658 PHTSOSTOMI. 



Family, X- MUE^ENIDiE, Miiller. 



Body elongated, cylindrical, or band-shaped : the humeral arch not attached to the skull. The branchial 

 openings in the pharynx may be wide or narrow slits. Margin of upper jaw constituted anteriorly by the 

 premaxillaries. which are more or less coalescent with the vomer and ethmoid, whilst laterally the sides 

 of the upper jaw are formed by the maxillaries which are furnished with teeth. Vertical fins, when 

 present, confluent or separated by a projecting tail : pectorals present or absent. Scales, when present, 

 rudimentary. Vent may be situated close to the root of the pectoral fins, or a long distance posterior to the 

 head. The heart may be situated just, or a long distance, behind the gills. Stomach with a blind sac. No 

 pyloric appendages. Ovaries destitute of oviducts. 



Eels {Anguilla) have by some autiiors been considered as hermaphrodites. Both Syrski and Dareste 

 have observed upon the male organs in eels, and the latter author found that the variety {Pinyaernau) in which 

 they were present, had female organs in some marine examples. Large sterile females ascend rivers but their 

 ova are said not to come to maturity. Dareste also observed male organs in Anguilla marmorata, from the 

 seas (?) of India. 



A number of larval fishes have been termed TJeptocepliali or " glass eels." Some of them it has been 

 suggested may be early arrested development, the fishes dying before attaining their perfect state. " To this 

 form belong all the various Leptocephali and Hyoprorus." L. Spallanzmnii is said by Dareste to be a young 

 conger. " Tilurus is a similar form arrested in its development, but cannot be the ofispring of a muraenoid 

 fish. Stomiasunculus, Kaup, is the young of Stomias ; Porobronchus, Kaup, the young of Fierasfer acus ; and 

 Hswicyulus, Kaup, probably that of AlepooepJialus." — (Giinther.) 



Eels are generally known as Telangoo or Pamiboo meen, Tamil (snake fish). 



SYNOPSIS OP GENERA. 

 First Group — Mtie^nid^ plattschist^. 



Branchial openings in the pharynx are wide slits. 



a. — Heart close hehind gills. Tail longer or scarcely shorter than the trunk. Nostrils lateral or sv/perior : 

 tongue free : ecmdalfin continued rownd the end of tail : pectorals ^present or absent : scales present or absent. 



1. Anguilla. Pectoral fins present : dorsal commences some distance behind the nape. Rudimentary 

 scales, p. 669. 



2. Oongromwcena. Pectoral fins present ; dorsal commences above giU-opening. Cleft of mouth reaches 

 to below middle of eye : large muciferous cavities on skull. Teeth in bands. Scaleless, p. 660. 



3. Uroconger. Pectoral fins present : dorsal commences above giU-opening. Cleft of mouth reaches to 

 behind middle of eye. Maxillary teeth biserial : vomerine uniserial. Scaleless, p. 661. 



b. — Heart close to gills : tail not shorter than trunk. Nostrils lateral or superior : tongue not free : caudal 

 jm continued round the end of tail : pectorals present or absent. Scaleless. 



4. Murcenesox. Pectoral fins present. Canine teeth in jaws anteriorly : strong teeth on vomer. 

 Posterior nostril opposite upper part or middle of eye, p. 661. 



5. Saurenchelys. Pectoral fins absent. Posterior nostril lateral and in front of orbit, p. 663. 



c — Heart close to gills. Nostrils labial : tongue not free : caudal fm continued round the end of tail : 

 pectorals present or absent. Scaleless. 



6. Muroenichthys. Pectoral fins absent. Body elongated, vermiform, p. 663. 



d. — Heart close to gills. Nostrils labial : tongue not free : end of tail free, being without fin rays : pectorals 

 when present rudimentary. Vomerine teeth present or absent. Scaleless. 



7. Ophichthys. Vomerine teeth present, p. 663. 



e.— Heart placed a long distance behind the gills : tail shorter tham, the trunk : posterior nostril in front of the 

 eye : vertical fins little developed : pectorals, if present, rudimentary. 



8. Moringua. Byes small. Cleft of mouth narrow. Teeth in a single row, p. 6Q6. 



