Two species from Ceylon and Southern India.
Chromis.—Body compressed, oblong, covered with cycloid scales of moderate size. Dorsal spines numerous, anal spines three. Teeth compressed, more or less lobate, in one series. Anterior prominences of the branchial arches short, thin, lamelliform, non-serrated. Dorsal fin not scaly.
Some twenty species are known from the fresh waters of Africa and Palestine; the most celebrated is the “Bulti,” or “Bolty,” of the Nile, one of the few well-flavoured fishes of that river; it grows to the length of twenty inches. Two or three species of this genus occur in the Jordan and Lake of Galilee.
Fig. 244.—Chromis andreæ, from the Lake of Galilee.
Hemichromis, differing from Chromis in having conical teeth in one or two series.
Ten species, the range of which is co-extensive with that of Chromis. One species, H. sacra, is abundant in the Lake of Galilee.
Paretroplus, differing from Hemichromis in having nine anal spines.
One species from Madagascar.
Acara.—Body compressed, oblong, covered with ctenoid scales of moderate size. Dorsal spines numerous, anal spines three or four; base of the soft dorsal nearly uncovered by scales. Teeth in a band, small, conical. Anterior prominences of the first branchial arch very short tubercles.