Four species from Tropical Africa; two occur in the Nile, H. forskalii being abundant, and well known by the names “Kelb el bahr” and “Kelb el moyeh.” Their formidable dentition renders them most destructive to other fishes; they grow to a length of four feet.
Cynodon.—Dorsal fin placed behind, or nearly in, the middle of the length of the body, behind the ventrals; anal long. Head and body compressed, oblong, the latter covered with very small scales; belly compressed, keeled. Teeth in the intermaxillary, maxillary, and mandible in a single series, conical, widely set, of unequal size; a pair of very large canine teeth anteriorly in the lower jaw, received in two grooves on the palate; palate with patches of minute granulated teeth. The outer branchial arch without gill-rakers, but with very short tubercles.
Four species from Brazil and the Guyanas; they are as formidable fishes of prey as the preceding, and grow to the same size.
With the exception of Sarcodaces, all the remaining genera of this group belong to the fauna of Tropical America, viz. Anacyrtus, Hystricodon, Salminus, Oligosarcus, Xiphorhamphus, and Xiphostoma.
VIII. Distichodontina.—Dorsal fin rather elongate; adipose fin present. Gill-membranes attached to the isthmus; belly rounded. Tropical Africa.
The species, ten in number, belong to one genus only (Distichodus), well known on the Nile under the name of “Nefasch.” They grow to a considerable size, being sometimes four feet long and one and a half foot deep. They are used as food.
IX. Ichthyborina.—An adipose fin; number of dorsal rays increased (12–17); gill-membranes free from the isthmus. Belly rounded; canine teeth. Tropical Africa.
Two genera only: Ichthyborus from the Nile, and Phago from West Africa. Small fishes of very rare occurrence.
X. Crenuchina.—Dorsal fin rather elongate; an adipose fin. Gill-membranes free from the isthmus, with the belly rounded, and without canine teeth.
This small group is represented in the Essequibo by a single species, Crenuchus spilurus, and by another in West Africa, Xenocharax spilurus.