Library Index

Muriena

species

MURIENA is the name of an eel common in the Mediterranean, and highly esteemed by the ancient Romans ; it was afterwards applied to the whole genus of fishes to which the Mediterranean species belongs, and which is abundantly represented in tropical and subtropical seas, especially in rocky parts or on coral reefs. Some ninety species are known. In the majority a long fin runs from the head along the back, round the tail to the vent, but all are destitute of pectoral and ventral fins. The skin is scaleless and perfectly smooth, in many species ornamented with a pretty pattern of very varied and bright colours, so that these fishes are frequently mistaken for snakes. The mouth is wide, the jaws strong and armed with formidable, generally sharply-pointed, teeth, which enable the Murmna not only to seize its prey (which chiefly consists of other fishes) but also to inflict serious, and even sometimes dangerous, wounds on its enemies. It readily attacks persons who approach its places of concealment U. shallow water, and is therefore justly feared by fishermen.
MURIENA
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Some of the tropical Murxnas exceed a length of 10 feet, but most of the species, among them the Mediterranean species, attain to only half that length. The latter, the " Morena " of the Italians and the Murmna helena of ichthyologists, was considered by the ancient Romans to be one of the greatest delicacies, and was kept in large

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