SYNODONTIS. 469 ramified branches, outer the longer and } to 2 length of head. Gillopening not extending downwards beyond root of pectoral spine. Occipito-nuchal shield granulate like the occiput, obtusely tectiform, 13 times as long as broad, posterior processes pointed or rounded. Humeral process flat, granulate, broader than long, obtusely pointed or rounded behind. Dorsal I 7; spine curved, smooth in front, very feebly serrated behind, as long as head, bearing a long filament. Adipose dorsal nearly 3 times as long as deep, as long as its distance from rayed dorsal. Anal III 7, pointed. Pectoral spine nearly as long as head, reaching or nearly reaching ventral, smooth or very feebly serrated on outer border, strongly on inner. Ventral obtusely pointed, reaching anal. Caudal deeply forked. Caudal peduncle as long as deep. Brown above, white beneath ; back of head dotted with black ; body usually with large round black spots, few in number, disposed alternately ; 3 or 4 black bars across the dorsal, and 3 or 4, oblique, on each lobe of caudal.
Total length 240 millim.
Upper Congo.—Types in Congo Museum, Tervueren.
1. One of the types. Leopoldville. Capt. Wilverth (C.). 2. Hor. Monsembe. Rey. J. H. Weeks (P.).
3-4. Ad. & her. Upper Congo. Brussels University.
5. Ad. Banzyville, Ubanghi. - Capt. Royaux (C.).
The specimen from the Upper Ubanghi described and figured by Vaillant (N. Arch. Mus. [3] viii. 1896, pl. xii. fig. 2) as a young S. labeo must probably be referred to this species (see Boulenger, Poiss. Bass. . 26) Congo, p. 328).
54. SYNODONTIS CLARIAS.
Silurus clarias, Linn. in Hasselq. Reis. Paleest. p. 412 (1762), and Syst. Nat. i. p- 504, part. (1766).
Silurus callarias, part., Bloch-Schneid. Syst. Ichth. p. 379 (1801). Pimelodus synodontis, Geottr. Descr. Egypte, Poiss, pl. xii. figs. 5 & 6 (1809). Synodontis macrodon, I. Geoffr. op. cit. p. 295 (1827) ; Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xv. p. 252 (1840) ; Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 211 (1864), and Petherick’s Trav. ii. p. 234 (1869).
Synodontis clarias, Riipp. Beschr. n. Fische Nil, p. 5 (1829); Vaill. N. Arch. Mus. (3) viii. 1896, p. 102 ; Bouleng. Fish. Nile, p. 377, pl. [xxiii (1907). Depth of body 53 to 43 times in total length, length of head 3 to 5} times. Head 12 to 12 times as long as broad, a little deeper than broad, rugose, granulate above from between the eyes, the granulate area
470 SILURIDA.
sometimes extending a little on the snout; snout pointed, as long as or longer than postocular part of head; eye lateral or nearly so, its diameter 44 (young) to 6 times in length of head, 1$ to 3 times in interorbital width. Mouth narrow, with strongly developed lips, forming a large lobe on each side; premaxillary teeth few, in 1, 2, or 3 series, sometimes with a few minute ones behind; movable mandibular teeth 2 to once diameter of eye, 6 to 9 in number. Maxillary barbel with a distinct marginal membrane at the base and with long, slender, finely tuberculate branches, its length 2 to nearly once that of head; mandibular barbels with long, tuberculate branches, the outer inserted further Synodontis clarias.
Mouth of L. No (E.N.). 3.
back than and 13 times as long asthe inner. Gill-opening not extending downwards beyond root of pectoral spine. Occipito-nuchal shield rough like the occiput, obtusely tectiform, 13 to 2 times as long as broad, posterior processes obtuse or truncate. Humeral process subtriangular, flat, granulate, not extending so far back as occipito-nuchal process. Dorsal I 7; spine strongly curved, more or less distinctly finely serrated in front in its basal half, strongly serrated behind, as long as or longer than head, the soft terminal part produced into a short filament. Adipose dorsal 3 to 45 times as long as deep, 4 to 8 times as long as its distance from rayed dorsal. Anal V 7-9, acutely pointed. Pectoral spine shorter than dorsal, sometimes reaching ventral, outer border feebly serrated, inner border strongly serrated. Ventral acutely pointed,
reaching origin of anal or a little beyond. upper lobe the longer.
deeper than long.
