23.2 H err e: Philippine Eels 229 



this specimen the measurements of the eyes and snout are only 

 approximate and it is impossible to note the coloration of the 

 anterior part of the head (except that there was apparently a 

 black or very dark spot in the angle of the mouth) because 

 digestion had begun in the snake's stomach, removing the skin 

 of the anterior two-thirds of the head and partially destroying 

 the eyes; the rest of it is uninjured. 



I have compared this specimen very carefully with Schlegel's 

 original description, as well as with that given by Jordan and 

 Snyder, and cannot place it elsewhere although in color it is 

 very much unlike Schlegel's figure. Jordan and Snyder state 

 that the teeth are "all in single series," but this does not agree 

 with the dentition of the Bureau of Science specimen. But 

 Schlegel says "Toutes ces dents sont du reste assez sujettes a 

 varier tant sous le rapport de leur nombre que sous celui de 

 leur grandeur et de leur forme; il arrive meme quelquefois, 

 que les dents sont assez irregulieres et que celles de la deuxieme 

 moitie de la machoire superieure se trouvent disposees sur deux 

 ou meme sur plusieurs rangees." 



This species reaches a length of 3 feet (1 meter) and is 

 common on the coasts of Japan, where Schlegel states it is much 

 sought after, owing to its exquisite flavor. 



Our specimen has the following dimensions: Length, 393 

 millimeters; head, 51; trunk, 129; tail, 213; depth, 24; eye, 5; 

 snout, 10 ; gape, 23 ; gill opening, 4. 

 Gymnothorax pseudothyrsoideus Bleeker. 



Murssna pseudothyrsoidea Bleeker, Nat. Tijdschr. Ned. Ind. 3 (1852) 



778; Weber and Beaufort, Fishes Indo-Austr. Arch. 3 (1916) 384. 

 Gymnothorax makassariensis Bleeker, Atlas Ichth. Mursen. 4 (1864) 



104, pi. 46, fig. 2. 

 Gymnothorax pseudothyrsoideus Bleeker, Atlas Ichth. Muran. 4 



(1864) 104, pi. 37, fig. 3; Jordan and Richardson, Mem. Carnegie 



Mus. 4 (1909) 173. 



Depth 14 to 20 in length, head 7 to 8, and 2.6 to 2.9 in trunk; 

 tail shorter than head and trunk together; eye 8 to 12 in head 

 and one and a half times to twice in snout; the wide mouth 

 does not shut completely in large specimens, its gape 2.1 to 2.3 

 in head ; vertical fins rather well developed, dorsal beginning one- 

 fifth to one-half the length of head in advance of gill openings, 

 which are as large as or smaller than eyes; maxillaries with 

 one row of about twelve compressed teeth, young specimens 

 with an inner row of one to three larger ones at forward end; 

 intermaxillary plate with an outer row of ten to twelve teeth 



