23,2 Herre: Philippine Eels 135 



a broad band separated from those of maxillaries on either 

 side by a concave toothless groove ; posteriorly they taper rapidly 

 and do not extend as far back as maxillary teeth; teeth of 

 mandibles separated at symphysis by a groove, and each band 

 is likewise divided lengthwise by a rather wide toothless groove; 

 the series of teeth in both upper and lower jaws much reduced 

 posteriorly, the series inside groove tapering into a single row. 



The color in life varies considerably, ranging from olive green 

 mottled with dark brown to clay yellow variegated with darker ; 

 the commonest color is probably gray-brown marbled and clouded 

 with dark brown, olive, or blackish ; the belly and throat paler 

 brown, yellow, or even white. The color in alcohol is similar but 

 paler, while the marblings may be less evident. 



This species is common in the Philippines, specimens being 

 recorded from Calayan, north of Luzon, to Jolo. In northern 

 Luzon they occur in mountain streams up to an altitude of more 

 than 1,530 meters. The profile and proportions change greatly 

 with age, old specimens probably being the bulkiest and largest 

 of all eels, though exceeded in length by Evenchelys macrurus, 

 and perhaps by Mursenesox talabon. In the Manila markets 

 one may see living specimens from Laguna de Bay up to a 

 length of 2 meters and a circumference of about 460 millimeters. 



I have examined specimens from Pinacanauan River, Caga- 

 yan Province, Ilocos Sur, Bontoc, Mountain Province, the moun- 

 tains of Zambales near f Iba, Laguna de Bay, and Bicol River, 

 Luzon; from Cabalian in Leyte; from the Pulangi, Mindanao; 

 and from Sibuyan, Masbate, Polillo, and Jolo Islands. Jordan 

 and Richardson listed it from Calayan and Mindoro, Evermann 

 and Seale from Tarlac, Seale and Bean from Zamboanga, Bleeker 

 from Manila, and Giinther from the "Philippines." My smallest 

 specimen is 190 millimeters long. 



This eel is in great favor among the Tagalogs, and commands 

 very high prices, 8, 10, or even 15 pesos sometimes being paid 

 for a single fish. It is known from Natal and the east coast of 

 Africa, the islands of the Indian Ocean and the East Indies, 

 north to Formosa, southeast to South Australia, and throughout 

 the South Pacific to the Society Islands. 



Anguilla manillensis Bleeker is said to have the mouth reaching 

 hardly beyond the middle of the eye and to show some less- 

 important differences, but I have not seen it and doubt its specific 

 identity. In all the numerous specimens thus far examined by 

 me the mouth has reached beyond the eye except in the small 

 specimens (190 millimeters long) from Jolo, where it came only 

 to the posterior margin of the eye. 



