36 BULLETIN 180, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



total length : Head G.7 to 7.1 ; depth 10.9 to 15.7 ; snout to anus 2.1 to 

 2.14 ; tail 1.87 to 1.92 ; all in total length. Head 3.2 to 3.38 ; depth 5.2 to 

 7.3, both in distance from snout to anus. Snout 5-5 to 6.1 ; snout to 

 rictus 2.4 to 2.52 ; snout to 4th pore in upper lip 5.4 to 6.7 ; .snout to 

 posterior nostril 4.9 to 5.3; all in length of head. Eye 1.38 to 1.42 in 

 snout. Base of posterior nostril is over space from front of eye to 

 front of pupil. Young and adults with only two rows of teeth on 



maxillary. (Fig. 4, d.) Gymnothorax buroensis (B.eeker) 



2b. Color brown with numerous round white spots on head and body, more 

 numerous anteriorly than posteriorly ; young with three rows of teeth 

 on maxillary but only two on those 400 mm. or longer ; gill opening in 

 ?" a black blotch; tip of tail always white (the last two characters dis- 



tinguish this form from O. meleagrls) . The follov/ing proportions were 

 computed from the type of O. leucostictus (158 mm.) and a 490-mm. 

 specimen : Head 7.7 to 8.2 ; depth 11 to 18 ; snout to anus 2.2 to 2.3 ; 

 tail 1.8 ; all in the total length. Head 3.5 to 3.7 ; depth 5 to 8, both in 

 snout to anus. Snout 4.7 to 5.3 ; snout to rictus 2.1 to 2.5; snout to 4th 

 pore in upper lip 5.1 ; snout to posterior nostril 5.16 to 5.2, all in length 

 of head. Eye 1.44 to 2.25 in snout. (Fig. 4, h.) 



Gymnothorax leucostictus Jenkins 

 1&. Only a middle row of somewhat enlarged to fanglike teeth developed within 



marginal series on intermaxillary plate. 

 ' 3a. Inside marginal series of teeth on maxillary occur either 1 to 5 teeth in an 

 inner series or no teeth (usually in adults) where inner row may be 

 expected ; snout and front of jaw not white. 

 4a. A definite black blotch behind eye and somewhat encircling it posteri- 

 orly ; base of posterior nostrils usually white ; usually four or five white 

 spots around pores on eacli side of lower jaw and three or four along 

 each side of upper lip ; margins of median fins pale posteriorly ; color 

 plain chocolate-brown ; inner row of maxillary teeth one to three in 

 young and absent in those 300 mm. ia length and longer; vomerine 

 teeth uniserial; rim of posterior nostril much elevated; nostril above 

 front of eye to front of pupil ; anus about in middle of length ; head 

 8.8 in total length and 4.4 in snout to anus ; snout 5 in head ; eye 2 in 

 snout ; snout to rictus 2.6 in head. Gill openings not in a black 



blotch. (Fig. 4, e.) Gymnothorax monostigma (Regan) 



4&. No single black blotch behind eye. 



5a. Snout to rictus about ^4 length of head ; jaws long and slender and 

 not completely closing; color plain chocolate-brown ; margin of dorsal 

 and anal plain white ; fanglike teeth at intervals on both jaws with 

 small teeth between them along margin of jaws; posterior nostril 

 with an elevated rim and located much in front of eye in young but 

 over front of eye in adults ; tips of anterior nostrils on adults with 

 a funnellike expansion. The following proportions were computed 

 from 212 and 580 nun. specimens: Head 7.5 to 7.85; depth 14.1 to 

 26.5 ; snout to anus 2.1 to 2.44; all in total length. Head 3.2 to 3.74 : 

 depth 7 to 10.9; both in snout to anus. Mouth 2.0 to 2.3; snout 4.5 

 to 4.7 ; both in length of head. Eye 2.5 to 2.8 in the snout. (Fig. 4, c.) 

 Gymnothorax schismatorhyTiclius (Bleeker) 

 56. Snout to rictus more than 2.3 times in head ; jaws not so long and 

 slender; color not plain brown but usu.illy mottled or blotched with 

 black and white or with numerous dendritic blackish cross bars or 

 with black rings separated by pale interspaces. 



