78 TELEOSTEI. PI1YSOSTOMI. 



of moderate size ; the mouth can be completely closed. Colour 

 yellowish, with from 18 to 20 black rings encircling the head and 

 body ; they are narrower than the ground-colour ; the first three 

 are on the head, the others sometimes become less distinct as age 

 increases. 



Hub. Andamans and Malay Archipelago. 



78. (6.) Muraena reticularis. 



Gymnothorax reticularis, Block, Ausl. Fische, t. 416. 

 Mursena reticularis, Day, Fish. India, p. GC9 (see synon.). 



Length of head 3j in the distance between the end of the snout 

 and the vent ; tail a little longer than the trunk. Eyes diameter 

 two thirds of the length of the snout, situated rather nearer angle 

 of mouth than end of snout. Anterior nasal tubes very short ; 

 snout short and very slightly compressed. Extent of cleft of 

 mouth one third of the length of the head. Gill-opening of about 

 the same size as the eye. Teeth in a single row, some being 

 slightly serrated ; about 13 in each ramus of mandible ; the canines 

 small ; the mouth can be completely closed. Colour head and 

 back spotted and dotted with brown ; about 16 dark cross bands 

 on the body, wider than the ground-colour, and most distinct in 

 the lower half of the body and on the dorsal fin ; the first well- 

 marked ventral baud is behind the gill-opening. 



Hob. Seas of India to China and Japan. 



79. (7.) Muraena punctatofasciata. 

 Gymnothorax punctato-fasciatus, Bleaker, Gymnoth. Intl. Ar<:h. p. 107, 



and Ail. Ich. iv, p. 99, pi. clxxv,. fig. 4. 

 Mursena punctato-fasciata, Day, Fish. India, p. GG9, pi. clxix, fig. 4 



(see synon.). 

 Kills, Marathi. 



Length of head 3| to 4| in the distance between the end of the 

 snout and the vent ; tail slightly longer than the trunk. Eyes 

 situated midway between the end of the narrow snout and the angle 

 of the mouth, two thirds the length of the snout. The mouth can be 

 completely closed ; the extent of its cleft equals one third of the 

 length of the head. Gill-opening about the same size as the eye. 

 Body rather slender. Teeth pointed and in a single row, without 

 any basal lobe, occasionally there are 2 or 3 teeth forming an 

 inner maxillary row ; canines of moderate size ; 16 to 17 teeth on 

 each side of the mandible. Colour reddish brown, darkest along 

 the back ; from 28 to 35 dark, more or less complete, rings of an 

 irregular character on the body and fins. Head and ground-colour 

 between the rings with blotches, spots, and fine lines. 



Hub. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



80. (8.) Muraena tessellata. 



Mursena tessellata, RicJtardsoti, Voy. Sulphur, Ich. p. 109, t. Iv, figs. 



6-8 ; Day, Fish. India, p. 070, pi. clxxi, fig. 4 (see synon.). 

 Kyouk nga phayoon. Arracan. 



