72 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The following table gives the measurements: 
Measurements. 
Milli- 
meters. 
Measurements. 
Milli- 
meters. 
Length 
270 
21 
185 
85 
5 
4.5 
5 
5 
3 
2.5 
21 
21 
21 
16 
Length of head 
Length of head and trunk 
Length of post-ventral region 
Depth at gill-slit 
Depth at vent 
Dorsal groove behind vent 
Anal groove behind vent 
Dorsal fin appears above surface, in 
Depth at dorsal origin 
Length of gape 
Anal fin appears above surface, in 
front of end of tail about 
AphUialmiethys caribbeus Gill & Smith, Science, n. s., vol. XI, Nos. 286, 973, June 22, 1900, San Geronimo, Porto Rico. 
Family XII. MYRIDtE. The Worm Eels. 
End of tail surrounded by the confluent vertical fins; posterior nostril in, or very near, upper 
lip, the tongue more or less full}' adnate to the floor of the mouth. The species are usually of small 
size and plain colors, more or less worm-like in form, and inhabit sandy coasts in tropical seas. The 
genera have but few species each. They are intermediate in character between the Ophichthyidx and 
the Murxnesocidse. The osteology has not been carefully studied, but they will probably be found to 
be most nearly related to the latter family, if indeed the two should not be, as in Bleeker’s arrangement, 
reunited with the Leptocephalidx. 
n. Body elongate, subterete; pectoral present, sometimes minute; anterior nostril tubular; dorsal fin beginning 
behind head; teeth small. 
b. Dorsal fin beginning behind vent; no teeth on vomer; teeth mostly uniserial; body slender, terete Ahlia 
bb. Dorsal fin beginning before vent; vomer with teeth. 
c. Dorsal beginning at a point about midway between gill-opening and vent; pectoral very small; teeth subequal; 
body slender, terete; tail much longer than rest of body Myrophis 
an. Body short, much compressed; pectoral almost invisible; mouth narrow; snout obtuse, depressed; vertical fins 
well developed, dorsal beginning behind gill-opening Chilorhinus, 13 
Genus 13. CHILORHINUS Liitken. 
Body short, much compressed, especially posteriorly; mouth narrow, lower jaw slightly the 
shorter; snout depressed, obtuse, two rows of short conic or incisor-like teeth on each palatine and a 
group of similar teeth on nasals, back of which is a large tooth on anterior end of vomer; teeth on 
lower jaw triserial; pectoral fin very minute; vertical fins well developed, dorsal commencing behind 
gill-opening. One species known. 
15. Chilorhinus suensonii Liitken. Worm Eel. 
Head 5; depth 14.4; eye 8; snout6.3; interorbital 5.6; cleft of mouth 3.6 in head; head and trunk 
a little less than half total length; dorsal fin beginning a short distance back of gill-opening, slightly 
nearer vent than tip of snout. 
Body elongate, trunk slightly compressed anteriorly, much so posteriorly; head large, deeper and 
wider than body, its width somewhat greater than its depth, its upper surface convex; snout slightly 
tapering, rather broadly truncate; eye chiefly lateral, posterior border just above the angle of mouth; 
cleft of mouth horizontal, lower jaw included, lips fleshy, upper slightly overhanging the closed mouth, 
its outline somewhat irregular; a double series of short canine-like teeth on each palatine, similar teeth 
on nasals, behind which is a large tooth on vomer; teeth on lower jaw triserial; anterior nostril in a 
short tube well forward at edge of lip, directed downward; posterior nostril without tube, opening in 
lower part of upper lip just in front of eye, scarcely visible when mouth is closed; skin not firmly 
attached to body, more or less movable, especially full and loose about head, where it is gathered into 
longitudinal folds; dorsal and anal regular in outline, somewhat lower near their confluence; anal very 
slightly lower than dorsal, each with numerous rays; lateral line present, being a straight shallow 
groove running nearer dorsal outline anteriorly, containing a series of muciferous pores. 
Color in spirits: Nearly everywhere uniform dark-brown; belly and ventral surface of head white. 
Twenty-seven individuals, from 1.5 to 4.4 inches in length, were collected at Mayaguez, Ponce, 
Arroyo, Hucares, and Boqueron. Hitherto known only from St. Croix, Danish West Indies. 
Chilorhinus suensonii Liitken, Vid. Med. Naturg. Foren. Kjoben., I, 1851, St. Croix; Jordan & Evermann, 1. c. 372, 1896. 
