23,2 H err e: Philippine Eels 189 



A robust, wormlike eel, strongly resembling the giant Philip- 

 pine species of earthworms. Pectorals may be altogether absent 

 or may be present but minute, their length about equaling the 

 diameter of an eye; vertical fins mere seamlike folds of skin, 

 only developed at the end of the tail where they join with the 

 caudal to form a short truncate fin; the distance between anus 

 and origin of anal fin is 1.5 to 1.9 in head; origin of dorsal 

 may be opposite or behind origin of anal; in the latter case 

 the difference between the origin of the two fins is contained 5 to 

 10 in head. Jordan and Seale state the color in life of a speci- 

 men obtained at Pago Pago, Samoa, to be nearly uniform light 

 pinkish brown; the head very clear translucent rosy red; the 

 caudal more orange. 



The color in alcohol is dull leaden to brownish above; paler 

 beneath, varying from bluish to yellowish or whitish. 



I have examined four excellent specimens, obtained at Ala- 

 minos, Pangasinan, by Mr. Eugenio Fenix. They vary in length 

 from 200 to 385 millimeters. In color and general habit of 

 body they contrast strongly with the Ascaris-like species, abbre- 

 viate and javanicus. Another specimen, obtained by Mr. Mon- 

 talban at Iba, Zambales, is 350 millimeters long, and in life was 

 pinkish brown. . 



Peters's specimen was collected by Jagor at Legaspi, Albay. 

 This little-known eel attains a length of 700 millimeters and 

 is found from the shores of British India to Samoa. Like its 

 congeners it is a shore dweller, living in the mud around the 

 mouths of .streams. 



Since the above was printed I have received 5 specimens, from 

 51 to 138 millimeters in length, from Mr. Angel Villanueva, 

 who collected them at Luboc beach, Lapaz, Iloilo Province, 

 Panay. 

 Aphthalmichthys lumbricoideus (Richardson). 



Moringua lumbricoidea Richardson, Voyage Sulphur, Ichth. (1844) 



pi. 56, figs. 7 



, Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus. 8 (1870) I 



P ;: p a;te; Johoan and Seale, Proc. US Nat. Mu* 2. (UOBT 773; 



Jordan and Seale, Bull. U. S. Bur. Fisheries 26 (1906) (1907) 7. 

 I have not seen this species, but Jordan and Seale had a 

 specimen from Cavite and two from Negros which they named 

 Moringua lumbricoidea. An examination of Richardson s figure 

 shows that his specimen lacked the essential character of Morin- 

 gua as distinguished from Aphthalmichthys, while his descrip- 

 tion of the fins is that of the latter genus. His figure also 



