THE MORAYS 



Family VIII. Murcenida 



THESE may be distinguished from all other eels by the small 

 round gill-openings and by the absence of pectoral fins. The 

 body and fins are covered by a thick leathery skin, the occipital 

 region is elevated through the development of the strong muscles 

 which move the lower jaw, and the jaws are usually narrow 

 and armed with knife-like or else molar teeth. 



The morays inhabit tropical and subtropical waters, and are 

 especially abundant in crevices about coral reefs. Many of the 

 species reach a large size, and all are voracious and pugnacious. 

 The colouration is usually strongly marked, the colour cells being 

 highly specialized. 



a. Vertical fins well developed, the dorsal beginning before the 



vent. 



b. Posterior nostril an oblong slit, the anterior in a short tube; 



Enchelycore, 83 

 bb. Posterior nostril circular, with or without a tube. 



c. Teeth all, or nearly all, acute, none of those in jaws obtuse 



or molar-like. 



d. Anterior nostrils without tube; vomerine teeth in many series; 



lips with a free fold ; Pylhonictithys, 8 3 



dd. Anterior nostrils each with a long tube; vomerine teeth in i 

 or 2 series; lips continuous with skin of head. 



e. Posterior nostrils without tube, the margin sometimes slightly 



raised. 



/. Dorsal fin inserted behind the head, over or behind the gill- 

 opening ; Rabula, 83 



ff. Dorsal fin inserted on the head, considerably before the gill- 

 opening; Gymnothorax, 83 



ee. Posterior nostrils, as well as anterior, each with a conspicuous 

 tube ; Murcena, 83 



cc. Teeth mostly obtuse, molar-like; Echidna, 83 



aa. Vertical fins rudimentary, confined to the end of the tail. 



g. Cleft of mouth short, not half length of head; snout moder- 

 ate, about half the gape; tail about as long as trunk; 



Uropterygius, 83 



gg. Cleft of mouth long, nearly half head; snout very short, less 

 than one-fourth the gape; tail very short, about half rest of 

 body ; Channomurcena, 83 



