Jordan and Kvermann. Fishes of North America. 359 



c. Teeth in jaws in several series, those of one series enlarged and compressed, long 



canines in front ; vomer with several long series of teeth, the middle one of 



conical canines. MUR.<KNESOX, 158. 



cc. Teetli all conical, slender and sharp, those of jaws in wide bands ; maxillary with 



a deep groove, running the entire length of the bone, dividing the band of 



teeth into two portions ; shaft of vomer with a median series of conical 



teeth. XENOMYSTAX, 159. 



lib. Teeth in jaws biserial, small; vomer with a series of long, pointed canines; tail about 



4 times as long as rest of body; gill openings narrow. HOPLUNNIB, 160. 



BTILBISON.K: 



oa. Dorsal and anal fins very low anteriorly, developed chiefly on the tail. 



d. Tail about as long as rest of body; teeth moderate ; dorsal beginning before the vent. 

 dd. Tail short, little more than half as long as rest of body; teeth all unisonal, unequal, 



some of them canine-like; body very slender, whip-shaped. 



e. Body moderately elongate, the diameter more than one-thirtieth the length; 

 dorsal beginning just before vent. NEOCONGER, 161. 



ee. Body whip-shaped, the diameter less than one-fiftieth the length. 



/. Dorsal fin beginning not far behind pectoral. LEPTOCONGER, 162. 



ff. Dorsal fin beginning behind the vent. STILBISCUS, 163. 



fff. Dorsal fin beginning close behind the nape. GORDIICHTHYS, 164. 



158. MUR^ENESOX, McClelland. 



Murieiiesox, McCLELLAND, Calcutta Journ. Nat Hist., iv, 408, 1843, (Iricuspidata). 

 Cynoponticus, COSTA, Fauna Napoli, Pesci., pi. 28, 1850, (ferox savanna). 

 Brachyconger, BLEEKER, Nederl. Tidsskr., Dierkunde, n, 236, 1865, (savanna). 

 Congresox, GILL, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1890, 234, (talabon). 



Body robust. Dorsal and anal fins well developed, the dorsal begin- 

 ning nearly above gill opening. Mouth large ; teeth in jaws in several 

 series, those of one series enlarged and depressed, forming long canines 

 in front; vomer with several long series of teeth, the middle one of 

 strong canines. This genus contains numerous species, large, conger-like 

 eels, some of which are found in all warm seas. They are remarkable 

 for the strong armature of the vomer. (Jtfurona; Esox, pike.) 



MUR/ENESOX : 

 a. Median teeth on vomer enlarged, compressed, and cultrate ; median teeth on side of lower 



jaw also enlarged and compressed or bluntish. 



6. Middle series of teeth on vomer not distinctly tricuspidate ; pectoral rather more than 



half head. CONICEPS, 588. 



bb. Middle series of teeth on vomer distinctly tricuspidate in young, becoming entire with 



age ; pectoral 2% in head. SAVANNA, 589. 



Subgenus MUR-flSNESOX. 

 588. MUR^NESOX CONICEPS, Jordan & Gilbert. 



Vomer with a median row of about 15 very large, strong teeth, which 

 are much compressed, the tip angular and directed backwards, and with a 

 nick on the posterior edge, thus : ~^> ; one or two of the anterior teeth only 

 slightly tricuspidate ; on each side of the median row on vomer some very 

 small, blunt teeth, disappearing anteriorly, arranged in one or two rows 

 very close to the median row ; jaws with one or two outer rows of small, 

 blunt teeth, next a row of rather large, wedge-shaped teeth, and then an 

 inner band of small, conical, blunt teeth in two, three, or four series; 

 front of both jaws with groups of canines, which are shorter than the 



