41: MURAENIDAE (MORAY EELS)
41.33 Uropterygius xanthopterus
Bleeker, 1859
Freckleface reef-eel
Sproet-rifpaling
Uropterygius xanthopterus Bleeker, 1859: 350 (Amboina, Indonesia);
McCosker & Randall, 1982: 22. Uropterygius alboguttatus Smith, 1962:
427, Fig. 4, PI. 60E (Assumption Id.).
Head 7.5, depth 25-30. Teeth sharp, slender, recurved; 2 rows in upper
jaw, inner teeth larger and depressible; lower jaw teeth similar; a few
depressible fangs on intermaxillary; uniserial , small teeth on vomer. A
pair of anterior LL pores. Vertebrae 131-133.
Colour uniform, dully mottled brown, with numerous
tiny white specks, especially on head; C yellow. Attains 35
cm. Sodwana Bay, to southern Mozambique; Indo-Pacific.
41.33 Uropterygius xanthopterus: 35 cm holotype of U. alboguttatus (Assumption Id.); head from 24.5 cm specimen (Pacific; photo by J.E. Randall).
Arrows indicate LL pores.
Family 42: OPHICHTHIDAE
by J.E. McCosker & P.H.J. Castle
Snake-eels and
Siangpalings en
worm-eels
wurmpalings
Two subfamilies (M yrophinae and Ophichthinae) share a
combination of osteological and external characters such as
a supraorbital pore and a supratemporal pore along the
dorsal midline of the head, numerous overlapping branchiostegal rays, and posterior nostrils that usually lie along
the lip and open into the mouth. Many new species have
been collected in recent years by divers using rotenone
ichthyocides.
Worm-eels (Subfamily Myrophinae) typically possess:
body scaleless and compressed posteriorly. Pectoral fins
present or absent. Dorsal fin origin from mid-trunk to rear
tail region ; median fins continuous around caudal. Gill
openings small, midlateral, and constricted. Teeth small,
varying from uniserial to bands on jaws and vomer. Lateral
176
line complete. Coloration plain, slightly darker dorsally.
Typically small (less than 30 cm), worm-like sand- and mudburrowing forms. No commercial significance. Ten genera
(1 undescribed) and about 45 species worldwide; 1 genus
and 3 species in our area. Reviewed by McCosker (1970,
1977,1982) and by Smith (1962).
Snake-eels (Subfamily Ophichthinae) are very diverse,
but typically possess: body scaleless, from moderately
robust to extremely elongate, usually somewhat compressed
behind. Pectoral fins present or absent. If present, dorsal
fin arises from head to mid-trunk. Median fins not reaching
caudal tip which is hard and pointed. Gill openings midlateral
to entirely ventral, unconstricted. Teeth uniserial or multiserial, either fangs, molariform, or conical. Coloration variable, either plain, spotted, banded, or striped. Mostly small
(less than 1 m, although O. serpens may reach 250 cm) sandburrowing species. No commercial significance, although
edible. Forty-four genera and more than 175 species worldwide; 16 genera and 26 species known in our area. Reviewed
by McCosker (1977) and by Smith (1962). We have included
the genera Myrophis and Phaenomonas (in brackets in the
key) which, although not yet collected in this area, are
nearby and expected to occur here.
KEY TO GENERA
la C rays conspicuous, tail tip flexible; gill openings small,
midlateral to ventrolateral (Subfamily Myrophinae) . . ...... 2
Ib Tail tip a hard or fleshy finless point; gill openings often
elongate, midlateral to entirely ventral (Subfamily
Ophichthinae) .. . .. . ..... ... .............. . ... 3
2a P present. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [Myrophis)
2b P absent .................. . .. ... .. . Muraenichthys
3a Body entirely finless (snout sharply conical; gill
openings ventral, converging forward) ......... . ... ... . 4
3b At least a low D present . ..... . . . .......... .. .. .. . 5
4a Rear nostril opening outside mouth, with a flap;
front nostril tubular; eye moderately developed . . .. Apterichtus
Apterichtus klazingai'
4b Rear nostril opening inside mouth, with or without a
flap ; front nostril not tubular; eye minute ....... . . Ichthyapus
.:. ~
"Ventral views of snout and gill region: af = anterior fold of gill opening;
an = anterior nostril; im = intermaxillary teeth; pn = posterior nostril;
v = vomerine teeth .
