Ophichthus microstictus
Ophichthus microstictus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Anguilliformes |
Family: | Ophichthidae |
Genus: | Ophichthus |
Species: | O. microstictus |
Binomial name | |
Ophichthus microstictus McCosker, 2010 | |
Ophichthus microstictus is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[1] It was described by John E. McCosker in 2010.[2] It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from the western central Pacific Ocean, including Tonga, Fiji, and New Caledonia. It dwells at a depth range of 362 to 450 metres (1,188 to 1,476 ft). Males can reach a maximum total length of 48.9 centimetres (19.3 in).[1]
The species epithet "microstictus" means "small punctures" in Greek, and is treated as a noun in apposition. It refers to the small pores on the eel's head.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ophichthus microstictus at www.fishbase.org.
- ↑ McCosker, J. E. 2010 (14 June) [ref. 30840] Deepwater Indo-Pacific species of the snake-eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of nine new species. Zootaxa No. 2505: 1-39.