23,2 H err e: Philippine Eels 159 



and may be large or small, lateral or ventral. Eggs numerous, 

 of medium size, resembling those of ordinary fishes. 



Found in temperate and tropical seas throughout, in shallow 

 water on coral reefs and sandy shores, often burrowing. Some 

 species enter fresh-water streams. The genera and species are 

 numerous; the individuals are usually small or medium sized 

 and abound in the crevices of coral reefs. The species are often 

 gaily blotched or banded so that they startlingly resemble true 

 serpents. 



By Ilocanos these eels are called quinet; in Tagalog they are 

 known as igat, palos, and pindangd; the Visayans use the names 

 ucdoc, or ogdoc, and taguibolos; the Moros call them taguibus. 



Key to the genera of Ophichthyidss. 

 a 1 . Brightly colored, spotted, banded, or variegated. 

 b\ Vomer with teeth. 



c\ Dorsal and anal extending almost to tip of tail Mynchthys. 



c 2 . Dorsal ending about the length of head before tip of tail, anal 



twice length of head or more Chlevastes. 



b\ No teeth on vomer - Lei * raillis - 



a 2 . Philippine species all dull colored. 



d\ Upper lip with a fringe of barbels Cirrhimunena. 



d\ Upper lip without barbels. 



e\ Pectorals present, gill openings lateral. 



f . Teeth blunt, conical or granular, in bands Pisodonophis. 



f . Teeth pointed, sharp, in one or more series Ophichtnus. 



e\ Pectorals absent. ,. 

 </\ Gill openings ventral, longitudinal or oblique, and with a dupli- 

 cation of the gill membranes anteriorly Lamnostom . 



g\ Gill openings more or less lateral, vertical transverse or oblique, 

 gill membranes not duplicated by a false fold - Caecula. 



Genus MYRICHTHYS Girard 

 Myrichthys Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. (1859) 58. 



A small group of slender, much-elongated eels, distinguished 

 from other closely related genera by having the dorsal and anal 

 fins extend almost to the tip of the tail. 



Head small and conical, with a short, pointed, convex snout 

 which overlaps mouth; anterior nostrils in tubes on the flattened 

 lower surface of snout; posterior nostrils wide, concealed m 

 upper lip just below or slightly forward of anterior margin of 

 each eye, and opening downward; tongue adnate; teeth blunt 

 conical, small, the posterior ones often very small, m two rows m 

 jaws and on vomer; dorsal beginning on nape far m advance of 

 gill openings, both dorsal and anal fins extending almost to tip 

 of tail ; pectorals very short and barely visible. 



