150 



The Apodes or Eel-like Fishes 



been first used for the larva of the common conger-eel. The 

 Joose watery tissues of these "ghost-fishes" grow more and more 

 compact and they are finally transformed into young congers. 



FIG. 105. Conger-eel, Leptocephalus conger (L.). Noank, Conn. 



The Mur&nesocida are large eels remarkable for their strong 

 knife-like teeth. Muranesox savanna occurs in the West 

 Indies and in the Mediterranean, Muraznesox cinereus in Japan, 

 and Murcenesox coniceps on the west coast of Mexico, all large 



FIG. 106. Larva of Conger-eel (Leptocephalus conger), called Leptocephalus morrissi, 



(Alter Kigenmann.) 



and fierce, with teeth like shears. The Myrida are small and 

 worm-like eels closely allied to the congers, having the tail 

 surrounded by a fin, but the nostrils labial. Myrus myrus is 

 found in the Mediterranean. Species of Eomyrus, Rhyncho- 

 rhinus, and Parangiiilla apparently allied to Myrus occur in the 

 Eocene. Other related families, mostly rare or living in the 

 deep seas, are the Ilyophidcz, Heterocongrida, and Dysommidce. 



The Snake-eels. Most varied of the families of eels is the 

 Ophichthyida, snake-like eels recognizable by the form of the 

 tail, which protrudes beyond the fins. Of the many genera found 

 in tropical waters several are remarkable for the sharply defined 

 coloration, suggesting that of the snake. Characteristic species 

 are Chlevastes colubrinus and Leiuranus semicinctus, two beauti- 

 fully banded species of Polynesia, living in the same holes in 

 the reefs and colored in the same fashion. Another is Calle- 



