230 PROCEEDENGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. los 



type locality because in the same collection there were two other 

 specimens of Conger cinereus (ANSP 15326 and 15327) about the 

 same length as the holotype of Leptocephalus caudalis, also collected 

 by W. H. Jones and with no date, but collected at Christmas Island. 

 These two specimens were listed by Fowler (1912, p. 9) as Leptoce- 

 phalus marginatus. In the catalog entry, locality was given as "Chris- 

 tiana Isla, west coast of Mexico." I find no Christiana Island on the 

 west coast of Mexico. The holotype of Leptocephalus caudalis may 

 have come from the same lot as the other two specimens. Unless 

 newly collected specimens from the eastern Pacific along the American 

 coast corroborate the presence of Conger there, one must conclude 

 that the genus is absent in the area. 



Key to species and subspecies of the genus Conger 



la. Sixth suborbital pore above level of rictus of jaw ("c" of fig. 1, A); a black 

 diagonal streak below eye generally present; one to three pores behind eye 

 in a vertical row; sometimes wide vertical light brown bars present on 



body (pi. 2,b) C. cinereus Rvippell 



2a. Pectoral rays modally 17 (range 15 to 19, mean 17.03); pores in lateral 

 line modally 39 (range 36 to 41, mean 38.39); pectoral rays plus lateral 

 line pores (range 54 to 58, mean 55.94); vertebrae 139 to 146; distance 

 between the upper postorbital pore to edge of eye is generally greater 

 than distance between the lower pore to edge of eye; black spot on 

 pectoral when present generally distinct. Indo-Pacific, Africa, Red Sea. 



C. cinereus cinereus Rtippel (p. 234) 

 2b. Pectoral rays modally 19 (range 17 to 21, mean 18.52); pores in lateral 

 line modally 40 (range 39 to 42, mean 40.23; pectoral rays plus pores in 

 lateral line (range 56 to 61, mean 58.75); vertebrae 148 to 152; distance 

 between the upper postorbital pore to edge of eye is generally equal in 

 distance between the lower pore to edge of eye; black spot on pectoral 

 when present is generally more diffused. Hawaii. 



C. cinereus marginatus Valenciennes (p. 232) 

 lb. Sixth suborbital pore in line with rictus of jaw; black streak below eye absent; 

 no pores behind eye in a vertical row (except iriporiceps which has 1 or 2 

 postorbital pores) ; wide barring on body never present. 

 3a. Three supratemporal pores present; 1 or 2 postorbital pores present; 

 4 supraorbital pores present; premaxillary tooth-patch squarish; vomerine 

 teeth in a single irregular row in small to medium sized specimens and in 

 large ones a triangular patch. Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Brazil. 



C. triporici'p-s, new name (p. 243) 

 3b. One supratemporal pore present; postorbital pore absent; 2 supraorbital 

 pores present; maxillary tooth-patch wider than long; vomerine tooth- 

 patch triangular in shape at all sizes. 

 4a. A whitish area surrounds sensory pores and organs, forming a series 

 below dorsal fin, on lateral line, and on head (pi. 3,a). Japan, China, 

 Korea C. myriaster ^ (Brevoort) (p. 244) 



' In some preserved specimens these light spots are not discernible. For distinguishing these specimens 

 see remarks under Conger myriaster. 