Nile, Chad Basin, Senegal, Gambia, Niger. SYNODONTIS. 471 Jaudal deeply forked, Caudal peduncle as long as deep or a little Grey to dark green above, white beneath; fins greyish white, caudal often tinged with red. Young with dark marblings on the body and round dark spots on the ventral, anal, and caudal fins. Total length 270 millim.
1. Her. Cairo. Dr. Riippell (C.).
2. Yg. Omdurman. L. Loat, Esq. (C.). B=, ANCL Wad Medine, Blue Nile.
6. Ad. Jebelain, White Nile. 5 elo Kaka, Fe 3 8-10. Ad., hgr., Fashoda, x &yg 11-15. Her. & ye. Between Khartum and Mr. P. C. Zaphiro (C.) ; theSobat.
Mouth of L. No.
W.N. McMillan, Hsq. (P.).
16-25. Ad. & yg. L. Loat, Esq. (C.). 26. Skel. ”? 9 27. Ad. L. Chad. Capt. G. B. Gosling (P.). 28-30. Ad. Nianimaru, Gambia. J. 8. Budgett, Esq. (P.). 31. Yg. Warri, Low. Niger. Mr. J. Paul Arnold (P.). 5d. SYNODONTIS RESUPINATUS.
Bouleng. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1904, 1. p. 199, pl. viii. Depth of body 2% times in total length, length of head 4 times. Head 1+ times as long as broad, deeper than broad, feebly rugose above from between the eyes; snout rounded, as long as postocular part of head; eye supero-lateral, its diameter 4 times in length of head, 1) times in interorbital width. Mouth narrow, with strongly developed lips, forming a lobe on each side ; premaxillary teeth very small, villiform, forming a broad band; movable mandibular teeth about $ diameter of eye, about 60 in number. Maxillary barbel slightly longer than head, its basal third with a broad marginal membrane on the inner side and a series of short obtuse branches, some of which are knob-like, on the outer side; mandibular barbels with long tuberculate branches, outer 1 . S els + length of head, inner 3. Gill-opening not extending downwards beyond root of pectoral spine. Occipito-nuchal shield feebly rugose like the occiput, obtusely tectiform, nearly twice as long as broad, with obtuse posterior processes. Humeral process longer than broad, flat, grapulate, obtusely pointed, not extending quite so far back as occipito-
472 SILURID&.
nuchal process. Dorsal I 7; spine feebly curved, not serrated, as long as head, with a very long filamentous prolongation. Adipose dorsal 25 times as long as deep, originating immediately behind rayed dorsal. Anal IV 8, pointed. Pectoral spine as long as head, not quite reaching ventral, feebly serrated on outer edge, strongly on inner. Ventral pointed, reaching origin of anal. Caudal deeply forked, upper lobe much produced. Caudal peduncle a little deeper than long. Pale greyish brown above and on the sides, black beneath ; fins grey; barbels whitish.
vA Sad / or is (a ty Synodontis resupinatus.
Type (P.Z.8. 1904), 4. Total length 260 millim. Upper Niger.
1. Type. Lokoja. J.S. Budgett, Esq. (P.). 56. SYNODONTIS BATENSODA. Synodontis membranaceus, part., I. Geoftr. Deser. Egypte, Poiss. p. 297 (1827) ; Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xv. p. 258 (1840) ; Steind. Sitzb. Ak. Wien, Ixi. i. 1870, p. 536.
Synodontis batensoda, Riipp. Fortsetz. Beschr. n. Fische Nil, p- 6, pl. iii. fig. 2 (1832) ; Bouleng. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) viii. 1901, p- 12, and Fish. Nile, p- 380, pl. Ixxiv. (1907). Brachyeynodontis batensoda, Bleek. Nat. Tijdschr. Dierk. i. 1863, p: dd.
