364 



Height 15 to more than 2O; head about 6 8, more than 

 twice to 2.7 in trunk. Head and trunk somewhat longer than 

 tail. Eye 10 12, twice or less than twice in snout, situated 

 above middle of cleft of mouth, which goes 2.5 to 3 times in 

 length of head and is horizontal and closing completely. Snout 

 6 times or less in length of head, bluntly rounded. Origin of 



Fig. 182. Muraena (Gymnothorax') picta Ahl 

 colour variety: G. polyophthalmus Blkr. nat size. 



dorsal slightly before gillopenings. Teeth sharp, pointed ; those 

 in the maxillaries in a single series, in very young specimens 

 in 2 series, the inner of which disappears gradually. On the 

 intermaxillary plate a single series of 10 14 stouter teeth, 

 with a single central one, which is pointed-conical; in young 

 specimens there are 2 or 3 teeth, one behind the other as 



fr*;*:p$^^^ * 



Fig. 183. Three stages of Muraena (Gymno thorax] picta Ahl 



with corresponding change of coloration. Specimen a of 165 mm., 



b of 255 mm., c of 734 mm length. 



also an outer peripheral series of small teeth. On vomer in 

 young specimens one short series, which later on gets irregu- 

 larly and incompletely biserial; in old specimens 2 short series. 

 Mandibulary teeth in young biserial ; the outer series of small 

 teeth disappears with age and remains only anteriorly. Colour 



