Family BCHELIDAE 
Body elongate^ worm like or slightly compressed, or short and 
much compressed# Snout rather short, more or less prominent by pro* 
minence of ethmoid the premaxillary plate beyond articulation with 
maxillaries# Eye large or small# Mouth cleft reaches beyond eye# 
Teeth in Jaws in 1 or more series of bands, variable in form and 
size; on premaxillary in group or in rows, generally larger or even 
caninform# Vomerine teeth present or absent# Tongue not free# 
Front nostril in short tube at edge of upper lip, hind one generally 
near eye in upper lip valve or protruding flap# Gill openings small, 
separated by interspace of different breadth# Branchial openings in 
pharynx wide slits# No scales# Dorsal, anal and caudal confluent# 
Dorsal origin above or far behind gill openings, before, above or be¬ 
hind vent# Pectoral well developed, vestigial or absent# Vent far 
behind gill openings, in front half of length# 
Usually small plain colored eels, more or less suggestive of worms 
living in coral reefs, cn sandy shores or surface near them, in trop¬ 
ical seas# 
