53. ANGUILLKLE. 357 



with subalternate large white and black spots ; anal (and dorsal) with 

 a broad black margin. (Giinther.) Florida and Texas southward. 



(G-ymnothorax ocellatus Agassiz, Spix Pise. Brasil, 91; Giiutlier, viii, 102: Neomumna 

 nigromarginata Girard, U. S. Hex. Bound. Surv. Ichth. 70.) 



FAMILY LIIL ANGUILLID^. 



(The True Eels.) 



Body elongate, serpentiforin, naked or covered with imbedded scales. 

 Head conical, the snout not much produced, sometimes very blunt. 

 Preoperculum present. Preinaxillaries present, separated on the me- 

 dian line by the ethmoid. Maxillaries wanting or connate with the 

 premaxillary, which forms the border of the mouth. Superior brauchi- 

 hyals and inferior and superior pharyngeals well developed, the latter 

 of three bones. Teeth various. Gill-openings separate, not very small 

 (except in 8imenchelys). Ventral fins none; dorsal and anal low, usually 

 confluent around the tail; pectorals generally present, placed rather 

 high. Yeut not far from anal fin. Skeleton ossified. Muscular system 

 well developed. Heart not far behind gills. As here understood, this 

 family includes a wide variety of forms, which have been often arranged 

 in several families. It is probable that some division will be found nec- 

 essary, but we have not the data on which to make it. Genera about 

 20; species about 100. In all warm seas, many of them ascending 

 rivers. 



(AnguilUdw, part; Gtlir. viii, 23-90.) 



a. Tongue not free anteriorly. 

 b. End of tail not surrounded by the fiu; nostrils labial. (Ophiaurmce.') 



c. Pectoral fins wanting (rarely rudimentary); teeth small, conical. CCECULA, 169. 



co. Pectoral fins present ; teeth acute OPHICHTHYS, 170. 



bb. End of tail surrounded by the fin. 

 d. Nostrils labial. (Myrincc.) 



e. Teeth granular MYRICHTHYS, 171. 



del. Nostrils superior or lateral. (Murceneaodnce.) 



/. Pectoral ijns present ; dorsal and anal rudimentary NEOCONGER, 172. 



aa. Tongue free anteriorly ; pectorals present ; nostrils not labial. 

 g. Snout subcouical. 



h. Body scaleless. (Congrincs.) 



i. Jaws with an outer series of close-set teeth; lower jaw not pro- 

 jecting CONGER, 173. 



1th. Body with rudimentary, linear, imbedded scales, arranged at right 

 angles with each other. (Anguillince.) 



j. Teeth in bands ; lower jaw projecting ANGUILLA, 174. 



gg. Snout very short and blunt; body scaly; mandible very strong. 



(Simenohelyince. ) 



k. Teeth blunt, incisor-like in one series ; gill-opening a very 

 short longitudinal slit SIMENCHELYS, 175. 



