The Apodes, or Eel-like Fishes 155 



long-necked eel, constitutes the sole known species of the sub- 

 order Carencheli (xapd, head; e^eAuff, eel). In this group 

 the premaxillaries and maxillaries are present as in ordinary 



FIG. 114. Gymnothorax jordani (Evermann & Marsh). Family Murcenidce. 



Puerto Rico. 



fishes, but united by suture and soldered to the cranium. As 

 in true eels, the shoulder-girdle is remote from the skull. The 



FIG. 115. Moray, Gymnothorax moringa Bloch. Family Murcenidce.. Tortugas. 



head is set on a snake-like neck. The single species representing 

 the family Dericktkyida was found in the abysmal depths of 

 the Gulf vStream. 



Order Lyomeri, or Gulpers. Still more aberrent and in many 

 respects extraordinary are the eels of the order or suborder 

 Lyomeri (Afoff, loose; jnepos, part), known as "Gulpers." 

 These are degenerate forms, possibly degraded from some con- 

 ger-like type, but characterized by an extreme looseness of 

 structure unique among fishes. The gill-arches are reduced 

 to five small bars of bone, not attached to the skull," the pala- 

 topterygoid arch is wholly wanting, the premaxillaries are 



