416 



oval openings, situated above eye; anterior nostrils minute 

 openings on tip of snout. Eye small, covered by skin. Dorsal 

 and anal rayless folds of skin, confluent with the small caudal, 



which has 8 10 rays. Pectorals and 

 ventrals absent. Intermaxillary teeth 

 small, in a single series, which is near 

 symphysis triangularly expanded into 

 about three series of somewhat stronger 

 teeth. Teeth on palatines and ptery- 

 goids stouter, conical, forming a single 

 arched series, anteriorly, near sym- 

 physis, expanded as the intermaxillary 

 teeth, which they equal in size. Man- 

 dibulary teeth still stronger, arranged 

 in a single series, which broadens near 

 symphysis into a pluriserial triangular 

 figure. Gillmembranes united, free from 

 isthmus. Gillopenings forming a single 

 Fig. 213. Lower surface of semi-oval, rather narrow opening, which 

 head of Synbranchus benga- s i tu ated ventrally and does not 



lensis (Me Clelland). The bran- * 



chial chamber is opened, extend to the sides. Four branchial 



showing the 4 branchial arches arc hes, all with Well developed gills. 



with well developed gills; 



p margin separating the ventral Distribution: Indo-australian 



skin from the branchial cham- Archipelago, Dampier Archipelago; 



ber. Nat. size. 01 A TI i 



South eastern Asia, Philippines, tropical 

 parts of West Africa and Central and South America. 

 In fresh and brackish water. 



i. Synbranchus bengalensis (Me Clell.). 



Synbranchus immaculaUis Bloch, Ausland. Fische IX. 1795, p. 87 (p. p.). 

 Symbranchus immaculatus J. Miiller, Abh. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1839, p. 245 



(ex parte). 



Ophisternon bengalensis McClelland, Calcutta Journ. Nat. Hist. V. 1845, P- J 97- 

 Symbranchus gutturalis Richardson, Zoology Voyage Erebus & Terror, 1845, p. 49. 

 Symbranchus immaculatus Cantor, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, XVIII. 1850, p. 1319. 

 Tetrabranchus microphthalmus Bleeker, Nat. Tijdschr. Ned. Indie II. 1851^.69. 

 Symbranchus immaculatus Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen. XXV. 1853, Muraenoid. 



p. 57 (nee Bloch). 



Ophisternon bengalensis Kaup, Cat. Apodal Fish 1856, p. 121. 

 Ophisternon bengalensis Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Neerl. VI. 1859, Enum. 



Pise. Arch. Ind. p. 179. 



Synbranchus bengalensis Bleeker, All. Ichth. IV. 1864, p. 119. 

 Symbranchus bengalensis Giinther, Cat. Brit. Mus. VIII. 1870, p. 16. 



