520 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
orbit; teeth of jaws in a single series close-set and firmly imbedded; those at symphysis small; lateral 
ones large anteriorly, growing gradually smaller posteriorly, the basal two-thirds of their edges 
denticulate; a median, depressible canine near tip of upper jaw; vomer without teeth; anterior nostril 
tube equal in length to diameter of pupil; posterior nostril with a minute rim; gill-opening oval, the 
diameter equal to 1.5 times that of eye, the lower margin on a level with mouth. Origin of dorsal on a 
vertical passing midway between corner of mouth and anterior edge of gill-opening; membrane fleshy; 
height of fin near vent, 0.75 of the snout; anal inserted immediately behind the vent, where it is but a 
low ridge of skin; much higher and less fleshy posteriorly; height near its middle portion equal to 
half the length of snout; caudal slightly longer than diameter of eye. 
Color in life, yellowish olive on anterior third, becoming a rich brown posteriorly. Head and 
body covered with conspicuous, light, ocellated spots, the light part of which is clearly defined, the 
dark part more intense next the white, growing diffuse without; spots on head very small, 0.1 to 0.2 
diameter of eye, placed from 1 to 3 times their width from each other, their centers tinged with 
yellow; behind the gill-opening the spots grow rapidly larger for a short distance, then very gradually 
increase in size to the tail, where they are nearly as large as the eye and 1 to 2 or 3 times their 
diameter apart; posteriorly and on the fins the spots are pure white or cream colored; opercles with a 
brownish black margin; mouth, within and at corners, bright lemon yellow. 
The color in alcohol differs but little from that of the living specimen. 
Described from the type, No. 50869, TJ. S. Nat. Mus., 91 cm. long, obtained in the Honolulu 
market. Of two other examples from the same place, one agrees closely with the type, except that 
the lower jaw projects beyond the upper a distance equal to the diameter of the eye; belly without 
spots. The other (cotype, No. 12792, L. S. Jr. Univ. Mus.) has the body very thick and robust, 
nuchal region greatly enlarged; head 0.134 of length, 0.23 of tail; depth 0.6 times length of head. 
This species may be known from all other Hawaiian eels by the yellow mouth and the very large, 
dark-bordered, white spots. 
32. Gymnothorax waialuas Snyder, new species. Plate 6, fig. 11. 
Head, measured to gill-opening, 0.125 in the length; depth 0.5; tail 0.55; snout 0.2 of head; cleft 
of mouth 0.4. Body compressed, the width in middle of trunk equal to half the depth; interorbital 
space slightly convex; jaws equal; cleft of mouth extending beyond eye a distance equal to longitudi- 
inal diameter of eye; width of suborbital space equal to vertical diameter of eye; gill-opening an 
oblique slit equal to vertical diameter of eye; teeth in jaw's mostly long, sharp, and depressible, the 
two in anterior median part of upper jaw longest; those below eye in two series, the outer ones short 
and close-set; three short, sharp teeth on vomer; anterior nostril tubes near tip of snout, their height 
equal to diameter of eye; posterior nostrils without rims, located above and a little anterior to eyes; 
dorsal inserted on head anterior to gill-opening; fin highest posteriorly, its height behind middle of 
tail equal to longitudinal diameter of eye; anal inserted immediately behind the vent, about half as 
high as dorsal; caudal slightly longer than height of dorsal. 
Color in alcohol, white tinged with yellow, with 20 black bands, nearly all encircling the body 
and extending on tins; tip of snout white, tip of tail black; the first black band covers snout except 
the tip between the nostrils, extends backward beyond eye, and sends a line downward to corner of 
mouth, where it meets a round, black blotch ; chin and throat white; sides of lower jaw black; a white 
space between eye and corner of mouth; the second band passes over occiput, not complete below; 
third band incomplete, passing over back between gill-openings, a dusky prolongation passing down- 
ward behind gill-opening; other bands complete, anterior ones broader above than below, posterior 
ones of about equal width throughout; a narrow, dusky stripe extends forward along lower surface 
from vent to a point a little anterior to gill-openings. 
This species closely resembles G. leucacme and may eventually prove to be the young of that form. 
The species differ in color and in dentition. The light spaces on the body of G. leucacme are reddish 
brown; on the anal fin they are white, on the dorsal reddish brown bordered with white near edge 
of fin. Caudal tipped with white; snout reddish brown. Teeth in a single series, those of the jaws 
not depressible, except 2 or 3 on anterior median portion of upper jaw. 
A single specimen, 107 mm. long, from a small tide pool in the reef atWaialua Bay, Oahu. Type, 
No. 50870, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 
33. Echidna zebra (Shaw). Honolulu. 
34. Echidna nebulosa (Ahl). Honolulu. 
