658 PHYSOSTOMI. 



Family, X- MUR^NID^, Miiller, 



Body elongated, cylindrical, or band-shaped : the humeral arch not attached to the skull. The branchial 

 openings in the pharynx may be wide or narrow slits. Margin of upper jaw constituted anteriorly by the 

 premaxillaries. which are more or less coalescent with the vomer and ethmoid, whilst laterally the sides 

 of the upper jaw are formed by the maxillaries which are furnished with teeth. Vertical fins, when 

 present, confluent or separated by a projecting tail: pectorals present or absent. Scales, when present, 

 rudimentary. Vent may be situated close to the root of the pectoral fins, or a long distance posterior to the 

 head. The heart may be situated just, or a long distance, behind the gills. Stomach with a blind sac. No 

 pyloric appendages. Ovaries destitute of oviducts. 



Eels {Anguilla) have by some authors been considered as hermaphrodites. Both Syrski and Dareste 

 have observed upon the male organs in eels, and the latter author found that the variety (Pimjiemau) in which 

 they were present, bad female organs in some marine examples. Large sterile females ascend rivers but their 

 ova are said not to come to maturity. Dareste also observed male organs in Anguilla marmorata, from the 

 seas (?) of India. 



A number of larval fishes have been termed Leptocephali or " glass eels." Some of them it has been 

 suggested may be early arrested development, the fishes dying before attaining their perfect state. " To this 

 form belong all the various Leptocephali and Hyopronis." L. SpaUanzanii is said by Dareste to be a young 

 conger. " Tilurus is a similar form arrested in its development, but cannot be the ofispring of a mura?noid 

 fish. Stomiasunculus, Kaup, is the young of Siomias ; Porohroiichus, Kaup, the young of Fierasfer acus; and 

 JEsunculus, Kaup, probably that of Alepocephalus." — (Giinther.) 



Eels are generally known as Velangoo or Bamboo meen, Tamil (snake fish). 



SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. 

 First Group— MuE^NiD^ plattschist^. 



Branchial openings in the pharynx are wide slits. 



a. — Heart close hehind gills. Tail longer or scarcely shorter than the trunk. Nostrils lateral or superior : 

 tongue free : caudal Jin continued round the end of tail : pectorals present or absent : scales present or absent. 



1. Anguilla. Pectoral fins present : dorsal commences some distance behind the nape. Rudimentary 

 scales, p. 669. 



2. Gongromuro'.na. Pectoral fins present ; dorsal commences above gill-opening. Cleft of mouth reaches 

 to below middle of eye : large muciferous cavities on skull. Teeth in bauds. Scaleless, p. 660. 



3. Urocunger. Pectoral fins present : dorsal commences above gill-opening. Cleft of mouth reaches to 

 behind middle of eye. Maxillary teeth biserial : vomerine unisorial. Scaleless, p. 661. 



b. — HeaH close to gills : tail not shorter than trunk. Nostrils lateral or superior : tongue not free : caudal 

 fin continued roimd the end of tail : pectorals present or absent. Scaleless. 



4. Murcenesox. Pectoral fins present. Canine teeth in jaws anteriorly : strong teeth on vomer. 

 Posterior nostril opposite upper part or middle of eye, p. 661. 



5. Saurenchelys. Pectoral fins absent. Posterior nostril lateral and in front of orbit, p. 663. 



c. — Heart close to gills. Nostrils labial: tongue not free : caudal fin continued round the end of tail: 

 pectorals present or absent. Scaleless. 



6. Munenichthys. Pectoral fins absent. Body elongated, vermiform, p. 663. 



d. — Heart close to gills. Nostrils lahial : tongue not free: end of tail free, being without fin rays : p>ectorals 

 when present rudimentary. Vomerine teeth present or absent. Scaleless. 



7. Ophichthys. Vomerine teeth present, p. 663. 



e. — Heart jdaced a long distance behind the gills : tail shorter than the trunk : posterior nostril in front of the 

 eye : vertical fins little developed : pectorals, if present, rudimentary . 



8. Moriugua. Eyes small. Cleft of mouth nat-i-ow. Teeth in a single row, p. 666. 



