356 



an inner row of 4 7 larger ones. Grayish brown, lighter below. 

 Length more than 3000 mm. 



Norn, indig. : Pampan or Pompa (Bantam, Java). 



Habitat: Sumatra (Padang); Island Engano; Java (Anjer, 

 Batavia) ; Flores!; New Guinea (mouth of Merauke river!). - 

 Natal, British India, Ceylon, Andamans, Formosa, Palew Islands, 

 Queensland (Pine River). 



This eel is probably the largest apodal fish in existence, it 

 lives in shallow water of the seas but frequents also the mouth 

 of rivers and even ascends rivers. 



4. Muraena Linne. 



(LiNNE, Systema nat. edit. X", 1758, p. 244). 



Elongate or very elongate, compressed. Head compressed. 

 Eye small, covered by skin. Anterior nostrils in a short tube 

 on top of snout, posterior nostrils a round or oval opening on 

 the top of the head before eye, sometimes provided with a 

 rim, or with a conspicuous tube. Cleft of mouth reaching behind 

 eye, often not closing completely. Pectorals absent. Origin of 



9 

 o W< 



n o 



V o 



Oo 

 00 



i l 



Fig- 175- Fig. 176. Dentition of Muraena 



Dentition of Muraena (Gymnothorax) picta Ahl. (Gymnothorax) tile (Ham. Buch.). 

 a intermaxillary, m maxillary, md mandibulary, a intermaxillary, m maxillary, md 

 v vomerine teeth. X 5 /4- mandibulary, v vomerine teeth. X 3V2* 



dorsal (in Indian species) before gillopenings, which are small, 

 more or less horizontal slits. Dorsal and anal confluent with 

 caudal, covered by thick skin. Tail shorter or somewhat longer 

 than body. Teeth in the jaws in one or more series, on inter- 

 maxillary plate generally in one or two peripheral rows and 

 i 3 mesial teeth. Teeth on vomer generally smaller than the 

 others, in one or more rows. Teeth conical, or compressed. 



