Head 7, depth 18-20. Sharp, recurved teeth in jaws; 1 row in lower jaw,
partly biserial in upper; a few depressible fangs on intermaxillary; uniserial, small, conical teeth on vomer. Vertebrae 126-133.
Colour brownish, irregularly marked with yellowish
blotches and diffuse, vertical bars on tail; several distinctive, dark brown, oval blotches behind eye; corner of mouth
dusky. Attains 36 cm. Transkei to Bazaruto Id., Mozambique; Indo-Pacific.
41.15 Gymnothorax margaritophorus: 22 em (Mafia Id.).
41.16 Gymnothorax melatremus
(Schultz, 1953)
Blackspot moray
Swartgespikkelde bontpaling
Gymnothorax melatremus Schultz, 1953: 120, Figs. 23d, 25 (Bikini,
Marshall Ids.).
Head 7.1-8.9, depth 15-20. Teeth stout, conical; 2 rows on upper jaw,
inner teeth larger; lower jaw teeth uniserial, with a few large, extra teeth
in front; 10 on intermaxillary; biserial blunt molars on vomer. Vertebrae
127-130.
Colour golden fading quickly to white on preservation;
conspicuous dark spot surrounding gill opening. Attains 26
cm. Known only from Sodwana Bay and the type-locality .
. , . ~ . ,- \
. ---- --;~ )
. ---.~~
41.16 Gymnothorax me/atremus: 15 em (Sodwana Bay).
41.17 Gymnothorax meleagris
(Shaw & Nodder, 1795)
...
Guineafowl moray
Tarentaal-bontpaling
Muraena meleagris Shaw & Nodder, 1795: A2, PI. 220 (Pacific);
?Gilchrist & Thompson, 1911: 53. Lycodontis meleagris: Smith, 1962:
435* (in part, not Fig.); Gymnothorax meleagris: Winterbottom, 1978: 42.
41: MURAENIDAE (MORAY EELS)
Head 7-8, depth 12-19. Sharp, prominent teeth on jaws; 2 rows in upper
jaw, inner teeth larger; about 10 large fangs on intermaxillary; uniserial,
small teeth on vomer and lower jaw. Vertebrae 127-131.
Colour dark purplish brown covered with small yellow
spots, crowded in front, more sparse on tail; gill opening
black. Attains 57 cm. Algoa Bay to southern Mozambique;
Indo-Pacific.
41.17 Gymnothorax me/eagris: 63.5 em (N. Mozambique).
41.18 Gymnothorax monochrous
(Bleeker, 1856)
Drab moray
Vaal bontpaling
Muraena monochrous Bleeker, 1856: 384 (Indonesia); 1864: 106*.
Lycodontis monochrous: Smith, 1962: 437*.
Head 8-9, depth 19-22. Sharp, small teeth in jaws, partly biserial in
upper jaw with 1-4 inner fangs and a few larger intermaxillary fangs; 1 row
of small teeth on vomer and lower jaw. Vertebrae 134-145.
Colour pale brown above, lighter below. Attains 56 cm.
Delagoa Bay northward, in sheltered, turbid water; IndoPacific.
41.18 Gymnothorax monochrous: 15.5 em (near Maputo). Arrow indicates anus .
41.19 Gymnothorax nudivomer
(Gunther, 1867)
Starry moray
Sterretjies-bontpaling
Muraena nudivomer Giinther, in Playfair & Giinther, 1867: 127, PI. 18
(Zanzibar). Lycodontis nudivomer: Smith, SFSA No. 1125*; 1962: 438".
Head about 8, depth 11. Uniserial, teeth on jaws; small teeth on premaxillary; no teeth on vomer of adults. Vertebrae 126-129.
Colour brownish yellow, a network of fine lines anteriorly, yellow or white spots on tail; gill opening in a dusky
171
partly biserial in upper; a few depressible fangs on intermaxillary; uniserial, small, conical teeth on vomer. Vertebrae 126-133.
Colour brownish, irregularly marked with yellowish
blotches and diffuse, vertical bars on tail; several distinctive, dark brown, oval blotches behind eye; corner of mouth
dusky. Attains 36 cm. Transkei to Bazaruto Id., Mozambique; Indo-Pacific.
41.15 Gymnothorax margaritophorus: 22 em (Mafia Id.).
41.16 Gymnothorax melatremus
(Schultz, 1953)
Blackspot moray
Swartgespikkelde bontpaling
Gymnothorax melatremus Schultz, 1953: 120, Figs. 23d, 25 (Bikini,
Marshall Ids.).
Head 7.1-8.9, depth 15-20. Teeth stout, conical; 2 rows on upper jaw,
inner teeth larger; lower jaw teeth uniserial, with a few large, extra teeth
in front; 10 on intermaxillary; biserial blunt molars on vomer. Vertebrae
127-130.
Colour golden fading quickly to white on preservation;
conspicuous dark spot surrounding gill opening. Attains 26
cm. Known only from Sodwana Bay and the type-locality .
. , . ~ . ,- \
. ---- --;~ )
. ---.~~
41.16 Gymnothorax me/atremus: 15 em (Sodwana Bay).
41.17 Gymnothorax meleagris
(Shaw & Nodder, 1795)
...
Guineafowl moray
Tarentaal-bontpaling
Muraena meleagris Shaw & Nodder, 1795: A2, PI. 220 (Pacific);
?Gilchrist & Thompson, 1911: 53. Lycodontis meleagris: Smith, 1962:
435* (in part, not Fig.); Gymnothorax meleagris: Winterbottom, 1978: 42.
41: MURAENIDAE (MORAY EELS)
Head 7-8, depth 12-19. Sharp, prominent teeth on jaws; 2 rows in upper
jaw, inner teeth larger; about 10 large fangs on intermaxillary; uniserial,
small teeth on vomer and lower jaw. Vertebrae 127-131.
Colour dark purplish brown covered with small yellow
spots, crowded in front, more sparse on tail; gill opening
black. Attains 57 cm. Algoa Bay to southern Mozambique;
Indo-Pacific.
41.17 Gymnothorax me/eagris: 63.5 em (N. Mozambique).
41.18 Gymnothorax monochrous
(Bleeker, 1856)
Drab moray
Vaal bontpaling
Muraena monochrous Bleeker, 1856: 384 (Indonesia); 1864: 106*.
Lycodontis monochrous: Smith, 1962: 437*.
Head 8-9, depth 19-22. Sharp, small teeth in jaws, partly biserial in
upper jaw with 1-4 inner fangs and a few larger intermaxillary fangs; 1 row
of small teeth on vomer and lower jaw. Vertebrae 134-145.
Colour pale brown above, lighter below. Attains 56 cm.
Delagoa Bay northward, in sheltered, turbid water; IndoPacific.
41.18 Gymnothorax monochrous: 15.5 em (near Maputo). Arrow indicates anus .
41.19 Gymnothorax nudivomer
(Gunther, 1867)
Starry moray
Sterretjies-bontpaling
Muraena nudivomer Giinther, in Playfair & Giinther, 1867: 127, PI. 18
(Zanzibar). Lycodontis nudivomer: Smith, SFSA No. 1125*; 1962: 438".
Head about 8, depth 11. Uniserial, teeth on jaws; small teeth on premaxillary; no teeth on vomer of adults. Vertebrae 126-129.
Colour brownish yellow, a network of fine lines anteriorly, yellow or white spots on tail; gill opening in a dusky
171