Genus: Chilorhinus, False Morays, Seagrass False Moray

CHILORHINUS

FALSE MORAYS

Body short and stout, slightly compressed; anus slightly before mid-body; snout short, broadly rounded; large eyes; front nostril tubular, points downward; rear nostril opens in top lip under eye; mouth small, ends before rear edge of eye; lower lip with a downturned flange; top lip without a flange, but projects below, covering part of lower jaw when mouth is closed, jaw teeth slender, in 2 rows; a round patch of teeth at front between top jaws; 2 widely separated rows of teeth on center of roof of mouth; lower jaw teeth in several irregular rows at front, 1 row at rear; gill opening small, oval, lateral; pectoral fins tiny to absent; dorsal and anal fins well developed, increase in height to rear and join a broad tail fin; dorsal origin distinctly behind gill opening, but before anus; lateral line reduced to 1 pore high above gill area, 6 pores on lower jaw, last well behind end of mouth.

A genus with 2 species; 1 Indo-W Pacific, and 1 W Atlantic in our area.