Gymnomuraena zebra (Shaw 1797)

Smith, David G., 2012, A checklist of the moray eels of the world (Teleostei: Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) 3474, Zootaxa 3474, pp. 1-64 : 10-11

Gymnomuraena zebra (Shaw 1797)

Gymnothorax zebra Shaw in Shaw & Nodder 1797: 4 unnum. pp., pl. 322 (Sumatra, Indonesia [erroneously given originally as American seas]). Holotype (unique), BMNH 1977.4 .22.4.

Gymnomuraena doliata Lacepède 1803: 648 , 649, pl. 19 (fig. 4) (New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago). Holotype (unique), MNHN B-2376.

Muraena molendinaris Bennett 1833: 32 ( Mauritius) . Holotype (unique), BMNH 1852.9 .13.100.

Gymnomuraena fasciata Kaup 1856a: 68 ( Muscat, Oman). Lectotype, MNHN 4425, designated by Böhlke & Randall 2000: 225.

VERTEBRAE: 13–18, 80–88, 129–137 (MVF 14, 84, 132).

DISTRIBUTION: Indo-West Pacific; Eastern Pacific.

Genus Gymnothorax Bloch 1795

Gymnothorax Bloch 1795: 83 . Type species Gymnothorax reticularis Bloch 1795 , by ICZN by use of plenary powers (Opinion 93). Masculine.

Thaerodontis McClelland 1844: 154 , 174, 187. Type species Thaerodontis reticulata McClelland 1844 , by subsequent designation ( Jordan & Evermann 1896: 392). Feminine.

Siderea Kaup 1856a: 58 . Type species Muraena s iderea Richardson 1848, by absolute tautonymy of an included synonym. Feminine.

Thyrsoidea Kaup 1856a: 60 . Type species Muraena thyrsoidea Richardson 1844 , by absolute tautonymy of an included synonym. Feminine.

Polyuranodon Kaup 1856a: 65. Type species Polyuranodon kuhli Kaup 1856, by monotypy. Masculine.

Neomuraena Girard 1858: 171 . Type species Neomuraena nigromarginata Girard 1858 , by monotypy. Feminine.

Taeniophis Kaup 1859 : suppl. 1. Type species Taeniophis westphali Kaup 1859 , by subsequent designation ( Jordan & Davis 1891: 589). Masculine.

Priodonophis Kaup 1859: 22 . Type species Gymnothorax ocellatus Agassiz 1831 , by monotypy. Masculine.

Pseudomuraena Johnson 1862: 167 . Type species Pseudomuraena maderensis Johnson 1862 , by monotypy. Feminine.

Rabula Jordan & Davis 1891: 589, 590. Type species Muraena aquaedulcis Cope 1872 , by original designation. Feminine.

Lycodontis Jordan & Evermann 1896: 392. Type species Lycodontis literata McClelland 1844 , by original designation. Feminine.

Ahynnodontophis Fowler 1912: 25 . Type species Gymnothorax (Ahynnodontophis) stigmanotus Fowler 1912 , by original designation (also monotypic). Masculine.

Verdithorax Whitley 1931: 311 . Type species Muraena prasina Richardson 1848 , by original designation. Masculine.

Notorabula Whitley 1934: 154 . Type species Muraena callorhyncha Günther 1870 , by original designation (also monotypic). Feminine.

Heteromyrus Pietschmann 1935: 93 . Type species Heteromyrus atolli Pietschmann 1935 , by monotypy. Masculine.

Serranguilla Whitley & Phillipps 1939: 228 . Type species Gymnothorax prionodon Ogilby 1895 , by original designation (also monotypic). Feminine.

Chasmenchelys Fowler 1944: 270 . Type species Muraena panamensis Steindachner 1876 , by original designation (also monotypic). Feminine.

REMARKS: Gymnothorax as currently treated is almost certainly a polyphyletic assemblage of generalized moray eels that are left over after everything else has been separated out. Some of the synonyms have been recognized as genera from time to time, but until more thorough comparative studies have been made, such actions are premature.