SYNODONTIS. 473 Synodontis melanogaster, Ehrenb. in Peters, Reise n. Mossamb, iv. p. 31 (1868). Synodontis membranaceus, Vaill. N. Arch. Mus. (3) viii. 1896, pp. 161 & 167. Depth of body 23 to 3 times in total length, length of head 22 to 34 times. Head 1} to 13 times as long as broad, rugose, granulate above from between the eyes, the granulate area sometimes extending a little on the snout ; snout obtusely pointed, as long as or a little longer than postocular part of head; eye supero-lateral, 33 (young) to 54 times in length of head, not less than interorbital width in young, 14 to 1} times Fig.354.
Synodontis batensoda.
Mouth of L. No(F.N.). 2.
in interorbital width in adult; operculum terminating in a few short spines. Lips moderately developed; preemaxillary teeth forming a short and broad band; movable mandibular teeth } to 4 diameter of eye, 30 to 57 in number. Maxillary barbel with a broad marginal membrane, 3 to about once length of head, usually reaching base of pectoral spine or a little beyond; mandibular barbels inserted on a straight transverse line, the outer with long, slender, simple branches, 13 to 2 times as long as inner, some of the branches of which are bifid or trifid. Gill-openings extending downwards beyond base of pectoral fin, but separated by a broad isthmus, which at least equals interorbital width. Occipito-nuchal
ATA SILURID&.
shield rough like the occiput, obtusely tectiform, 14 to 2 times as long as broad, posterior processes pointed or rounded. NHumeral processes about as long as broad, flat, granulate, pointed or obliquely truncate posteriorly, not extending so far back as occipito-nuchal process. Dorsal I 7; spine strong, straight or feebly curved, smooth in front, feebly serrated behind, about as long as head, the soft terminal part produced into a short filament. Adipose dorsal 24 to 4 times as long as deep, originating immediately behind rayed dorsal. Anal V 7-9, pointed. Pectoral spine as long as or a little longer than dorsal, not reaching base of ventral, outer border feebly, inner strongly serrated. Ventral acutely pointed, reaching origin of anal, or not quite so far. Caudal deeply forked. Caudal peduncle as jong as deep or a little deeper than long. Body and adipose dorsal fin silvery grey to dark purplish; lower parts dark brown to black; barbels blackish ; fins grey, ventrals, anal, and caudal with round black spots ; iris brown; young with large dark spots, separated by a network of the light ground-colour, the spots on the fins Jarger and confluent into cross-bands.
Total length 240 millim.
Nile, Chad Basin, Senegal, Gambia.
1-3. Yg. South of Khartum. Capt. 8. Flower (P.).
4-10, 11-14. Fashoda, White Nile. L. Loat, Esq. (C.). Her. & yg.
15-20. Ad. & yg. Mouth of L. No, White Nile. 55 21. Skel. si Sy 33 22 Vio. Bahr-el-Gebel. Lieut. Drury (C.).
23. Ad. Gondokoro, Bahr-el-Gebel. L. Loat, Esq. (C.). 24. Ad. R. Shari-Wasu at Maidugari. Capt. G. B. Gosling (P.). 25-26. Ad. & bgr. McCarthy Id., Gambia. J. 8. Budgett, Esq. (P.). 57. SYNODONTIS MEMBRANACKHUS.
Pimelodus membranaceus, Geoftr. Descr. Egypte, Poiss. pl. xiii. figs. 1 & 2 (1809). Synodontis membranaceus, part., 1. Geoftr. op. cit. p. 297 (1827) ; Cuy. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xv. p. 258 (1840) ; Steind. Sitzb. Ak. Wien, lxi. 1. 1870, p. 536. Hemisynodontis membranaceus, Bleek. Nat. Tijdschr. Dierk. i. 1863, p. 55. Synodontis membranaccus, Giinth. Cat. Fish. y. p. 215 (1864), and Petherick’s Tray. il. p. 236 (1869); Steind. Sitzb. Ak. Wien, Ixxxiii. i. 1881, p. 200; Bouleng. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) viii. 1901, p. 12, and Fish. Nile, p. 383, pl. Ixxv. (1907).
