MASTERS OF THE WATER-BONY FISHES 



193 



^ '•*. -«^N /^ -^^^ » ^"V ^to^ 



Fig. 97. Top left. This spotted snake eel, Ophichthys, is beautifully colored with 

 ■pale yellow ground color and hrown spots. Top right. The trumpetfish, Aulostoma, 

 will frequently imitate gorgonian sea whips when alar-ined. Bottom. This is the 

 truynpetfish as it normally appears, Riding slowly through sea feather gorgonians. 



MORAYS: Family Muraedinae 



These reef fishes of tropical seas have no pectoral fins. The skin is wrinkled 

 near the small, circular gill openings so that the neck seems like a pouch. They 

 have the habit of sitting entwined in reefs, gaping menacingly. The pugnacious 

 disposition and large, sharp teeth are well known. In spite of the fact that 

 they are not known to bite if left unmolested, it would be very unwise to 

 attempt to provoke one. Several persons have been very badly injured and 



