26 ART. 7. — S. TANAKA I 



midway of length from tip of snout to angle of mouth ; interor- 

 bital almost flat, snout moderate, the profile straight, the tip 

 pointed ; anterior nostril tubular, much shorter than eye ; 

 posterior nostril circular, above the antero-superior rim of eye. 

 Mouth rather large, not closing completely, its angle midway of 

 head length. Jaws almost equal ; teeth pointed backwards ; two 

 large depressible fangs on vomer arranged antero-posteriorly ; in the 

 type specimen a fang lies on the right side of the posterior fang 

 of vomer but there is no corresponding one on the left side ; teeth 

 on upper jaw biserial, the outer series extending farther towards 

 angle of mouth than the inner series, which consists of about fifteen 

 larger depressible teeth. Teeth on sides of lower jaw uniserial 

 and smaller, those in symphysial portion in a patch or band. 



Color in formalin grayish, thickly covered with small brown 

 spots which are roundish, elongate or curved in form and make 

 numerous short lines by joining together ; the spots grow larger 

 posteriorly and become equal to, or even a little larger, than 

 interspace ; anteriorly they are smaller and become even a little 

 smaller than interspace. Over the spots, besides, are scattered 

 other larger and darker ones in the posterior part ; these spots 

 posteriorly growing larger and becoming vermiculate or reticulate 

 by confluence ; anteriorly reduced in size, and those on head and 

 a small part following it rather indistinguishable from the first- 

 mentioned spots. Vertical fins with same color and markings 

 as body. 



The species is allied to Gymnothorax wahanourœ, but difiers 

 remarkably from it in markings. 



The type is the only specimen known. It came from the 

 Benin Islands, in May 1900, and is contained in Mr. Owston's 

 collection. 



