard, pungent spine. Caudal forked ; both lobes equal in 
length, or the lower rather longer. Pectoral spine as long as, but 
stronger than, that of the dorsal fin, serrated along both edges, 
slightly exteriorly and strongly interiorly. Ventral rather shorter 
than pectoral. Dark grey above, white below ; a blackish blotch 
behind the gill-opening; a broad blackish band along each caudal 
lobe. 
The species appears to be peculiar to the Upper Nile, although 
