2. Shironon dokuutsubo (Plate 1, Pig. 2) 



Scientific naroe - Gyinnothorax meleafn^is Shaw 



Local name - dreb (T.Tarshallese). ,^aunafy i, or hanabiutsubo (Japanese) 

 Distribution - East Africa, Indian Ocean, South Seas, Philippines > Hawaii. 

 ITorpholo/^cal characteristics - two rows of teeth in upper Jaw, gape 

 large, from snout to corner of mouth is somewhat more than l/3 of head 

 length. Head is long, going 1.7 to 2,9 times in trunk length. Coloration 

 varies; the plate represents one type, but in some the white markings are 

 further reduced to fine dots. In others the area of the white markings 

 is Increased and the dark brown ground color is decreased until it is hard 

 to say whether it is a reticulated pattern of dark brown on a white ground 

 or an imbricated pattern of white markings. Although there are scientists 

 who treat these forms as different species, it is thought that they are 

 all variations or varieties. In all of those which were tested the white 

 spots were distinct, as shown in the figure, and for this reason it was 

 unfortunately impossible 'to gain any knowledge of the toxicity of the 

 other varieties, however, from what the natives say, it is presumed that 

 their toxicity is probably the same. Fewer of this species were taken 

 than of the preceding. [Table 41 



llie above results show that of two animals eating the raw flesh, one 

 whloh had taken 0,8 grams died. One which ate 0,8 jsic] grams of liver 

 had diarrhea, its coat was ruffled, and it appeared weakened but it re- 

 covered the following day. 



The natives say that this species is not as virulent as the 

 preceding, but that there have been deaths caused by it. This species 

 is also considered violently toxic, 



3, Naraiutsubo (Plate 1, Fig. 3) 



Scientific name - Gymnothorax nndulatus (Lacepede) 

 Local name - dreb (TTarehallesej. .jaunagj (Japanese) 



Distribution - Indian Ocean, E, Indies, South Seas, Philippines, Hawaii, 

 T'orpho logical charncterlstics - one row of teeth in uoper jnw. Head 

 length goes 6| to 8 times in body lea'^h, 6.2 to 7.2 in trunk. Length 

 from snout to comer of mouth i^oes 2 to 2| times in head length. !.Iark- 

 ings extraordinarily variable; Those with a dark ground color, as shown 

 in the plate, are most common, but there are those in which a white 

 ground color merely forma a reticulated pattern and others '.Mhich, like 

 the variety isingteenus (Fig, 4) described in the next section, have dark 

 markings on a white background. It is difficult to distinguish the 

 varieties other than by their coloration. 



This species is also widely: distributed and is one of the eels comp- 

 monly seen in the South Seas. [Table 5j 



Toxicity . The tabulated results of the animal experiments show that 

 one mouse which consumed 1 gram of cooked flesh showed some ill effects. 

 Another which ate 0.6 gram of flesh , salted and dried in the sun (not 

 completely dried, should be called half<-dried) also suffered some ill 

 effects. Since sensory reactions were not tested on any of these eight 



23 



