MUR^NID^. 3S5 



MuR^NA Antiq. Pectoral fins very minute, or want- 

 ing ; spiracles placed on the sides of the head. 



Nettastoma Raf. Jaws much lengthened, obtuse j 

 muzzle slightly depressed above j branchial apertures 

 tranverse, placed beneath the neck ; dorsal, anal, and 

 caudal fins united ; gill-membrane without rays ; no 

 operculum ; branchial arches two. 



N. melanura, Raf. Carat, p. 66. pi. 16. fig. 1. 



Pachyurus Sw. (^^.11 ]. c c.) Body very slender; pec- 

 toral fins very minute ; tail much shorter than the 

 body, very obtuse, and rather thickened at the ex- 

 tremity ; dorsal fin commencing behind the vent, and 

 shorter than the ventral fin, and both uniting with the 

 caudal. 



P. linearis. Gray, Ind. Zool. i. pi. 95. fig. 3. 



Murcena Antiq. No pectoral fins ; dorsal generally com- 

 mencing at the back of the head, and uniting to the 

 caudal and anal ; tip of the tail pointed ; nostrils 

 tubular ; teeth various. 



M. helena. Bloch, pi. 152. rostratus. Spix, pi. 50 a. 



ocellatus. Spix, pi. 50 b. 



Dalophis Raf. No pectoral fins ; spiracles placed very 

 low, towards the sides of the throat ; dorsal and anal 

 fins terminating before they reach the end of the tail, 

 which is naked ; body cylindrical ; mouth small, 

 with minute sharp teeth ; nostrils tubular ; dorsal 

 fin commencing a little behind the head ; vent nearly 

 central; upper jaw much longer than the under. 

 D. serpa. Raf. Carat, p. 69. (Vol. I. p. 224. fig. 45.) 



Ophiognathus Harwood. Pectoral fins and the bran- 

 chial aperture very small, the latter placed beneath ; 

 body capable of being inflated, like a thick tube ; tail 

 very long and slender, surrounded by a narrow dorsal 

 and anal fin, which unite ; mouth very wide, armed 

 with sharp teeth ; eyes placed close to the sharp 

 point of the muzzle. 



O. ampullaceus. Harwood, Ph. Tr. 1827. 



