308 



8. Ophichthys melanochir Blkr. 



Ophichthys melanochir Bleeker, Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. II. 18641865, p. 44. - 



Atl. Ichth. IV. 1864, p. 51. 

 Ophichthys altipinnis Giinther, Cat. Brit. Mus. VIII. 1870, p. 74 (nee Kaup). 



Height 34.5; head about 13, 2.4 in trunk; head and trunk 

 twice in tail. Eye more than 8, nearly equal to half the length 

 of the snout, situated in the anterior half of the head. Posterior 

 nostrils in advance of the eye, anterior nostrils in a tube, shorter 

 than eye. Snout pointed, much projecting. Cleft of mouth 

 about thrice in length of head, reaching scarcely beyond eye. 

 Origin of dorsal above gillopenings. Dorsal much elevated, about 

 as high as height of body. Anal not much lower, ending 

 opposite to end of dorsal, not far from point of tail. Pectorals 

 about 2 ! / 2 times in length of head. Teeth conical, pointed, 

 curved, uniserial, subequal in jaws and vomer; on intermaxillary 

 plate 5 stouter teeth arranged in a A, the point directed for- 

 ward. Brownish above, yellowish below, outer border of dorsal 

 and anal and greater part of pectorals black; pores on head 

 surrounded by black borders, giving the head the appearance 

 of being spotted. Length more than 700 mm. [Type of the 

 species in the British Museum seen by us]. 



Habitat: Ambon!. Maldives. 



9. Ophichthys altipinnis (Kaup). 



Microdonophis altipinnis Kaup, Cat. Apod, fish 1856, p. 6. 

 Ophisurus altipinnis Bleeker, Enumeratio spec. pise. 1859, p. 174. 

 Muraenopsis altipinnis Bleeker, Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. I. 1863, p. 180. 

 Ophichthys altipinnis Bleeker, Atl. Ichth. IV. 1864, p. 50. 



Height about 33; head about 9.3, nearly 

 4 times in trunk; head and trunk 1.4 

 times in tail. Eyes about 19, nearly 

 4 times in snout. Posterior nostrils in 

 advance of the eye, anterior nostrils in a 

 tube, shorter than eye. Snout acutely con- 

 vex, very much projecting. Cleft of mouth 

 reaching behind eye, about 2 2 / 3 in length 

 of head. Origin of dorsal slightly before 

 gillopenings. Dorsal very elevated, about 



Fig. 146. Dentition of 1-1 ri_ i A 



Ophichthys altipinnis (^^. as hl g h as height of body. Anal lower, 



(After BLEEKER). a teeth on ending opposite end of dorsal, not far 

 !^l3fifer.: fr"> P^nt of tail. Pectorals somewhat 



rine teeth. more than 2'/ 2 times in length of head. 



