Shortfinned worm eel

The shortfinned worm eel (Scolecenchelys australis, also known commonly as the shortfin worm eel, the worm eel, the southern worm eel, the Down's worm eel, the Iredale's worm eel, or the Scotts worm eel[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by William John Macleay in 1881, originally under the genus Muraenichthys.[4] It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling eel which is known from Australia, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It forms large colonies which inhabit burrows in soft sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 40 centimetres (16 in).[3]

Shortfinned worm eel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Scolecenchelys
Species:
S. australis
Binomial name
Scolecenchelys australis
(Macleay, 1881)
Synonyms[1]
  • Muraenichthys australis Macleay, 1881
  • Muraenichthys iredalei Whitley, 1927

The shortfinned worm eel's diet consists primarily of benthic crustaceans and polychaetes.[5]

References
  1. Synonyms of Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.
  2. Common names of Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.
  3. Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.
  4. Macleay, W., 1881 (12 Sept.) [ref. 6222] A descriptive catalogue of Australian fishes. Part IV. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales v. 6 (pt 2): 202-387.
  5. Food and Feeding Habits Summary for Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.


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