Nemichthys curvirostris

Nemichthys curvirostris, the boxer snipe eel, is a snipe eel of the family Nemichthyidae. Like other snipe eels, they have incredibly narrow and elongated bodies, and small fins.

Nemichthys curvirostris
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Nemichthyidae
Genus: Nemichthys
Species:
N. curvirostris
Binomial name
Nemichthys curvirostris
(Strömman, 1896)
Synonyms

Leptocephalus curvirostris
Leptocephalus polymerus

Habitat

The eel lives at depths of up to 2,000 m. It has a probable global distribution.

Description

The length is up to 143 centimetres (4.69 ft). It has long, narrow fine-boned delicate jaws, which are curved, and have small hooked teeth for swiping crustaceans, zooplankton, and sea snow from the water column. This eel is extremely delicate at touch, with a somewhat smooth, slimy skin, and diminutive eyes which are positioned near the rear end of the jaws.

Biology

Feeds on crustaceans like amphipods, copepods, shrimp, and possibly also consumes fish eggs and sea snow. Reproduction is oviparous.

References

Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Nemichthys curvirostris" in FishBase. May 2006 version.

Nemichthys curvirostris, boxer snipe eel 1 20 Feb. 2009 http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=9107.


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