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Height 15 to more than 20 ; head about 6 — 8, more than 

 twice to 2.7 in trunk. Head and trunk somewhat longer than 

 tail. Eye 10 — 12, twice or less than twice in snout, situated 

 above middle of cleft of mouth, which goes 2.5 to 3 times in 

 length of head and is horizontal and closing completely. Snout 

 6 times or less in length of head, bluntly rounded. Origin of 



I 



Fig. 182. Miirac/ia (Gymncthorax) picta Ahl 

 colour variety : G. polyoplithaliniis Blkr. nat size. 



dorsal slightly before gillopenings. Teeth sharp, pointed ; those 

 in the maxillaries in a single series, in very young specimens 

 in 2 series, the inner of which disappears gradually. On the 

 intermaxillary plate a single series of 10 — 14 stouter teeth, 

 with a single central one, which is pointed-conical; in young 

 specimens there are 2 or 3 teeth, one behind the other as 





Fig. 183. Three stages of Muraeiia (Gymnothorax) picta Ahl 



with corresponding change of coloration. Specimen a of 165 mm., 



h of 255 mm., c of 734 mm length. 



also an outer peripheral series of small teeth. On vomer in 

 young specimens one short series, which later on gets irregu- 

 larly and incompletely biserial; in old specimens 2 short series. 

 Mandibulary teeth in young biserial; the outer series of small 

 teeth disappears with age and remains only anteriorly. Colour 



