53. ANGUILLIDJ3. 357 
with subalternate large white and black spots ; anal (and dorsal) with 
a broad black margin. {Gunther.) Florida and Texas southward. 
(Gymnothorax ocellatas Agassiz, Spix Pise. Brasil, 91; Giinther, viii, 102: Neomurtena 
nigromaryinata Girard, U. S. Mes. Bound. Surv. Ichtli. 76.) 
Family LIIL— ANGUILLID.E. 
{The True Eels.) 
Body elongate, serpentiform, naked or covered with imbedded scales. 
Head conical, the snout not much iiroduced, sometimes very blunt. 
Preoperculum present. Premaxillaries present, separated on the me- 
dian line by the ethmoid. Maxillaries wanting or connate with the 
liremaxillary, which forms the border of the mouth. Suiierior branchi- 
hyals and inferior and sujierior iiharyngeals well developed, the latter 
of three bones. Teeth various. Gill-oiienings separate, not very small 
(except in Simenchelijs). Ventral fins none; dorsal and anal low, usually 
confluent around the tail; iiectorals generally i)resent, placed rather 
high. Vent not far from anal fin. Skeleton ossified. Dluscular system 
well developed. Heart not far behind gills. As here understood, this 
family includes a wide variety of forms, which have been often arranged 
in sev^eral families. It is probable that some division will be found nec- 
essary, bat we have not the data on which to make it. Genera about 
20; species about 100. In all warm seas, many of them ascending 
rivers. 
{Any idll idee, part; Gtlir. viii, 23-90.) 
a. Tongue not free anteriorly. 
i. End of tail not surrounded by tbe fin; nostrils labial. (Oj)hisurina\) 
0 . Pectoral fins wanting (rarely rudimentary) ; teetb small, conical. Ccecula, 169. 
cc. Pectoral fins j^resent ; teeth acute Opiiichthys, 170. 
bb. End of tail surrounded by the fin. 
d. Nostrils labial. (Myrinw.) 
e. Teeth granular MyRiCFiTHYS, 171. 
dd. Nostrils superior or lateral. (Murcenesocitice.) 
f. Pectoral fins present ; dorsal and anal rudimentary ... .Neoconger, 172. 
aa. Tongue free anteriorly ; pectorals present ; nostrils not labial. 
y. Snout subcouical. 
/(. Body scaleless. {ConyritKe.) 
i. Jaws with an outer series of close-set teeth; lower jaw not pro- 
jecting Conger, 173. 
ft/i. Body with rudimentary, linear, imbedded scales, arranged at right 
angles with each other. (AnguilUnce.) 
j. Teeth in bands; lower jaw projecting Anguilla, 174. 
gy. Snout very short and blunt ; body scaly ; mandible very strong. 
(Simetichelyince.) 
k. Teeth blunt, incisor-like in one series ; gill-opening a very 
short longitudinal slit Simenchelys, 175. 
