1027 
Body long, often thick and robust, depth less than 
30. Tail moderate, not twice length of head and trunk. 
Head compressed. Eyes small. Mouth cleft reaches beyond 
eyes, often not completely closing. Lips continuous 
with skin of head. Teeth mostly acute, conic or compress¬ 
ed, none in jaws obtuse or molar like or serrated, usually 
in 1 or more series, often several pairs of large lower 
front canines. Premaxillary teeth in 1 or 2 outer rows 
and 1 to 4 median depresslble canines, posterior often 
very long and fang like. Front nostrils tubular, on,top 
i 
of snout and hind ones as simple ovate or round pores. 
G-lll openings small slits, horizontal or circular. Vert¬ 
ical fins well developed, dorsal beginning on head, above 
or before gill openings. 
These the most abundant morays in all warm seas. Some 
reach a large size and are usually pov/erful and voracious, 
often very active and savage. They are often found in 
shallow waters, as lagoons bays, sounds and especially 
where rocks and reefs occur. Many are very variable, often 
with respect to dentition and change greatly with age. 
« 
Their coloration is equally variable and often individuals 
of a species present the widest of tints and designs. 
The following nominal species seem to be doubtful; 
