878 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. voi..xxin. 



apertures, diversiform vertical tins, pectoral tins (typically) suppressed, scaleless 

 skin, restricted interbranchial slits, and very imperfect l»ranchial skeleton, with the 

 fourth branchial arch modified, strengthened, and sujjporting pharyngeal jaws. 



The Moniys may ))e readily distinguished from the other eels ])y 

 their small round o-iil openings and by the absence of pectorals. The 

 body and fins are covered by a thick, leathery skin, the occipital region 

 is elevated through the development of the strong muscles which move 

 the lower jaw, and the jaws are usually narrow and armed with knife- 

 like or else molar teeth. The Morays inhabit tropical and subtropical 

 waters, being especially abundant in crevices about coral reefs. Many 

 of the species reach a large size, and all are voracious and pugnacious. 

 The coloration is usually strongly marked, the color cells being highly 

 specialized. The genera 10 or 12; species 120. The JLavmidw with- 

 out fins are the simplest in structure, but their characters are those of 

 degradation, and they are farther removed from the primitive stock 

 than such genera as Jfmwfia. 



a. ^'ertical fins well developed, the dorsal beginning on the head. 



b. Posterior nostrils as well as the anterior with a long tube Miir:rna. 25. 



hb. Posterior nostrils circular, without tube. 

 c. Teeth all or nearly all sharp, the longer ones depressible canines. 



d. Body stout, the depth more than one-third length of heatl, the tail about 

 as long as rest of Ijody; vomerine teeth, if present, canine-like. 

 r. Depressible canine teeth few (1 to 10 in number, all told). 



(ri/mnolhorax. 2(\ 

 ee. Depressi))]e canines very numerous, about 30 in number, all told; teeth 



biserial; mouth large, not closing completely jEmasia. 27. 



(Id. Body very slender, the depth less than one-third of head; tail longer than 



rest of body ; mouth smal 1 S'lrouh idon. 28. 



cc. Teeth mostly obtuse, molar-like; posterior nostrils without tube; mouth 



small ; dorsal beginning before gill opening Echidna. 29. 



aa. Vertical fins reduced to a rudiment on end of tail; teeth pointed; posterior nos- 

 tril without tul>e; cleft of mouth not half head; snout moderate, about half 

 length of gape Uropteryyim. 30. 



2S. MUR^^NA (Artedi) Linnasus. 

 MORAYS. 



MnrniKi Artedi, Gen. Pise, 1738, p. 23 (in part; includes all eels). 

 Murumn Lixx.Ers, X, 1758, p. 243 {helena, etc.; includes all eels). 

 Mur.riiophiK L.^cepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., V, 1803, p. 630 {helena, etc.). 

 limaniiincna Kaup, Apodes, 1856, p. 95 {guttata). 



This genus as now restricted contains numerous species found in the 

 tropical seas, distinguished from all the rest of the family having 

 developed fins by the presence of barbels on the po.sterior as well as 

 the anterior nostrils. The teeth are all sharp and the dorsal fin begins 

 on the head, {^vpaiva (Moniy), ancient name of Mnnena helena of 

 Europe.) 