Synodontis guentheri, Vaill. Bull. Soc. Philom. (8) v. 1892, p. 16, and N. Arch. Mus. (3) vill. 1896, pp. 164 & 167.
SYNODONTIS. 475 Depth of body 2% to 34 times in total length, length of head 23 to 3 times. Head 14 to 2 times as jong as broad, rugose, granulate above from between the eyes, the granulate area sometimes extending a little on the snout ; snout obtusely pointed, as long as or a little shorter than postocular part of head; eye supero-lateral, 4 (young) to 6} times in length of head, not less than interorbital width in young, 14 to 2 times in interorbital width in adult. Mouth large, with feeble lips, except on the sides, where they are confluent with the membrane of the maxillary barbel and supported by a barbel-like dermal ray which extends to its extremity ; preemaxillary teeth very feeble, forming a short and rather narrow band; mandibular teeth very minute, 8 to 14 in number, forming Fig.355.
Synodontis membranaceus.
Ikhartum (F.N.). 3.
a small patch at the symphysis of the lower jaw. Maxillary barbel with a very broad membranous border almost to its extremity, as long as or a little longer or a little shorter than head, reaching root of pectoral spine or a little beyond; mandibular barbels inserted on a straight transverse line, with a few long, slender branches in basal haif, with a membranous border in terminal half, inner 3 to 3 length of outer. Gill-openings separated on the throat by a narrow isthmus, the width of which is less than diameter of eye. Occipito-nuchal shield rough like the occiput, tectiform, 13 to 2 times as long as broad, posterior processes obtuse or truncate. Humeral process subtriangular, flat, granulate, as long as deep or deeper than long, not extending so far back as occipito-nuchal
476 SILURID.%.
process. Dorsal fin with I 7 rays; spine strong, straight or curved, smooth in front, feebly serrated behind, 2 to # length of head. Adipose dorsal 3 to 5 times as long as deep, originating immediately behind rayed dorsal. Anal V 8-9, acutely pointed. Pectoral spine usually as long as or a little longer than dorsal, not reaching base of ventral, outer border feebly, inner border strongly serrated. Ventral acutely pointed, reaching origin of anal or a little beyond. Caudal deeply forked. Caudal peduncle deeper than long. Silvery grey or whitish, the lower parts dark brown to black; barbels whitish, with the membranous border dark brown or black; young with ill-defined dark blotches on the body, and with round dark spots on the rayed fins, forming more or less regular transverse series.
Total length 455 millim.
Nile, Chad Basin, Senegal, Niger.
1-2, 3,4. Ad. & Khartum. J. Petherick, Esq. (C.). yg., types of S.
guentheri.
5. Yg. Fashoda, White Nile. L. Loat, Esq. (C.). 6-8. Ad. Mouth of L. No. e 9. Skel. i 10. Her. Kano, Hadriji R., L. Chad. Capt. G. B. Gosling (P.). Ti aaNGor. Fort Lamy, Shari R. 5 12. Her. St. Louis, Senegal. M. P. Delhez (C.). 13-15. Her. Kaédi, by a 16. Ad. Lokoja, Upp. Niger. J.S. Budgett, Esq. (P.). 17-19. Yg. Abo, Low. Niger. Dr. W. J. Ansorge (C.). 20), Yio. Assay, sa 64 21-22. Yg. Lagoon at Asaba, Low. Niger. Major G. H. Bruce (P.). 23. Nig. Niger Delta. Dr. W. H. Crosse (P.). 29. MICROSYNODONTIS.
Bouleng. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1903, i. p. 26. Like Synodontis, but eye without free orbital border. Vertebre 36 (13-423), transverse process of fourth with a spheroidal expansion in front.
1. MICROSYNODONTIS BATESIL.
Bouleng. 1. ¢. pl. iv.
Depth of body 42 to 6 times in total length, length of head 4 to 5 times. Head a little longer than broad, rugose on vertex and occiput ; snout rounded; eye supero-lateral, in middle of head, 5 (young) to 7