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DR. A. GÜNTHER ON REPTILES AND FISHES
707

This species inhabits also the Ogowé River. To facilitate comparison with the other species here described, I have given a fuller diagnosis than my former one.

Clarias buthupogon.

  • ? Clarias læviceps, Gill, Proc, Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad, 1862, p. 139.
  • Clarias buthupogon, Sauvage, Bull. Sec. Philom, 1878, p. 96.
  • Clarias gabonensis (Clarias megapogon), Sauvage, N. Arch. Mus. iii. 1880, p. 39, pl. i. fig. 2 (not Günth).

D. 84-87.A. 65-67.P. 1/8.

Vomerine teeth villiform, forming a rather broad band, without posterior projection, and as bread as the intermaxillary band; each half of the latter is twice as wide as broad, and both the intermaxillary and vomerine bands have the same lateral extent. Head covered above with a very thin skin and finely and rather sparsely granular. The occipital process projects as an isosceles triangle, the hind margin of the head being deeply notched on each side of the process. The fontanelle is of an oval shape, its greater portion lying in advance of the base of the process. The length of the head (measured to the end of the process) is two-sevenths or one-fourth of the total (without caudal); the width of the interorbital space is somewhat less than one-half of the length of the head. All the barbels very long, the nasal reaching beyond the head and the maxillary beyond the origin of the anal. Pectoral fin extending to the vertical from the first dorsal ray. Anal fin low; both the dorsal and anal extend to the root of the caudal. Sides of the head and neck with whitish specks.

millim.
Total length 225
Total length without caudal 195
Length of upperside of head 48
Width of interorbital space 21
Diameter of the eye 4'5

The specimens were obtained at Kondo-Kondo and in Corisco Island. The original description of C. læviceps runs as follows:—"Height at anus a tenth of length; head (laterally) a sixth, its breadth an eighth; the surface smooth; maxillary barbels twice as long as head. D. 86, A. 61,"—and is quite insufficient for exact determination of specimens. The typical specimen came probably from Liberia.