Ophichthus microstictus

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]

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

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. Ophichthus microstictus at www.fishbase.org.
  2. 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.


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