Longarmed snake eel

The longarmed snake eel[1] (Ophichthus mecopterus) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[2] It was described by John E. McCosker and Richard Heinrich Rosenblatt in 1998.[3] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern central Pacific Ocean, including Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama.[2][4] It is known to dwell at a depth range of 24 to 79 metres (79 to 259 ft), and inhabits soft substrates. Males can reach a maximum total length of 27.4 centimetres (10.8 in).[2]

Longarmed snake eel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Ophichthus
Species:
O. mecopterus
Binomial name
Ophichthus mecopterus

The species epithet "mecopterus" means "long fin" in Ancient Greek, and refers to the elongated pectoral fins on the species.[2] Due to its wide distribution in the eastern Pacific, lack of known threats and lack of observed population declines, the IUCN redlist currently lists the Longarmed snake eel as Least Concern.[4]

References
  1. Common names of Ophichthus mecopterus at www.fishbase.org.
  2. Ophichthus mecopterus at www.fishbase.org.
  3. McCosker, J. E. and R. H. Rosenblatt, 1998 (18 Dec.) [ref. 23645] A revision of the eastern Pacific snake-eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of six new species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences v. 50 (no. 19): 397-432.
  4. Ophichthus mecopterus at the IUCN redlist.


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