23,2 H err e: Philippine Eels 193 



searching every crevice, or more often discover them coiled 

 under rocks from which they strike at passing fish just as 

 a snake does at its prey. When provoked and cornered they are 

 formidable enemies and inflict terrific wounds, sometimes driv- 

 ing a boatload of fishermen overboard. 



According to Cajmette, 9 some of the Muraenidse are poisonous, 

 being provided with poison fangs and glands. 



The poison apparatus consists of a pouch situated above the membrane of 

 the palate, which may contain one-half c.c. of venom. The teeth are not 

 pierced by a central canal, and the venom flows between them and the 

 mucus membrane of the palate, which forms a sheath. 



While the morays are used more or less for food and, in fact, 

 some are highly prized by epicures, they are apt to be oily and 

 rather indigestible, so that the flesh of large old individuals of 

 some of the species is unwholesome when indulged in freely. 

 The Moros apply the common Malay name, indong or indang, 

 to all morays; this name is also current among the Visayans, 

 but very large ones are called pananglitan; in the Visayan dialect 

 of Samar and Leyte they are called hagmang and in Cebuano 

 Visayan hangit, while at Iloilo they are known as ogdoc; other 

 Visayan names are haoig, taguibos and taguibolos; the Taga- 

 logs use the name malabanos, while they distinguish the large 

 and fiercely biting kinds as payangitan, a name evidently the 

 same as the Visayan one for similar morays. Such names as 

 taguibos are not only very strongly accented on the last syllable 

 but the accentuation is emphasized by being drawled as though 

 the speaker were loth to let go the word. 



Key to the Philippine genera of Mursenidm. 

 a\ Vertical fins well developed; origin of dorsal on head or immediately 

 behind gill openings. 



6 1 . Teeth more or less obtuse, molarlike or granular Echidna. 



b\ None of the teeth molarlike or granular. 



c\ Tail 1.5 to 2 times as long as head and trunk together; 



simple tube... 



Evenchelys. 



c\ Tail equal to or a little longer or shorter than the rest of body, 

 ff . Anal always present and unmodified. 



Trunk very slender, elongate; depth 40 to 55, head 12 to 17 



in length Pseudechidna. 



Depth less than 30, head less than 12 in length Gymnothorax. 



Lnal absent or only a trace at tip of tail - Anarchias. 



i reduced to a rudiment at tip of tail or altogether wanting. 

 tJropterygius. 



9 Venoms (1908), English translation. 



