Blachea xenobranchialis

Blachea xenobranchialis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Anguilliformes
Family:	Congridae
Genus:	Blachea
Species:	B. xenobranchialis
Binomial name
Blachea xenobranchialis Karrer & D. G. Smith, 1980

Blachea xenobranchialis, the frillgill conger ^[2] is an eel in the family Congridae (conger/garden eels), and the type species in the genus Blachea . ^[3] It was described by Christine Karrer and David G. Smith in 1980. ^[4] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from northwestern Australia, in the Indo-West Pacific. It dwells at a depth range of 348–385 metres, and leads a benthic lifestyle, inhabiting continental shelves and slopes. Males can reach a maximum total length of 47.5 centimetres, while females can reach a maximum TL of 37.5 cm. ^[3]

The species epithet "xenobranchialis" means "strange gill" in Ancient Greek, and refers to the eel's unusual free branchiostegals. ^[3]

References

1. McCosker, J.; Smith, D.G.; Tighe, K. (2019). "Blachea xenobranchialis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019 e.T199147A2564079. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T199147A2564079.en . Retrieved 30 January 2022.
2. Common names for Blachea xenobranchialis at www.fishbase.org.
3. Blachea xenobranchialis at www.fishbase.org.
4. Karrer, C. and D. G. Smith, 1980 (5 Dec.) [ref. 2566] A new genus and species of congrid eel from the Indo-west Pacific. Copeia 1980 (no. 4): 642-648.