1941 CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS I9 



Gymnothorax funebris Ranzani. Black moray 



This moray was seen from time to time on the coral reefs, and one specimen 

 was taken at night. The largest one captured was 157.5 cm - l° n g an< ^ weighed 

 27 pounds. 



The specimens taken disagree with Jordan and Evermann's description (Bull. 

 U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 47, pt. 1, 1896, p. 396) in that the mouth is completely clos- 

 ing, and furthermore in that they lack longitudinal dark lines on the dorsal and 

 anal fins. 



Once small gobies (Elacatinus) were observed on a reef creeping across the 

 oral cleft of Gymnothorax funebris, but not into it. W. H. L. 



Gudger (Carnegie Inst. Wash. Pub. 391, 1929, p. 154), working at Tortugas, 

 gave a full description of the teeth, the structure of the mouth, and the action in 

 breathing. He also described and figured some of the internal organs. 



Tropical America, occasionally northward to Florida. S. F. H. 



Gymnothorax vicinus (Castelnau). Purple-mouthed moray 



This eel apparently is rare at Tortugas, as only 1 or 2 are reported as seen and 

 taken. Gudger (Carnegie Inst. Wash. Pub. 391, 1929, p. 153), who first reported 

 this tropical moray from Tortugas, had 3 specimens. Dr. Longley described a 

 specimen in his notes as follows: Tail about 1.5 times rest of body; head not quite 

 half trunk; eye 2.0 in snout; cleft of mouth 2.5 in head; teeth entire, 5 large and 

 18 small on each side of lower jaw, 3 large depressible ones on vomer; mouth not 

 quite capable of being closed in a specimen 60 cm. long. 



Dr. Longley described the color as nearly plain brown, with fine freckles of 

 darker brown or purple, and with fine reticulations of yellow, most noticeable 

 on upper half of dorsal fin; dorsal dark, with black longitudinal lines, and a 

 conspicuous white margin; anal with submarginal black, followed distally by a 

 white line; a dark spot, smaller than eye, along posterodorsal margin of gill 

 opening; angle of mouth dusky. 



A single juvenile, no mm. long, was found in the collection. In this specimen, 

 the head and trunk are contained 2.7 times in the tail; head 3.1 in length to vent; 

 snout short, 8.5 in head; eye about 1.5 in snout; teeth apparently uniserial, with 

 some large depressible ones on vomer; general color of this preserved specimen 

 brownish, with indistinct darker markings. 



Tropical Atlantic, straying northward to the Florida Keys. S. F. H. 



Gymnothorax ocellatus Agassiz. Spotted moray 



A specimen 580 mm. long was taken south of Tortugas, in 45 to 60 fathoms. Pre- 

 anal length 264 mm.; depth behind head 46 mm.; head 67 mm.; oral cleft 29 

 mm.; snout 14 mm.; eye 5.0 mm. Teeth in a single series in either jaw, none on 

 vomer; lower teeth shorter and stouter, except 2 or 3 anteriorly, than upper ones; 

 larger teeth in either jaw serrate, more strongly on posterior margin and toward 

 base. 



