104 CATALOGUE OF FISH. 



men in the British Museum, presented by the Zoological Society, 

 is of unknown origin. Hardwicke's drawing was executed in India. 



182. Gymnomuk^na zebra, fig. 70. 



Zebra eel, Shaw, Nat. Misc. 



Gymnothorax zebra. Block, Schn. 528. 



Le gymnonuuiTDna cerclee, Lac. v., 649, pi. 19, f. 4. An. 1803. 



Gyninoniursena zebra, Rich., Ereb. & Terr. p. 95. 



All the teeth low and flatly rounded, the larger ones having gene- 

 rally one or two grooves, with an intervening, acute, transverse ridge 

 on their crowns. Nasal teeth biserial ; the outer row composed of 

 14 or 16 very low teeth; the inner vow of 12 or 14 considerably 

 larger and moi'e prominent ones. These rows enclose a circular 

 area, which is filled by 6 round teeth in two rows. The dental sur- 

 face of the vomer has an oval shape, and there are eight rows of 

 teeth in its middle, which narrow off to two before and behind. 

 The anterior ones are in contact with the mesial nasal ones. The 

 palatine teeth reach only about half-way to the corner of the mouth, 

 the space beyond them being filled by a smooth thick fold of skin. 

 On the mandible the teeth extend to the extreme corner of the 

 mouth, being opposed posteriorly to the fold of skin just mentioned. 

 They stand in four rows before the corner of the mouth, narrow to 

 three near the middle of the limb, and on the anterior third of the 

 jaw form only two distinct rows, though some very minute teeth 

 may be detected at the base of the outer row. The inner row at 

 the end of the jaw is composed of 7 teeth on each limb, larger than 

 the rest, and rendered still more prominent by a curve of the jaw. 

 In this part of the jaw the inner rows of the two limbs are in close 

 contact, and cannot be sepai'ated. When the mouth is closed, these 

 teeth are pressed against the equally prominent nasal ones, the pos- 

 terior teeth of the two jaws being kept thereby some distance 

 apart. 



Eye small, considerably before the middle of the gape. Posterior 

 nasal orifice having an elevated border, and placed a little before 

 the eye. Anterior one shortly tubular. Dorsal fold of loose skin 

 extending forward to the nostrils, too thick to allow the rays to be 

 either seen or felt. Body compressed, the compression augmenting 

 towards the tip of the tail, which is not acute, though it tapers. 

 Anus in the posterior third of the length. 



Ground-colour brown, with seventy-four white rings, some of 

 which are not complete, and some unite before they reach the ven- 

 tral surface, but the greater part are regular, and are all nearly of 

 the same width. 



This description is taken from Shaw's specimen, which was pre- 

 sented by the College of Surgeons to the British Museum. The 

 backward position of its anus and other characters seem to point it 

 out as a distinct generic form from Murcena. {Richardson.) 



Length. 30 in. To anus, 21 in. To gill-opening, 2-6 in. 



