NO. 4 MYERS AND WADE : NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF EELS 83 



upper; snout sharply pointed, projecting beyond the mouth a distance 

 equal to that from symphysis of upper jaw to center of eye. Lateral line 

 distinct, lying in an uncolored space along the sides. 



Dorsal fin beginning the length of the gape behind the posterior edge 

 of the eye, high anteriorly, becoming lower on the anterior portion of tail, 

 and finally becoming almost nonexistent on the posterior third of the tail. 

 Dorsal fin not covered with heavy membrane, the rays visible. Pectoral 

 and anal fins absent. Eye small, situated much nearer to angle of jaws 

 than to tip of snout. 



Anterior nostrils on underside of snout, tubular, the tube extremely 

 thick and heavy, a little more than half the diameter of the eye in outside 

 diameter and length. Each tube with 3 papillae on the rim of the orifice, 

 one anterior and two lateral, the posterior part of the rim lacking one; 

 these papillae project into the opening and tend to close the nostril. Be- 

 tween the nostrils a heavy rounded fold of skin runs posteriorly and bifur- 

 cates, forming two papillae just anterior to the tip of the closed lower jaw. 

 Posterior nostrils within the mouth just under the eye. Without manipu- 

 lation they appear to be wide, almost transverse slits protected by a deli- 

 cate membrane on the anterior side. Upon manipulation, it becomes evi- 

 dent that the apparent flaps are only the higher anterior part of a circular, 

 more or less tubular membrane surrounding the round nostril openings in 

 the roof of the mouth, this membrane normally folding so as to almost 

 completely hide the nostril. On the outside of the mouth the lip is inter- 

 rupted immediately posterior to the lateral end of the folded membrane 

 flap of the nostril by a transverse break. Posterior to this break the lip is 

 again evident, but bordered above by a lateral groove extending deep into 

 the face below the eye and fading out posteriorly before the end of the 

 gape is reached. There is a similar deep groove below the posterior part 

 of the lower lip. 



Gill openings inferior and curved, posteriorly almost horizontal, ante- 

 riorly curving transversely to the median line. A deep pocket, like a 

 second anterior opening, in front of each gill opening. The distal mem- 

 brane of this pocket is developed into an operculumlike covering, some- 

 what pendulous, extending downward and covering the openings to the 

 pocket and gills. Jugostegalia well developed. Isthmus crossed by a trans- 

 verse groove. From the isthmus two folds of skin, one on each side, run 

 backward delimiting the flattened area of the venter; these folds fade 

 posteriorly on the body. Anteriorly several faintly marked, parallel folds 

 lie medially to each main lateral fold. Maxillary teeth uniserial, well 



