Smiling snake eel

The smiling snake eel (Ichthyapus selachops, also known as the smiling sand eel[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by David Starr Jordan and Charles Henry Gilbert in 1882, originally under the genus Apterichthys.[4] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern central and southeastern Pacific Ocean, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, and Mexico.[5] It dwells at a maximum depth of 30 metres (98 ft), and inhabits sediments of sand. Males can reach a maximum total length of 41 centimetres (16 in).[3]

Smiling snake eel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Ichthyapus
Species:
I. selachops
Binomial name
Ichthyapus selachops
(Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)
Synonyms[1]
  • Apterichthys selachops Jordan & Gilbert, 1882

Due to its wide distribution, lack of known threats, and lack of observed population decline, the IUCN redlist currently lists the Smiling snake-eel as Least Concern.[5]

References
  1. Synonyms of Ichthyapus selachops at www.fishbase.org.
  2. Common names of Ichthyapus selachops at www.fishbase.org.
  3. Ichthyapus selachops at www.fishbase.org.
  4. Jordan, D. S. and C. H. Gilbert, 1882 (16 Sept.) [ref. 12308] Catalogue of the fishes collected by Mr. John Xantus at Cape San Lucas, which are now in the United States National Museum, with descriptions of eight new species. Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 5 (no. 290): 353-371.
  5. Ichthyapus selachops at the IUCN redlist.
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