Blackpored eel

Blackpored eel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Ophichthus
Species: O. melanoporus
Binomial name
Ophichthus melanoporus
Kanazawa, 1963

The blackpored eel[1] (Ophichthus melanoporus) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[2] It was described by Robert H. Kanazawa in 1963.[3] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the western central Atlantic Ocean, including Florida, USA; the Bahamas, and Mexico.[2][4] It dwells at a depth range of 51–460 metres. While the adults inhabit deep water, the larvae are laid inshore.[4] Males can reach a maximum total length of 70 centimetres.[2]

Despite its considerable distribution, the IUCN redlist currently lists the blackpored eel as Data Deficient due to a lack of information on its population, habitat preferences, ecology, and potential threats.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Common names for Ophichthus melanoporus at www.fishbase.org.
  2. 1 2 3 Ophichthus melanoporus at www.fishbase.org.
  3. ↑ Kanazawa, R. H., 1963 (31 Dec.) [ref. 4901] Two new species of ophichthid eels from the western Atlantic. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington v. 76: 281-287.
  4. 1 2 3 Ophichthus melanoporus at the IUCN redlist.


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