AXGUILLID^. 



Breed in the deep sea, wliore they undergo very marked metamorphoses 

 (larval forms known as Leptocephalus). In Africa, confined to the 

 rivers flowing into the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic and 

 Indian Oceans. 



Sijnopsis of the Species. 



I. Dorsal originating -well in advance of vent. 



Mouth not extending beyond eye, or, rarely, extending 



beyond ; teeth on sides of jaws in 2 (young) to 4 



series, not separated by a longitudinal groove or 



interspace 1. A. vulgaris, Tmi.,^. 4. 



Mouth extending beyond eye ; teeth on sides of jaws 



in 3 (young) to 6 series, not separated by a groove [p. 6. 



or interspace 2. y4. mossamhica, Peters, 



Mouth extending to below posterior border of eye, or 

 beyond ; teeth on sides of jaws in 2 series, 

 separated by a longitudinal groove or interspace 

 (young), or in a single or double series with an 

 inner detached series of minute, sometimes very [p. 7. 



indistinct teeth 3. A. hengalensis, Gray, 



II. Dorsal originating above or slightly in advance 

 of vent ; teeth on sides of jaws in 4 (young) 

 to 10 series 4. .4. a?(5^raZ/5, Rich.^p. 0. 



Ymi. 2. 



'. /'. c. 



Dentition of upper jaw and palate in adult specin)ens of : 



a. A. vulgaris; b. A. mossamhica ; c. A. hengalensis ; d. A. australis. 



The bands of teeth are narrower in young specimens. 



1. ANGUILLA VULGARIS*. 



Murcena aiigiiilla, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 426 (1766). 



Anguilla vulgaris, Turton, Brit. Faun. p. 87 (1807) ; Giinth. Petherick's Trav. ii. 

 p. 2&<^ (1869), and Cat. Fish. viii. p. 29 (1870) ; Playf. & Letourn. Ann. & 

 Mag. N.H. (4) viii. 1871, p. 393 ; Bouleng. Fish. Nile, p. 402, fig. (1907). 



* For tliis and the other species of the genus, only the names applied to African 

 specimens or liaving a direct bearing on their nomenclature are quoted, and tlie list of 

 jpecimons is restricted to those of African ori<rin. 



