23.2 H err e: Philippine Eels 221 



fifteen (twelve to twenty) small, compressed, backward-pointed 

 teeth in each jaw; in younger specimens an inner row of one 

 to three longer, erect, fanglike depressible teeth; outer row 

 continuous on intermaxillary plate with a row of much larger 

 caninelike teeth, ten to sixteen in number; a row of three long 

 needlelike depressible fangs on center of maxillary plate, the 

 posterior one longest ; from sixteen to twenty small, compressed, 

 backward-pointed teeth on each side of lower jaw, and from four 

 to eight large immovable canines around symphysis ; a single row 

 of five to eight small teeth on vomer. 



Color of a living specimen in the Bureau of Science aquarium, 

 collected at Calapan, Mindoro, light olive gray, everywhere 

 specked with exceedingly numerous and minute dark dots, throat 

 and belly paler than other parts ; about three longitudinal rows of 

 large circular or irregular spots, mostly not larger than eyes; 

 dorsal fin with bandlike spots which may connect with upper row 

 on body ; spots on head few and much smaller. 



An alcoholic specimen differs from the above only in having 

 the gray slightly suffused with a reddish brown, especially about 

 the head and snout. A specimen from Puerto Galera, Mindoro, 

 and one from Samal Island in the Gulf of Davao are typical of the 

 variety fimbriate,, having a ground color of reddish brown, with 

 smaller and fewer spots; otherwise they are like the living speci- 

 men described. In all the above the dorsal and the anal have a 

 more or less evident white border. 



A specimen from Dumaguete is the Gymnothorax agassizi of 

 Bleeker. 



In a large specimen of unknown locality, 660 millimeters long, 

 the ground color is yellowish gray, thickly overspread with dark 

 spots and markings so that it is reduced to more or less of an 

 indeterminate network of whitish or yellowish lines and narrow 

 irregular spaces, the animal therefore marbled with light and 

 dark; posteriorly the dark spots are more definite, larger, in 

 longitudinal rows, and coalesce to form vague transverse bands. 

 This specimen is remarkable for the extreme depth of the head, 

 as shown in the figure. I have also examined three small speci- 

 mens in the collection of the Ateneo de Manila, obtained at 

 Tandag, Surigao. 



A large and powerful, fiercely biting moray, said to reach a 

 length of 2 meters. It is an exceedingly variable and widespread 

 species, previously recorded from Manila by Kner, and from 

 Zamboanga by Seale and Bean under the name of G. fimbriates. 

 It occurs from Madagascar, Mauritius, the east coast of Africa, 



