280 



eye as length of snout. Origin of dorsal above anus. Teeth 

 conical, in narrow bands on jaws and vomer. Colour of alcohol 

 specimens yellowish white. Length 92 mm. [Type of the 

 species in the zoological Museum of Amsterdam]. 



Habitat: Ambon, on sandy bottom (2 specimens)!. 



This species is allied to Muraenichthys aoki Jordan & Snyder, 

 (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. XXIII. 1901, p. 863). 



7. Fam. OPHICHTHYIDAE. 



Body scaleless, elongate, vermiform or slightly compressed. 

 Anus far behind gillopenings, before or behind middle of length. 

 Caudal wanting. Dorsal and anal fins not confluent, leaving 

 free the tip of the tail, which ends in a more or less sharp point. 

 They are well developed, very low, rudimentary or absent. 

 Pectorals well developed, vistigial or absent. Snout short or 

 long, pointed and projecting beyond lower jaw. Cleft of mouth 

 reaching to below or behind hindborder of eye. Eye small. 

 Posterior nostrils a slit in the border of the upper lip looking 

 downward, only in H enter or hinus and Ophisurus above border 

 of upper lip. Anterior nostrils in a tube or papilla on the 

 border of the upper lip or on the ventral surface of the pro- 

 jecting part of the snout. Tongue not free. Teeth pointed, 

 conical or granular, in bands or in uni- or biserial rows, equal 

 or unequal in size. Gillopenings large or small, lateral or ventral, 

 vertical, oblique or longitudinal. Branchial openings in pharynx 

 are wide slits. 



Distribution: In temperate and tropical seas, inhabiting 

 shallow water, coral reefs and sandy shores, where many forms 

 have a burrowing habit. Some species enter the fresh water 

 of rivers and brooks. 



Artificial key to the i nd o-australian genera 

 of Ophichthyidae. 



I. Posterior nostrils a slit below and behind eye, at 



some distance above the border of the upper lip. Hemer or hinus p. 281. 

 II. Posterior nostrils in the upper lip, looking downwards. 

 A. Origin of dorsal before gillopenings. 



a. Pectorals short, broad rudiments Myrichthys p. 283. 



b. Pectorals wanting or a filament only Callechelys p. 286. 



