378 



larger than the eye; those on the head are smaller and may 

 be wanting. On the tail they are often also arranged in trans- 

 verse rows, giving a more or less striped appearance to this 

 part. Dorsal and anal often with a light border. These spots 

 may partly be confluent, in which case the fish is yellowish, 

 densely reticulated and marmorated with brown (M. agassizi). 

 In the variety undulata the spots have still more gained in 

 extension and the groundcolour is blackish, lighter on the 

 belly, with a wide network of more or less dendritic white 

 or yellowish lines, which are more numerous on the head, 

 giving to this part a mottled appearance. Length 1500 mm. 

 Habitat: Sumatra (Aru Bay!, Siboga, Priaman, Padang, 

 Benkulen, Kauer); Nias!; Batu-Islands; PuluWeh!; Singapore; 

 Java (Batavia, Prigi, Patjitan, Anjer, Karangbollong, Penand- 

 jung Bay!); Borneo (Balikpapan Bay!); Sangir Islands; Beo, 

 Karakelang Islands!; Saleyer!; Buru; Ambon!; Ceram; Ternate; 

 Waigeu; New Guinea (Kaimana!); Aru Islands!; Timor; Banda!; 

 Flores!; Pulu Serbete!. - - Madagascar, Mauritius, East coast 

 of Africa, Red Sea, coasts of British India, Philippines, Formosa, 

 China, Riu-Kiu Islands, Australia, Pacific Islands as far as the 

 Sandwich Islands. 



13. Muraena (Gymnothorax) favaginea Bl. Schn. 



Gymnothorax favagineus Bloch, Schneider, Systema Ichth. 1801, p. 525. 

 Muraena isingteena Richardson, Fishes Voyage Sulphur 1843 J 845, p. 108. 

 Muraena isingleena Richardson, Zool. Voyage Erebus & Terror, 1844, p. 86. 

 Muraena tesselata Richardson, Fishes Voyage Sulphur 1843 1 %45-> P- IO 9- 



Zool. Erebus & Terror, 1844, p. 88. 



Muraena tesselata Bleeker, Nat. Tijdschr. Ned. Indie V. 1853, p. 530. 

 Muraena python Kaup, Cat. Apod, fish 1856, p. 68. 

 Muraena favaginea Kaup, 1. c. p. 68. 

 Thyrsoidea isingleena Kaup, 1. c. p. 75. 

 Thyrsoidea tesselata Kaup, 1. c. p. 76. 



Gymnothorax isingteena Bleeker, Atl. Ichth. IV. 1864, p. 92. 

 Gymnothorax tesselatus Bleeker, 1. c. p. 93. 



Muraena tesselata Gunther, Cat. Brit. Mus. VIII. 1870, p. 106. 

 Muraena tesselata Day, Fishes of India 4. 1878 1888, p. 671. 



Height 151/2 21 ! /j. Head 7 1 /^ 9, 3 times in trunk. Tail a 

 little longer or shorter than head and trunk. Eye 10 12, about 

 twice in snout, situated above the middle of the cleft of the 

 mouth, which goes 2 ] / 3 2 ! / 2 times in length of head. Tube 

 of anterior nostrils much shorter than diameter of eye. Dorsal 

 and anal moderately developed, the former beginning before 



