REVIEW OF THE MORAY EELS (ANGUILLIFORMES, MURAENIDAE) OF THE RED-SEA

We report on 32 species of moray eels (Muraenidae) from the Red Sea, o f which the following 11 are new records: Enchelycore bayeri, Gymnotho rax angusticauda, G. herrei, G. moluccensis, G. pindae, G. punctatofas ciatus, G. reticularis, Muraena helena, Uropterygius makatei, U. micro pterus, and U. nagoensis. Uropterygius genie, described as a new speci es from two specimens, is distinctive in its gill opening high on side of body, forward position of its eye (snout length 7.9-8.2 in head), five rows of teeth in jaws, the inner rows and vomerine teeth very lon g, 121 vertebrae, and uniform brown color. Muraena corralinus Klunzing er is placed in the synonymy of Gymnothorax buroensis (Bleeker), and G . cinerascens Ruppell in the synonymy of G. hepaticus (Ruppell). Previ ous records of G. melegaris Shaw from the Red Sea are misidentificatio ns of G. buroensis or G. undulatus (Lacepede). The Red Sea records of G. afer Bloch and G. monochrous (Bleeker) are probable misidentificati ons of G. hepaticus.