273 



gillopenings, in anterior half of length. Origin of dorsal above 

 or far behind gillopenings, before, above or behind anus. 

 Dorsal, caudal and anal confluent. Pectorals well developed, 

 vestigial or absent. Snout rather short, more or less prominent 

 by the prominence of the ethmoid with the intermaxillary 

 plate beyond the articulation with the maxillaries. Cleft of 

 mouth reaching beyond eye. Eye small or large. Posterior 

 nostrils generally near eye in the upper lip in a valve or pro- 

 truding flap; anterior nostrils in a short tube at the margin 

 of the upper lip. Tongue not free. Teeth in jaws in one or 

 more series or in bands, differing in form and size; on vomer 

 present or absent, on the intermaxillary in a group or in rows, 

 generally larger or even caniniform. Gillopenings small or very 

 small, separated by an interspace of different breadth. Bran- 

 chial openings in pharynx are wide slits. 



Distribution: Eels usually of small size and plain colours, 

 inhabiting coral reefs, sandy coasts or the surface near them 

 in tropical seas. 



Key to the ind o-australian genera of Myridae. 



1. Pectorals present Paramyrus p. 273. 



2. Pectorals absent "..... Mnraenichthys p. 274. 



i. Paramyrus Giinther. 



(GtJNTHER, Cat. Brit. Mus. VIII. 1870, p. 51). 



Very elongate, cylindrical, posteriorly compressed. Anus 

 near beginning of second third of length. Origin of dorsal above 

 pectorals. Dorsal, caudal and anal confluent. Pectorals present. 

 Snout projecting beyond the lower jaw, cleft of mouth reaching 

 hindborder of eye or somewhat behind it. Nostrils on the margin 

 of the upper lip: the posterior one slightly before the vertical 

 through the eye in a pendulous valve, the anterior one near 

 apex of snout in a broad tube. Teeth on vomer and jaws, 

 those on jaws mostly biserial. No scales, lateral line present. 

 Gillopenings small, separated by a broad isthmus. 



Distribution: Celebes and Brazil, in sea. 



i. Paramyrus microchir (Blkr.). 



Echelus microchir Bleeker, Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. II. (1864) 1865, p. 40. Atl. 



Ichth. IV. 1864, p. 30. 



Paramyrus microchir Giinther, Cat. Brit. Mus. VIII. 1870, p. 51. 

 INDO-AUSTRALIAN FISHES III. 18 



