42: OPHICHTHIDAE (SNAKE EELS & WORM EELS)
Olive above, lighter below. Attains 54cm. Natal northwards to Aden.
42.2 Bascanichthys kirkii: 45 em ripe female (Natal). Arrows indicate D origin
and anus.
Genus Brachysomophis Kaup, 1856
Five recognised species; 1 in our area.
42.3 Brachysomophis crocodilinus
(Bennett, 1833)
Crocodile snake-eel
Krokodil-slangpaling
Ophisurus crocodilinus Bennett, 1833: 32 (Mauritius) . Brachysomophis crocodilinus: Smith, 1957: 842; 1962: 454* .
Head 7; depth 19; tail 2.2. P present; D origin well behind head. Snout
short ; eyes prominent and bulged; gape very large . Teeth fang-like, biserial on upper jaw, the inner series larger; a cluster of large teeth on intermaxillary; uniserial on vomer and lower jaw. Lips fringed . Vertebrae 116120.
Brownish, lighter below and on fins. Attains 106 cm.
Natal (specimen discarded, known only from a photograph); also Tanzania, Seychelles, Mauritius and IndoPacific.
42.3 Brachysomophis crocodilinus: 13.5 em (Aldabra Id.).
Genus Cal/eche/ys Kaup, 1856
A median groove on underside of snout. Fifteen species;
1 in our area.
178
42.4 Callechelys marmorata
(Bleeker, 1853)
PLATE 8
Marbled snake-eel
Marmer-slangpaling
Dalophis marmoratus Bleeker, 1853: 37 (Indonesia) ; 1864: 66* .
Callechelys marmoratus: Smith, 1955: 26*; 1961: 572, No. l099d*; 1962:
451*; Smith , 1980: 185.
Head 10-14; depth 31-42; tail 2.8. No P; D origin on nape. Gill openings
lateral to ventral. Teeth sharp, slender; 7-9 uniserial teeth in upper jaw,
10-12 uniserial in lower jaw; a few recurved conical teeth on intermaxillary; vomerine teeth larger, biserial in front , then uniserial. Vertebrae
173-183.
Yellowish white, speckled and spotted with darker,
coalescing spots. Attains 57 cm. Central Indo-Pacific, south
to Natal.
42.4 Cal/echelys marmorata: 46.5 em (Bazaruto Id.). Arrow indicates anus.
Genus Cirrhimuraena Kaup, 1856
P present; D origin on nape; a fringe of cirri along upper
lip. Nine species; 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la P 3.5-3 .8 in head; head 3.0-3.8 in trunk ... . . . ... . C. playfairii
Ib P 1.8-2 in head; head 2.0-2.2 in trunk . ... .. . . ... . . C. inhacae
42.5 Cirrhimuraena inhacae
(Smith, 1962)
Inhaca fringelip
Inhaca-fraiinglip
lenkinsiella inhacae Smith, 1962: 449 , Fig. 1, PI. 66, Figs. D & E
(Inhaca). Cirrhimuraena inhacae: McCosker, 1977: 75.
Head 9.5-10; depth 28-30; tail 1.4. Teeth small, slender, sharp; uniserial
or biserial on jaws and vomer. Vertebrae 166-167.
In preservative, dark brown, lighter below. Attains 23
cm. Inhaca Island and Madagascar.
Olive above, lighter below. Attains 54cm. Natal northwards to Aden.
42.2 Bascanichthys kirkii: 45 em ripe female (Natal). Arrows indicate D origin
and anus.
Genus Brachysomophis Kaup, 1856
Five recognised species; 1 in our area.
42.3 Brachysomophis crocodilinus
(Bennett, 1833)
Crocodile snake-eel
Krokodil-slangpaling
Ophisurus crocodilinus Bennett, 1833: 32 (Mauritius) . Brachysomophis crocodilinus: Smith, 1957: 842; 1962: 454* .
Head 7; depth 19; tail 2.2. P present; D origin well behind head. Snout
short ; eyes prominent and bulged; gape very large . Teeth fang-like, biserial on upper jaw, the inner series larger; a cluster of large teeth on intermaxillary; uniserial on vomer and lower jaw. Lips fringed . Vertebrae 116120.
Brownish, lighter below and on fins. Attains 106 cm.
Natal (specimen discarded, known only from a photograph); also Tanzania, Seychelles, Mauritius and IndoPacific.
42.3 Brachysomophis crocodilinus: 13.5 em (Aldabra Id.).
Genus Cal/eche/ys Kaup, 1856
A median groove on underside of snout. Fifteen species;
1 in our area.
178
42.4 Callechelys marmorata
(Bleeker, 1853)
PLATE 8
Marbled snake-eel
Marmer-slangpaling
Dalophis marmoratus Bleeker, 1853: 37 (Indonesia) ; 1864: 66* .
Callechelys marmoratus: Smith, 1955: 26*; 1961: 572, No. l099d*; 1962:
451*; Smith , 1980: 185.
Head 10-14; depth 31-42; tail 2.8. No P; D origin on nape. Gill openings
lateral to ventral. Teeth sharp, slender; 7-9 uniserial teeth in upper jaw,
10-12 uniserial in lower jaw; a few recurved conical teeth on intermaxillary; vomerine teeth larger, biserial in front , then uniserial. Vertebrae
173-183.
Yellowish white, speckled and spotted with darker,
coalescing spots. Attains 57 cm. Central Indo-Pacific, south
to Natal.
42.4 Cal/echelys marmorata: 46.5 em (Bazaruto Id.). Arrow indicates anus.
Genus Cirrhimuraena Kaup, 1856
P present; D origin on nape; a fringe of cirri along upper
lip. Nine species; 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la P 3.5-3 .8 in head; head 3.0-3.8 in trunk ... . . . ... . C. playfairii
Ib P 1.8-2 in head; head 2.0-2.2 in trunk . ... .. . . ... . . C. inhacae
42.5 Cirrhimuraena inhacae
(Smith, 1962)
Inhaca fringelip
Inhaca-fraiinglip
lenkinsiella inhacae Smith, 1962: 449 , Fig. 1, PI. 66, Figs. D & E
(Inhaca). Cirrhimuraena inhacae: McCosker, 1977: 75.
Head 9.5-10; depth 28-30; tail 1.4. Teeth small, slender, sharp; uniserial
or biserial on jaws and vomer. Vertebrae 166-167.
In preservative, dark brown, lighter below. Attains 23
cm. Inhaca Island and Madagascar.