42: OPHICHTHIDAE (SNAKE EELS & WORM EELS)
Genus Leiuranus Bleeker, 1853
Groove on underside of snout; front nostrils tubular; gill
openings vertical. One species.
42.9 Leiuranus semicinctus
(Lay & Bennett, 1839)
Halfbanded snake-eel
Halfband-slangpaling
Ophisurus semicinctus Lay & Bennett, 1839: 66 (Polynesia). Leiuranus
semicinctus: Smith, SFSA No. 1000a*j 1962: 455*. Leiuranus phoenixensis: Smith, 1961: 572, No. 1000abj Smith, 1962: 455*.
Head 11.5-14.5; depth 33-70; tail 1.9-2.1. D origin above P. Jaw teeth
sharp, conical, uniserial; a few stout teeth on intermaxillary and on
vomer, sometimes absent on vomer in young. Vertebrae 162-170.
Body with 25-30 black saddles which meet below only on
tail, ground colour white to yellow. Attains 60 cm. IndoPacific; south to Knysna, common in tropical western
Indian Ocean.
42.9 Leiuranus semicinctus: top: 29 em; bottom: L. phoenixensis colour
variety. 46.5 cm (Inhaca Id.). Arrow indicates anus.
42.10 Muraenichthys gymnotus: 33 cm (N. Mozambique).
42.11 MuraenichthJ(s laticaudata: 33 cm (N. Mozambique). Arrow indicates anus.
180
Genus Muraenichthys Bleeker, 1853
No prominent, median, ventral snout groove; C rays conspicuous; tail tip flexible; no P. About 20 species; 3 in our
area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la D origin nearly a head length before anus; head
and tail orange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M. xorae
1 b D origin above or behind anus; head and tail not orange ...... 2
2a Snout acute; D origin distinctly behind anus ...... M. gymnotus
2b Snout bluntly rounded; D origin well before, to just
behind, anus ......................... M.laticaudata
42.10 Muraenichthys gymnotus
Bleeker, 1864
Slender worm-eel
Siank wurmpaling
Muraenichthys gymnotus Bleeker, 1864: 33, PI. 50, Fig. 3 (Indonesia);
Barnard, 1934: 228; Smith, SFSA No. 1135*j 1962; 461 *; Smith, 1980: 185.
Head 9-10; depth about 40; tail 1.7. D origin about a half head length
behind anus. All teeth small, sharp; biserial on upper jaw, uniserial on
lower; a few slender canines on intermaxillary; biserial, becoming uniserial on vomer. Vertebrae 128-134.
Olive green above, belly yellow. Attains 17 cm. Bredasdorp to Zululand; east Africa to central Pacific.
42.11 Muraenichthys laticaudata
(Ogilby, 1897)
Redfin worm-eel
Rooivin-wurmpaling
Myropterura laticaudata Ogilby, 1897: 247 (Fiji). Muraenichthys
laticauda: Smith, 1958: 127; 1961: 572, No. 1135bj 1962; 462*; Smith,
1980; 185.
Head 9-10; depth 25-35; tail 1.8. D origin from nearly a head length before to just behind anus. Teeth small, sharp; mostly biserial on upper jaw,
uniserial on lower; a few teeth on intermaxillary; biserial to uniserial on
vomer. Vertebrae 126-139.
Olive green above, median fins reddish. Attains 35 cm.
Indo-Pacific; south to East London.
Genus Leiuranus Bleeker, 1853
Groove on underside of snout; front nostrils tubular; gill
openings vertical. One species.
42.9 Leiuranus semicinctus
(Lay & Bennett, 1839)
Halfbanded snake-eel
Halfband-slangpaling
Ophisurus semicinctus Lay & Bennett, 1839: 66 (Polynesia). Leiuranus
semicinctus: Smith, SFSA No. 1000a*j 1962: 455*. Leiuranus phoenixensis: Smith, 1961: 572, No. 1000abj Smith, 1962: 455*.
Head 11.5-14.5; depth 33-70; tail 1.9-2.1. D origin above P. Jaw teeth
sharp, conical, uniserial; a few stout teeth on intermaxillary and on
vomer, sometimes absent on vomer in young. Vertebrae 162-170.
Body with 25-30 black saddles which meet below only on
tail, ground colour white to yellow. Attains 60 cm. IndoPacific; south to Knysna, common in tropical western
Indian Ocean.
42.9 Leiuranus semicinctus: top: 29 em; bottom: L. phoenixensis colour
variety. 46.5 cm (Inhaca Id.). Arrow indicates anus.
42.10 Muraenichthys gymnotus: 33 cm (N. Mozambique).
42.11 MuraenichthJ(s laticaudata: 33 cm (N. Mozambique). Arrow indicates anus.
180
Genus Muraenichthys Bleeker, 1853
No prominent, median, ventral snout groove; C rays conspicuous; tail tip flexible; no P. About 20 species; 3 in our
area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la D origin nearly a head length before anus; head
and tail orange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M. xorae
1 b D origin above or behind anus; head and tail not orange ...... 2
2a Snout acute; D origin distinctly behind anus ...... M. gymnotus
2b Snout bluntly rounded; D origin well before, to just
behind, anus ......................... M.laticaudata
42.10 Muraenichthys gymnotus
Bleeker, 1864
Slender worm-eel
Siank wurmpaling
Muraenichthys gymnotus Bleeker, 1864: 33, PI. 50, Fig. 3 (Indonesia);
Barnard, 1934: 228; Smith, SFSA No. 1135*j 1962; 461 *; Smith, 1980: 185.
Head 9-10; depth about 40; tail 1.7. D origin about a half head length
behind anus. All teeth small, sharp; biserial on upper jaw, uniserial on
lower; a few slender canines on intermaxillary; biserial, becoming uniserial on vomer. Vertebrae 128-134.
Olive green above, belly yellow. Attains 17 cm. Bredasdorp to Zululand; east Africa to central Pacific.
42.11 Muraenichthys laticaudata
(Ogilby, 1897)
Redfin worm-eel
Rooivin-wurmpaling
Myropterura laticaudata Ogilby, 1897: 247 (Fiji). Muraenichthys
laticauda: Smith, 1958: 127; 1961: 572, No. 1135bj 1962; 462*; Smith,
1980; 185.
Head 9-10; depth 25-35; tail 1.8. D origin from nearly a head length before to just behind anus. Teeth small, sharp; mostly biserial on upper jaw,
uniserial on lower; a few teeth on intermaxillary; biserial to uniserial on
vomer. Vertebrae 126-139.
Olive green above, median fins reddish. Attains 35 cm.
Indo-Pacific; south to East London.