Dark deepwater snake eel | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Anguilliformes |
Family: | Ophichthidae |
Genus: | Ophichthus |
Species: | O. aphotistos
|
Binomial name | |
Ophichthus aphotistos
J. E. McCosker &
Y. Y. Chen, 2000
|
The dark deepwater snake eel [1] (Ophichthus aphotistos) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. [2] It was described by John E. McCosker and Chen Yu-Yun in 2000. [3] It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from Taiwan, in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It dwells at a depth range of 36–1350 m (most commonly 250–350 m), and inhabits sand and mud. Specimens have been observed in burrows with only their heads exposed, or resting on sediment with their bodies curved in an S shape. Females can reach a maximum total length of 62.8 cm. [2]
The specific epithet aphotistos, meaning dark or obscure, refers both to the eel's appearance and its habitat. [2]
Dark deepwater snake eel | |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Anguilliformes |
Family: | Ophichthidae |
Genus: | Ophichthus |
Species: | O. aphotistos
|
Binomial name | |
Ophichthus aphotistos
J. E. McCosker &
Y. Y. Chen, 2000
|
The dark deepwater snake eel [1] (Ophichthus aphotistos) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. [2] It was described by John E. McCosker and Chen Yu-Yun in 2000. [3] It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from Taiwan, in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It dwells at a depth range of 36–1350 m (most commonly 250–350 m), and inhabits sand and mud. Specimens have been observed in burrows with only their heads exposed, or resting on sediment with their bodies curved in an S shape. Females can reach a maximum total length of 62.8 cm. [2]
The specific epithet aphotistos, meaning dark or obscure, refers both to the eel's appearance and its habitat. [2]