41.33 Uropterygius xanthopterus
Bleeker, 1859
Freckleface reef-eel
Sproet-rifpaling
Uropterygius xanthopterus Bleeker, 1859: 350 (Amboina, Indonesia);
McCosker & Randall, 1982: 22. Uropterygius alboguttatus Smith, 1962:
427, Fig. 4, PI. 60E (Assumption Id.).
Head 7.5, depth 25-30. Teeth sharp, slender, recurved; 2 rows in upper
jaw, inner teeth larger and depressible; lower jaw teeth similar; a few
depressible fangs on intermaxillary; uniserial , small teeth on vomer. A
pair of anterior LL pores. Vertebrae 131-133.
Colour uniform, dully mottled brown, with numerous
tiny white specks, especially on head; C yellow. Attains 35
cm. Sodwana Bay, to southern Mozambique; Indo-Pacific.
41.33 Uropterygius xanthopterus: 35 cm holotype of U. alboguttatus (Assumption Id.); head from 24.5 cm specimen (Pacific; photo by J.E. Randall).
Arrows indicate LL pores.
Family 42: OPHICHTHIDAE
by J.E. McCosker & P.H.J. Castle
Snake-eels and
Siangpalings en
worm-eels
wurmpalings
Two subfamilies (M yrophinae and Ophichthinae) share a
combination of osteological and external characters such as
a supraorbital pore and a supratemporal pore along the
dorsal midline of the head, numerous overlapping branchiostegal rays, and posterior nostrils that usually lie along
the lip and open into the mouth. Many new species have
been collected in recent years by divers using rotenone
ichthyocides.
Worm-eels (Subfamily Myrophinae) typically possess:
body scaleless and compressed posteriorly. Pectoral fins
present or absent. Dorsal fin origin from mid-trunk to rear
tail region ; median fins continuous around caudal. Gill
openings small, midlateral, and constricted. Teeth small,
varying from uniserial to bands on jaws and vomer. Lateral
176
line complete. Coloration plain, slightly darker dorsally.
Typically small (less than 30 cm), worm-like sand- and mudburrowing forms. No commercial significance. Ten genera
(1 undescribed) and about 45 species worldwide; 1 genus
and 3 species in our area. Reviewed by McCosker (1970,
1977,1982) and by Smith (1962).
Snake-eels (Subfamily Ophichthinae) are very diverse,
but typically possess: body scaleless, from moderately
robust to extremely elongate, usually somewhat compressed
behind. Pectoral fins present or absent. If present, dorsal
fin arises from head to mid-trunk. Median fins not reaching
caudal tip which is hard and pointed. Gill openings midlateral
to entirely ventral, unconstricted. Teeth uniserial or multiserial, either fangs, molariform, or conical. Coloration variable, either plain, spotted, banded, or striped. Mostly small
(less than 1 m, although O. serpens may reach 250 cm) sandburrowing species. No commercial significance, although
edible. Forty-four genera and more than 175 species worldwide; 16 genera and 26 species known in our area. Reviewed
by McCosker (1977) and by Smith (1962). We have included
the genera Myrophis and Phaenomonas (in brackets in the
key) which, although not yet collected in this area, are
nearby and expected to occur here.
KEY TO GENERA
la C rays conspicuous, tail tip flexible; gill openings small,
midlateral to ventrolateral (Subfamily Myrophinae) . . ...... 2
Ib Tail tip a hard or fleshy finless point; gill openings often
elongate, midlateral to entirely ventral (Subfamily
Ophichthinae) .. . .. . ..... ... .............. . ... 3
2a P present. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [Myrophis)
2b P absent .................. . .. ... .. . Muraenichthys
3a Body entirely finless (snout sharply conical; gill
openings ventral, converging forward) ......... . ... ... . 4
3b At least a low D present . ..... . . . .......... .. .. .. . 5
4a Rear nostril opening outside mouth, with a flap;
front nostril tubular; eye moderately developed . . .. Apterichtus
Apterichtus klazingai'
4b Rear nostril opening inside mouth, with or without a
flap ; front nostril not tubular; eye minute ....... . . Ichthyapus
.:. ~
"Ventral views of snout and gill region: af = anterior fold of gill opening;
an = anterior nostril; im = intermaxillary teeth; pn = posterior nostril;
v = vomerine teeth .