■J 4 FISH AND FISH-LIKE ANIMALS OF N.S.W., 



XLTX. Family Muraenidae. 



A. Most of the teeth acute. Gytimothorax (81). 



AA. Most of the teeth blunt. Echidna (82). 



81. Gymnothorax Bloch, Iehth. xii, 1797, p. 71 (reticidatus) . The validity of 

 this name is questionable. 

 A- Teeth present on the vomer. 



B. Colouration almost uniform. prasinus (81a). 



BB. Colouration variegated. 



C. Brown with lighter undulous markings. undulatus (81b). 



CC. Light with closely set darker spots. pictus (81c). 



AA. Xo teeth on the vomer; body and fins with large light ocelli, prionodon (81d). 



81a. G. prasinus Gheex Eel. Muraena pragma Rich., Ichth, Ereb. & Terr., 



1847, p. 93. 

 Common anion"- rocks along the coast. Colour bright green in life, changing 

 to brown after death. Length to about 30 inches. 



81b. G. undulatus. Muraenophis undulata Lacep., H. X. Poiss. v, 1803, p. 



629, pi. 5, 2. Muraena cancellata Rich., Ichth- Ereb. & Terr., 1847, p. 87, 



pi. 46, 1-5. (PI. viii.). 

 A tropical species : its occurrence in these waters needs verification. 



81c. G. pictus. Muraena picta Ahl, Mur. & Ophieh. in Thunb., Dissert, iii, 

 1789, p. 6, pi. 2, 2. G. pictus Blkr., Atlas Ichth. iv. 1864, p. 87, pi. 170, 

 3-4. (PI. viii.). 



Another tropical species unreliably recorded from this State. 



81d. G. prionodon. Id. Ogilby, P.L.S. N.S.W. (2) ix, 1895, p. 720. 



The unique type of this species is 12 inches long; the occurrence of the species 

 in these waters requires verification. 



[G. maculaepinnis Blkr., and G. (Poecilophis) unicolor de la Roche, have 

 been recorded from Port Jackson by Steindachner (Sitzb. Akad. Wiss. Wien liii. 

 1866. pp. 472-473), but neither species occurs in these waters.] 



82. Echidna Forster, Icones Ineditae, 1777. p. 181 (variegata). 



82a. E. nebulosa. Clouded Eel. Muraena nebulosa Ahl. Mur. & Ophieh. 



in Thunb.. Dissert, iii. 1789. p. 5. pi. 50. 2; Id. Day, Fish. India, 1878, p. 



673, pi. 172. 2. (PI. viii.). 

 A tropical species ; its occurrence in these waters needs verification. 



L. Family Echklidae. 



A. Pectoral fins well developed. Myrophis (83). 



AA. Xo pectoral fins. Muraenichthys (84). 



83. Myrophis Lutken, Vid. Meddel. Nat. Foren. Kjobenhavn, 1851, p. 1 (punc- 



tatus). 

 83a. ? M. australis. Id. Castelnau. P.L.S. N.S.W. iii, 1879, p. 396. 

 Only one specimen of this species has been recorded. Its affinities are un- 

 certain. Length 34 inches. 



84. Muraenichthys Blkr., Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. iv, 1853, p. 506 (gymnopterus) . 

 84a. M. australis. Worm Eel. Id. Macleay, P.L.S. N.S.W. vi, 1881. p. 



272. Id. McCulloch. Zool. Res. Endeavour i. 1, 1911, p. 20, fig. 6. 

 An uncommon species which is very slender, and less than 12 inches long. 



