465 
Family MURAENIDAE 
Body subcylindrical, compressed behind. Head conic, 
moderate. Eyes covered with skin, without free lids. Mouth 
terminal, lateral cleft reaches below eye. Teeth small, card- 
iform or villiform, in bands. Tongue distinct, free in front 
and laterally. Opercular bones well developed. Gill openings 
well separated by wide interspace. Body covered with very small 
scales. Lateral line distinct, axial. Dorsal and anal con¬ 
fluent with redeced caudal. Pectoral present, rays simple. 
Vent premedian, usually remote from head. 
One living genus, widely distributed in tropical and tem¬ 
perate waters. Contrary to most fish eels descend to the sea 
for the purpose of spawning, only the young females ascending 
into fresh water again. The ova are microscopic. The young 
pass through a metamorphosis like that of the congers. 
